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For me, Small bodied guitars.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

That all depends on what market you're talking about. If you ask C.F. Martin, they will tell you that the Dreadnought is King as far as sales numbers are concerned. If you are talking about the handmade realm, then OM's rule the roost. But still don't discount the power of the Dread.
At the first Newport Guitar Festival, there were t ons of OM's and SJ-type instruments, but only one dread - a slope-D by Bryan Galloup. It was great, but the only one.Don Williams38771.4862037037

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Histoicly from my shop OMs and Dreads have been the main stay but over the past two years SJs have made up 90% of my builds. I am not sure if it a fad or a nitch that I previously did not offer a model for, but they are very strong right now.

   Over the years my MJ model which measures 16 inches across its lower bout has been my main seller, but there have been periods when my GC which measures 15 inches has been more popular. When I introduced my Parlor model two years ago, I was surprized with a wave of more then 50 orders for them, but the orders for MJs seem to always be in my shop and coming steadily more often then anything.

   I've only sold about 35 Dreads and even less full size Jumbos measuring 17 inches in the lower bout with only 25 or so in the nearly 500 guitars that I've built.

Just my experience which my vary greatly from others. I believe that builders become sought after for particular models or sizes for whatever reasons and those are the guitars they end up building more often. Jim Olson is most widely known for his beautiful SJ which is a smaller body and has been his mainstay for a long time, but his Jumbo and Dread are both spectacular. Don Gallagher and his crew down in Wartrace, TN are best known for their powerful Dreads that are a regular sighting at all Bluegrass and flatpicking events, but their OM style guitars are outstanding as well.

   It's a shame that many people will never experience the beauty and diversity of some of the models offered by some builders because of the "pigeon holing" that can happen sometimes.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Grand Auditorium with a cutaway

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

I've sold approximately a ratio of 3:2 SJ's to Dreads.

But personally, I'm really liking smaller guitars, like the Size 5 and the OO. Oh...and Smiley-Ukes.

I've always been a dread fan though...and will always have one kickin' around to play.Don Williams38771.4938310185

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

For those that have not seen Dons Smiley Uke

Here is IT and HE

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

   While I love the power and fullness of a Dread which just can't be delivered by anything else, I've been drawn to other alternatives. No matter how a builder claims that his SJ, MJ, JJ, OM, GC or other model can deliver that Dread tone and power, it just can't happen and I've grown to appreciate the way a narrower waist allows a relatively large bodied guitar fall over my leg and present itself in a playing position as a much small instrument. It's comfortable and not so tough on a guy with ratator cuff tear to play.

   I love a Dread and enjoy building one any time I get an order. I find myself saying, "I really need to build one of these for myself soon." every time I string one up for shipment to a customer. Big and thick and full of power but I have to build what the customers are ordering.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars