Cutaway vs Non-Cutaway: Does it affect the sound? 

any avid guitar player will notice the sound difference.. non cut away sounds a little deeper and richer. i like cut aways for the access to higher frets. but i love the warmness of the full body.. ugh such a hard decision for a buyer!!!!

The cut away has slightly more clarity but the non cut away has a fuller all round sound. Both as good as each other in my opinion

Damn, I knew it, this video justified the reason why I own more than one guitar.

I prefer the cutaway sound personally, I find it a lot brighter as well as have more clarity then without, but without has more bass end. Interesting, I'd love to own both though anyday

I think you should have done a song that reaches the high frets to demonstrate the difference why you would want a cutaway in the first place

Non-cut has fuller sound. I prefer that one. Thanks for comparison. You got a new sub.

I think it's really down to preference and what you need the guitar for, I'd say that the cutaway is good if played with other instruments, due to it have a brighter sound, so it'd be more prominent, the non-cutaway is good for solo playing, or maybe playing a rhythm bit in a song with a band. Personally I prefer the sound of the non-cutaway

It DOES make a difference! I’d noticed when recording that my cutaway had a distinct “nasally” tone that I was not able to factor out. I began to wonder if it was something intrinsic to the guitar itself, which led me to your video. Thanks for the great vid!

I would take the cutaway out of the two. It sounds much brighter and for those people saying it lacks bass, just use a thicker pick. The cutaway is sexier plus you can easily access those higher frets. Viva cutaway....

I'm sure the darker paint also makes a difference.

The most noticeable difference is certainly the low end. Much more equal volume on the non-cutaway.

Non cutaway sounds much fuller. I notice a fair amount of difference actually...I wanted a cutaway but I think I'll go with the standard acoustic.

I can't believe it! I actually prefer the sound of the cutaway. It sounds richer and maybe a smidge brighter.

Very good comparison, personally I prefer the bright more high end tone the cutaway produces the non-cutaway was far bassier and was missing the nice crisp sound.

The cutaway has a brighter and twangier sound, especially on the higher notes. While the non-cutaway has a much warmer and fuller sound, especially on the lower notes.

Very nicely produced video. The trouble taken to make a direct comparison possible is really appreciated. Thanks!

non cut has fuller sound, I like it more

non-cutaway has more bass and mid tones for me cut away has more of the upper registered sounds :) really just depends on the genre and personal taste

Well I don't know about the others but I like the one with the cutaway better cuz I like the brighter sound. And my voice fits more if it's backed by the cutaway.

Wow what a difference! They both sound great! I noticed the cut away had more of a snarl growling midrange and had more treble in it so it was brighter.

I could hear a diminished volume on the high end with the cutaway, the standard had a richer fuller tone over all, they both sound beautifully, I suspect when they're plugged in, there's no difference whatsoever....

the cutaway is so much brighter, but it lacks the bellow of the non cutaway.

I like the cutaway sound better but I can definitely see a non cutout being more appropriate for certain genres such as country music.

I do realise this video is almost seven years old, but I can't help leaving a comment. I'm amazed the difference in tone is so noticeable to my ear. In fact, I did not expect to hear any. Thank you for the comparison.

Another factor that also comes into play is just the tonality of the wood in each guitar. You can pick up 2 exactly the same acoustics and there is a possibility one will sound different, better or worse, than the other. Wood is a natural material and like any natural material there will be inconsistencies.

Oh my goodness, I turned my head away for a second while listening to the cutaway and instantly heard a change in fullness. When I turned back towards my computer I noticed you had switched to the non-cutaway. Definitely a change. I love the full sound of the non-cutaway. All my guitars are cutaway. Dang! Thanks for the comparison. Learn something new every day.

Thanks for the comparison. I heard no difference and now feel more comfortable buying a cutaway.

currently asking myself "go for the cutaway sacrifice the bass but get more clarity and access to higher keys" or "go for the no cutaway and enjoy full bassy tone with warmth" so damn hard..... :(

The Cutaway design is really an Ergonomic variation of the traditional design to where the high notes are easier to reach, a good balance between aesthetic & playability. All those Electric Guitars have body shapes that are essentially Ergonomic variations of the traditional Acoustic shape too. Fasions come & go all the time due to updates.

I like how you cut back and forth between guitars while playing the same song. It makes it easier to tell the difference.

I like the cut away and it sound clear and precise.

I think the difference is the cutaway dampens some of the harmonic overtones on the higher notes. They seem to ring just as long but there’s less full range to them. You can hear them sounding a little tinnier, like some of the comments they’re not as full

Great comparison. I have to say its different but I liked them both. It probably comes down to how often you need to go above 12th fret. I'm very slightly preferring the cutaway in sound and also because (annoyingly) I need to play above 12th fret sometimes.

Video was made 6 years ago but still the best I've seen❤️

As a jazz guitarist that plays all over the fretboard, I prefer cut aways. But you need a good maker that actually pays attention to the intonation up top and sets the frets really well. I do not buy into the argument that non cut aways sounds fuller. Move your right hand towards the bridge for brighter tone and away for warmer tone. If you want a fuller sound more bass, use heavier strings or upgrade your saddle, nut and pins. Depending on the setup, you can vary the tone and feel quite a ways. Also if you gig a lot, you are going to plug in anyway and I find cut-aways feedback less.

I would've demo'd both guitars with their onboard pickups. This would eliminate mic placement error and give a better representation as to the physics of how the sound pressure levels are resonating inside those guitars... not out of them.

I love the sound on the cutaway. sounds a bit more broad

The full body sounds fuller, richer and resonates just that much better. Exactly the reason why I chose mine (Yamaha FG730s) over the cut away and the acoustic/electric.

Cutaway sounds crisper, non-cut sounds very full and maybe a bit boomy for my taste.

Both sound beautiful and so close to each other but so different it's crazy how wood thickness and shapes can change sounds

I think if you took two identical guitars (either cutaways or full, doesn't matter), you could hear that much difference. Every guitar is unique. The grain of the wood, the glue on the bracings, the neck setup, everything will affect the sound. In order to truly hear if there is a different between a cutaway and a non-cutaway, you should have about five of each of them, compare them all, and then see if there is a consistent difference between the five cutaways and the five non-cutaways. Otherwise the only real conclusion you can draw is that those two particular guitars sound different, and whether it is the cutaway that makes the difference or some other factor is just conjecture.

Absolutely Professional Video. Nice work..! Very helpful. Wish all videos were this quality

You cant make guitar sound the same.. Even the same model will sound differently . With that being said yes there is a difference .

Cutaway has a more focused sharper to establish. The non-cutaway has a fuller tone, but some of the notes sound muddier and drowned out. Other than those differences, they both sound great.

The non-cutaway version has MUCH more depth of sound. The lows resonate and balance out the mids and highs nicely. On the cutaway the lows are cut off. IMO there is no contest. The sunburst wins, hands down.

In your application there is a slight difference in sound. As one mentioned the sound is brighter, more crisp. The cutaway was designed to allow better access down the fretboard.

Non cutaway just sounds lower

I would be glad to have which ever one you want to donate! They both sound amazing.

I think that the sound that was on the non cutaway was not as Bright as the Cutaway

Yes, sound quite different ! Cutaway is more sharp ! Thanks for your comparison.

Non cutaway is more denser while the cutaway is more open

I've never played guitar but I did play piano years and years ago and it's such a distinct difference. Choosing is more difficult than I thought but I appreciate the video!

The answer: HELL YES. The sound was affected. The A-B is very easy to hear a difference. Is it "a negative difference?" Not necessarily. Some may actually prefer how the cutaway decreases some of the bass tones and lowers the overall output of the guitar. I know that the Taylor cutaway models are much more popular selling than the standard versions. Try to find some used Taylors, you will find that there are several more cutaways listed than the standard versions. You might argue that "more used ones for sale means more people were dissatisfied with them and are now selling them;" But I really doubt that. I don't think there are just a ton of idiots out there hand selecting guitars that they have not well researched or bought impulsively, and then realizing later that they don't like them. I think that several times more cutaways are sold, and that is why the number on the used market is higher.

Big, big difference. That said, both still sound great. Personally, I prefer the sound of the non-cutaway in this case. It's this very difference that pushed me to select the non-cutaway version of the Art and Lutherie Concert Hall for myself.

I liked the sound of the cutaway guitar more. Has a more "Rock" sound.

Thanks very much for doing this. It makes the differences crystal clear, and we could never do this for ourselves when shopping.If you listen closely, the full body model has a full and balanced tone, whereas the cutaway REMOVES bass and treble from the tone (the total loudness goes down). It's like turning down the bass and midrange knobs, rather than turning up the treble. This happens because the guitar was designed for the full body version, and the cutaway was done without regard for any effect on the sound. The cutaway has changed the acoustic resonance within the guitar body so that bass and midrange waves are disrupted more than the treble. The result is a guitar that no longer works the way it was designed, and never will. If we wanted a guitar that was subject to all manner of tonal adjustment, we’d buy an electric, not an acoustic. We acoustic lovers want an instrument that produces the sound of all strings, through the balanced resonance of carefully selected and shaped woods. Which is what we hear from the full body model. The cutaway tone is not “brighter”, it is thinner.If I want a cutaway (and I do), I must look for one that is designed as a cutaway from the beginning. It will be a model that does not have a corresponding full body version. These are rare. So I will eliminate cutaways from my current search for a low-end guitar, and wait until I buy a more expensive or custom made instrument.

It seems that the non cutaway is more balanced with more low end and the cutaway has a brighter sound.

Damn, this video is 9 years old. I was like 18 when this came out. Damn time flew by hard.

cut away is more brighter I guess

I play a cutaway. But the non sound has a fullness to my ear that's beautiful. Thanks

i need a cutaway cause I need those high notes, but the quality of the sound is way too lower. Now what :(

I *hugely* prefer the cutaway tonally! I really like the softer, brighter tone the cutaway gives. If it's a taylor, that makes it even brighter which is what I love in acoustics.

The non cutaway has a fuller, almost darker sound. I prefer the cutaway though since it sounds brighter and I don't feel too overpowered by the sounds of the lower strings. That's just my preference though.

Oh wow, I had no idea !!! I'm glad I came upon this video because I would of never thought there would be that much of a difference in sound. VERY informative. I never thought about comparing for sounds but I much prefer the non-cutaway myself. Thanks again brother

The way I hear it. Not much of a difference but the non-cutaway is a little bassy.

i love non-cuts in terms of sound and comfortability. Thank you for this ❣

My opinin the cutway make sound better pluse able to solo better and trust me in that , full body guitar more warmer but cut way is hot this is my opinion ,

This is a good comparison. I'm sure that I do not have the world's best ears, but I do hear that the non-cutaway is slightly fuller, deeper. I wouldn't have guessed that it would make this noticeable a difference.

I'm gonna go with cutaway. The high tones seem to ring out more. depends on the songs too though.

Two acoustic guitars of the same model and year will often sound different. This seems especially true with Gibsons. I once auditioned about 6 or 7 brand new J45's back to back in the same store. The differences in the voice of each guitar were mostly subtle, though not in every case. Two of them stood out as much more balanced and open sounding than the other identical guitars. While a cutaway may tend to affect the sound of a particular model in a particular way, the net sonic result will depend on additional factors. You might find that the cutaway version is either more or less clear sounding than the non-cutaway version.

Cutaway sounds a little bit brighter than non cutaway, in my opinion.

Thanks for the video. I only own a couple guitars and thought I wanted something with a cutaway. I still haven't bought one. Each time I go to the store I try different guitars until I catch myself with a smile. Then that's the one I take. I have yet to leave the store with the guitar I go in to try, I always find something else. That's why I love my local shop.

The cutaway sounds cleaner. The non cutaway is bordering on muddy.

Wow that was a way bigger difference than I would have thought.

Personally, I felt that cutaway sound slightly better than the non cutaway.

Meant to add, yes, I agree with the consensus that the non-cutaway has a fuller sound, though both sound good.

cutaway is, twangier.. in a good way doe.. crisp sound.. less full bodied doe.. preference of whoever is hearing it

I own both cutaways and full bodied guitars. + I've played the banjo players D35 for 40 years in our bands . I too recognize the darker tone in the full body. Sustain absolutely the same. Stage presence as well. BIL Jerry owns a 1972 Gibson J45. Play it sometime.

Cutaway sounds more crisp, the non cutaway sound warmer.

My Favourite definitly without Cutaway - extremly obviously, the fuller, richer sound - thanks

People here seem to think there is an added brightness to the cutaway... I think its more because some (mid?)low frequencies are attenuated which only make the cutaway appear brighter..? Anyways the non cutaway sounds so much fuller

There was a slight but distinct bump in the upper mids on the cutaway, compared to the other one. The non-cutaway sounded mellower and more baritone-ish, with a bit more authority. I might have to have both (it happens that I do) to find a full range of expression. Tough call. I like the presence and clarity of the single-string legato on the cutaway, but the non-cutaway sounds more traditional. Now you know what G.A.S. is all about.....

The cutaway seem to make higher sounds while the non cutaway sounds like it has more base. Male vs Female in simple terms.

Like most say, there is a difference, but it doesn't mean better or worse. Just depends on the sound you want. The non cutaway definitely has a deeper tone.

Cutaway has higher tone. like a quarter tone higher i think

You know the first time I purchased a pro level dreadnought guitar was back in the early 80s. I tried over 100 guitars at multiple music stores across Houston, Texas. I played the same model guitars several times. Lots of Martin's, Gibson's, Guild's, Alvarez Yairi's and numerous other brands. One thing I learned was that even two of the exact same brand/model guitars didn't always sound the same. Every different piece of wood has it's own character. I finally settled on an Alvarez Yairi DY46 which had the sweetest sound of any guitar I had played. My wife used to call it "Baby" I still have that guitar today. Long story short, I don't think we can completely contribute the tonal difference between the two guitars in this video to just the effect of the cutaway.

Which one will allow me to crank Dat Soulja boi?

Thanks for the comparison and high quality audio recording. While listening through a good set of earphones, difference is obvious. Cut-away seems to enhance the high frequencies and it impedes the low frequencies. Besides the geometry of the wood, the electronics,cables and plastic boxes inside might be effecting the overall tone. Cutaway version seems to have an extra EQ controller box which might be the main source of the suppressed lows. An acoustic comparison between an acoustic guitar and its modded twin (with eq, pickups and battery) would clarify this point.

same strings ?

Yes, it does. Each of the guitars have a distinctive sound and both sound good. The answer is always the same for all instruments - it depends what sound you're looking for, how you play and overall, what's the right fit for you.

On the cutaway guitar, you can hear the overtones, which are high. On the non cutaway, the lower overtones are more hearable.

glad I got the non. Recently bought a Martin D-1 with a sound hole fishman pickup for worship playing and I glad I went with the NON.

YES YES YES YES YES. YES. YES IT DOES. YES. IT DOES... IT DOES... who ever doesn't agree has no ears. I MUCH prefer the cut away versions for playability, but un cut bodies sound so much better to me.

I listened to the video on high-quality Sennheiser headphones, and, yes, there is most definitely a difference - and a pretty big one. The whole body is deeper, much more ‘bassy’ and rich, with strong lower mid-range as well. The cutaway sounds very good still, but it is definitely a bunch brighter, less rich (some people might like that). The whole body, to me, sounds better. It's probably louder overall too.

Id rather have the cutaway

I have both a cutaway and a non cutaway. Both epiphones, one a AJ-220 and one is a hummingbird. The hummingbird actually has more of a clarity sound to it and the hammer-ons really ring out on that guitar. My cutaway has a more bassy crisp sound to it. Hard to describe but I generally use my cutaway for the chords and the non cutaway for the lead part. Playing fills and what not. Love them both.

lol. the real difference in these guitars was not the cutaway.The biggest difference is that one has an equalizer, volume box in the side of the guitar. The hole to put that makes a huge difference bigger than the cutaway. How this man can say that those 2 guitars were identical except for the cutaway ? is he blind ?

In 2022 the difference still blows me away. For singing I prefer the cutaway sound.

Non cutaway sounded smoother.

I can clearly hear that the non-cutaway is more full sounding with more bass. HOWEVER, I think placing the microphone in a different location would make this difference less noticeable. He had it basically in front of the cutaway location. This could be totally wrong, but I suspect that mic placement in a more neutral location would result in a smaller difference between the two.