Post questions and share your wisdom about guitars and gear in the Guitar Talk Forums . In a world in which more and bigger are generally considered better, the small-bodied guitar is sometimes overshadowed by its larger and more popular cousin, the dreadnought. But many players prefer smaller instruments for a variety of reasons. Physical size is one important consideration.
Smaller players can have a hard time getting comfortable with a dreadnought or a jumbo guitar.
The large lower bout and deep body can cause discomfort, especially in the right arm. Even bigger folks may find that smaller guitars allow them to concentrate on their technique rather than on merely holding the guitar in their lap. Another perhaps more important reason for choosing a small-bodied guitar is the instrument s sound. Although they re generally not as powerful as dreadnoughts or jumbos, many small-bodies have a more delicate voice with great balance and intriguing tonal complexity. Fingerstyle players are often drawn toward smaller guitars because of their quick response and the rich sound they can elicit with a soft attack.