Is there a difference between acoustic guitars and classic guitars? If so what are they?

Answer 1

As noted in the above responses there are differences in the acoustic guitar. Classical guitars are acoustics, but are manufactured under different specifications than that of the average acoustic, open body guitar.

Classical guitars of high quality are expensive, such as the Ramirez guitar starting at $50,000. The woods are selected from the finest redwoods, mahogonys, and rosewoods. Most always they are strung with nylon strings and have wider necks for the fingerpicking required.

Average acoustic guitars come in different shapes such as the "pregnant" Ovation and those having the soundholes at the top of the bout nearest the fretboard. Not all acoustics have steel strings, however. Chet Atkins, during his last years, endorsed and played a Gibson acoustic-electric outfitted with nylon strings.

While I enjoy the sound of a classical or folk guitar having nylon strings I much prefer playing my guitars that have steel strings so my calluses will stay thickened.

Answer 2

Tuning-wise? No, Both are traditionally tuned from low to high E-A-D-G-B-E.

I'm sure you can find many differences if you go web hunting, but as a player I have to say that often a guitars sound, or timbre is dictated mostly by the players physical approach to the instrument. I can make a classical guitar sound country and western and make a country and western guitar sound classical.
A traditional classical guitar has gut strings ( or nylon in this century), and the neck is wider. The timbre is more mellow sounding and often the classical methods of teaching are more disciplined. This does not mean however that you need expensive lessons to get started. Just get started!
The 'acoustic guitar' , or dreadnought model of guitar became more popular at the turn of the 1900's and the most desired models were and still are made by Gibson and Martin. These guitars have steel strings and are in many ways more durable, and loud. Two qualities that make the dreadnought guitar excel in popular music even today.
I recently purchased a guitar for my son for less than $100 that plays amazingly well. Not to give any plugs, but we live in Ohio and the guitar is named after the state directly to our west.
I started on a smaller Gibson mohogany dreadnought that my mother paid $200 for in 1978. That was quite a bit of money then and truthfully was well worth it. I played that guitar literally thousands of hours and kept it for 10 years. It's floating around in California somewhere probably still.
As the years go on and music gets more in your veins you will discover that everyone has their own taste in instruments and playing techniques. I've played so many guitars I've lost count. No, I'll take that back. You NEVER forget a guitar. My favorite is a Gibson Melody maker through a Fender blackface Bassman head on a 2-12 cabinet. Oh' and throw in a Watkins Copycat and ... well, then again, I liked that Same Melody Maker through a Sound City 120 cranked up.
Yes, this your next journey - the electric guitar.
My first was a blood red Continental. It was used, and it was Christmas 1980...
BEST ADVICE:
LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN PLAY LISTEN LISTEN LISTEN...

Answer 3

The classic guitar is a type of acoustic guitar. The acoustic guitar is one that only uses acoustic methods to project the sound produced by its strings, so no amps plugged in to these. There are two types basically: classic and steel-string. The classic guitar uses nylon strings, which are the traditional strings on guitars. Steel-strings are a descend of this guitar (hence the nylon string being the classic). But, both are acoustic guitars. The classic guitar, as I mentioned, has nylon strings. These are softer, lower tension strings which are usually finger plucked versus the steel-string being strum with a pick. Classical guitars are generally used to play classical, Latin, flamenco, Spanish and jazz styles. The steel string is more often used in blues, folk, pop and country. Due to the string difference, the classical guitar has a quieter, yet rounder and smoother tone than the steel-string, which has usually a louder and brighter sound. The neck of a classical guitar is wider as well, which allows for the complex fingerwork and chord combinations guitarists use. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Acoustic guitars can be either classical or steekl stringed.

Classical guitars have a wider neck and originally used gut strings, now generally use plastic. The head of a classical guitar is slotted with the strings wound around a post which is paralellel with the plane of the top of the guitar.

Steel stringed or folk guitars use steel and brass wound strings. The neck may be narrower(some exceptions) and the strings wind around a post that is perpendicular to the plane of the top. There are, however. some steel stringed guitars that use the classical slotted head.

The classical style guitar is softer, and quieter in tone, and the strings are easier on the fingers. The steel stringed guitar is louder with a sharper tone.

Both types of guitars are used in professional applications, sometiems crossing genres, ie Clapron unplugged -tears from heaven.

Answer 5

Claissical guitar referes to a particulat style playing a guitar, which involves a use of an acoustic guitar, it is usually finger picked and might be played with note scores or without them depending on the piece. That could Hendel, bach, or some Spanish pieces. Or even modern. An acousric guitar is made from wood and is hollow inside - it can be used for classical pop, or rock. Particular acoustic guitars that have a short neck are called Spanish, because they originated in the cities of Cordoba and Seville in Spain.

Answer 6

Classic guitars use a different string. it's more plastic than wire like an acoustic guitar. It produces a softer sound.

Answer 7

Both the first two answers are correct, but to clarify, any unamplified guitar can correctly called acoustic, but when you say a classic guitar as a specific type, it generally means nylon strings, and when you refer to acoustic guitars, it normally means steel strings.

Answer 8

You can find two types of acoustic guitars, folk and classical. Classical guitars space the strings farther apart to allow for finger-picking. Folk guitars have the strings closer together to allow for easier strumming.

The difference might not look obvious, but you'll know it immediately if you switch from one to another.

Answer 9

An acoustic is a guitar for a first time player, it think it is easier to learn. Acoustic guitars tend to have plastic strings a produce a softer more calming sound. An electric guitar has a more harder sound, you can also plug an anplifier into it to get a louder sound used for concerts and bands, they tent to have harder wire strings.

Answer 10

An acoustic guitar has steel strings.A classical has nylon.It also has a wider neck.They are both acoustic because they are not amplified.