Subj : Re: Acoustic or Spanish?
To   : JENN COWFISH
From : Martin Ridgley
Date : Mon Nov 06 2000 09:16 am

  Hi Jenn,

    It's good to see you back...  :-)

-=> JENN COWFISH wrote to ALL <=-
 JC> I recently got a second hand guitar from a friend of the family's...
 JC> I checked out some books as to how to play etc. and I noticed a few
 JC> pictures of acoustic and Spanish/classical guitars. I looked at my
 JC> guitar, which I thought was acoustic, but I noticed it looked slightly
 JC> like a Spanish guitar as well. There isn't any visible model number
 JC> or brand name on my guitar, so I'm unable to refer to anythign...Are
 JC> there any distinct differences in the looks of a Spanish and acoustic
 JC> guitar?

   I see there have been a few replies to your question already, and
 there's one thing that everybody seems to have overlooked:

   As I understand it, *any* guitar that has a hollow body and projects
 it's sound naturally (i.e. without electronic amplification), is an
 acoustic guitar.  The word 'acoustic' does not indicate the make, or
 type of guitar.  It refers to the fact that it reproduces the sound
 naturally, without amplification.

   Spanish, or classical guitars are acoustic instruments.  They are
 typically strung with nylon strings.

   There are also numerous models of acoustic guitars that have steel
 strings.  They are known variously as 'western' style acoustics, or
 'folk' style acoustics, etc.  This is the type of acoustic guitar
 that most people use in contemporary popular music today (i.e. pop,
 rock, country, folk, etc.)

   So, your guitar is an acoustic guitar.  If it has nylon strings, it
 is a Spanish or classical style acoustic.  If it has steel strings,
 it is a Western style acoustic.

   Now, sometimes you will see an electric guitar with a hollow body.
 These are commonly known as 'semi-acoustic' guitars.  They are made
 to be played through an amplifier, but when unplugged, they will
 still project enough sound to be heard acoustically - albeit, a bit
 more quietly.  Hence the term, 'semi-acoustic' - they work both ways.

   Solid-body electric guitars are made to be played only through
 some form of amplifier.  Sure, they *can* be heard without one, but
 the only thing you will hear is the actual sound of the strings
 vibrating, and the body resonating.  The key is that they don't
 naturally *project* the sound like and acoustic or semi-acoustic
 guitar.

   I hope this helps to clarify things, Jenn.

     Martin
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