Why change acoustic guitars between songs?

wichita_lineman · Not So Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 7

I've noticed players like John Denver and James Taylor and others changing acoustic guitars in the middle of their concerts. Why do they do this? These guys will change guitars even when the guitar is not that prominent. i.e. - full orchestra with several other guitarists playing at the same time. It's not like they're switching between acoustic and Fender electrics, which WOULD be a totally different sound. I don't they're changing to get a different sound cause 1) The style of the songs they are changing guitars between are so similar, and 2) A good guitar is a good guitar, and I can't really tell the difference between a good Martin, Taylor, Gibson, or whatever. I can't listen to a song on the radio and tell what brand it is. Can you? But if they aren't changing to get a different sound, (I'm not talking about 6-string to 12-string or vice versa), they why else?

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

The do indeed changes the guitars for the sound of the guitar. I can spot a les paul from a Strat but I would not be able to spot two different acoutsics. I bet you some of the board member can!

I have heard of people that will change a cable for a better sound in a song!

wichita_lineman · Not So Newbie Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 7

cable? what's that?

markm2553 · Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 6:36 am Post subject:

There are several reasons someone might change guitars during a concert, one would be to keep from breaking a string. Another would be if the song is fingerpicked or strummed. On stage most artists use a pickup, they may use different guitars with the pickups set different, everything having been fine tuned before the show, not during.
Might be playing some songs in different tunings altogether, many artist do this.

There is a difference between guitar tones. You can tell a difference between guitars when you play them a lot. I own three Seagull's you could blindfold me and strum them and I could name each one.
I will sometimes change guitars myself between songs at Church, my Spruce top is a little more bassy and I like it better for "tradional" stuff.

These are just a few off the top of my head.

Bates15 · Moderator Joined: 19 Feb 2002 Posts: 1084

dertsa · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:23 pm Post subject:

With acoustic guitars, it's all in the wood. Even acoustic electric. different woods mean different resonance. I prefer a maple top, however, there are some songs were the power behind a spruce top would be nice to have. they're very slight changes in the sound, but the difference is huge when you have a group behind you.

With one of the groups I play with for a local radio station, the rythem guitarist and lead singer plays a spruce top. Probably not on purpose because we're not that technical, but the fact that the spruce top is heard and lays down the may rythem. I can then come over top that with my maple top Takamine or my Strat and do fills. This creates a sound in which the lead guitar is heard, but the tone of the rythem guitar isn't lost in the process.

The only thing I've ever changed acoustics for is tuning (just because i'm not coordinated enough to tuning and talk to the audience at the same time).

KY Ratshooter · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 2:40 pm Post subject:

I have steel string guitars in several open tunings and one in "Nashville" tuning, besides nylon strung guitars for finger style picking.

Often just the gauge of strings will give a diferent sound, more sustain, more ring.