All guitars used to be 12 fret style.
The 12 fret design remains the standard for the nylon string classical guitar.
Think about the classical guitarist.
The orchestrations are often meant to be played without accompaniment.
The instruments crafted for classical music were engineered to tonal perfection.
The classical guitar was engineered for maximum tonal reponsiveness.
Musical styles shifted in the 1920s and guitars were seen in the dance bands and orchestras.
Instrumental soloing increased as roots and jazz music blended and evolved in the popular venues.
For the guitarist the magic happened on the upper frets.
The repsonse of the luthier was a guitar with 14 frets above the body.
After “Muddy Waters invented electricity,” the guitar player began to step into the spot light.
Double cut aways on electric guitars launched the guitarist into the strat osphere.
In response to the musicians request for higher altitudes the luthier cut away the lower bout of the acoustic instrument body in order to imitate the shape of an electric guitar.
Why does there seem to be a renewed interest in acoustic 12 fret guitars?
Guitar players are looking to the luthier for instruments of a more classic design.
There are few 14 fret nylon string acoustic guitars.
Perfection in sound and playability are the continued goals of the craft of the guitar.
There are some 12 fret guitars being made with a cut away on the lower bout.
The result is an instrument with better acoustics and upper fretboard access.
Fingerstyle guitar players look for the tonal qualities available in a 12 fret acoustic guitar.
12 fret acoustics will often have a wider neck which fingerstyle players like.
1 3/4 inch nut width is not uncommon on these guitars.
Extra wide necks are the rule for classical guitars.
The acoustic 12 fret guitar will never be lost to the instruments evolutionary development.
Tags: 12 fret, 12 fret guitar, acoustic guitar, Fingerstyle guitar