Dreadnought (guitar type)

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The dreadnought is a type of acoustic guitar body developed by American guitar manufacturer C.F. Martin & Company.^[1] The style, since copied by other guitar manufacturers, has become the most common for acoustic guitars.

At the time of its creation in 1916 the word dreadnought referred to a large, all big-gun, modern battleship of the type pioneered by HMS Dreadnought in 1906. A body much larger than most other guitars provided the dreadnought with a bolder, perhaps richer, and often louder tone. It is distinguished by its size and (in its most popular configuration) square shoulders and bottom. The neck is usually attached to the body at the 14th fret.^[1][2]

Martin dreadnought guitars are known as "D-size" guitars. Their model numbers consist of "D-" followed by a number, such as "D-18" and "D-45". The higher the numerical designation, the more decorative ornamentation on the instrument. Size "D" represents (effectively) the largest in the Martin range, smaller sizes being (in decreasing order), 000/OM, 00 and 0; historically (pre-1900 or thereabouts), even smaller sizes were produced including 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Present Martin production also includes models "M" (sometimes known as 0000) and "J", which in overall dimensions are wider again than model "D", however are smaller in actual volume on account of a more narrow waisted design plus a shallower body depth.