Harry Klippton
Not Interested
Do you prefer a guitar with a belly carve?
Saturday poll: do you like a belly carve on your guitar?
- Thread starter Harry Klippton
- Start date
PBWilson1970
Active member
I am pretty indifferent mainly because the belly carves on most of the guitars I've played don't line up with my gut. My old Kramer superstrat has a pronounced cut but unless I am playing it up high, it is in the wrong place.
For comfort, the area that seems the most important to me is the forearm cut on the lower bout. My Mustang has a nice rounded edge and it being so slim, it is easy to play. My acoustics can be a pain after a bit but I do raise them higher than my electrics. I've got a pretty unique Tokai that's modeled after the Acoustic Black Widow guitars with a German carve and a sharp binding profile that isn't fun after a while. Interesting guitar but it's a literal pain. I'm building a guitar based heavily on a non-reverse Firebird that's going to be thin and may have a large bevel on the top edge that should be nice and comfy.
Sorry for taking this off-topic. Back to belly talk!
For comfort, the area that seems the most important to me is the forearm cut on the lower bout. My Mustang has a nice rounded edge and it being so slim, it is easy to play. My acoustics can be a pain after a bit but I do raise them higher than my electrics. I've got a pretty unique Tokai that's modeled after the Acoustic Black Widow guitars with a German carve and a sharp binding profile that isn't fun after a while. Interesting guitar but it's a literal pain. I'm building a guitar based heavily on a non-reverse Firebird that's going to be thin and may have a large bevel on the top edge that should be nice and comfy.
Sorry for taking this off-topic. Back to belly talk!
Harry Klippton
Not Interested
Nothing off topic about it! Any and all chatter about comfortability of guitar body shapes is what this thread is for
peccary
Well-known member
The belly curve I think I can live without, but, like @PBWilson1970 I like the curve on the top of the body. I had an earlyish ASAT bass with a slab body and I found it uncomfortable.
Harry Klippton
Not Interested
This is where the question came from. I have a tele with a belly carve and I hate it. The belly carve combined with the top horn on a strat are contributors to why I don't like playing strats
Worse than a tele with a belly carve is a tele with an arm carve.
Burn it with fire
Paradox916
Well-known member
I always thought the carved back was for weight... never thought about the belly... skinny guy problems....
Paradox916
Well-known member
Maybe another reason I never payed much attention to belly carves is I mostly sit and play so it doesn’t seem to matter at that point much at least for me.... I’m more preoccupied with a foot rest. But the hand reliefs and carves around the neck, those are nice.
BuddytheReow
Moderator
I’m with @Big Monk on this one. I too have a les Paul and a strat and don’t really notice it either way. The throne I use while playing/practicing is more important for me. My back starts to hurt after about an hour. Then again it’s nothing more that a piece of upholstered plywood so that would explain the discomfort.
spi
Well-known member
I love my Tele with belly and arm cut. So comfortable. Leo got it right when he carved the Strats.This is where the question came from. I have a tele with a belly carve and I hate it. The belly carve combined with the top horn on a strat are contributors to why I don't like playing strats
Worse than a tele with a belly carve is a tele with an arm carve.
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Mentaltossflycoon
Well-known member
I have nothing but contempt for whoever green lit that arm cut.
Paradox916
Well-known member
Well I guess if you want to play bass and change your oil at the same time it would come in handy.
Matmosphere
Well-known member
Yup.
Contours might make guitars a little more comfortable if you’re sitting down, but you’re supposed to stand up to play Rock n’ Roll.
(And remember kids, there are no shorts in Rock n’ Roll.)
So let’s review…
Correct
- Be loud
- Scare old people
- Did I mention the loud thing
- Being a jerk to people
- Shorts
- Sitting down
- What others think
- Guitar contours
PBWilson1970
Active member
I'm gonna give Steve Harris a pass on the shorts thing. Angus too.
Bob Weir on the other hand... (Google "Bob Weir shorts" for a laugh and a heap of horror all in one!)
Bob Weir on the other hand... (Google "Bob Weir shorts" for a laugh and a heap of horror all in one!)
I will accept the contours on a Strat but not on anything else. I only ever gigged in one band playing a Strat. The arm contour just felt awkward because as the stage got warmer my arm would stick to it in an unpleasant way.
I like edges on guitars. Strats slide around too much. And don't get me started on round back acoustics like Ovations! The guitar I have probably played the most at gigs is a Gretsch 6120, which feels like a comfy old armchair of a guitar. And I love the way Les Pauls and Duojets feel on a strap - they make me feel like a rock star.
I like edges on guitars. Strats slide around too much. And don't get me started on round back acoustics like Ovations! The guitar I have probably played the most at gigs is a Gretsch 6120, which feels like a comfy old armchair of a guitar. And I love the way Les Pauls and Duojets feel on a strap - they make me feel like a rock star.
Bricksnbeatles
Member known well
Matmosphere
Well-known member
He isn't playing at the moment. Exceptions can be made during non-performance periods. Except shorts, the closest allowance is for being at the beach or swimming pool and wearing swimming trunks.
However in the (extremely) rare case you are a bass player who also flies your bands tour plane then you are allowed the occasional pass on the shorts rule.
thesmokingman
Paid Hater
finebyfine
Well-known member
I only feel like I need them on les paul shaped guitars. Pretty indifferent on teles and strats with how much higher up they sit when sitting down
