FRETS.COM Illustrated Glossary
Flat Top, Flattop (steel string guitar, not haircut)
Flat Top
© Frank Ford, 10/14/98 Photos by FF
Here are some flattops:
In contrast to the archtop
guitar, the flattop has just that, a top that's flat.
The flat top steel string guitar is the most ubiquitous popular (non-classical) style
guitar.
Classical guitars have flat tops as well, but are never called "flattop"
because there are no archtop classicals.
Nashville types frequently use the vernacular "flattop" to mean " flat top guitar" or folk style guitar. They're the same fellows who use terms like "D-box" to refer to the dreadnought style guitar, or "bone" to mean herringbone trimmed prewar Martin D-28.
"C'mon, boy, pick that ol' flattop!"