When an archtop guitar sits next to a regular flat guitar, there are obvious visual differences. However, you may not know what these differences mean for the guitar in terms of sound and other characteristics. The different parts of these guitars end up creating some different sounds and actions that help give your type its own guitar category. Here are some of the differences between archtop and flattops guitars.

First, a little history. The term “flattop” guitar did not exist before the dawn of the archtop. The invention of this arched upper instrument made this descriptor necessary. The reason a bow-top guitar is called a bow-top is because the upper part of the body, which is called the soundboard, is more rounded than its flat-top counterpart. This, combined with the hollow interior, presents a different sound than a typical flat guitar.

Another way that the sound of an archtop guitar differs from a flattop is through its sound holes. On a traditional guitar, such as a flattop acoustic, the sound hole is located in the center of the body below the strings. In the ceiling of an arch, these sound holes are actually called “F holes” and are borrowed from the same holes found in violins. These F-holes are located on both sides of the guitar’s body.

Archtop guitar strings are also a bit different than the strings you’ll find on a flat top, like an acoustic. The strings on a bow top are typically longer and thicker, adding to the unique sound that a bow top provides to the guitarist. Archtops are capable of delaying a pleasant acoustic sound, but many of the models produced also have electric pickups that allow the sound of the archtop to be amplified. These pickups are, in most cases, of the “humbucker” variety, which uses two reverse polarity coils to reduce the interference and noise the archtop has when played electric.

Here are some of the main differences between archtop guitars and the original flattop guitars that preceded them. Both types of guitars have unique benefits, so you will find fans of both in the guitar community. By knowing why one has certain design features and the other has a different approach, you can better determine which guitar is right for you and start searching for different guitar makers or luthiers to find the next guitar you want to add to your collection.