Body size to guitar size ratio ...

[WillaMuse]

Pardon me if this has been discussed before.  I'm just curious.  Today I was reading an older post where the commentor was talking about how the GS bodies were too big for him.  S/he wrote that the neck length was too long and the bottom half of the guitar was just too big for him.  S/he did not state their height, so maybe the person was even shorter than I am.  He wrote to suggest that others on the hunt for new guitars might want to consider those factors, especially if they were ordering on line, and have never actually held the guitar in their hands.  I agree with his comment.  Here's the thing though:  I am 5'4" tall, and I own two GS body Taylors (as well as a few other sizes of miscellaneous guitars).   I like big guitars and manage to play them (albeit with my mediocre at best skills) without much difficulty.   I don't really have any problem with reach or my shoulder hurting or anything like that.  I think I may even prefer the big ones! 

Maybe I am not so much affected by the size because I own other guitars and I alternate shapes and sizes.  I am however, affected by the  weight of some guitars.  I have an exquisite vintage Adamas that is SO heavy!  I play it anyway, because it sounds incredible (the guitar, not my playing!) but I tend to neglect it some because of its weight.   
Has anyone here ever had to return a purchased guitar because you realized the guitar was too big?  I suspect there are some out there. 


Willa

[Strumming Fool]

It may have less to do with size and more to do with shape. As you can see below, I'm a GA fan. I sold a GS BTO  a few years back (here's the link):

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/acousticguitars/products.php?pcid=10064&cid=37393&pid=35312


because it was not comfortable to me. I've owned a Taylor W65 (jumbo 12-string) that I found to be more comfortable. I used to play dreadnoughts all the time, but they don't feel very comfortable any more. For me, I think it's the waist of the guitar. The wider the waist in proportion to the body, the less I enjoy the playing experience. I'm 5' 6", 140 lbs, and I almost always play standing up with a strap.

YMMV....

[roadbiker]

Have you ever seen TOmmy Shaw (Styx) play a Taylor GA? The guitar is almost as big as him...

Jim

[cigarfan]

Maybe I'm just fortunate but just about every size/shape is OK by me. I'm 6'1" and 205 with no health issues so I guess that may have something to do with it. Believe me, I count my blessings every day. Converse is true too. I like the little guys as much as the big ones.

I have sold a few guitars but not one I can think of due to size.

[egkor]

Has anyone here ever had to return a purchased guitar because you realized the guitar was too big?  I suspect there are some out there. 

I've returned a Taylor Jumbo (615ce) because of what the size did to the tone (reduced trebles/sustain) of the guitar, not the *physical* size.

-Gary K

[Strumming Fool]

Another factor is where you hold the guitar in relation to your body. I suppose that the seated position is somewhat of an equalizer for most folks, but when playing standing up, there are way more options. When I was in my teens, I thought it was cool to sling my guitar very low (like the rock stars of the day). In that position, body size/shape was not a factor. As I "matured", I realized that my chops were much better with the guitar slung higher, because it brought the neck into a more comfortable position. The counter result was the negative effect of a wide waist that forced my right arm into a less than comfortable position. That's where the narrow waist really becomes more of an advantage for me.

[M19]

I'm finding that with my new GS Mini, I am "hunching over," and it puts tension on my mid-back. More-so than the Martin, so maybe there's a scale length factor too? Just my natural posture, that playing the (jumbo) Lowden is more comfortable than the (0) Mini. I'm 6', 190.

The big guitars make me do what my Mom always told me...Sit up straight!"

[mgap]

It may have less to do with size and more to do with shape. As you can see below, I'm a GA fan. I sold a GS BTO  a few years back (here's the link):

http://www.martinmusicguitar.com/products/acousticguitars/products.php?pcid=10064&cid=37393&pid=35312


because it was not comfortable to me. I've owned a Taylor W65 (jumbo 12-string) that I found to be more comfortable. I used to play dreadnoughts all the time, but they don't feel very comfortable any more. For me, I think it's the waist of the guitar. The wider the waist in proportion to the body, the less I enjoy the playing experience. I'm 5' 6", 140 lbs, and I almost always play standing up with a strap.

YMMV....

I have had a couple of Taylor dreads(710 and a 510)and they sounded great.  The trouble I had was the waist shape.  Having a shoulder injury it put stress on me by setting my should up to high and after a extended period of playing it began to hurt.  When I went to a GA it simply eliminated that problem, I have a GS and still no problem.  So I agree with Strumming Fool and attribute the waist shape to my problem of discomfort.  I would bet that a jumbo would feel suitable as well because of the narrow waist, I will have to give one a go sometime.

[CodeBlueEMT]

 I had an Ovation 1612 that you literally chased all over the place because of the rounded back. It was "slippery" whether standing or sitting. The only remedy was to play shirtless.

[bo1142]

Have you ever seen TOmmy Shaw (Styx) play a Taylor GA? The guitar is almost as big as him...

Jim

I was thinking the same thing.  Also Tim Reynolds and his Martin; it looks like a little kid playing his dads guitar on stage LOL

[WillaMuse]

I had an Ovation 1612 that you literally chased all over the place because of the rounded back. It was "slippery" whether standing or sitting. The only remedy was to play shirtless.

Ha!  Well, since I am a woman, "playing shirtless" definitely doesn't work for ME, haha.   I love my Ovations and Adamas guitars but I do prefer using a strap with them.

I am surprised that switching from a GS to a GA would make much of a difference.  I haven't played a GA in a while though.


Willa

[michaelw]

the GS body contour is a bit different than the GA in that the waist is
3/8" wider at it's narrowest point & the lower bout is a 1/4" wider -
the depth is the same at the end pin, but the taper of the body
seems to be more gradual, especially at the neck heel, to me

on paper, when sitting with the waist of the guitar on ones knee
the lower bout of the GS would sit just over a 1/4" higher -
personally, i like the GS shape (although the deep body dreadnought BTO option intrigues me)


ovation has developed some models with a contour bowl
http://www.ovationguitars.com/guitars/product/cc29s_4c
seeing that guitars that have a bevel on the top of the lower bout are usually called 'arm-rests' &
a bevel at the top of the lower bout on the back have been referred to as 'rib-rests', i imagine that
the ovation design could  be called an 'abdomen-rest', more nicely put than a 'gut' or 'belly' rest

i've seen pics of Tommy Shaw playing dreadnought, jumbos & double necks - he can hold his own

[Tayzalor]

I don't mind larger sizes when standing or sitting on a stool but for practical purposes I am trying out some smaller guitars. I just got a GS Mini to use in my elementary age classroom - I find it cumbersome to teach with a GA strapped to me. For home, I am trying out a 712ce...might be more comfortable on the couch, I can still plug in for concerts, and I'm OK if it isn't as loud given that I do most of my playing after the kidlets are in bed.

[Giraku]

Another factor is where you hold the guitar in relation to your body. I suppose that the seated position is somewhat of an equalizer for most folks, but when playing standing up, there are way more options. When I was in my teens, I thought it was cool to sling my guitar very low (like the rock stars of the day). In that position, body size/shape was not a factor. As I "matured", I realized that my chops were much better with the guitar slung higher, because it brought the neck into a more comfortable position. The counter result was the negative effect of a wide waist that forced my right arm into a less than comfortable position. That's where the narrow waist really becomes more of an advantage for me.

Also when sitting, some people prefer to hold a guitar on the left thigh instead of the right.
This is a classical style, which I prefer as I started my guitar playing life with classical style at 8 y.o.
I'm 5'9, but with the classical style, GS sized body is too big to have on the left thigh as I am forced to have my legs wide open.
So when playing a GS sized guitar, I usually stand up and use a strap.

[Jannie]

I keep trying dreads, loving what I hear but just too uncomfortable with them. I play sitting. I had a GC3 and I think it was the smaller front bout or something but I had all kinds of back, wrist, hand, shoulder problems. I switched to a 000 and all of that went away which is weird because they're kind of the same but something is different. I think from trying, that I'd like a GA and have seriously considered last years model of the 714ce. I've tried smaller 00 sized guitars and really don't think I would last long sitting without a strap, just as uncomfortable as a dread but in a very different way. I'm tall for a woman, 5'11" and even though I love playing a short 24.9" neck because of the Light strings, I keep wondering if I'd like a neck that's a little longer. I think you just have to play something for awhile to see how it fits.