The Acoustic Steel-String Guitar is probably the most popular type of Guitar.The Acoustic Steel-String Guitar is probably the most popular type of Guitar due to its ease of use, clear tone, and responsiveness. Its notes generally ring longer than those of the classical guitar which has nylon strings. It also does not require amplification, although amplification is increasingly becoming a option. It is also suitable for a variety of styles from Jazz to Country to Classical. Its sound is produced primarily by vibration of strings transmitted through the bridge to the soundboard. The soundboard in turn vibrates and activates energy and soundwaves to emanate from the soundhole, the top, and the back of the guitar. Larger bodied guitars - Dreadnaughts and Grand Concerts - move more air and energy and thus exhibit higher sound volumes than their smaller bodied - Concert - counterparts. Tone-woods play an important role in shaping the sound of individual instruments. Spruce is preferred for most tops(soundboards) due to its particular characteristics. Cedar is a close second for guitar tops and is not as bright sounding as Spruce. Back and sides are usually Rosewood, Mahogany, or variants of these two woods with Rosewood delivering more Bass Response. Maple, Koa, & Walnut have also been used but not as much as Rosewood and Mahogany. Necks are usually Mahogany, Walnut, or Maple. Fingerboards and Bridges are usually Rosewood or Ebony. Guitar Luthiers must be skilled in combining the best tonal and vibrational qualities of these various woods into an instrument that plays well and in tune with proper balance across the instrument's note range which is just over half the range of an 82-key piano. The top quality names today in Acoustic Steel-String Guitars are Martin, Taylor, Breedlove, Guild, and Gibson. The Mid-Range quality instruments include Yamaha, Ibanez, Takamine, Laguna, and Fender.
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