Comparison Avzhezh AG-101 vs Yamaha F310

The general shape of the body of the guitar.

This characteristic affects both the appearance and dimensions of the instrument, and the features of its sound. Note that for classical guitars (see "Type") the form is often not indicated, since it is standard for such instruments. But other varieties can be very diverse in shape. For example, among the "acoustics" and "electroacoustics" there are such form options as dreadnought (western), jumbo, mini-jumbo, parlor, orchestral, grand auditorium, grand concert, road, resonator. Ukuleles, in turn, are available in soprano, concert, tenor, baritone and bass versions, as well as in the form of a special variety — gitalele. Here is a more detailed description of all these types of housing:

— Dreadnought (Western). One of the most popular types of acoustic guitars. The body has a large shape and very "heavy", angular outlines. The terms "dreadnought" and "western" are often used interchangeably, but sometimes only cutaway guitars are referred to as "westerns" (see below). This shape of the body provides a pronounced bass sound and a “roaring” sound coloring, thanks to which dreadnoughts are well suited for playing chords, but playing solo on su...ch guitars is not very convenient.

— Orchestral model. Orchestral models (Orchestra Model) are somewhat reminiscent of the dreadnoughts described above in shape, but they have more rounded and graceful outlines, in particular, a more pronounced "waist" in the area of the rosette (resonator hole). This allows you to achieve an even distribution of volume between the upper and lower frequencies. In terms of the use of "orchestration" they are the direct opposite of westerns: they are great for playing by brute force and by notes, but on chords they sound noticeably weaker — both due to the lack of bass (especially with an aggressive playing style), and because of the relatively low volume. On the other hand, due to the uniform frequency response, an orchestral guitar can be sounded even at a professional concert with an ordinary microphone.

— Jumbo. The word jumbo means "large", and these cases are indeed quite large. Another distinguishing feature is the shape of the lower part of the soundboard: it can be almost round, and anyway, the outlines of the jumbo body are usually smoother than those of orchestral models, and even more so of dreadnoughts (although there are exceptions). At the same time, this type of cabinet combines the features of the mentioned varieties: the balanced and even sound characteristic of "orchestra" is combined with the volume of the "Western". Because of this, jumbo guitars are generally considered the best choice for musicians who play in a mixed style. However, a lot depends on the specific model: some are closer to dreadnoughts in terms of application, and sometimes the difference between jumbo and western is only in how the manufacturer positions its tool.

— Mini jumbo. A slightly smaller version of the jumbo (see above), with a correspondingly lower volume and richer sound.

— Grand Auditorium. Another versatile type of guitar. It is similar in shape to jumbo (see above) — to the point that the terms "grand auditorium" and "jumbo" (or "mini-jumbo", depending on size) are often used interchangeably.

— Grand concert. An analogue of the grand auditorium described above, somewhat smaller.

— Parlor. Cases of this type are quite compact in size — some of them approach the size of a ukulele — and, most often, a rather small width, but while maintaining a full-size socket. Such instruments were originally popular in the late 19th and first half of the 20th century; today they are appreciated by professionals both for their traditional sound with "historical notes" and for ease of transportation.

— Road. In accordance with the name, such cases are created, among other things, based on ease of transportation. They can have both a traditional shape, close to a dreadnought or jumbo (only smaller), and very specific outlines (for example, triangular, or oval, like a medieval lute).

— Resonator. Six-string guitars, also known as "dobro" (from the name Dobro, given by the creators and later became a trademark). In accordance with the name, to amplify the sound in such instruments, not just a hollow body is used, but a special part — a resonator. This element is installed under the top deck and is covered with a characteristic round-shaped metal cover with slots; the lower nut is placed directly on the lid. "Dobro" are distinguished by a rather loud and sharp sound; in addition, some models have a special neck design that makes it easier to play with a slide. In general, these guitars have a rather narrow niche of application, they are popular primarily among blues and country/bluegrass players.

— Soprano. The smallest variety of ukulele (see "Type"), it is also historically the first and most common. The standard overall length for this tool is 21" (53 cm) at 13" scale (see below). Soprano models have the highest emphasis on high frequencies of all types of ukulele, they are usually tuned in GCEA (from the thickest string to the thinnest).

— Concert. The ukulele is slightly larger than the sopranos described above — 23" in length and 15" in scale. They provide a little more volume of low frequencies, otherwise they are completely similar.

— Tenor. Further, after the concert version, the increase in size of the ukulele is up to 26" in total length (17" in scale). In addition, they differ in tuning: they can be tuned in both GCEA and DGBE (similar to the first 4 strings of a 6-string guitar).

— Baritone. Until relatively recently (before the appearance of "bass" bodies), such instruments were the largest variety of ukulele. The standard overall length of a baritone is 30", the scale is 19"; such an instrument is usually tuned in DGBE tuning (similar to the strings of a 6-string guitar from first to fourth).

— Bass. One of the newest varieties of ukulele: launched on sale only in 2007. It is almost the same size as a baritone — about 30" long, 20" scale — but uses a different tuning, namely EADG (also an analogue of a six-string guitar, in this case corresponding to the fourth through sixth strings).

— Gitalele. A kind of "hybrid" between traditional guitar and ukulele. In fact, these instruments are six-string guitars, made in the size of a ukulele and tuned 2.5 tones higher — the ADGCEA system. At the same time, the fingering, the technique of setting chords and the tuning procedure in the guitarel do not differ from ordinary guitars. Such instruments are also called "six-string ukuleles", but this name can also be applied to classic 4-string ukuleles, where the second and third strings are doubled. So in order to avoid confusion, it is better to use the term "guitalele".

Special cutout on the body of the guitar. It is located at the base of the neck, to the right of it, if you look at the upright guitar from the front (in left-handed models — on the left). This feature makes it much easier to play on the upper frets (located near the rosette): without a cutout, the body would prevent reaching them. Therefore, this feature is highly desirable for guitarists who play notes at high frets (from the 12th and above).

There is an opinion that the cutout negatively affects the acoustics of the guitar (reduces the useful volume of the body, reduces the volume and saturation). However, in most cases, this effect is almost imperceptible, especially since manufacturers often use various tricks to compensate for this effect.

A special protective pad that protects the soundboard from accidental contact with the pick.

The pickguard is usually located at the sound hole below the strings (if the guitar is considered in the standard playing position). With a dynamic, aggressive performance (especially when playing chords), it is in this place that the pick clamped in the hand most often hits; hitting an unprotected body causes damage to the surface of the body, which degrades the appearance and acoustic characteristics of the guitar. Pickguard prevents such damage: such an overlay is usually made of a hard material that is resistant to contact with most picks. Accordingly, the presence of this part is highly recommended if you plan to use the pick extensively when playing.

Note that the protective overlay usually differs in colour from the main material of the deck, due to which it is clearly visible.

The material from which the top of the guitar is made is the flat part of the body on which the bridge (see below) and the sound hole are located.

A wide variety of materials are found in modern guitars — from spruce, maple or cedar, which are familiar in our latitudes, to expensive mahogany and “exotics” like bubinga (“African rosewood”) or koa, which grows only in Hawaii. Each material has its own characteristics that affect the sound and other properties of the instrument (for example, appearance and durability). However, the sound of a guitar largely depends on a number of other factors besides the material — the type of instrument, the shape of the body, etc. Therefore, models made of similar materials may well sound noticeably different. In addition, note that expensive woods can be used solely for aesthetic purposes and have no advantages over cheaper materials.

In light of all this, we can say that the data on materials are more of a reference value, and when choosing, it is more likely to focus on more significant characteristics (for example, the same body shape), as well as practical data about the tool (reviews, reviews, audio recordings of the game etc.). Detailed data on materials may be required only by professional musicians, luthier masters, etc.; this information, if desired, can be found in special sources.

The material from which the lower soundboard of the guitar is made is a flat surface on the opposite side from the upper soundboard (it is this surface that is adjacent to the musician's body when the instrument is held normally).

The value of this parameter is described in detail in the “Upper deck” section — what is stated there is also true in this case. We only note that a wider range of materials is used for the lower deck: this part is less demanding on the characteristics of the material, which gives manufacturers additional choice.

In terms of specific materials, rosewood, sapele, maple, meranti and nato, among others, enjoy considerable popularity in modern times. Here is a brief description of each of them:

— Rosewood. A name that combines the wood of several species of tropical trees. This material is said to provide deep sound and enhance bass quality, thereby improving the guitar's efficiency when playing rhythm parts on chords.

— Sapele. Also known as "African mahogany" due to its characteristic hue. It contributes to an even sound with medium depth and good expression of individual notes, which is considered important especially in solo parts.

— Maple. Maple wood is prone to a rather sharp and sonorous sound without much depth. However, this is...not a drawback, but a feature: for some styles of music, just such a coloring of the sound is perfect.

— Meranti. Wood of trees of the genus Shorey, growing in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. This material is mainly used in instruments manufactured by Yamaha, mainly classical guitars and ukuleles — it is for these varieties that meranti is considered the best option.

— Nato. A relatively inexpensive variety of mahogany (mahogany) used in guitars in the corresponding price range. Contributes to a dense, but not very bright sound.

The material from which the side of the guitar is made is the “side” surface of the body, which unites the upper and lower soundboards (see above).

About the meaning of the material of the body, see paragraph "Top deck" — everything stated in it is also true for the shell. Unless the range of materials used for this part is noticeably wider; also note that most often the material of the shell coincides with the material of the bottom deck. Here is a summary of some of the more popular options:

— Rosewood. A name that combines the wood of several species of tropical trees. This material is said to provide deep sound and enhance bass quality, thereby improving the guitar's efficiency when playing rhythm parts on chords.

— Sapele. Also known as "African mahogany" due to its characteristic hue. It contributes to an even sound with medium depth and good expression of individual notes, which is considered important especially in solo parts.

— Maple. Maple wood is prone to a rather sharp and sonorous sound without much depth. However, this is not a drawback, but a feature: for some styles of music, just such a coloring of the sound is perfect.

— Meranti. Wood of trees of the genus Shorey, growing in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia. This material is mainly used in instruments manufactured by Yamaha, mainly classical guitars and ukuleles — it is for these varieties that meranti is considered the best option.

— Nato.... A relatively inexpensive variety of mahogany (mahogany) used in guitars in the corresponding price range. Contributes to a dense, but not very bright sound.

The material from which the bridge (string holder) of the guitar is made is a device with which the strings are attached to the top deck.

Theoretically, the colour of the sound of an instrument depends on the characteristics of all its details. However, in the case of the bridge, this influence is so insignificant that the data on the material in this case are more of general reference and advertising than of real practical value. The variety of such materials is quite large; among the most common are rosewood, mongoy and ebony.

The number of frets provided on the neck of the guitar.

The fret is the gap between the two nut on the fretboard. By pressing a finger on the string in this gap, the guitarist changes the pitch of the string: the farther the fret (from the headstock) — the shorter the string is and the higher the sound.

The more frets, the more notes the guitarist can take on each string and the more possibilities the instrument gives. On the other hand, for numerous frets, a fretboard of the appropriate length is needed, which affects the dimensions and cost of the instrument, and sometimes it is simply not justified: for example, ordinary guitars have at least 18 or 20 frets, while among ukuleles (see "Type ”), there are models for 12 – 16 frets.

In general, it makes sense to specifically look for an instrument with numerous frets if you plan to play complex solo parts on it; for playing chords, as well as relatively simple performance by notes, the number of frets does not play a special role.

Scale length of the guitar. The scale in this case is the working part of the string, in other words, the distance from the saddle (on the headstock) to the saddle (on the bridge). In most acoustic and similar guitars, the scale is set during production and is unchanged. Without going into technical details, we can say that the value of this parameter is generally a reference: it allows you to some extent estimate the overall dimensions of the instrument, as well as the size of the frets (the longer the scale, the larger the size of the frets, regardless of their number). However, there is also a practical application: with an adjustable anchor (see above), the scale length data can be useful in the tuning process.