Round hole and f hole guitars

[Amit Ghorpade]

I am planning to buy an acoustic guitar (beginner purpose) and I came across two variations in the sound hole one is the round and another the f hole.
Now I was told that the round hole guitar is a professional purpose and it losses its sound quality or something very early so not recommended for beginners and the f hole is a durable one.
My personal experience was that the round hole version sounds very clear and is sensitive. Truly speaking way better than the f hole one.
I searched the net for the difference but all I could find was that the f hole is more related to violin type of instruments.
Thoughts?

[Jesper de Jong]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:Now I was told that the round hole guitar is a professional purpose and it losses its sound quality or something very early so not recommended for beginners and the f hole is a durable one.

Who told you that, a salesman who wanted to sell you the more expensive guitar?

There are many different kinds of guitars. The classical Spanish guitar has a round hole and nylon strings. The one with an f-hole is probably a jazz guitar, and most likely has steel strings.

If you're a beginner, I'd recommend a classical type of guitar, with round hole and nylon strings.

[Maneesh Godbole]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:I am planning to buy an acoustic guitar

In the wake of Obama's announcement regarding Buffalo and Bangalore, this sounds like a career move to me

[Amit Ghorpade]

Maneesh Godbole wrote:

Amit Ghorpade wrote:I am planning to buy an acoustic guitar

In the wake of Obama's announcement regarding Buffalo and Bangalore, this sounds like a career move to me

I would love to be a guitarist, but there's long way to go....

Thanks Jesper, the link was helpful.

[Frank Silbermann]

I'm just curious, but what were guitar strings made of a hundred years ago? Did they have the technology to create wound steel wire strings? I know that nylon had not yet been invented ...

[Jesper de Jong]

Frank:

Modern day guitar strings are different than their ancient counterparts. Old strings were made of animal guts. But animal parts are not used in modern day guitars.

From here.

[Pat Farrell]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:I am planning to buy an acoustic guitar (beginner purpose) and I came across two variations in the sound hole one is the round and another the f hole.

Whoever told you this, don't listen to them about anything.

Hole shape is about style. The sound of a guitar does not come out of the hole(s). Sounds comes from something vibrating, either the string or body. The hole can't make sound, as moving a hole doesn't change air pressure.

There are two main classes of guitars: electric and accoustic. but even that distinction is fuzzy, as a lot of acoustic guitars have piezo pickups. So they need an amp.

The normal distinction among acoustic guitars is "folk" and "classical/spanish".
The folks guitar has steel strings, and the tuning pegs are vertical out of the headstock. The classical guitar has "nylon" strings and the tuning pegs are horizontal in slots in the headstock. The neck of a classical guitar is wider, the strings are farther apart.

Traditional classical guitar is played with your thumb and fingers. Folk guitar is usually played with a pick or just your thumb. But these rules are violated all the time.

[Gabriel Claramunt]

Back home I have a "f holes" guitar, but is a semi-hollow electric guitar... I never saw an acoustic f holes guitar (I know they exist but they're far from common)
So, go ahead, and buy the round-hole one
Personally, in acoustic guitars, I prefer the spanish-classic style but any type will be fine for learning purposes.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Pat Farrell wrote:
Whoever told you this, don't listen to them about anything.

Hole shape is about style. The sound of a guitar does not come out of the hole(s). Sounds comes from something vibrating, either the string or body. The hole can't make sound, as moving a hole doesn't change air pressure.

Yes I read on wikipedia and other similar sites that hole contributes more to the type of the guitar as said in the link Jesper provided above. But I could not make out why the round hole sounded more clear than the f hole version, has it anything to do with the type of strings?
I havent played a nylon string guitar yet, all metal, either copper or steel.

[Pat Farrell]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:. But I could not make out why the round hole sounded more clear than the f hole version, has it anything to do with the type of strings?

Making a guitar is an art. Every guitar sounds different, some good, some not so good, a few great.

The strings do make a difference, but its mostly black art. The materials in the body, bracing, etc. are important, even the varnish in the finish.

[Frank Silbermann]

Jesper Young wrote:Frank:

Modern day guitar strings are different than their ancient counterparts. Old strings were made of animal guts. But animal parts are not used in modern day guitars.

From here.

Does anyone ever use gut strings today, if only for old-times' sake? What is their disadvantage (besides cost)?

[Pat Farrell]

Frank Silbermann wrote: Does anyone ever use gut strings today, if only for old-times' sake? What is their disadvantage (besides cost)?

I've not heard of it on guitars.

There are serious musicians who play 17th century instruments, mostly violins, violas, and cellos, with gut. They aim for playing the music as it was written. There are many problems, gut strings are said to be a bear to keep in tune, don't play as loudly, etc.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Thanks a lot for the replies folks
Now I have hunted a while and found a good looking and sounding guitar.
Make : Granada (ever heard of it?) round hole cut-a-way
price : more than twice as any guitar of the same quality.

But it does come with a pickup (is that the term for amp connectivity?). So this is going to be my first an last acoustic guitar (the future is electric) so should I go fo it? Most guitar sites say that listen to the guitar before buying, but to me all sound almost similar. Guess I havent developed that sense yet

[Pat Farrell]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:So this is going to be my first an last acoustic guitar (the future is electric) so should I go fo it? Most guitar sites say that listen to the guitar before buying

Listen and play it. If you don't know how to play, get a friend or teacher to go with you.

If you decide you like playing, it won't be your last acoustic. Most guitarists have many guitars. Several acoustic, several electric.

Guitars are like women, none are the same, lots of them are lovely, and you may fall in love with one, and later another.

[Amit Ghorpade]

Pat Farrell wrote:
Listen and play it. If you don't know how to play, get a friend or teacher to go with you.

I know chords and C minor and G major scale lead. The teacher and friend options are close to no. I'll have to figure it out myself.

Pat Farrell wrote:
If you decide you like playing, it won't be your last acoustic. Most guitarists have many guitars. Several acoustic, several electric.

You are right Pat, but rock is seldom played on acoustic guitar as far as I know, please correct me if I am wrong.

Pat Farrell wrote:
Guitars are like women, none are the same, lots of them are lovely, and you may fall in love with one, and later another.

Well said

[Pat Farrell]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:You are right Pat, but rock is seldom played on acoustic guitar as far as I know, please correct me if I am wrong.

Led Zeplin did a full album that was all acoustic. They literally invented metal rock.

All rules have exceptions. But if you want to play rock, get a Fender Stratocaster and be happy. I have one, and an acoustic, and a semi-acoustic Gibson ES335 with F holes! Each has its charms.

[Gabriel Claramunt]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:Thanks a lot for the replies folks
Now I have hunted a while and found a good looking and sounding guitar.
Make : Granada (ever heard of it?) round hole cut-a-way
price : more than twice as any guitar of the same quality.

But it does come with a pickup (is that the term for amp connectivity?). So this is going to be my first an last acoustic guitar (the future is electric) so should I go fo it? Most guitar sites say that listen to the guitar before buying, but to me all sound almost similar. Guess I havent developed that sense yet

If it's nylon strings, don't worry about having a pick-up. Mine has it and I barely use it. It gives a slightly different sound and is mostly for play louder As a beginner, instead of paying twice for a acoustic guitar, maybe you can buy a cheap acoustic and a cheap electric

For my first guitar, my thoughts were: if I can't notice the difference between a $200 guitar and a $1000 one, why should I buy the expensive one? Later, you'll learn the difference, and you'll be ready to buy a better one

[marc weber]

Amit Ghorpade wrote:... I was told that the round hole guitar is a professional purpose and it losses its sound quality or something very early so not recommended for beginners and the f hole is a durable one...

I'm a solidbody electric player and admit to knowing very little about acoustics, but that "durability" argument doesn't make much sense to me. For a variety of reasons -- mostly related to how they're constructed, and not so much the shape of the holes -- f-hole guitars tend to have a mellower sound and don't usually project with the same perceived volume (especially at the high end).

Note that an acoustic guitar sounds very different when you're playing it, compared to what a listener hears 10 feet in front of you. So have someone else play the guitars while you stand in front and listen.

[marc weber]

Gabriel Claramunt wrote:...For my first guitar, my thoughts were: if I can't notice the difference between a $200 guitar and a $1000 one, why should I buy the expensive one? Later, you'll learn the difference, and you'll be ready to buy a better one

That's exactly right!

[Amit Ghorpade]

Thanks for the inputs Pat, Gabriel and marc (in order of appearance )
I am now in a better position to make a better decision, now I know what I want and what I need
You people have helped even more than the guitar forums.
You all rock