Singlecut vs. Doublecut electrics. Why a single cut?

[sunvalleylaw]

Any cutaway on a pure acoustic will hurt sound quality and volume.
If you're plugging in, who cares?

EG

Hmm. I wonder. I used to think that. But given that most tone is from the fingers, if I can't properly fret the notes I want, then the tone suffers that way. Depends on how you want to use it I guess. OTOH, a full dread makes me figure out how to play the lines I want somewhere else, so there is that too.

This thread was more about electrics to stay out of that argument, but it is another interesting question that may be difficult to prove one way or the other objectively.

 

[Modern Saint]

it's not about measurements. the overwhelming majority of doublecut guitars are offset in some way. the exceptions being anything based on the LP Junior. that's really the only one. consider that 50% of the electric guitar market is the Stratocaster and clones. all offset doublecuts.

The LP Jr and strat are not symmetrical guitars.

 

[Modern Saint]

Even the Jr. isn't perfectly symmetrical. If you draw a straight horizontal line from the tip of the upper horn, you'll see the lower horn is a good bit shorter.

that's close enough, Greg.

Asymmetrical

Same thing with the SG.

Symmetrical

 

[Prages]

Symmetrical

The SG is no more symmetrical than the Jr.

 

[Modern Saint]

The SG is no more symmetrical than the Jr.

I see it now. Deceiving and sneaky.....

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

The LP Jr and strat are not symmetrical guitars.

so why are you arguing that they are?

 

[Prages]

so why are you arguing that they are?

Because it's the internet and arguing is fun.

Hello, pot, I'm kettle.

 

[Modern Saint]

so why are you arguing that they are?

I didn't argue the Jr. - just the SG until I saw the discrepency

Here you go - symmetrical

 

[Modern Saint]

Or better yet....

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

yes, but those are not the majority. they are indeed the vast minority.

 

[Modern Saint]

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

all in the vast minority of guitars sold.

 

[Modern Saint]

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

you can post as many pictures as you want. you're still wrong.

 

[Modern Saint]

I never said I was right

 

[BoomBoomBigelow]

the double cut electric seems like a pretty radical idea to me given how traditional most guitarists through the ages have been. you have to remember that the electric guitar sprouted from the acoustic guitar ("acoustic" being a retronym). while cutaways appeared as early as the 19th century on acoustic guitars, most guitarists have weird feeling about the cutaway. either they're too manly to need one, the cutaway "takes a way from the tone", or something else equally stupid. so now you apply this thinking to a wholly radical idea like the electric, and it makes total sense that the first solidbodies were all single cutaways. manufacturers were trying to attract traditionalists to their new radical designs. a Telecaster or Les Paul pretty much looks like it's hollow, cutaway counterparts. the Strat, which is the first doublecut most people came across, was that next step because of player involvement in its development.

personally, i don't think it matters either way.

^^^This, pretty much; the evolution of tradition. Tradition is a major component of the guitar player gestalt.

Retronym. Nice word, HIAR. I don't think I've heard that word before, but in a second I new what it meant..

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

^^^This, pretty much; the evolution of tradition. Tradition is a major component of the guitar player gestalt.

Retronym. Nice word, HIAR. I don't think I've heard that word before, but in a second I new what it meant..

i think i first read it in Tim Brookes "Guitar: An American Life", which was a really great book about the history of the instrument through the 20th century.

 

[BoomBoomBigelow]

i think i first read it in Tim Brookes "Guitar: An American Life", which was a really great book about the history of the instrument through the 20th century.

Lot's of juicy pics?

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

Lot's of juicy pics?

some. it's more of a narrative. but a really well written and engaging one. it's not dry at all.

 

[aliensporebomb]

I guess I prefer this style doublecuts for Les Paul type guitars: