Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium: Which Acoustic Guitar Do You Need?

Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium Guitars – Is it like comparing apples to oranges?

Or is there a clear distinction in the applications of these acoustic guitar body shapes?

Well, keep reading!

You’ll learn exactly what the differences are, and if one guitar shape is really meant for one style of playing.

Let’s begin!

What is a Dreadnought Guitar?

As we all know it, Dreadnought is the most popular acoustic guitar shape of all.

Although the style was originally introduced in 1916 by Martin Guitars, the shape we widely see nowadays was developed a bit later around 1931.

The dread shape is one of the larger body shapes for acoustic guitar, so you can naturally expect it to be on the louder and deeper side tonally.

Some of the peculiar characteristics of dreadnoughts are:

• Scale length typically 25.5” (647mm)
• Body depth around 4.75” (120mm)
• Wider waist than all other body shapes 
• Loud and full sound with a signature “boomy” bass

Being such a workhorse and all-rounder, dreads are available in almost any price range and most acoustic guitar brands make these.

Some of the most iconic dreadnoughts include the Martin D-18, Martin D-45, and Gibson Hummingbird.

What is a Grand Auditorium Guitar?

Grand Auditorium is a new style that rose to popularity during the ’90s.

The inspiration came from the size difference between the bigger Dreadnought and smaller shapes like the Parlor and Grand Concert.

As a result, you get a modern-looking acoustic guitar that offers the best of both worlds – a balanced tonal spectrum with clear highs and almost as loud as a full-sized dreadnought.

Grand Auditoriums commonly have the following characteristics:

• Scale length of 25.5” (647mm) 
• Body depth approximately 4.6” (116mm)
• A tighter, more rounded waist than the dreadnought
• Balanced sound signature with more responsive mids and highs, but not as deep as a dread

This seemingly small modification in the design really makes a difference in the playability and applications of these instruments.

Many big brands have their own version of the Grand Auditoriums, but the most notable manufacturers are Taylor (popular models include the 214ce and 814ce) and Martin.

Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium: Differences

Body Shape

Here are the differences in body dimensions of these two shapes (approximate values):

	Dreadnought	Grand Auditorium
Scale Length	25.5”	25.5”
Body Length	20”	20”
Body Depth	4.8”	4.6”
Lower Bout Width	15.6”	15”
Upper Bout Width	11.5”	10.5”
Waist	10.75”	8.5”

Some key points we can take away from the table above are:

• Grand Auditorium has a much narrower waist than a Dreadnought. This gives it a nice rounder shape as well as makes it comfortable on your lap.
• Both usually have identical overall body lengths.
• The scale length is similar too – equal to the standard 25.5”.

The Dreadnought is clearly bigger, but not by a huge margin. Playability-wise, both can be set up to play as comfortably as you want.

Of course, if you have a small body or hands, you might find the Grand Auditorium better suited for you.

Sound

Dreadnought Guitars:

Tonally, a dreadnought body favors bass and low-mids.

With a high volume ceiling and much longer sustain, these guitars are ideal when you’re playing in a band and want to be heard better.

The higher sustain also allows for some nice overtones, as the already vibrating body can interact better with the strummed notes.

Dreads can also bear higher gauge strings (medium or even heavy), and this makes them the “big strummer.”

A peculiar scoop in the mid-range means vocalists will have a space to be heard in a mix.

Grand Auditorium Guitars:

Grand Auditorium guitars tend to have a better overall balance, with no frequency range overpowering others.

They reproduce higher frequencies better than dreads. For the same reason, these are usually preferred for fingerpicking.

But don’t think that these lack bass!

Well-built Grand Auditoriums will have a good amount of bass and volume. Just that it won’t be as boomy or overpowering as dreads.

Versatility

Dreadnoughts are the ultimate all-rounders. They can be used in almost any genre – rock, jazz, folk, blues, country, bluegrass, you name it!

They are great for strumming, flatpicking, and even fingerpicking. But remember that a dread will not be as loud if you have a softer playing style.

Grand Auditoriums, on the other hand, are suited everywhere except where you need heavy strumming.

These are ideal for singers, writers, and any casual player or performer.

But in the end, both of these acoustic body styles are interchangeable and ideal for pretty much any kind of music.

Final Thoughts on Grand Auditorium vs Dreadnought Guitars

Why Choose Dreadnought?

You can’t go wrong with a dreadnought, well, unless you need a smaller guitar or like the sound & feel of another shape.

Go with the dread if you:

1. Want a loud and full sound that’s ideal for solo performances or if you’re playing with others.
2. Are a vocalist, as the scoop in the mid-range makes a perfect space in the mix for your vocals to sit in front of the mix.
3. Are a heavy strummer.
4. Play fingerstyle but still need that versatility for strumming and flatpicking.

Apart from that, a big factor that goes in favor of dreads is availability.

You’ll find great dreadnoughts at pretty much any budget range – from a couple of hundred bucks to upwards of thousands of dollars.

Why Choose Grand Auditorium?

A Grand Auditorium guitar is ideal for you if you:

1. Are primarily a fingerstyle guitarist.
2. Need a guitar for small, cozy venues like a small hall or a coffee shop.
3. Use lighter strings or have a softer playing style.

Another interesting thing I’ve realized is that many folks find dreadnoughts less comfortable while seated (not all of them, though).

If you’re one of them, then a grand auditorium might feel better due to the narrower waist.

FAQs: Dreadnought vs Grand Auditorium