The Bristol BD-16 is a great acoustic guitar that has been a popular choice for players of all levels for many years.
It has a non-cutaway body with high gloss finish, a top made of spruce, back and sides made of mahogany, and a 25.6″ scale length.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
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In this review post, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Bristol BD-16 acoustic guitar, examining its sound, features, and playability.
We’ll go over what each guitar feature means and how it alters the overall sound and playability of the guitar.
Table of Contents
Summary
In order to give you a better idea of how well this guitar performs, we have summarized the Bristol BD-16 key points below.
The score and rating we give to each point are entirely our own opinion and judgment.
Hardware
A guitar’s hardware refers to the various metal and plastic parts that make up the instrument.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
On an acoustic guitar, the phrase “hardware” refers to any of the actual components that make up the instrument.
When selecting a guitar based on its hardware, ensure that it is of good quality and will be able to endure frequent usage.
Lower-quality guitars, for example, frequently have plastic saddles on the bridge, which can degrade the instrument’s tone and intonation while also making it more difficult to tune.
The metal parts shouldn’t be able to rust or tarnish, and they should look strong and durable so that they don’t get dented.
A well-sounding and playable guitar needs good hardware, and there are a few things that a manufacturer can do to make it ideal for us.
Let’s take a look further into it!
– Tuning Machines
On this Bristol BD-16, the tuning machines are die cast, made of chrome, and have a closed gear design.
- Material: Chrome
- Design: Closed gear
One of the most significant pieces of any guitar’s hardware is the tuning machines (commonly referred as “tuners”).
They’re responsible for holding the strings tight so that they can vibrate properly and produce the correct pitch.
Bad and low-quality tuning machines can make your guitar go out of tune quickly and be difficult to keep in tune.
They can also make changing the strings more difficult, as well as making the guitar more hard to play in general.
Must Remember:
Good tuning machines are composed of strong, long-lasting materials and operate with precision and smoothness.
To avoid rust, make sure to choose materials like nickel-plated steel or stainless steel.
These materials are also less likely to tarnish, which will extend the life of your instrument.
– Pickguard
The Bristol BD-16 has a black pickguard with a black design.
- Color: Black
- Design: Black
The pickguard is a small piece of plastic or metal that’s mounted on the body of the guitar, near the strings.
Its aim is to prevent the pick from scratching the guitar’s finish as you play.
Most pickguards are made of either plastic or metal, and nowadays maybe even carbon fiber, and there are a few different designs that you’ll come across.
A decent pickguard should be built of a strong material that can survive repeated use.
It should also be placed in such a way that it will effectively protect the guitar’s body from scratches inflicted by the player’s pick.
In terms of appearance, a pickguard should also match the guitar’s overall design.
It shouldn’t be too noticeable, but it also shouldn’t be too small or low-quality that it seems out of place.
– Strap Buttons
Both strap buttons on the Bristol BD-16 are constructed of chrome and appear to be fairly strong.
- Material: Chrome
- Position: Bottom and side of heel
- Design: Classic
Strap buttons are small metal buttons that are mounted on the body of the guitar, and they’re used to attach a strap to the instrument.
One on either side of the body, most guitars will generally feature two strap buttons.
These strap buttons are made of metal, and they should be strong and durable so that they don’t come loose over time.
Even though the quality of the strap buttons isn’t a deal-breaker for most individuals, it’s still something to consider.
Body
The body of a guitar is the main part of the instrument, and it’s where the neck, bridge, and strings are attached.
This is also where you’ll notice a hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound from inside the instrument rebounds and resonates.
The majority of guitars have a wooden body, while others have carbon fiber, metal, or plastic bodies (less usual).
– Wood
The type of wood that’s used for the body can affect the sound of the guitar, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a particular tone.
When it comes to the Bristol BD-16, it has a spruce top with a mahogany back and mahogany sides.
– Finish
The body finish is the final layer of protection for the wood of the guitar body.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it features a high gloss finish.
This is what gives the guitar its brilliance and shine, but also protects the wood from scratches, dents, and other wear and tear.
There are a few types of finishes that you’ll come across, some of them are:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is typically not a significant factor in the overall tone.
It can, however, affect the instrument’s appearance and feel.
Some individuals like a specific color guitar because it complements their personal style.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Bristol BD-16 has a standard pin bridge with black-colored plastic pins and a saddle made of abs.
Each of these elements contributes to the tone and feel of the guitar.
For example, the bridge is responsible for transferring the vibrations of the strings to the body of the guitar.
The saddle is what the strings sit on, and it’s usually made of plastic or bone.
On the other hand, the pins, are what keep the strings in place.
There are several types of bridges, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
On acoustic guitars, you’ll mainly see three types of bridges:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
Pin bridges are the most prominent type of bridge and the simplest to rebuild and replace.
They are, however, more difficult to intonate, which means getting the strings in the proper place.
Pinless bridges are less common, although they are easy to intonate as well.
They also have the benefit of not requiring any pins, which can be difficult to track and are very easy to lose.
Finally, classical guitar bridges are only found on classical guitars.
They are very similar in design to most other bridges, but the main distinction is that they have no pins and instead consist of a saddle and a wooden block with a hole for each string.
This hole is used to tie the string down, giving the guitar a much cleaner appearance.
Now, the type of saddle you use is also crucial; plastic saddles are the least expensive and quickest to find, but they do not last as long as bone saddles.
Bone saddles are more expensive, but they’re also way more durable.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they’re also the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable.
Neck
The Bristol BD-16 has a neck that’s made of mahogany with a Slim shape and an adjustable truss rod.
The guitar’s neck is the long, thin piece that runs from the body to the headstock.
Because different woods have distinct qualities that influence how the vibrations created by the strings behave, the type of wood chosen for the neck can alter the guitar’s playability and sound.
The most popular style of neck is the bolt-on neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the body of the guitar.
Another popular style is the set-neck, which is actually glued to the body of the guitar.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are all crucial components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the area on the guitar’s neck where your fingers press against the strings.
It is often made of wood, although it can also be made of carbon fiber, plastic, or metal.
As for the Bristol BD-16, it has a fretboard made of rosewood with pearloid dots inlays:
Despite the fact that this has historically been a source of debate, it is generally acknowledged that the type of wood used for the fretboard might have a slight effect on the sound of the guitar.
Maple, for example, is a popular wood for electric guitars because it produces a very bright tone.
Rosewood is another popular material for acoustic guitars because it provides a warm and full bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars designed to have a very clean, clear tone.
There are several varieties of fretboards available, each with its own set of benefits and drawbacks.
The kind of fretboard you pick is entirely up to you and what you really want in a guitar; the tone will not be dramatically different, but the feel will be.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Bristol BD-16:
– General
| Brand | Bristol |
| Model | BD-16 |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Size | Full Size |
| Colors | Natural |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Die Cast |
| Electro-acoustic | No |
| Built-in Tuner | Not applicable |
– Body
| Body Style | Dreadnought |
| Cutaway | No |
| Solid Top | No |
| Top Material | Spruce |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Sides Material | Mahogany |
| Finish Type | High Gloss |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Pickguard Design | Black |
| Strap Buttons | Yes |
| Strap Buttons Position | Bottom and side of heel |
| Strap Buttons Design | Classic |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Slim |
| Scale Length | 25.6″ |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Design | Standard pin bridge |
| Pin Color | Black |
| Pin Material | Plastic |
| Bridge Material | Rosewood |
| Saddle Material | ABS |
| Nut Material | ABS |
| Nut Width | 1.69” |
Please note that some brands might change the type of materials that they use on their guitars.
This can be because of new regulations and laws that come and go throughout the years.
If you see a mistake in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
You can reach out to us via our email: [email protected]
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
There are a lot of great guitars out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one sometimes.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
More than 10 years of experience playing and writing about guitars! When not writing, I can be found strumming away some Johnny Cash tunes. Favorite all time guitar is the Gibson Les Paul. #TeamGibson
