How to Choose the Perfect Guitar: Square or Slope Shoulder?

[@tdkrei]

Wow! There is a definite difference in those shapes. Even though I love the sound of that square Dred the sound of the sloped has a more ever array of the the strings E to E and it booms volume. The Bedell is quickly becoming one of the guitars I would like to own. Great comparison guys. Keep on smiling.

[@patricklundquist9869]

Thanks for this comparison. I always wondered what the difference was. Even though I primarily flat pick, I found myself leaning towards the slope shoulder. To my ear the tone has a mellower, less in your face, quality.

[@bubbajordan5479]

Great video. I have to go with the slope shoulder on this 1.there was a clear difference to my ear.I had to subscribe,I can't be missing these kind of video's.

[@acadianflatpicker]

I own a D35 and a J45. I find the Bedel's is a less exaggerated comparison of my guitars. The square shoulder had a stiffer sound which performs better for straight flatpicking. The slopped should those everything else a bit better but is a little bit flubbier for flatpicking. To me a slopped shoulder is more versatile, but when you are going hard at it the square shoulder will be king.

[@lhvent]

I have an Alvarez ARDA 1965 Anniversary Model Slope Shoulder Dreadnought that I love and it is comfortable to play as it is a 12 fret. Bedell makes some amazing guitars.

[@sbolfing]

They are both beautiful guitars and they both sound as great as they look. The difference is there, but I think which one I would prefer would depend on the day of the week! However, because I already have 2 square-shoulder Martins, maybe it's time for a round shoulder!!!

[@StephenDTrain]

Great demo and description of slope vs square shoulder. I discovered Bedell back in 2016, while searching for new "adi" top guitars. The specs with the Adirondack top (no pick guard) and their finely tuned x-bracing, was very intriguing. I acquired a Coffee House OM first. Over the first two years of playing, that guitar kept opening up with all kinds of harmonics and headroom. I found the dread at a shop, The Fret Mill, in Roanoke, Virginia. (great little shop) They also had a two new Bahia(s) in stock. Took me about five minutes to choose the Bahia!

[@AcousticShoppe]

That’s awesome! Bedell really is doing some special things!

[@marcserrand4026]

Great video. Like both but this square dread .... whouah ! Responsive and not to much overtone. Nice voice. Congratulations (from France) to the manufacturer and to both of you for the presentation.

[@likeza]

John I like your guitar playing a lot. I’m a lefty and collector of fine guitars. Own 18 custom lefty’s most unplayed: Taylor, Martin, Furch, Santa Cruz, Collings, Boucher and Bourgeois are my main pursuits.. always looking for high end lefty’s..

[@AcousticShoppe]

Give us a call or email, we’d be happy to help you source custom lefty guitars!

[@philipdeppen3189]

In this comparison the slope shoulder definitely sounds better. Has more of an alive tone. Was more than subtle lol

[@jasoncothron9530]

Visually I like the Slope Shoulder best; tonally though it's pretty hard to beat a D-18 or D-28.

[@markrobinson891]

These instruments are absolutely stunning to look at and listen to. As a personal matter of taste I love the look of a slope shoulder dreadnaught. Taylor tried to convince us that the Grand Pacific SS dreadnaught was intended to bring back the “vintage” “traditional” sound from the golden past. I wanted one…until I played it.

[@mitzioden4926]

I like the slope shoulder best because of the tonal ranges.

[@SamFugarino]

There's a difference, it's hard to notice with John's beautiful playing. Had to rewind a couple times. With my limited ear, I thought the square shoulder had a bit more something, not sure what to call it though. But, either guitar is a dream.

[@gregpiper8416]

I have both a square and slope shoulder dread. The square shoulder is easier to hold in your lap! :)

[@FunsongsMusicByPeterRahill]

When we were kids, if we let our shoulders slope, Dad or Mom would say, "Stand up straight - don't slouch!" :0/

[@cdaddyh3135]

There’s definitely a tonal difference. They both sound great. I normally would go for the square shoulder, but in this situation it would be a harder decision lol

[@stuschieler7277]

I love those guitars, but for me, I choose the square shoulder. Bedell and Breedlove guitars are becoming some of the go to, top considerations, if you are buying a new guitar. If you want a more modern guitar, like a Taylor, I think the Breedlove's are a better value and just as good, if not better. And now with Bedell making these dreds, they have something for everyone!

[@FunsongsMusicByPeterRahill]

69th subscriber LIKE; 583 desktop view: 4:15 - "You had me at 'cyclone action'..."

[@firemanjsr]

Thanks for doing this video, I learned something today.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching!

[@abelincoln95]

Mics & mixing are awesome!!!!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thank you!

[@davidstevens2555]

Look and tone. It was the slope shoulder for me.

[@benketcherside1746]

Absolutely loving that slope!

[@larryphelps6607]

Every time my mind screams "what guitar is that?" my research finds a square shouldered Gibson, but the love of my life is a Takamine slope shouldered dread. yet i confess she is neglected because of an ongoing obsession with an Orangewood Oliver jr., bought as a campfire guitar but I cannot resist its ease of playing.

[@mrj335]

Nice sounding guitars. Tricky to detect the difference.

[@artwise1415]

Yep Thank you.

[@ChaseElliottBand]

slope shoulder feels more energetic and forward...good for solo work but the square sits back with less attack in the mids which would fit better for singer-songwriters who want their vocals out in front.

[@texhaines9957]

Difference, yes. Not as much as between a Gibson and Martin. Try a D-28 12-fret. Which do I like? Depends on what I'm singing. The square shoulder with 12-fret would be preferable. That OM would be my preference.

[@G_Demolished]

Norman Blake sound with the 12 fret.

[@tclaffey]

Would love to try a bedell some time. Just my personal tastes but if love a pick guard on these, they look naked to me

[@Calatriste54]

As a vocalist, the Slope is preference..

[@dcallan1]

I'm a singer and a roots music musician. I love my D-28 style guitars for flat-picking and Travis picking. However, I love the look of a slope shoulder with that burst. I have been eyeing the slope coffee house dread for some time. It sounds great too. I'd enjoy playing either of those. For the price of a new Collings, you could own both Bedell models. 🙂

[@E.Fudd56]

Do those 2 models have the same scale length?

[@AcousticShoppe]

Yes they do!

[@omax1023]

At the end of it all..... Sound variables and tone quality dynamics for all walks of life!! individual esthetics will have you buy both if you can, or pick one or the other! lol...True story.

[@Michael-bm8hi]

Differences are subtle and in the end all in the fingers of the payer. But one thing is clear, Bedell can‘t do sunburst.

[@stevec.1802]

Is the scale identical for both guitars? 🤔🎧

[@AcousticShoppe]

Good question, they are identical

[@scottschmittmusic]

Absolute Beauty

[@ronniecraft3895]

I like it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️❗️❤️🕊

[@Ravenscaller]

I love bluegrass and was once fortunate to own a most beautiful D-35 long before all these other brands came out. They are beautiful and most wonderful guitars but, but, not everybody is in the market for a dreadnought. You even allude to worn out shoulders in the video. I can't play a D anymore and have notched back to a 000 and a CS mini but that doesn't mean I'm not interested in drooling over and even buying another smaller body guitar which you never seem to demonstrate. It's like that you have abandoned an awfully big share of the market. Why do you assume everyone is looking for a high end dred. My 000-17 cost more than some dreads so it can't be just about money. Why don't you demonstrate smaller bodies for weaker shoulders? Still enjoy you picking. The End. That's all she wrote folks.

[@AcousticShoppe]

We definitely demo smaller body guitars whenever we get them in! For example we recently took a look at a Bedell Parlor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnrEZ2CXe7lpY6c

[@MikeBearden-d9h]

Slope for me

[@jdstan9650]

Slope shoulder guitars look and sound better...unless you're a flat picker.

[@TheMissing62]

Unverifiable. The upper bout is an acoustically dead zone, and if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood. Stop complicating things.

[@seancurran6727]

No, not true that it's unverifiable, listen to the comparison section above, (5:07 to 7:16), if you use your ears, the verification is there. You say if there is a tonal difference it will surely be of construction or wood. Well, Bingo! We are talking about construction here, specifically the shape of the sound cavity of the guitar. The slope shoulder has a more compressed sound, which could be better in a recording studio, whereas the increased projection of the square shoulder would favor a live setting. Of course wood types make a difference, that's not even the subject here, though. The upper bout is not "dead", it may be less important than the lower, but the difference in shape on the sound is discernible to me in the examples above.