The guitar is one of the most popular and oldest musical instruments out there in the world. It gets a lot of innovation, and there have been considerable improvements with the guitar.
The shape of the back of the guitar also has a lot to do with the practicality, lifting experience, and whatnot. In addition to all that, these guitar shapes define the tones, the playing style, posture, and comfort for you.
Round back and flat back shapes are widely adopted shapes for the guitar backs. They share a lot of distinguishable features. Let’s move on to studying those features.
Round Back Guitar vs Flat Back Guitar
| Features | Round Back | Flat Back |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | High | Low |
| Wood Quality | Expensive wood | Cheap, moderate available too |
| Ideal for | Acoustics, classical guitars, Flamenco | Electric guitars |
| Craftsmanship | High | Moderate |
Round Back
As evident from the name itself, the construction of the round back by the luthier sets a departure from the traditional flat back.
The guitar with the round back is bound to have laminated sides; a lattice braced soundboard and a truss rod in the neck.
It’s been 4 decades since the launch of round-back guitars in the world of musical instruments. Popular guitar manufacturers like Guild and Taylor have used the round back in their acoustic guitar designs.
The guitar community has largely accepted the round-back design of the guitars, and the integration of this shape into the quality guitars of popular brands is proof of that.
As far as the classical guitar makers are concerned, they have not really adopted the round-back design quite well. However, luthiers all around the globe are accepting the round back more and more, thanks to its fast momentum.
Increased Bottom End
The round back adds more depth, resonating surface area, and air volume, alongside maintaining the clarity of sound. It is quite phenomenal when you hear the sound you are playing, and the back of the guitar is not touching your body.
Impact Of Round Back On The Projection Of The Guitar
The design of the guitar with the round back is made so as to minimize vibrational loss. In this way, more and more vibrations run through the guitar and thus, promote better projection of the guitar.
The effect of the round back is more on the projection than on the tone. Nothing can hinder the sound movement because of the absence of the braces on the back.
Less Popularity Of Round Back Guitars
You might not have come across the round-back guitars on a frequent basis because they are uncommon. Guitarists usually use flat-back guitars.
However, more and more round-back guitars are being in use these days, thanks to the enhanced rigidity and sustain offered by them.
Richness Of Tones
With the round-back acoustic guitars, you will observe the richness in the tones. Although the impact of the guitar back design on the tone is minimal, it is still there for the acoustic guitars.
Who Is Round Back Guitar For?
Players who want something comfortable and you are looking to get something innovative; would love to play these round-back guitars for hours and hours without getting even a little bit tired with your playing experience on them.
Pros Of Round Back
- Improved rigidity, which is similar to that of an arch in a bridge or a building
- Focused – the projection of the sound is more focused with the round shape
- Increased resonant frequency
- Enhanced sustain
Cons Of Round Back
- Weighs more than a flat back
- The excess of sustain can add to the muddiness.
Flat Back Guitar
The flatback design of the guitars is regarded as one of the most sculptural and gorgeous back designs. You can spot the flat-back guitars anywhere. They are the most common ones.
Light In Weight
The low weight of the flat back guitars makes them suitable for a lot of situations where guitarists and musicians are in. The players carry the guitar themselves most of the time.
Therefore, the weight of the guitar is a crucial element when it comes to the ease and comfort of the player. A lightweight flat-back guitar is slimmer than a round-back. The choice for the flat-back guitar is as natural as it can get.
Portability
You can easily and comfortably carry flat back guitars with you. Another factor that contributes to the pros of flat back guitars is their less occupation of space.
If you are planning a trip and you have to carry a guitar with you, the best choice is the guitar with a flat back. You would be unable to carry the heavy round-back guitar.
Popularity
The popularity of the flat back guitar is more than the round back guitar. And the reason behind it is obvious. It offers maximum comfort and playability without getting you exhausted.
Regardless of these factors, it is important what your playing style is and how tall you are. Most of the time, short people are not well adjusted to the flat back guitars.
That is why do thorough research and settle for the guitar that is suitable for you and meets your needs.
Who Is Flat Back Guitar For?
Players with aggressive playing styles on the guitar should opt for the flat-back guitars. Besides, if you move a lot while playing your guitar, the flat shape of the guitar back will suit you the most.
Effect Of The Guitar Back Shape On The Changes In Sound
Most of the players are stuck on the choice of an around back or a flat back mainly because they assume that the shape of the guitar back impacts the sound produced by the guitar. That’s not the case.
It’s the wood type used in the construction of the guitar back that creates the sound difference between the two guitars that are compared with each other.
Whether you use Maple or Rosewood, the sound produced will be highly influenced by these aforementioned wood types, not by the guitar back shape.
Conclusion
Flatbacks come with a bunch of benefits. They are lighter to carry around. Besides, they offer more sustain and resonance. On the other hand, there is a better projection with the round backs.