Archtop Acoustic Guitar VS Flat Top: Difference & Which Is Better?

Archtop Acoustic Guitar, Definition & Wider Sense

Generally, archtop acoustic guitar refers to the acoustic guitar body with arched top.

However, we think the archtop acoustic guitar maybe derived from the top of electric guitar hollow body with standard pickups (single coil or humbucker). Because it is a common type on electric guitars. Also, there are arched backs.

Although it is not so common to deploy arched top on acoustic guitars, there are many indeed. And because the bigger sound that this kind of acoustic guitar body makes, the acoustic guitar is mainly for jazz music. Besides, it is so common to equip pickups on such kind of guitars. If with piezo, makes the guitar more like standard acoustic instrument.

Therefore, the term archtop guitar is somewhat a general name of both acoustic guitar and electric guitar body.

As mentioned above, the archtop guitar body often be found on hollow electric guitar body and acoustic guitar body. However, there are also many electric guitars with solid bodies or semi-hollowed bodies with such type of tops. Thus, we shouldn’t be confused. But do remember that kind of body is commonly for the guitars to play jazz music.

What Is Flat Top Acoustic Guitar?

Flat top acoustic guitar is a standard acoustic guitar that most frequently be seen.

When you go to a guitar store, most of the acoustic guitars hanging on the wall as flat top guitars. That is, an acoustic guitar body with flat top or soundboard.

Most importantly, the bracing system inside determines the durability, resonance ability, etc. The flat top is made of various tone wood, most of time, it is Spruce or Cedar.

Configure with different wood material of acoustic body, you can get various sound performance. That is why such type of acoustic guitar can be versatile.

More About Archtop & Flat Top Acoustic Guitar

The overall tone of flat top acoustic guitar is crisper and shimmering. And the archtop acoustic guitar has a smoother and rounder tone.

Although as we understand, archtop acoustic guitar brings more volume than flat top guitar, it seems the same for some players.

And for most of time, archtop is used on electric guitar body. It is very rare to use this kind of top on acoustic guitar.

Which Is Better?

Well, we don’t think this is a proper question when making the decision.

It mainly depends on what style of music you prefer and the level of the skill you have mastered. If you are a beginner of acoustic guitar, archtop acoustic guitar should not the type you are looking for.

Besides, for archtop guitar, we highly recommend full solid acoustic guitar. It is not worthy to waste time and risk the quality on solid top one.

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