Parts of a Custom Archtop Guitar

Even if you are a seasoned musician, you might not know all of the technical terms when it comes to a custom archtop guitar. Here is a quick rundown of the most commonly used terms.

Action – the height between the strings and the fretboard.

Archtop – this is a type of acoustic guitar that has an arched soundboard and is usually favored by jazz guitarists.

Bridge – the portion of the guitar’s body where the strings are attached and the saddle is held.

Fret – a strip of metal that is placed on the fretboard to indicate the location of notes for the guitar strings.

Intonation – an instrument’s ability to play and hold the correct note.

Luthier – a craftsman who builds guitars.

Neck – the long piece that extends from the body of the guitar; it contains the frets and fret markers, which identify where to press a string to produce a specific note.

Nut – a slotted bar that is rigid and used to separate and raise the guitar’s strings. It is located at the top of the fretboard. At the other end is the part known as the saddle. Together, they both keep the strings elevated off of the fretboard, which allows them to vibrate and create sustained notes.

Pick guard – this is a usually colorful overlay that protects the body finish from damage that can be caused by a pick or fingernail. They are usually made out of plastic.

Saddle – this is a rigid bar at the other end of the strings from the nut. It is located near the base of the guitar, which is embedded in the bridge. 

Tuning – when you adjust the guitar’s tuning keys until a specific string vibrates at the correct frequency and sounds the proper note or notes.

For more information on purchasing a custom archtop guitar, call Fine Archtops at 612-366-7120 or Contact Us.