What is a Dreadnought or Western Guitar?
Mark WilkesThe Dreadnought rose to fame in the 20th century and has remained one of the most popular guitar types available today, so what makes it different from other acoustics?
Developed by CF Martin for the Oliver Ditson Company in 1916, the Dreadnought is a larger body acoustic with square shoulders and a symmetrical silhouette. It was named for the battleship that was developed a decade earlier, and at the time shared its unprecedented size and power.
The secret of the Dreadnoughts’ success is the balance of the powerful bass tones with a clean sound, made possible by the lightweight construction of the design. It quickly found favour with country artists who at last had an instrument that would compete with the volume of fiddles and banjos, whilst allowing them to remain true to their acoustic style.
The August 19, 1916 edition of Music Trade Review noted the instrument had been “found to be excellent for [the] making of talking-machine records. . . . It is also said to be an excellent instrument for use in auditoriums and large halls.”
Since then, the Martin dreadnought has played a singularly unique role in the shaping of popular music. Country, folk, bluegrass, rock, and pop artists, from Gene Autry and Hank Williams to Doc Watson and Peter Rowan, from Johnny Cash and Jerry Garcia to John Lennon and Kurt Cobain, from Bob Dylan and Beck to Joni Mitchell and Keb’ Mo’, have included the Martin dreadnought in their arsenal.
Said to be the “most copied guitar on earth”, these days a dreadnought model can be found in the catalogue of nearly every major guitar manufacturer. If you’re planning to perform with a band, or you’re simply after a bigger, fuller sound from your acoustic, a dreadnought could be the perfect choice.