A Guitar to School

As most families, the one who got the guitar first is NOT the one actually plays. During Sean's journey for his music, he started with a guitar from Costco when he was 8th grade, took some classes in the community center, then electric guitar and lessons from the local guitar center, then drum set...

Last year, our high school started their guitar class, Kenneth signed up the class and played a whole year with 5 other kids (what a nice student and teacher ratio!!) And now, he is going to college and thinking about bring a guitar to school. However, our $100 Yamaha from Costco was too big.

What Kenneth wanted was very simple: smaller guiar that he could carry around with a hard case. At first, we went to a local guitar center checking out small guitars. OMG!! Life could be very complicate if you'd like to find out what's going on with all the guitars. So, after googling couple days, I narrowed down to what size and budget I had and ordered a Yamaha FG730S from internet - $300 Guitar + $50 hard case + $12 capo + $15 three sets of strings from Matin and a free T-shirt. Free shipping and no sales tax!! Mission completed =) Hope Kenneth will enjoy HIS 1st guiar during his college years.

Yamaha FG730S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar
A solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides produce the perfect sonic mix.
The Yamaha FG730S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar has the ultimate combo for projection and pure tone. The expertly braced spruce top speaks clearly atop the rosewood body. It has a rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, die-cast tuners, body and neck binding, and a tortoise pickguard.

Yamaha FG730S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar Features:

Solid Sitka spruce top
Rosewood back and sides
Rosewood fingerboard
Rosewood bridge
White/black body and neck binding
Die-cast tuners
Tortoise pickguard
Limited lifetime warranty

(From http://www.musiciansfriend.com)
Body » The body consists of a back, sides, and top. The types of construction and woods that go into the body have a major impact on the way the instrument sounds. Different body styles and sizes also impact a guitar's sound. The body of an acoustic guitar can also be looked at with regard to its upper and lower bouts and the waist.

Bridge » The bridge on an acoustic guitar anchors the strings to the body, and transfers vibration and energy from the strings to the guitar's top. Bridge pins keep the strings anchored to the bridge on most acoustic guitars. An integral part of the bridge is the saddle. Most often made of bone or plastic, the saddle spaces the strings at the bridge and helps transfer the strings' vibrations to the top.

Neck » The neck of the guitar is attached to the body at the neck joint. Most acoustic guitars use a set neck, meaning it is glued to the body. Few acoustic guitars use a bolt-on neck. The neck is an important part of an acoustic guitar's feel and playability. Neck components include the fretboard (or fingerboard), headstock, tuners, and an internal truss rod. The metal truss rod runs the length of the neck and is adjusted to eliminate the bow caused by string tension or environmental factors. The truss rod is typically adjusted with an Allen wrench either at the headstock or just inside the body at the base of the neck. Check out this tech tip for more on truss rod adjustment.

Fretboard or fingerboard » The fretboard is a long, thin piece of wood that is glued to the neck. Thin pieces of metal called frets are embedded in the wood. This divides the fretboard into half-step increments of the 12-tone scale so when the strings are held down at certain frets different notes are sounded. The most common woods used for acoustic guitar fretboards are rosewood and ebony. Sometimes the fretboard will not be an overlay but fashioned from the same piece of wood as the neck.

Tuning keys (aka tuners, machine heads) » Located on the headstock, the tuners adjust the tension of each string, thereby changing its pitch.

Common Acoustic Guitar Woods
When shopping for an acoustic guitar, you'll find that there are a number of different woods, as well as different species of the same wood, that are used in the various parts of the instrument. It's beneficial to understand the tonal qualities of these woods, and where they are often used in acoustic guitar construction.

Ebony » Known particularly for its use in pianos, ebony is an excellent wood for acoustic guitar fretboards. Ebony is very strong and has a slick feel to it, which is why it is the preferred fretboard material for many players.

Koa » Koa is a Hawaiian wood with a distinct golden color. Tonally, it resembles mahogany, with a focus on the middle range of the spectrum. Koa is typically found on more expensive acoustic guitars due to its scarcity, and is used for tops as well as backs and sides.

Mahogany » In acoustic guitars, mahogany is most often used for backs and sides. Occasionally mahogany is used as a top wood as well. When used for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar, mahogany adds snap and a general boost to the middle range of the spectrum while reducing the boominess sometimes found in dreadnoughts. As a top, mahogany tends to emphasize the high end. Mahogany is also used frequently for acoustic guitar necks and bridges.

Maple » Maple tends to generate a dry tone that emphasizes the upper end of the tonal spectrum. In acoustic guitars, maple is often used for the back and sides, allowing the top to generate its natural tone without added coloration from the rest of the body.

Ovangkol » Ovangkol is an African wood that is increasing in popularity among acoustic guitar makers. Used primarily for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar, ovangkol's tone resembles the warmth of rosewood with the sparkling midrange of mahogany or koa.

Rosewood » Rosewood is typically used for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar, as well as the fretboard and bridge. Due to the diminishing supply--and subsequent higher cost--of Brazilian rosewood, Indian rosewood has mostly replaced it in the market. Though they have a slightly different appearance, tonally they are virtually identical. When used for the back and sides of the guitar, rosewood provides warm low end, enhanced mids, and added resonance.

Sapele » Sapele is another African wood that is being used more often in acoustic guitar-making. Also known as African mahogany, sapele is often used for the back and sides of an acoustic guitar. Like mahogany, it adds to the midrange and overall projection of the top wood.

Spruce » Spruce is the most common wood used for acoustic guitar tops. While there are a number of species of spruce (Engelmann, Sitka, and German, for example), usually only more expensive acoustic guitars will denote the type used. Spruce is a lightweight yet strong wood that is easy to work with for luthiers. Tonally, spruce is resonant and provides good sustain and clarity.

Walnut » Walnut is frequently used as an alternative to mahogany in acoustic guitar bodies. Its tonal properties are comparable to mahogany with a focus on the midrange, and it enhances projection of the top wood's tone.

Body Style Characteristics

Examples of common body styles (larget to small): Jumbo, Dreadnought, Grand Concert.

Attempting to apply strict definitions to acoustic guitar body styles can be difficult since many styles are manufacturer-specific. The most important thing to remember is that you should find a style that is both comfortable for you to play and produces the tone you desire.

A good rule of thumb to follow is the larger the soundboard, the more low-end tone and volume the guitar will generate. The traditional dreadnought body style provides a large soundboard, while narrow-waisted styles such as grand concert and jumbo combine a large soundboard with increased playing comfort. Most manufacturers make acoustic guitars to accommodate smaller players, as well as travel or backpacker guitars that are more convenient to transport.

Another important body feature is the cutaway. An acoustic guitar with a cutaway in the upper bout allows the player to easily reach above the 12th fret of the instrument. If you plan to do a lot of lead playing on your acoustic or are used to playing an electric guitar, you may prefer an acoustic with a cutaway.