acoustic · round-shoulder dread
DSS (slope-shoulder Dreadnought)
A round-shoulder dreadnought format: the softer-shouldered alternative to the square-shoulder Dreadnought.
Why it matters
Round-shoulder dreads give up some of the cut of a square-shoulder Dreadnought in exchange for a tighter low end and an even response across the strings, which is why they appear so often in fingerstyle and singer-songwriter work. In this part of the market the body shape usually matters more than the series name, because the same outline is used across several price levels. Torrefied tops, where they appear, are heat-treated before assembly so the top responds closer to an older instrument.
Note
Martin's slope-shoulder dread family — uncommon for the company, whose dreadnoughts are usually square-shouldered.
Specifications
- Scale length: 645.2 mm (25.4 in)
- Neck shape: Modified Low Oval
Before you buy
- Play the body shape next to a standard Dreadnought before deciding
- A torrefied top is a heat-treated top: compare it against standard spruce in person
- Body shape, not the series name, drives most of the price difference