Do classical and acoustic guitars sound the same?

Question:A classical is an acoustic guitar, but an acoustic guitar is not unnecessarily a classical guitar. Classical guitar is a subset of the whole range of guitars labeled as acoustic, or acoustic electric if it has a built in pickup or microphone.

A classical guitar can even fall under two headings. The guitar commonly known as the archtop or jazz guitar, was originally known as a classical guitar because of the "F Holes" cut into the soundboard, instead of a hole in the middle. The designation changed because of the way the guitar was primarily used, although this style of guitar is also used in Rock, Western Swing, and even "Cowboy" (Western) music. It can be purchased withor without a pickup and has a unique sound all it' own.

The traditional classical guitar, or the Spanish style guitar (despite it's Moorish origins) has gut (usually horse's intestines) or nylon strings, a hole in the center of the instrument, unless it is modified to the performer's specifications, and the traditional hourglass shape. The neck is shorter than a steel string guitar, and it generally does not have any kind of steel reinforcement in the neck. (i.e. a truss rod)

The main point that I am trying to make here (finally) is that no two guitars even sound the same. I have played twenty different Yamaha Guitars pulled off the same assembly lot, and have noticed tiny differences between each guitar. So you will understand when I say that every guitar sounds just a little bit different. Guitars made out of different materials sound very different, and guitars that use different types of strings (Nylon, Gut, Steel, Phosphor Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum etc.) sound very different as well. I wish you well on your quest to explore all of these different sounds and find the one (or ones) that speak to you! It can be a joyful (if sometimes frustrating) experience and unlike that lonesome valley, it is best that we do not walk it by ourselves. You have to get out from behind that instrument to truly hear it. Sometimes it is enough to have a friend or service rep sample it for us, and sometimes we have to get our own hands on it and just tape it (or digitally record it) so we can step back and get the full effect, but you have to hear it from all angles, from all perspectives, and it has to speak especially to you. That's what makes it all real!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: A classical is an acoustic guitar, but an acoustic guitar is not unnecessarily a classical guitar. Classical guitar is a subset of the whole range of guitars labeled as acoustic, or acoustic electric if it has a built in pickup or microphone.

A classical guitar can even fall under two headings. The guitar commonly known as the archtop or jazz guitar, was originally known as a classical guitar because of the "F Holes" cut into the soundboard, instead of a hole in the middle. The designation changed because of the way the guitar was primarily used, although this style of guitar is also used in Rock, Western Swing, and even "Cowboy" (Western) music. It can be purchased withor without a pickup and has a unique sound all it' own.

The traditional classical guitar, or the Spanish style guitar (despite it's Moorish origins) has gut (usually horse's intestines) or nylon strings, a hole in the center of the instrument, unless it is modified to the performer's specifications, and the traditional hourglass shape. The neck is shorter than a steel string guitar, and it generally does not have any kind of steel reinforcement in the neck. (i.e. a truss rod)

The main point that I am trying to make here (finally) is that no two guitars even sound the same. I have played twenty different Yamaha Guitars pulled off the same assembly lot, and have noticed tiny differences between each guitar. So you will understand when I say that every guitar sounds just a little bit different. Guitars made out of different materials sound very different, and guitars that use different types of strings (Nylon, Gut, Steel, Phosphor Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum etc.) sound very different as well. I wish you well on your quest to explore all of these different sounds and find the one (or ones) that speak to you! It can be a joyful (if sometimes frustrating) experience and unlike that lonesome valley, it is best that we do not walk it by ourselves. You have to get out from behind that instrument to truly hear it. Sometimes it is enough to have a friend or service rep sample it for us, and sometimes we have to get our own hands on it and just tape it (or digitally record it) so we can step back and get the full effect, but you have to hear it from all angles, from all perspectives, and it has to speak especially to you. That's what makes it all real!

no....check out youtube, videos will tell.

Classical guitar and acoustic guitar both don't use electricity that's one, but classical guitar usually uses nylon strings, and have a wider neck and when someone say acoustic guitar they can also mean acoustic folk guitar which uses steel strings and smaller neck.

classical guitar sounds different than folk guitar.

No, one has nylon strings and the other has steel.....you can play them both in the same style.....using your fingers, they call it finger style guitar. I teach both. To see and hear the classical guitar go on youtube and type in this.....Peo Kindgren, Yesterday, by the Beatles.....and then listen to the others who play this song on acoustic....you'll hear the difference !!!!!!!!!!!!!

No. Classical guitars have a mellow tone because of their nylon strings. Acoustic guitars have metal strings and produce a more metallic sound.

classical guitars are acoustic. there are two different types of acoustic guitars and they do sound different. the classical acoustic is strung with nylon strings ( the bigger strings are metal wound around nylon) back in the old days they were made of the guts of animals. the other type of acoustic guitar is a steel string guitar, its strings do not have nylon in them. it is much sharper and twangy sounding, most pro musicians that use acoustic guitars use steel string guitars they are more versatile then classical acoustics. classical acoustics are very nice sound though, i play one exclusively , i love the way it sounds, it is very soft and "milky" sounding and goes well with vocals. its all a matter of preference.
the quickest way to tell a classical acoustic from a steel string is by looking at the high E (the bottom string or smallest string) if it is metal then it is a steel string guitar if it is clear looking or white and kind of thick then its a classical.
examples of how they sound..... alternative rock musicians playing "unplugged" usually use steel string guitars ..spanish music, classical music and alot of instrumental music use a classical guitar.