Have you ever seen a guitar with a special scoop out of its body, near where the neck meets the strings? That’s called a cutaway! For many guitar players, especially those who love to explore the higher notes on the fretboard, this feature makes a big difference. But when you’re looking for a new acoustic guitar, deciding if you *need* a cutaway can feel a bit tricky. There are so many guitars out there, and it’s easy to get lost in all the choices.
Many beginners and even experienced players wonder if a cutaway is just a fancy design or if it really helps them play better. You might be worried about spending money on a guitar that doesn’t actually improve your playing experience. Will it sound different? Will it be harder to hold? These are all good questions that can make choosing a guitar feel overwhelming.
In this post, we’re going to break down exactly what an acoustic guitar cutaway is and why it matters. We’ll explore how it can help you reach those soaring high notes with ease and comfort. By the end, you’ll understand if a cutaway is the right choice for your playing style and what to look for when you’re shopping. Let’s dive in and make your guitar journey smoother!
Top Acoustic Guitar Cutaway Recommendations
- One right-handed Fender California Debut Redondo CE acoustic guitar – a perfect beginner guitar for all ages
- Designed by the most trusted name in guitar and backed by a 75-year legacy of quality and craftsmanship
- This beginner guitar comes with a 30-day subscription to Fender Play that includes lessons with thousands of instructional videos to build your skills by playing the songs you love, all with no additional cost
- The California Debut Redondo Series Acoustic Guitar features the iconic 6-in-line Fender headstock shape and dreadnought body shape with a reslient laminate construction for durability
- The easy to play "C" - shaped neck, walnut fingerboard and light weight all-laminate body allow for a comfortable playing feel; the onboard electronics make tuning and amplification a breeze, so this guitar is always ready for practice or performance
- AN AMERICAN ORIGINAL 130 years of history is at the root of our foundation building high quality instruments. Many of the biggest names in music have played Washburn and some of the most significant trendsetting songs has been played on a Washburn
- THE GO-TO COMPANION The Washburn WA90CE dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar is a go-to companion for the living room, the campfire or the stage, with a solid balance of stability, tone and aesthetics
- BODY & FINISH The cutaway makes it easy to reach the uppermost frets. It has Okoume wood back and sides, and Transparent Black Burst color with gloss finish. The WA90CE is ideal for strumming, playing some blues or bluegrass flat picking
- BARCUS BERRY ELECTRONICS The Barcus Berry LX4 preamp with built-in tuner means you’ll always be ready to plug in and in perfect tune. Bass, Middle, Treble, Presence, Volume, Tuner on/off controls makes this perfect to take anywhere and play anytime!
- NECK & HARDWARE Additional features include chrome die-cast tuners, a walnut bridge and an ABS saddle and nut. Great guitar for adults
- 【Well Made Craftsmanship】: Boasts a spruce top complemented by a mahogany back and sides, reinforced with X bracing for durability and sound quality; The fretboard features 20 brass frets with clear position markers on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets, designed to withstand years of practice and performance
- 【Rich Warm Clear Sound】: The combination of a spruce top and mahogany body offers a rich, warm, and clear sound with a balanced tone and full mid-frequency; This construction enhances the instrument's sustain, ensuring each note resonates fully
- 【Stays in Tune】: This beginner guitar is strung with phosphor bronze strings over a high carbon steel hex core, paired with a high hardness bridge saddle and a plastic steel nut; This setup makes the guitar easy to tune and helps it stay in tune longer, maintaining sound quality after the strings have been stretched and played in
- 【Maximum Playability】: A full-size 41-inch acoustic guitar with a cutaway body, producing a full and vibrant tone suitable for various musical styles; Its design optimizes playability and tone for beginners, providing a quality instrument that encourages learning and growth
- 【Complete Beginner Acoustic Guitar Kit】: Donner acoustic guitar bundle includes guitar, padded gig bag, strap, digital clip-on tuner, capo, pickguard, extra pack of string, 4 Picks, clean cloth and Allen wrench. Start playing right out of box
- 【Most Complete Steel String Guitar Set】: Donner acoustic guitar kit includes guitar, gig bag, strap, tuner, capo, pickguard, extra strings, picks, clean cloth, and Allen wrench; Comes with all necessary accessories for beginners; Ready to play right out of the box. Ideal for beginners, professionals, adults, teens, and children
- 【Well Made Craftsmanship】: Spruce top, mahogany back and sides with X bracing; Exquisite black spray paint. 20 brass frets with position marks at 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets; A solid instrument built to last
- 【Rich Warm Clear Sound】: Spruce top and mahogany body deliver a rich, warm, and clear sound with balanced tone and full mid-range; Prolongs resonance for a more vibrant sound
- 【Stay in Tune】: Phosphor bronze strings with high carbon steel hex core and high hardness bridge saddle and plastic steel nut; Donner beginner guitar is easy to tune and holds tune after initial string stretch
- 【Playability】: Full-size 41-inch dreadnought body for a full and vibrant tone suitable for all music styles; Donner acoustic guitar offers excellent playability and tone for starters
- Rich, Balanced Acoustic Tone – Orchestra-style body with a select spruce top and sapele back & sides delivers warm lows, clear highs, and a well-balanced sound ideal for strumming, fingerpicking, and everyday practice.
- Advanced X-Bracing for Better Resonance – Jasmine’s Advanced “X” Bracing strengthens the top while enhancing vibration and projection, producing fuller tone and improved sound quality.
- Smooth Playability & Comfortable Neck – Features a slim neck profile and full 25.5” scale length for comfortable fretting, easy chord transitions, and excellent playability for beginners and experienced players.
- Elegant Cutaway Design – The Venetian-style cutaway allows easy access to higher frets while adding a sleek, professional look to this stylish orchestra acoustic guitar.
- Quality Build at Great Value – Durable satin finish for enhanced resonance, full body binding, and chrome tuning machines provide long-lasting performance, tuning stability, and premium feel at an exceptional value.
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Nato Back & Sides
- Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge
- Diecast Tuners
- System 66 feature an under-saddle piezo pickup with a 3-band EQ, an adjustable mid-range frequency control, and a precision chromatic tuner for optimum sound tailoring.
- Complete starter kit: Entry-level bundle includes 41-inch cutaway acoustic guitar, nylon bag, 3 picks (of assorted colors), shoulder strap, digital tuner, an extra set of 6 strings, and an instructional sheet.
- Perfect beginner guitar: Specially designed for students and teens who are just getting started. This full size, right-handed, acoustic guitar features 20 smooth frets, 6 steel strings, and easy to hold neck.
- Superior-grade tonewoods: Top, back, and sides are crafted from laminated basswood for versatility and warmth, with a high-gloss finish. Whether playing soft or loud, strumming or flatpicking, this guitar remains responsive and retains its tonal integrity. This guitar is built to last.
- Incredible sound: Perfect for musicians-in-the-making, this beginner acoustic guitar features an impressive tone, bright sound, and standout projection. It's waiting to be heard.
- Classic design: Ideal for learners of any age, this guitar is lightweight and features a classic cutaway thinline acoustic guitar silhouette measuring 41" Long x 16" Wide x 3.25" Deep.
- Complete Beginner Guitar Pack - Everything needed for starters is included, just unbox & play. The bundle includes Moukey 41” acoustic guitar, chord poster, 3mm padded gig bag, tuner, strap, capo, strings and picks. A decent gift for children, friends and family.
- Ideal for Beginner - With cutaway design, Moukey 41” acoustic guitar is easy for starter to learn. Dreadnought body provides a full and vibrant tone, suited for all styles of music. The precise position marks at 3th, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th 15th and 17th frets on neck and top of fingerboard help the starters to learn conveniently.
- Come with Chord Poster - The ultimate beginner-friendly guitar chord poster shows the most commonly used chords, enabling starters to memorize fretboard and play chords on the first day.
- Exquisite Workmanship - Quality basswood body, Okoume neck, smooth fingerboard, and non--scratching frets enable Moukey acustica guitarra to be played comfortably for a long time. 2 strap pegs allow you to attach the strap easily.
- Stay in Tune - Constructed with 1:14 enclosed copper tuning machines, Moukey full size guitar can be tuned finely and smoothly without slipping. Along with hard bridge saddle and bone nut, Moukey guitarra acustica is easy to tune and hold tune after first tune-up of strings.
Your Guide to Finding the Perfect Acoustic Guitar Cutaway
So, you’re thinking about getting an acoustic guitar with a cutaway? That’s a great idea! A cutaway guitar looks a little different. It has a part of the guitar’s body scooped out near the neck. This makes it easier to play notes on the higher frets.
Key Features to Look For
When you’re shopping, keep these things in mind:
Body Shape and Size
- Dreadnought: This is a big, classic guitar shape. It makes a loud, full sound. The cutaway on a dreadnought is great for reaching those high notes.
- Concert/Orchestra Model (OM): These guitars are a bit smaller. They have a balanced sound, good for fingerpicking. A cutaway on an OM makes it even more comfortable.
- Grand Auditorium: This is a popular choice. It’s bigger than an OM but not as big as a dreadnought. It gives you a lot of volume and a clear tone. The cutaway is a perfect fit here.
Neck Profile
- Slim vs. Chunky: Some guitar necks are thin and easy to hold. Others are thicker. Think about what feels best in your hand. A cutaway makes playing on a slimmer neck even easier.
Electronics (Optional)
- Built-in Pickup: Some acoustic guitars have a pickup. This lets you plug the guitar into an amplifier. It’s useful for playing on stage or recording.
Important Materials
The wood used in a guitar matters a lot. It affects the sound and how the guitar feels.
Tonewoods
- Spruce Top: This is the most common wood for the guitar’s top (the front part). It gives a bright, clear sound.
- Mahogany Back and Sides: Mahogany gives a warm, woody tone. It’s great for many kinds of music.
- Rosewood Back and Sides: Rosewood produces a rich, full sound with lots of overtones. It’s often used for a deeper sound.
- Maple Back and Sides: Maple makes the guitar sound brighter and more focused.
Neck and Fingerboard
- Mahogany Neck: This is standard for most acoustic guitars. It’s strong and stable.
- Rosewood or Ebony Fingerboard: These woods are hard and smooth. They feel good under your fingers and help the strings ring out clearly.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Many things make a guitar sound good or not so good.
Construction Quality
- Solid Wood vs. Laminate: Guitars made from solid wood sound much better. They age well and their tone improves over time. Laminate wood is cheaper but doesn’t sound as rich.
- Bracing: Inside the guitar, there are wooden braces. Good bracing helps the top vibrate freely. This makes the guitar louder and clearer.
Finish
- Thin Finish: A thin finish lets the wood of the guitar breathe. This helps the sound. A thick, heavy finish can make the guitar sound dull.
Setup
- Action: This is how high the strings are off the fingerboard. Low action makes it easy to press the strings down. A good setup is very important.
User Experience and Use Cases
A cutaway acoustic guitar is super versatile.
For Beginners
- A cutaway makes learning easier. You can reach more notes without straining your hand. This is a big help when you’re just starting out.
For Intermediate and Advanced Players
- If you play lead guitar parts or solos, a cutaway is a must-have. You can play melodies all the way up the neck. It opens up lots of musical possibilities.
Live Performance
- If you plan to play on stage, a cutaway with electronics is ideal. You can easily plug in and get a great sound. The cutaway helps you play with more expression.
Songwriting
- When you’re writing songs, you might want to explore different chords and melodies. A cutaway gives you the freedom to try new things.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acoustic Guitar Cutaways
Q: What is a cutaway on an acoustic guitar?
A: A cutaway is a part of the guitar’s body that is scooped out. It is near where the neck meets the body. This makes it easier to play notes on the higher frets.
Q: Why would I want a guitar with a cutaway?
A: You would want a cutaway if you want to play notes on the higher frets easily. It makes the guitar more comfortable for playing solos and melodies.
Q: Does a cutaway affect the guitar’s sound?
A: A cutaway removes a small amount of wood from the guitar’s body. This can slightly change the sound. Some people say it makes the sound a little less full. Others don’t notice a big difference.
Q: Are cutaway guitars more expensive?
A: Sometimes, guitars with cutaways can cost a little more. This is because they take more time and effort to build.
Q: Is a cutaway good for beginners?
A: Yes, a cutaway can be very good for beginners. It makes learning easier because you can reach more notes without your hand getting tired.
Q: What kind of music is best for a cutaway acoustic guitar?
A: Cutaway acoustic guitars are good for all kinds of music. They are especially helpful for genres like folk, blues, rock, and pop where you might play solos or melodies.
Q: Should I choose a guitar with a cutaway or without one?
A: It depends on what you want to play. If you plan to play a lot of high notes or solos, a cutaway is a good choice. If you mostly play chords, a traditional guitar might be fine.
Q: What is the difference between a Florentine and a Venetian cutaway?
A: A Florentine cutaway has a sharper, more pointed scoop. A Venetian cutaway has a rounder, softer scoop. Both allow access to higher frets.
Q: Do solid wood guitars sound better than laminate guitars with a cutaway?
A: Yes, solid wood guitars generally sound better than laminate guitars. The cutaway is a feature that can be on either solid wood or laminate guitars.
Q: Can I add a cutaway to an existing acoustic guitar?
A: No, you cannot add a cutaway to an existing acoustic guitar. A cutaway is part of the guitar’s original construction. You need to buy a guitar that already has one.