Does anyone know what style of acoustic guitar is best for playing bluegrass music?

Question

Is there a certain make, such as Gibson or Guild, that is commonly known for producing good bluegrass guitars?

Thanks

Answer 1

You can play bluegrass or any other genre on any kind of guitar.

Typically however, bluegrass musicians are staunch traditionalists. They prefer the "Dreadnought" style guitars and prefer Martin or Gibson brands.

The Dreadnought style is a large steel-string guitar with square-ish shoulders. Martin and Gibson are famous not because they are the best guitars, but because they are the two biggest American makers.

Bluegrass is an American twist on Celtic music, so it makes sense that American players might use American-made guitars.

Martin guitars have a unique internal bracing that produces what some people believe is "authentic" tone. The fact is, that tone is really just a lower resonant frequency. People perceive that as a "deep" or "powerful" tonal response.

Unless you study acoustics, psycho-acoustics and sound engineering, and are a very critical listener, it’s easy to confuse low-end resonance with "good" tone.

It takes knowledge, the correct vocabulary and a ton of experience to accurately describe the highly subjective concepts of “tone.” Laymen confuse pronounced bass-response with “tone” in the same way that urban teenagers confuse thumping woofers with “good stereo.”

If you are miking the guitar for studio recording, it will be easier to achieve what most people call "authentic bluegrass tone" with a Martin. But you can achieve equal or better results with any good guitar.

Proper miking technique, good mics, acoustics, proper EQ ( or lack thereof) and a good engineer are all part of the equation. You can mike a parlor sized guitar from any decent maker, in a bathroom with a large diaphragm condenser or two, using no equalization whatsoever. Most of the work is done by the player. If he is good, the sound will be good. The rest of the acoustic response is in the room and mic placement.

If you are going to play live, especially in a noisy environment with bad acoustics, a good pickup and a flexible amp are far more important than the type or brand of guitar.

If you can afford it, the mic / piezo combo system is best for live work. You use the pickup to drive your amp or monitor which you hear onstage. The mic signal is sent to the mains or "house" so the audience hears a more natural acoustic tone.

Of course in those acoustically nightmarish situations, EQ is everything! A feedback eliminator and a real-time analyzer are helpful tools too!

To record an "authentic" bluegrass tone try these ideas:
Use high-quality large diaphragm condenser microphones.
Do not place them too close to the guitar.
Perform in an acoustically "live" room.
Slightly compress the signal, no more than 4:1 ratio.
If you must use EQ, use it sparingly.
EQ additional lows before the compressor in the signal chain so that the compressor smoothes out low end response.
Add highs post-compressor.
Try to use as little high end pre-emphasis as possible.
Experiment with mic placement first, then apply EQ only as needed.

Traditionalists build "folk-tales" and other forms of mythological BS because of Americanism, ignorance, misunderstanding or simply because they enjoy lying. That includes popular falsehoods about “magical” guitars and makers.

Don’t believe those who propagate such myths. Don’t trust anyone who is selling you anything. Believe me because I have experience and am not selling you anything. You should play whatever guitar fits your taste, hands and budget.

If you are willing to pay for a good guitar, a good pickup / amp system, a good studio with a good engineer and equipment, you will always sound OK.

If you just need to sound good to the human ear in your living room, are not recording or performing live for and audience, a bigger guitar will sound louder.

That's really all there is to it... except of course for the years of diligent practice.

Answer 2

Of all the acoustics played by those specializing in Bluegrass Martin guitars lead the pack. The HD-28 and the HD-35 are the most common because of the rosewood back and sides that project the sound in warm, but strong tones.

Answer 3

It seems that Martin guitars are the choice of most players in Bluegrass but I favor a Taylor guitar. Its really your preference there is no right or wrong one.

Answer 4

Martin is the best in my opinion. i have a HD-28v. they are real nice guitars. Any D-18 is good too. Martin guitars are the most popular in bluegrass music.

Answer 5

Bluegrass, without a doubt. The also-rans at Bluegrass festivals blow away the good rock guitarists. They are all fingerpickers, and frequently do rhythm and lead runs at the same time.

Answer 6

My dad, Emmylou Harris, and Dolly Parton all play bluegrass and they all play Gibsons!

Answer 7

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