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