Shaped Guitars
The sound and quality of a guitar is effected by everything from the kind of wood used to its size and shape. But for the everyday guitarist, the shape of a guitar may primarily be aesthetics.
One of the earliest and most recognizable shaped guitars is the classic Flying-V. In the late 1950s, Gibson created a Flying-V guitar to provide an edgier, more futuristic image to Gibson’s classic lineup of guitars. Other shaped guitars followed and today you can find vanity guitars shaped like the symbol for musician Prince, PacMan-shaped guitars, even dragon-shaped guitars. For most guitarists, the shape of the guitar will have little impact on the sound. Shaped guitars are usually more for looks.
The same cannot be said for Ovation Roundback guitars. Their round backs provide louder, fuller, and richer sounds. Shapes of acoustic guitars differ among the various manufacturers, but typically the larger the hollow body of a guitar, the louder and lower the sound. The shape of an acoustic guitar has a far greater impact on sound than the shape of an electric guitar. An acoustic guitar could be “cut-away,” meaning part of the body has been cut back, allowing the player to use the higher frets that cannot easily be reached through normal body acoustics.
Some of rock ’n’ roll’s most famous guitarists, like Jimmy Page and Slash, have taken the stage with double-neck guitars. Unlike vanity shaped guitars, and the shape of acoustic guitars, a double-neck guitar has a completely different purpose. Most have a normal six-string neck on the bottom and a 12-string neck on top. This allows players to switch between the two types of guitar without having to switch instruments.
Whatever shape of guitar you choose, whether it’s a vanity model like a Flying-V, an Ovation Roundback acoustic, or a double-neck, be sure to try out the guitar before buying to get a sense for not only, how they play, but also how they feel. Shaped guitars will all sound different, to a certain extent, but the most noticeable difference for an average guitar player is how they look.
Flying-V
Perhaps the most distinct shaped guitar is Gibson’s Flying V, originally produced in 1958. The electric guitar was developed to show an edgier, more futuristic image to Gibson’s classic lineup of guitars.
TRY THIS: Gibson V-Factor (Flying V)
Ovation RoundBack
It’s not always the front of a guitar that offers different shapes. Ovation makes acoustic guitars with round backs. The round back is not just for playability; some guitarists find Ovation Roundbacks more comfortable than standard acoustic guitars.
TRY THIS: Ovation Standard Elite 6868 LX
Two Guitars Are Better Than One
Double-neck combinations include six and four strings, fretless guitars, or nearly any combination of pickups and guitar necks. Some manufacturers make guitars with four, five, six, and even more necks. But the most practical and common multi-neck guitar is the standard double-neck with a six-string and a 12-string.
TRY THIS: Epiphone G-1275 Custom
