A Dreadnought Guitar: How Is It Different?

Acoustic guitars have been the symbol of many loved and respected musicians; from singer songwriter James Taylor to today’s pop superstar John Mayer. Throughout the decades, the sound of the acoustic guitar has never gone out of style; and is more popular than ever among songwriters and musicians of all genres.

The Dreadnought guitar is a form of acoustic guitar created by guitar manufacturers, C.F. Martin & Company. The Dreadnought’s signature body design has been copied by many manufacturers since its creation, and has now become a very common and recognizable style.

There are many characteristics of the Dreadnought that make it stand out from other acoustic guitars. The Dreadnought is larger than most acoustic guitars of its time, which accounts for its bolder, more penetrating sound. The guitar’s square shoulders and bottom, adds to the Dreadnought’s distinctive look.

The word “Dreadnought” was derived from a large, big-gun battleship, inaugurated in 1906, as the HMS Dreadnought. Old school guitar pickers love the deep lows and crisp highs, the Dreadnought offers; and its signature tones have been refined today by many manufacturers, including Taylor. Bob Taylor has kept the traditional look and style of the original Martin Dreadnought, but with a more modern packaging.

Because of its characteristic tones; the Dreadnought is a favorite of musicians who play Bluegrass, folk, and various types of “roots” music. One of the reasons this particular type of acoustic guitar is so popular with roots musicians, is that the Dreadnought played a significant role in defining the sound of this music. It is the Dreadnought’s tone that most people recognize when they hear folk and bluegrass classics.

Big and bold in size, shape, and sound; the Dreadnought has become what many musicians think of, as the “acoustic sound”. Though other styles of acoustic guitars are on the market, the Dreadnought has become synonymous with the most well-known sounds of acoustic music.