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Cutaway VS non cutaway
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dweezil |
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Joined: April 2008 Posts: 2336 Location: Brighty in Blighty | Might seem like a stoopid question but bear with me... What's the difference(s) between a cutaway and a non cutaway. OK the cutaway has easier access to the upper frets but and the non cutaway potentially has better resonance but am I missing somthing else? Is the difference really just down to the above and looks? | ||
dobro |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 2120 Location: Chicago | That's about it, Dweez. The only thing I can think of adding is the marketing angle that was reflected in practice: for many artists, an Ovation was the "Electric Player's Acoustic". For electrics, cutaways are standard, indeed de rigeur, obligatory. An electric without a cutaway is like Ted Nugent without his weapons. My two cents, anyway... | ||
Paul Templeman |
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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 5750 Location: Scotland | The part of soundboard lost by the cutaway is so stiff it contributes almost nothing in terms tone. The amount of air volume lost is pretty irrelevant too. In a side-by-side comparison of a cutaway and non-cutaway of the same model there's little difference between them. And it would be difficult to attibtute whatever differences may be apparrent solely to the presence of a cutaway. | ||
dweezil |
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Joined: April 2008 Posts: 2336 Location: Brighty in Blighty | Would tend to agree regards the tone comment. So it's looks/access then. | ||
Paul Blanchard |
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Joined: February 2002 Posts: 1817 Location: Minden, Nebraska | What Paul said. I suspect a machine can detect the differences in frequencies and volume, etc., but it is negligible to the naked ear and a moot question when plugged in and tweaked by a preamp. | ||
bvince |
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Joined: September 2005 Posts: 3618 Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Fretboard accessibility and a different look. I have shorter arms so I prefer cutaways. In most cases I think they look better also. But that is not always the case. I think bursts look MUCH better without a cutaway. | ||
Old Man Arthur |
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Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777 Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | The flowers/leaves/feathers/whatever look cooler on a non-cutaway. But fret access is the real answer. When I first visited here I asked, "If 12 fretters sound better, why make 14 fretters?" and the answer was the same... Access to the higher frets. | ||
Gallerinski |
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Joined: May 2008 Posts: 4996 Location: Phoenix AZ | Comes down to personal preference and functional need. Some players need access to the upper frets. Some players think non-cutaways sound better. Follow your own best judgement. | ||
rededdie |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 387 Location: Whitecourt, Ab | I wonder if there is a price difference. I would assume a cutaway would be harder to make. However in terms of the top if there happened to be an imperfection in the corner where the cutaway was it would be more practicle. | ||
alpep |
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Joined: December 2001 Posts: 10581 Location: NJ | as a player I need all the help I can get. cutaways extra frets etc. the sound difference is little. btw as a vendor cutaways are far more desireable than non cutaways | ||
an4340 |
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Joined: May 2003 Posts: 4389 Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I prefer cut away too. When I play the upper frets on a non-cutaway, I have to play like Kaki King. Unfortunately, I sound nothing like her. | ||
Damon67 |
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Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6992 Location: Jet City | Can't do a Randy Rhoads solo unless you have a cutaway... Maybe Al Di Meola is a better example for this crowd. | ||
ProfessorBB |
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Joined: January 2006 Posts: 5881 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | For acoustics, I'm running 78% cutaway, 22% non-cutaway. Guess I prefer cutaways. | ||
Mark in Boise |
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12750 Location: Boise, Idaho | I'm the opposite. 77% noncutaway and 23% cutaway. Not so much a preferance as much as I just don't need a cutaway. | ||
moody, p.i. |
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Joined: March 2002 Posts: 15654 Location: SoCal | I seem to remember hearing/reading that Ovations/Adamii cutaways w/o the treble side soundholes had a deeper bass response but I'm not certain that losing just over half the soundholes on those cutaway guitars with teble soundholes would make that much difference. Whether you have a cutaway or not should depend on whether you play in the upper frets (or in my case) or not.... | ||
gh1 |
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Joined: April 2006 Posts: 972 Location: PDX | Originally posted by rededdie: If you commission an acoustic guitar there is usually an up-charge for a cut-away. So i assume it would at the very least take more time to construct. Tooling has to be different or at least modified as well. I wonder if there is a price difference. I would assume a cutaway would be harder to make. _____ gh1 | ||
Gallerinski |
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Joined: May 2008 Posts: 4996 Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by rededdie: With normal guitars that's true. I think Collings for example has an upcharge of about $550. for a cutaway. It is certainly more difficult to produce. I wonder if there is a price difference. I would assume a cutaway would be harder to make. But with the plastic bowl of an ovation I think it's a non-issue. Yes the binding glue clamp machine is a bit modified, but that's about it. Almost all ovations are girly cutaways so I imagine it's the non-cutaways that make them stop and think, oh this is different. Personally I just don't like the look of a cutaway. Looks like 4/5 of a guitar to me. | ||
stephent28 |
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Joined: April 2004 Posts: 13303 Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I've seen cutaways I thought were very attractive and some that were butt ugly.....actually I think I own versions of both. I believe my own collection is about 40/60 with most of the Adamas I have being cutaways and most of the all wood guitars being full body. Sound wise for me it seems that the type of strings I use have a bigger impact on the sound than the body type does. | ||
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