Cutaway Poll

[Acoustic Soul]

I’ve read that Richard designed his cutaway to not effect the volume or tone of the instruments.  I’ve also read that everything on a guitar effects it’s sound.

What are your experiences with cutaways?

I ask because I’m wanting to move to 12 fret guitars for the sound and response.  I played a cutaway OM Grand and couldn’t tell much difference between it and mine.  Maybe only slight attack and overtone changes but it’s hard to say with different woods and bracing.

I was thinking about whether or not a cutaway on an RS would help or hinder

[Old 97]

I have found that a Cutaway  sounds no different.

[Hank]

I have owned 2 F models over the years.

A F of Ziricote/German (Sold) and a F cutaway of Maple/German that is currently part of the Ramuda

I don’t hear any difference in volume and as they both had German tops I could notice only tonal difference between the B/S woods with the Maple being a bit “Brighter”…..YMMV, etc.

Since I have had the cutaway it has inspired me to learn/play many more alternate voicing chord positions up the neck and to spend more time there.

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1993 Martin HD-28 IR/Sitka
2001 SCGC F Cutaway Maple/German
2008 SCGC OT Madi/Italian
2015 SCGC OM “The Tree” Hog/ European
2016 SCGC 1934 D45 Braz/ Adi
2016 Taylor K62 CE Limited Edition 12 string all Koa
2019 SCGC FTC Granadillo/Redwood
Life is a journey…not a guided tour,
The Bay,The Gulf Stream , The Open Ocean are particular about who they share their secrets with.

[tadol]

I think there is very little resonating soundboard up there, but it means a slight decrease in the volume of air in the box, which probably has a slight effect on the Helmholz frequency. But honestly, I don’t think I could ever hear a difference even if I tried, and the fretboard access (and possibly the cool factor) certainly make it a very desirable feature –

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Lots o’ SCGC guitars! But never ask which is my fav

[bond_fan]

I’ve been on several Santa Cruz Guitar Company tours, talked to Richard Hoover, and other builders, and I’ve been told a cutaway won’t affect the tone or volume…

[indexless]

Welcome Bond Fan….that’s some OM Grand I saw the other night…….Again, welcome, you are free to post

[Matt Hayden]

I don’t think a cutaway detracts from the sound in any warm and it definitely does add versatility for people who play above the body joint, which is kind of the point. If a player will use it, get one; if not, don’t bother.
Signed, has a cutaway acoustic which seems to work fine.

[Acoustic Soul]

Thanks everyone, a cutaway and an F or FTC style headstock are two of the features I’d like to incorporate into the RS i’m going to get coming up whenever someone buys my OM Grand.  I didn’t notice anything unusual about the OM Grand with the cutaway I played in Austin TX

• This reply was modified 1 year, 4 months ago by Acoustic Soul.

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