Acoustic Guitar Shapes Guide Australia

Acoustic Guitar Shapes Guide

If you are trying to work out which acoustic guitar shape is right for you, body size is one of the most important things to understand. The current Colemans Music acoustic range covers far more than just one standard shape, with examples across dreadnought, auditorium, grand auditorium, concert, OM and 000 styles, parlour, mini, traveller, NEX, New Yorker, resonator, 12-string and hybrid acoustic designs from brands including Yamaha, Takamine, Fender, Fenech, Gibson, Pratley, Bromo, Tanglewood, Ibanez, Gilman, Blueridge, Cole Clark and more.

Why Acoustic Guitar Shape Matters

Colemans’ own collection guide notes that body shape has a big effect on both tone and feel, with dreadnoughts offering stronger volume and bass response, auditorium and grand auditorium shapes leaning more balanced, and concert guitars feeling smaller and more comfortable. Andertons frames the same idea in practical terms: bigger bodies tend to give you more power and low-end, while smaller bodies usually feel easier to hold and produce a more focused response.

Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars

The dreadnought is still the classic all-rounder. It is the shape many players picture first when they think of an acoustic guitar, and it suits strong strumming, singer-songwriter playing, country rhythm work and anyone who wants a fuller low end with plenty of projection.

At Colemans Music, the dreadnought part of the range is broad, from affordable starters like the Gilman GD10 Beginner Acoustic Guitar, Gilman GD10CE, Takamine TGD11MNS Dreadnought Acoustic, Tanglewood TWUD Union Dreadnought Solid Top Acoustic, Tanglewood TWUDCE Union Solid Top Dreadnought, Bromo Dreadnought Mahogany and Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic Electric Cutaway, through to premium options such as Takamine P7DC, Takamine P3DC, Takamine EF341SC and Blueridge BR-180CE Solid Dreadnought Cutaway.

Round-Shoulder, Square-Shoulder and Super Jumbo Shapes

If you like classic Gibson acoustics, this is where acoustic guitar shapes get even more interesting. Gibson describes the J-45 as a round-shoulder dreadnought, the Hummingbird as a square-shoulder dreadnought, and the SJ-200 as its iconic Super Jumbo design, each giving a slightly different feel and visual identity within the larger-bodied acoustic world.

Colemans’ current range includes all three Gibson families, with the Gibson J-45 Standard Vintage Sunburst, preloved Gibson Hummingbird Cherry Sunburst and preloved Gibson SJ200 Standard Wine Red, giving players a clear path into those famous big-body Gibson styles.

Auditorium and Grand Auditorium Acoustic Guitars

Auditorium and grand auditorium guitars sit in the sweet spot between power and comfort. Colemans describes these shapes as slightly smaller and more balanced than a dreadnought, which is exactly why they are so popular with fingerstyle players, singer-songwriters and anyone wanting a more controlled, even response across the strings.

This is one of the strongest shape categories in the Colemans range. Current examples include the Fenech Delta Blues Grand Auditorium Cutaway, Fenech True Tone Series Grand Auditorium Cutaway, Fenech Supreme Series Grand Auditorium, Fenech VT Grand Auditorium Camphor, Fenech Delta Blues Series Auditorium, Fenech Vintage Series Mahogany Auditorium, and accessible options such as the Bromo Grand Auditorium Mahogany Acoustic Electric and Bromo Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar.

OM and 000 Acoustic Guitars

OM stands for Orchestra Model in common acoustic naming, and Andertons notes that OM is one of the labels players will often see alongside the more familiar shape names. In practical terms, OM and 000 guitars usually appeal to players who want a balanced, articulate sound with strong detail and a comfortable body size for fingerstyle, light strumming and recording.

Colemans has some very strong examples in this area, including the Martin Custom Shop OM-14 2022, Pratley Entertainer OM with Cutaway Maple Bunya, Pratley Classic Series OM Cutaway models, Takamine CP7MO-TT OM Thermal Top Acoustic-Electric, Blueridge BR-183 Solid 000, Blueridge BR-163CE Solid 000 Cutaway and Sigma 000M-15L Mahogany Auditorium Left Hand.

Concert Acoustic Guitars

Concert acoustics are a smart choice for players who want a smaller body without going all the way down to a parlour or travel guitar. Colemans describes concert guitars as more compact, comfortable and articulate, and Yamaha’s own acoustic information identifies the FS line as concert-size and the LS line as concert-style.

In the Colemans range, that includes the Yamaha FSX5 Red Label Concert, Yamaha FS3 Acoustic Guitar, Yamaha FSX830C, Yamaha FSX800C, Yamaha LS16 ARE, and Yamaha LS16 ARE Brown Sunburst. These are excellent options for players who want comfort, clarity and a more refined response than a larger dreadnought can sometimes give.

Parlour, Folk and New Yorker Acoustic Guitars

Parlour guitars are among the smallest traditional steel-string shapes, and Andertons describes them as slim, midrange-rich and especially suited to fingerpicking, roots playing and vintage-flavoured acoustic styles. They tend to feel intimate and characterful rather than oversized and booming.

Colemans currently covers this category well with the Bromo Parlour Rocky Mountain Series Acoustic Electric, Gilman GPA10 Parlour Acoustic Guitar, Gilman GPA10E Parlour Acoustic/Electric Guitar, Bourbon Street Bell Brass Parlour Size Body, and Tanglewood Union Folk Solid Top. There is also the Takamine TGY93NAT New Yorker Acoustic Electric, which Takamine describes as its smallest full-scale guitar, making it a strong option for players who want compact comfort without dropping to a short scale travel guitar.

Mini and Traveller Acoustic Guitars

Mini and traveller acoustics are ideal for players who want portability, a smaller body on the couch, or a guitar that is easy to take on the road. Yamaha says its CSF range combines the portability of a travel guitar with the focused tone and easy playability of a parlour guitar, while Takamine describes its Taka-mini concept as a 3/4-size guitar with a full-size voice.

That part of the Colemans range includes the Yamaha CSF3M Vintage Natural, Yamaha CSF-TA Trans Acoustic Mini Guitar, Takamine TGX18CENS Mini Acoustic Electric, Takamine TGX11MENS Mini Acoustic, Pratley Entertainer Mini Maple Bunya, Ibanez V44MINIE Mini Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Yamaha APXT2BL Acoustic Electric Traveller Guitar, and Yamaha APXT2NT Traveller Guitar.

NEX, APX and Other Modern Stage-Friendly Shapes

Not every acoustic fits neatly into a vintage body label. Takamine describes its NEX body as a scaled-down jumbo with a silky balance that supports vocals beautifully, while Yamaha says the APX line uses a comfortable thinline body aimed at playability and live performance. These are smart shapes for players who spend as much time plugged in as they do playing acoustically.

Colemans’ current range reflects that modern acoustic-electric approach with models such as the Takamine P3NC NEX, Takamine TGN11MNS Nex Acoustic, Takamine TGN77KCENAT G70 Nex Koa Acoustic Electric, Takamine TGN11MCENS Acoustic Electric, Yamaha APX600NT Acoustic Electric, plus stylish California series guitars like the Fender California Standard Monterey AC/EL Seafoam, Fender California Standard Redondo Black and Fender California Standard Redondo AC/EL Fiesta Red.

Beyond the Standard Flat-Top Shapes

The Colemans acoustic collection also goes beyond traditional steel-string body-shape conversations. Current examples include the Bourbon Street Single Cone Wood resonator, the Gilman GA112CE 12-String Acoustic Electric Guitar, the preloved Fender American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster, and the preloved Taylor T5z Denim Blue, all of which speak to players chasing something more specialised than a standard flat-top acoustic.

Which Acoustic Guitar Shape Is Right for You?

Best for strumming and all-round use

A dreadnought is still the safest starting point if you want strong projection, a full sound and a shape that works across pop, rock, folk and country. Gibson-style large bodies and super jumbos also sit in this zone for players who want even more authority and visual impact.

Best for singer-songwriters and fingerstyle players

Auditorium, grand auditorium and OM-style guitars are hard to beat if you want balance, detail and comfort. These shapes tend to feel more controlled and expressive, which is why so many boutique and performance-focused models in the Colemans range sit here.

Best for smaller players or relaxed home practice

Concert, parlour, mini and traveller acoustics make a lot of sense if comfort is your top priority. They are also great for younger players, players with smaller frames, and anyone wanting a more manageable body size for everyday playing.

Best for live performance

If you expect to plug in regularly, shapes like Takamine NEX and Yamaha APX are worth serious attention. They are built around comfort, stage use and practical amplified performance rather than just traditional flat-top acoustic volume.

Shop Acoustic Guitar Shapes at Colemans Music

Whether you want the punch of a dreadnought, the balance of a grand auditorium, the feel of an OM, the charm of a parlour, the convenience of a mini, or the stage-ready practicality of an APX or NEX acoustic-electric, Colemans Music has a shape that fits. The current collection makes it easy to compare beginner-friendly acoustics, boutique Australian builds, modern live guitars and iconic Gibson models all in one place.