onewilyfool Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 This is a very interesting question. I have a Washburn OM size arch top guitar from 1932, called a Collegiate, which is VERY loud, especially with a pic, and can cut through any mix of guitars at a jam. My 1961 00-17 is amazing loud for it's size, but even across the strings, and just good tone. My EARS, tend to gravitate to my J-45 Pure Voice, which has the Adi top which gives the trebles a nice ring, AND has that heavy bass. I think generally, I hear guitars with lots of bass as being louder. Probably a preference developed over years of jamming with Dreadnaughts. I did have a J-200 Jumbo Koa, but despite of it's size, it wasn't as loud as my J-45 Pure Voice. What is YOUR loudest guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 I do not play with a pick. The '57 J-50 strung with mediums sizzles. Give the D-35 a couple of years to find its legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 my sj200 for sure. My Taylor GS is pretty loud, but not the canon the J200 is. I occasionally do vocal rehearsals with my duo partner with no sound system. just two knuckle heads in his parlor with our acoustics. It seems to us, when we've paid attention to this, the J200 is about twice the volume of his Takemini Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lars68 Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 My AJ with adi top is crazy loud. Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Either my J100 walnut or the Dove. I think I kind of lean toward the Dove. Maple resonates and this Dove is a real beast. The Dove has much more volume than I imagined it would have before I had one. Truly a loud and resonating guitar. You can literally hear the sound roaring out of the sound hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Easily, my Strat through my old Mesa Boogie amp! [biggrin] BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbpark Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 my 2012 Advanced Jumbo. Louder than any other acoustic I currently own or have owned, including a 2012 SJ200 and a Martin HD-28. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Since I own no dread, I can't say I have a 'loud' guitar. I guess in a strum test with my Red Bear 'thin' the L0 is slightly louder than my old Martin 00018. That surprises me and makes me think I need to bring in the Martin for a set-up analysis. If you don't mind me glomming on to your topic, Wily, I've been contemplating the addition of arm rests for my acoustics. Loudness and tone are different but can be related. Rumor is that arm rests restore up to 20% of tone that may otherwise be suppressed by body contact. Anyone here use and/or endorse them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave F Posted August 24, 2016 Share Posted August 24, 2016 Since I own no dread, I can't say I have a 'loud' guitar. I guess in a strum test with my Red Bear 'thin' the L0 is slightly louder than my old Martin 00018. That surprises me and makes me think I need to bring in the Martin for a set-up analysis. If you don't mind me glomming on to your topic, Wily, I've been contemplating the addition of arm rests for my acoustics. Loudness and tone are different but can be related. Rumor is that arm rests restore up to 20% of tone that may otherwise be suppressed by body contact. Anyone here use and/or endorse them? I had an Ovation that had very sharp edges and the arm dampened the sound board very noticeably. I thought it looked real nice and was very comfortable and it worked. My Country Gentleman came with one on it from the factory. I believe I have one I picked up at a warehouse sale. If interested, PM me and let me know what kind of guitar you want to put it on and I'll check out it's shape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 To me, there's a difference between loud as I play and loud as I sit and listen. Although it doesn't sound loud as I play my '68 Dove, people tell me that when they hear it the volume is huge. I've listened to other people playing that one, and have to agree. From any location, however, the '42 Banner J-45 takes the prize, even if you're trying to play quietly. I most often string it with Martin PB Custom Lights, and it's for sure built to be heard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdd707 Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My AJ, hands down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Easily my AJ. It's the loudest acoustic guitar I have ever heard... any brand, any vintage. With one exception: one particular pre-war D45 that Martin has in their museum. But only that 1 prewar. not others. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimt Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Brazilian Franklin OM45 .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My Sj200 in maple is "fuller", but my J45 in Koa is "louder" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Probably cheating, but my Guild JF30-12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My 1936 Epiphone Zenith, then my 1972 Gibson SJD, then my 1994 Gibson Gospel Reissue. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phelonious Ponk Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 '03 OJ P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58 Relic Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My J45 wins but last month I was I my local store trying out some Gibson models and a J45 Custom I played was really loud , louder than a J200 . In a size v volume battle my GSMini would win but my J45 has really increased in volume and depth during its first year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesse_Dylan Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I've put a lot of thought into this topic. I think sometimes when we say "loud," we actually mean "projective." Other times, we mean do mean volume, as in sheer breadth of tone. I think my SJ-200 has a lot of volume, but I don't think it's particularly loud as in projective. I actually think my WM-00 is louder (really projective and responsive) than my SJ-200. It's not that my SJ-200 is quiet; the WM-00 is just really loud. It projects like crazy. The SJ-200 puts out tremendous volume and breadth of sound, but I don't think it projects that much. I actually don't know if most dreadnoughts are even "loud." Voluminous, yes, but loud in the projective sense, not necessarily. However, my loudest guitar, and it is actually rather too loud and sizzly for me, is my Martin M-36. I don't know if it's the Italian Alpine spruce top, the Martin design, the shallower depth, all of the above, but it has an extreme amount of projection, and it has near the "volume" of sound of my SJ-200. I have to tune my M-36 down a half-step to quieten it a bit, and it's been a chore finding strings I like on it. I think I prefer dead strings on it. I actually wish it had the standard sitka top instead, but that's how it goes. I would have been fine without any of the customizations. Except the sunburst. That was necessary. (Or I could have gotten ambertone.) Outdated photo from a few months after I first got it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boyd Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My 1974 J-50, hands down, it is surprisingly loud. Now I know certain people who like to say the the 70's Gibson sound like they are stuffed with socks, etc. If you are talking about the tonal quality, I can understand that. But all that bracing certainly isn't making the guitar quiet. And I can quantify it as well, if I am recording then I have to lower the volume of the guitar mic if I switch from the 2008 J-50 to the 1974. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacamartin Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 LOL...I'm louder than any of mine..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Yes, the Advanced Jumbo, especially with new strings, sounds like an acoustic Les Paul .... probably followed by the Martin J-40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 I've put a lot of thought into this topic. I think sometimes when we say "loud," we actually mean "projective." Other times, we mean do mean volume, as in sheer breadth of tone. I think my SJ-200 has a lot of volume, but I don't think it's particularly loud as in projective. I actually think my WM-00 is louder (really projective and responsive) than my SJ-200. It's not that my SJ-200 is quiet; the WM-00 is just really loud. It projects like crazy. The SJ-200 puts out tremendous volume and breadth of sound, but I don't think it projects that much. I actually don't know if most dreadnoughts are even "loud." Voluminous, yes, but loud in the projective sense, not necessarily. However, my loudest guitar, and it is actually rather too loud and sizzly for me, is my Martin M-36. I don't know if it's the Italian Alpine spruce top, the Martin design, the shallower depth, all of the above, but it has an extreme amount of projection, and it has near the "volume" of sound of my SJ-200. I have to tune my M-36 down a half-step to quieten it a bit, and it's been a chore finding strings I like on it. I think I prefer dead strings on it. I actually wish it had the standard sitka top instead, but that's how it goes. I would have been fine without any of the customizations. Except the sunburst. That was necessary. (Or I could have gotten ambertone.) Outdated photo from a few months after I first got it Are you speaking of what used to be called 'cutting power'? I'm not sure if that's a synonym for projection as you use it here, but if that's the case I tend to agree with the concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 My battered, bruised, and beautiful 1929 Nick Lucas: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh8iM33zSkw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
songman Posted August 25, 2016 Share Posted August 25, 2016 Loudest? My Martin HD28V and my Larrivee D10 a close second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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