A Comparison Of Two Leading Acoustic Guitar Brands
From beginners to professionals, it is important when looking for a new guitar to know what brands will offer the best in quality, range and sound production. Buyers should be aware of what body shape will best suit their needs, which materials provide the best quality, and which guitars offer good sound in a visually appealing guitar.
Deciding on a body shape will depend on what you are using the guitar for. A steel-stringed dreadnought acoustic guitar is great for stand alone performances by artists with a little experience. It has a bigger, more bass sound than the smaller classic body guitar, and a tone that many artists prefer.
Smaller instruments, such as the nylon-stringed classic acoustic and the steel-stringed artist body shape are ideal for beginners. They offer a good sound whilst being easier to hold. They are also used by artists who perform with a band, as they produce a more treble sound that carries better over the noise of other instruments, and causes less feedback.
The Alvarez acoustic guitar is world-renowned for being an excellent quality instrument that demonstrates attention to tradition and detail and produces a pleasing tone. Alvarez is based in St Louis, Missouri. Mostly their guitars are made in China. However, Kazou Yairi of Gifu, Japan, hand-crafts a number of higher-end instruments himself.
One of the most popular series produced by Alvarez is their Regent series. Though these instruments are the entry level standard recommended for beginners, they are given the same attention as the higher level instruments. They maintain superior value to entry level guitars produced by other manufacturers, offering optimum tone and tuning stability.
The Masterworks series is at the other end of the scale, offering the absolute best in performance and careful attention to the appearance of the instrument. The discerning artist will pay a little extra to benefit from the superior quality and tone of these guitars.
Another highly distinguished manufacturer of guitars is Takamine. They first began making guitars in 1962, with a focus on innovation and designs to suit the progression of musical styles and techniques. They were the first to produce acoustic/electric guitars, and they have not ceased in their pursuit to create a wide variety of instruments for all different musical tastes. Originally a small family business, the quality of their instruments has ensured international success and Takamine is now amongst the biggest names in acoustic guitars. The Takamine acoustic guitar often resembles Martin guitars, but are marketed at a much lower price.
Takamine and Alvarez offer similar levels of quality, but whilst Alvarez guitars tend to produce a more mellow tone, Takamine instruments have a brighter sound that some guitarists don’t like as much. Try out different instruments and brands and get a feel for your own personal taste. Every artist is different and there is no one acoustic guitar to suit everyone.