Cutaways
Ups and downs. - from the newsleltter of the Sacramento Guitar Society

On the up side, it seems apparent that access to the upper frets would be most desirable but what about the down side. They are a little more trouble to build, which may increase the cost of the guitar. Also you do lose the visually symmetry of the guitar which is so pleasing to the eye. And some would think it is just not traditional.

Does it affect the tone? How could it not, at least in the smallest degree? Everything affects the tone of a guitar; humidity, the type of strings you use even the lowering the action of the guitar so it can be played. While we are on the subject of action, let’s talk about the up side of a cutaway guitar. The upper bout is the area in question. It is common knowledge that squeezing a bar chord increases the tension on the neck and upper bout slightly. The upper bout has approximatly120 to 160 pounds pressure resting on it before the bar chord is played (we are talking about under the fingerboard). With a traditionally built box there is more flexibility in this area (less rigid). This increased flexibility slightly raises the action when playing a bar chord, giving it a stiffer feel. A guitar built with a cutaway causes this area to be more rigid and the strings stay slightly closer to the fingerboard. Hence, playing is easier when playing bar chords at the 5^th and 7^th positions.

For those who like to use a capo now and then such as accompanists, flamenco guitarists etc., they would benefit greatly from a cutaway. A capo at the second fret, for example, would put your twelve-fret octave over the soundboard. A cutaway would give much more access to this area.

A cutaway may generate the curiosity of your audience as to when you are going to use that thing.