The descriptions below apply mainly to acoustic or electro acoustic guitars. A short explanation of the difference between solid body electric archtop and flattop guitars is at the end of this article. Semi hollow electric guitars like the Gibson ES 335 are a different type of guitar than described here.

ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Archtop guitars are typically used for Jazz. Flattop guitars are typically used for a wide range of different types of music like Classical, Folk, Bluegrass, Blues, Rock and Flamenco. As with all things related to music, there are many exceptions.

An obvious difference between the two types of guitar is that the top and back of the guitar body is flat on a flattop. The top and back are arched, or curved outwards, on an archtop guitar.

Flattop guitars typically have a round sound hole in the top, just below the fretboard. Some flattop guitars may have oval, "D" shaped, or other type of holes in the top. Some hand-made flattops have no hole in the top, but have a hole in the side.

Archtop guitars typically have two "f" holes on both sides of the guitar's bridge. A few archtops may have an oval hole just below the fingerboard, but this is rare.

The bridge on a flattop is typically glued to the top of the guitar. The ends of a flattop guitar's strings are attached just behind the bridge. The end of the fretboard and the "scratch plate" are glued to the top of a flattop guitar. There are exceptions among handmade guitars.

The bridge on an archtop guitar is not glued. It "floats" on the arched surface of the guitar, held in place by the tension of the strings. The strings are attached to a tailpiece which is anchored to the tail end of the guitar.

The only thing touching the top of an archtop guitar is the bridge. Typically, the fretboard floats above the top and does not actually touch it. Finger rests (a.k.a. "scratch plate") are usually mounted to the neck and the side of the guitar so they do not touch the top. If a pickup is mounted, a floating pickup that is attached to the finger rest is preferred. pickup controls are often mounted on the finger rest.

There are exceptions to this among some archtops. Some pickups are mounted directly into the body of the guitar. Often the pickup controls are mounted directly into the top of the guitar on the lower end of the lower bout. In these cases, the sound of the amplified guitar is more important than the acoustic sound.

Acoustically, archtop guitars have a very different sound from flattop guitars. Archtops have a slightly more "nasal" sound. They were originally developed to help the guitarist be heard in a band before guitars were amplified. Flattops were usually used in a less formal and more intimate setting. Of course, this is not the case today.

SOLID BODY ELECTRIC GUITARS

Solid body electric flattop or archtop guitars are more alike. The difference between them has more to do with the top of the guitar.

Electric archtop guitars typically have a different piece of wood glued on top of the main body of the instrument. This piece is carved to an arched shape. Depending on the carve it is more or less comfortable than a flattop electric. A Gibson Les Paul is typical of a solid body electric archtop. A Fender Telecaster is typical of a solid body electric flattop.

Some guitarists prefer electric solid body archtops over solid body flattops because they may be more "comfortable." There may also be a difference in tone based on the use of two different types of wood. Some flattop electrics have additional beveling or shaping to make them more comfortable to hold. The Fender Stratocaster and Gibson SG are examples of this. This is an individual choice.

The best way to understand these differences is to visit a music store and try out several different types of guitar until you find one that fits best. Of course, sound is always important, so pay attention to that as well.

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