Kelly Franklin
Official Site

Wanted Acoustic-Electric Guitar Thin Body Small Lower Bout Solid Top Cubital Tunnel

I am searching for an acoustic-electric guitar with a thin body (3.75" or less) and a small body style (14" or less lower bout) with a solid top. I don't care what brand, used or new. Please send suggestions to the e-mail address above.

I have cubital tunnel syndrome in my right elbow which developed while I was recovering from cubital tunnel release surgery on the left elbow (work related, 2000). I haven't shopped for an acoustic guitar in over 10 years. I love my 1992 Takamine EN-20C (jumbo, cedar top, upgraded preamp), my 1982 Yairi DY-46 (spruce top, all solid woods), and my 1989 Seagull cedar-top 12-string. I've been lucky to find less-expensive guitars that hold their own with many Taylors and Martins I've played, and even made their owners jealous (plugged and unplugged). Playing any of them right now causes pain/numbness.

So far the most comfortable guitars I've played have a shallow body (under 3.75 inches), and a smaller lower bout (14 inches or less). Solid top is required, cutaway, as much solid wood elsewhere as possible, good electronics, under $500 if possible, under $1000 if not. I don't see much sense in spending 500-1000 for a laminate top/back if I can get solid woods for the same money. Attention Guitar Makers: I'm amazed at how few makers list the lower bout or body depth specs on their web sites or in their literature. Those that do make you hunt for it.

I perform solo and with others, strum, fingerstyle, open tunings; I like low action, rich bass. I was considering a Line 6 Variax Acoustic, but I can't see that as my primary guitar. I'll probably end up with one eventually, after the 2nd or 3rd generation comes out, the warble problem is fixed and the battery configuration makes more sense. Currently the body style is the perfect size. I don't understand why they are so heavy.

The primary problem is finding out which models are the right size. It seems when the body is thin, makers widen the lower bout to compensate. Smaller bout guitars are often normal depth or even deeper for the same reason. Many thin guitars are designed for electric players, who, from the reviews I've read, are less discriminating about their acoustic sound than those whose primary instrument is acoustic. Alas, no acoustic-electrics made for semi-crippled acoustic players. There also appears to be a trend in acoustics toward Jumbo or mini-Jumbo bodies, which will exacerbate any elbow problems Jumbo players already have from jobs, computer works, etc.

These are the acoustic-electric guitars I have tried and eliminated:

1. Fender TeleAcoustic & Stratacoustic - too much non-wood, hate the body style.
2. Ovation - too wide across the lower bout
3. Takamine Thinline - thin enough, but too wide across the lower bout. According to Takamine.com, they don't make a guitar with a lower bout less than 15 inches.
4. Yamaha "silent" guitar - body supports are too wide across the lower bout, too uncomfortable without upper support
5. Godin Acoustic-Electric steel string - too electric sounding, but I may reconsider
6. Taylor T5 - these start at 2,000 street. Get real. They do not sound THAT good plugged in or not, although the necks are nice.

Others still being considered:

1. Peal SC-Solid Top - Not Yet Played. 14" lower bout, 3.75" depth. Might be too deep, but I played a 3.5" laminate Stagg SW-206CE that felt ok. Unknown brand, but returnable, good reviews on Harmony-Central.
2. Luna Guitars - Not Yet Played. These are designed for women, so they are 90 mm deep (3.5" deep). I'm not sure what woods, if the tops are solid, width of the lower bout. I e-mailed the local dealer last week (12.01.2005), but they haven't responded. The higher-end models look nice. Wish they had some cool designs that weren't quite so girly.
   UPDATE 01.31.2006: My wish has come true! They have some VERY cool designs introduced at the NAMM show. Now if I could just get someone to answer my questions...
3. Yamaha APX7A - Played 12/03/2005. 90 mm depth, but a wider bout than the Peal, by an inch, and $300 more. Amplified there is WAY too much string/pick noise. Is this what they mean by "quackiness" of acoustic electrics?
4. Carvin AC175 - thin and small, but do they really sound acoustic plugged in?
5. Wendler Electro Acoustic - at $1199, a little pricy for me, as they seem more electric than acoustic, and are probably rather heavy, being solid Cedar, but the MP3 samples are interesting.

UPDATE: Tuesday, July 31, 2007 8:37 PM
I bought a Peal SC-Solid Top from eBay, so it was inexpensive enough that if I couldn't play it I could sell it at a profit. It's a beautiful guitar, but it does have some action issues. It's good for letting friends play, but I don't like the pickup for performance.

I lucked into a used Variax Acoustic 700, so that will work for live performing. Now I need an amp I can carry, under 25 pounds, like a Roland AC60 (or the new one just released at Summer NAMM), or Genz Benz 150LT. The Variax doesn't need feeback control and other things that acoustic/electric guitars need in an amp. Since the XLR out is hot and clean, a small PA would be better, but alas, they are all too heavy. Maybe Summer NAMM will have some new offerings!