Comparison Takamine GD11MCE vs Cort Earth 70

General type of tool.

First of all, it is worth noting that the name “acoustic guitar” in our time can be used both in a broad sense (to denote a whole class of instruments) and in a narrow sense (to denote one of the types of such instruments). Acoustic guitars in the broad sense of the word also include classical and electro-acoustic models, as well as more specific instruments - acoustic bass guitars and ukuleles. Here is a detailed description of each of these varieties.

— Acoustic. Speaking about the types of guitars, “acoustic” refers to relatively modern models that differ in design from the “classics” (see below). In terms of capabilities, the main features of such instruments are the ability to use metal strings, as well as a generally louder and more sonorous sound. Externally, acoustic guitars (in the narrow sense of the word) are distinguished primarily by a relatively narrow and long neck, as well as a slightly different bridge design than classical ones; in addition, most models also have a larger body, the shape of which can be very diverse (see “Shape (type)”). This type of guitar can be used for different playing styles; in this sense it is more versatile than classic models.

- Classic. Instruments created on the basis of traditional Spanish guitars back in...the 19th century and surviving to this day almost unchanged. The classical guitar has a fairly wide neck, as well as a characteristic body shape; this shape is actually a standard, so different models are very similar in outline and differ in appearance mainly in color and the presence/absence of a cutout (see “Cutaway”). The main functional feature of such instruments is the inability to work with metal strings - on the “classics” you can only use nylon. Due to this, such guitars sound very soft and relatively quiet, and as a result, they are poorly suited for aggressive, dynamic chord playing. Therefore, the main purpose of such instruments is classical compositions. Also, this type of guitar is well suited for initial music learning: nylon strings do not cut your fingertips as much as metal ones.

— Electroacoustic. Acoustic guitars, complemented by built-in pickups and, as a rule, tone blocks (see below for both). This allows you not only to use the guitar in a traditional, acoustic format, but also to connect it to an amplifier or other equipment, incl. to add additional effects to the sound using “gadgets”.

- Ukulele. An instrument also known as the "ukulele". Outwardly it is really very similar to a guitar, but it is much smaller in size. There are usually 4 strings on such an instrument; there are other options - 8 (4 double) or 6, as on a regular guitar (“guitalele”), such models are also included in this category. The ukulele became widespread in the Pacific Islands and from the very beginning was associated with Hawaiian traditional music, but this does not stop there: almost the same possibilities are available for such instruments as for ordinary acoustic guitars.

- Bass. Guitars with a low, bass sound. The classical bass has 4 strings in EADG tuning - similar to the third through sixth strings of a six-string guitar, but an octave lower; The strings themselves, accordingly, are also much thicker. Five-string models are less common; they have a similar tuning principle (see “Number of strings”). Externally, many basses stand out with long and narrow necks, although this is not strictly necessary. A special case is the fretless bass: such an instrument does not have saddles on the neck, which expands the possibilities for using various specific sound production techniques, but requires special precision when placing the fingers. In any case, the main use of bass is rhythmic accompaniment, most often in combination with drums; For solo parts, such an instrument is practically not used. Also note that acoustic basses are usually supplemented with pickups - similar to the electro-acoustic guitars described above: it is very difficult to sound such an instrument in another way (with an external microphone).

The presence of a pickup in the design of the guitar.

The pickup allows you to connect the instrument to external equipment — for example, for a concert; it, in accordance with the name, provides sound transmission from the strings to the output (usually through the tone block, see below). By definition, all electric acoustic guitars have this feature, and basses are usually equipped with pickups (see “Type”).

The type of tone block installed in a guitar with a pickup (see above).

The tone block is responsible for processing the signal coming from the pickup before applying this signal to the output of the instrument. Such processing includes at least frequency correction, often also amplification; in addition, it is through the tone block that such functions as a tuner for tuning and an equalizer are implemented (see below). And the types of such blocks can be as follows:

— Active. Tone blocks operating from their own power source (usually a replaceable battery). Such modules are more complicated and more expensive than passive ones, besides, when using them, you need to monitor the condition of the batteries and change them in time. On the other hand, the active operation scheme allows you to implement many advanced functions: high-quality frequency correction, gain, impedance matching with an external amplifier, as well as the equalizer and tuner mentioned above. Thus, most guitars with pickups nowadays are equipped with active tone blocks.

— Passive. Passive tone blocks do not have electronics that require additional power, so they are inexpensive and extremely easy to use. At the same time, the capabilities of such blocks are much more modest: for example, timbre correction in them is carried out only by cutting off “extra” frequencies, and there is no talk of amplification at all. This variant has not been widely used.

The presence in the guitar tone block (see above) of the equalizer function.

The equalizer in this case means the ability to set the volume level for each individual frequency band. This allows you to quite accurately adjust the tone block to the desired sound. Guitar equalizers usually have less than 3 bands (low, medium, high frequencies) — this is quite enough for the initial adjustment (it makes sense to fine-tune the sound already on external equipment).

The presence of a built-in tuner in the guitar tone block (see above).

The tuner is used when tuning the guitar: it “listens” to each string and tells the musician how much the pitch of its sound corresponds to the reference (higher, lower, normal). This equipment greatly simplifies the setup. Tuners can also be produced as external devices, however, the presence of such electronics directly in the tone block is much more convenient: at least, it is always at hand and is not lost. For more details about the features of such devices, see "Tuner" below.

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.

Guitar body construction, including both soundboards and sides. For these parts, two main types of wood can be used: solid (solid) and puff (better known as plywood). Plywood is cheaper than solid wood, but loses to it in terms of acoustic properties. Therefore, the type of deck in the characteristics is usually indicated only if solid wood is present in it. However, if data on the deck is not given, this does not mean that the instrument is made entirely of plywood; in addition, it is worth noting that some types of plywood come close to solid wood in terms of acoustic properties. Therefore, without having information on the deck design, it makes sense to focus primarily on the price category of the instrument.

Options for a solid tree can be as follows:

— One piece top. The English name is also used — solid top. We are talking about instruments in which only the upper deck is made of solid wood — the rest of the body is made of plywood. This option is a good compromise between sound quality and affordable price, it is quite popular in mid-range guitars.

— Completely whole. A body in which all parts are made of solid wood — both decks and sides. This is the most advanced option in terms of acoustics — especially since some types of wood even improve over time (provided that it is solid wood). However, a completely one-piece body is quite expensive, so this option is found...mainly in high-end professional instruments.

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 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.