| The steel-stringed acoustic guitar is usually | | | | broke with tradition by introducing The |
| credited with being developed by C.F. Martin | | | | Ovation; an inovative acoustic-guitar |
| and Company sometime during the 1830s. | | | | designed with a round back that is made of |
| Although other "gut-stringed" acoustics were | | | | synthetic materials |
| around at that time, it was the Martin | | | | |
| Company that introduced the idea of | | | | instead of wood. All Ovation guitars feature |
| crossbracing underneath the soundboard which | | | | an adjustable steel tension rod in the neck. |
| enabled the guitar to support the heavier | | | | The tension rod serves two purposes. First of |
| steel strings. Because there is approximately | | | | all, it counterbalances string tension, |
| 160 lbs. of tension created by the use of | | | | |
| steel strings, they should never be put on a | | | | giving the neck addiional strengh. Secondly, |
| classic guitar, for it is not strong enough | | | | it permits adjustment of the neck should |
| to carry them. But thanks in part to C.F. | | | | changes in humidity, string tension, or |
| Martin's new design, the use of steel strings | | | | string guage cause the neck to warp or bow. I |
| on acoustic guitars became fairly common by | | | | |
| the end of the 1800s, and by the 1930s it | | | | |
| became a standardized component.The acoustic | | | | personally own an Ovation Legend Elite |
| steel-stringed guitar is commonly referred to | | | | 12-string acoustic-electric. The guitar is |
| as a "dreadnaught", possibly after a British | | | | beautiful in appearance and features 22 sound |
| battleship by that name, which was the first | | | | holes which are enclosed by a leaf design |
| of it's type to use | | | | made of walnut and padauk. It has a |
| | | | wonderful sound either acoustically or |
| heavy armor and large-caliber guns in | | | | amplified and is extremely easy to play. My |
| turrets.The addition of steel-strings to the | | | | own belief is that Kaman/Ovation makes one of |
| acoustic guitar produced a brighter sound and | | | | the finest 12-string acoustic guitars money |
| created more versatility than was possible | | | | can buy.Now if you're looking for a |
| with the previous gut-stringed instruments. A | | | | 6-stringed acoustic guitar that will bring |
| wide range of tone and color can be achieved | | | | you years of playing enjoyment, you might |
| on the steel-stringed acoustic guitar which | | | | want to consider a Martin. There are several |
| can either be strummed or picked with the | | | | models to choose from, so |
| fingers. This makes it one of the most | | | | |
| popular choices among guitarists of such | | | | you're bound to find a quality instrument at |
| diverse styles as blues, jazz, fingerstlye, | | | | a price you can afford. On the other hand, if |
| bluesgrass, folk, rock and more.When creating | | | | you are looking for a durable and beautiful |
| such a guitar, a luthier's (someone who | | | | 12-stringed acoustic, then Ovation might be |
| builds guitars) primary objective will be to | | | | the |
| achieve a rich quality of sound. The types of | | | | |
| wood used will have a great effect on the | | | | way to go. You can rest assured that, either |
| tone and volume of the instrument, as well as | | | | way, these companies stand behind their |
| it's overall appearance and aesthetic value. | | | | products 100% in order to guarantee your |
| Traditionally spruce (or sometimes western | | | | satisfaction and peace of mind. And that is |
| red cedar) are used for the face of the | | | | worth a whole lot in my book.FREE Reprint |
| | | | Rights - You may publish this article in your |
| guitar. Mahagony is used for the neck, and | | | | e-zine or on your web site as long as you |
| ebony or rosewood for the fretboard. | | | | include the following information:Kathy Unruh |
| Rosewood, mahagony or maple, have | | | | is a singer/songwriter and webmaster of ABC |
| historically been the woods most commonly | | | | Learn Guitar. She has been writing songs and |
| used for the back and | | | | providing guitar lessons to students of all |
| | | | ages for over 20 |
| sides. There are some variations, of course, | | | | |
| but most factory-made guitars use the same | | | | years. |
| recipe.During the 1960s, the Kaman Company | | | | |