SIX-STRING SHOWDOWN

Marie Anderson

• Sitting in an old wooden chair with a guitar in your lap is an indescribable feeling. When the guitar pick hits the strings and makes beautiful rich sounds, your entire body relaxes and calms down. Two different guitars that are very good at that are the Les Paul electric guitar and the Taylor acoustic guitar. Although both are excellent, the Taylor acoustic is better for true players because of its shape, color, size and weight.

• To begin, the shape of the body and the neck of the guitar can vary depending on the style. The different shapes change peoples’ opinions because most of the time musicians choose guitars that fit their selves the best and are easiest for them to play. The Les Paul electric guitar can be found in many different shapes. Because of this, it makes it difficult for guitarists to choose which one they exactly want. Gibson made and crafted various shapes because musicians do not always want a guitar in the standard format. On the other hand, the Taylor acoustic guitar comes in five different shapes, making it easy to select. The Grand Concert, Grand Symphony, and the Grand Auditorium shapes are slim and have very narrow waists which make them easy to sit on a player’s leg. The Dreadnought shape has a broader waist and the Jumbo shape is a larger body guitar with a very narrow waist. Furthermore, the Taylor is a better choice because it gives guitarists a better selection to choose from. Each body shape is given an explanation which helps the buyer tremendously. However, the Les Paul has a very wide selection with little explanation. The Taylor acoustic guitar’s shapes make them easy to play for the various body types of people.

– The color and design of the guitar often affect the buyer’s decision. Most guitarists prefer a color that suits them best. The Les Paul often has natural finishes Les Paul Colors; for example, Heritage Cherry, Sunburst, Ebony, and Alpine White are just a few of the colors they are available in. However, they also come in crazy purples and blues. The Taylor’s most common finishes are Sapele and Sitka Spruce. These two colors are wood finishes that are the standard look for an acoustic. In conclusion, both guitars have similar colors and designs; however, the Les Paul has many insane colors that would not sell as easily. The Taylor acoustic comes in much more standard and natural finishes that sell easily and musicians seem to like more.

• Lastly, the size and the weight of the guitar are the biggest deciding factor in a buyer’s opinion. They want a guitar that fits them and is comfortable for them to play. The Les Paul electric guitar varies from 26 to 28 inches in length. Having this long of a guitar could be difficult for smaller and beginner guitarists to play. It is also a very heavy guitar that normally weighs about 10 pounds. Having a heavy guitar makes it very difficult to play. On the other hand, the Taylor acoustic guitar in standard form comes in a 24 ½ inch length. It weighs from 6 to 7 pounds which is very light for a guitar. Smaller sized guitars make them easier to play. The Taylor also is available in a Parlor size which is a much smaller guitar and it is easier for children and petite women to play. The Taylor guitar is a better choice because it is simple to play by men, women, and children.

• The Taylor acoustic guitar is better than the Les Paul electric guitar because of the differences in their shape, color, size and weight. When comparing and contrasting the two different guitars, it is clear that the Taylor is better.

Les Paul Electric Guitar

Taylor Acoustic Guitar

Les Paul Body Shapes

Taylor Grand Concert

Taylor Grand Symphony

Taylor Grand Auditorium

Taylor Dreadnought

Taylor Jumbo

Les Paul Colors

Taylor Colors

Taylor Parlor