Q & A
Acoustic Guitar Questions & Answers
Question
I'm trying to figure out how to explain to this very nice woman (who owns a music store) why it's not wise to correct people who point to an acoustic guitar and call it an acoustic guitar. She would correct them by saying "that's an electric." Sadly, only in the last few months have I realized that it's more the norm than the exception for an acoustic guitar to have an internal pickup and adjustment knobs. I've been playing 30 years. But am I right that they are still referred to as acoustic guitars? What would you say if you called a shop asking if they had a guitar with a round sound hole and a big ol' traditional, typical wooden acoustic resonator but it could plug right into an amp with a standard electric guitar cable? What would the sentence be? - Francisco
Answer
You are correct, many acoustics now come with electronics. They are technically called acoustic/electrics (a term that is, thankfully, fading out of use.) But it is also common, proper, accurate, better, (and easier) to just call them acoustics. Then you can say “This acoustic also has a pickup and electronics, so you can play it live through a PA system or amp.” Here is how I would explain it:
An acoustic with a pickup is not considered an electric guitar by most guitar players. They are designed to sound like acoustics guitars when played through a PA (usually using a direct box) or an acoustic guitar amp (less common.)
An “electric” guitar is designed to be used with an electric guitar amp and effects. The amp plays a big role in their sound. Most are solidbody or semi-hollowbody guitars. Although there are full hollowbody electric guitars (usually used for jazz or rockabilly) and they are actually acoustic guitars also (although they are often used with amps), but they are rarely called acoustic guitars. They are more often called “jazz guitars” or “archtops.”
So there is overlap (and now there are hybrids also), but if it can be played without an amp and the intention is to get an acoustic guitar sound (when amplified) then it is still considered an acoustic guitar. If the intention is to get more of an amp sound (clean or overdriven) then the guitar is considered an electric guitar.
This is confusing for non-players, for sure (and apparently for your store owner also, who is apparently not a guitar player.) But calling an acoustic guitar with a pickup an electric guitar is, in my opinion, wrong and confusing for buyers.
I hope this helps.
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