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Square Neck Guitar Definitions

Acoustic Square Neck Guitars

A square neck guitar is a type of acoustic or resonator guitar that features a rectangular-shaped neck, typically measuring between 2.5 to 3 inches in width.

 

Unlike a standard guitar, the strings on a square neck guitar are positioned higher off the fretboard.

 

The instrument is typically played with the back facing downward, either resting on the player's lap if they are sitting down or on a strap if they are standing.

To play a square neck guitar, the player typically uses a steel or tone bar in the left hand on the strings, rather than fretting them like on a traditional guitar. In the right hand, finger and thumb picks are used to pluck or strum the strings.

Resonator Guitars

Resonator guitars can be designed as either a traditional guitar or a square neck guitar.

 

A resonophonic guitar, also known as a resonator guitar or a resophonic guitar, is a type of acoustic guitar that uses one or more spun or pressed metal cones instead of a traditional wooden soundboard to amplify the sound.

 

The resonator guitar was first developed in the 1920s as a way to create a louder and more distinct sound than traditional acoustic guitars, and it remains a popular instrument today.

Dobro Guitars

The term "Dobro" is actually a registered trademark and brand name for a specific type of resonator guitar that was invented by John Dopyera in the 1920s. However, the term "Dobro" is often used colloquially to refer to any guitar that uses resonator cones, even if it is not made by the Dobro company.

Dobro guitars can be designed as either traditional guitars or square neck guitars, depending on the player's preference. 

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