Do you know the difference between an MIM and an MIJ guitar? Are you wondering if you need an HSS or HSH setup in your next purchase? Or maybe you can’t decide whether or not you like a QMT better than a FMT? If these acronyms are confusing the hell out of you then you’ve come to the right place my friend!
I have listed below some of the more common guitar related acronyms and abbreviations which you might find scattered around the internet on websites and forums. Help expand the list of terms by leaving a comment below with your own acronyms!
A
AANJ – All Access Neck Joint
AH – Artificial Harmonic
ALNICO – an Aluminum, Nickel, Cobalt magnetic alloy that gives magnetic pickups their unique sound
AT – Arch Top
B
BK – Black (a southpaw’s favourite finish color apparently)
BPM – Beats Per Minute
C
CIJ – Crafted in Japan
CNC – Computer Numeric Controlled
COA – Certificate of Authenticity
CS – Coil Split
CS – Custom Shop
CT – Coil Tap
CV – Classic Vibe (Range of guitars by Squier)
D
DI – Direct Injection
E
EADGBE – Standard Tuning
EBMM – Ernie Ball Music Man (manufacturer)
EMG – Electro-Magnetic Generator (pickups)
ESP – Electric sound Products (manufacturer)
EQ – Equaliser
F
FB – Fixed Bridge
FGD – Free Guitar Day
FMT – Flame Maple Top
FR – Floyd Rose
FSR – Factory Special Run
FT – Flat Top
G
GAR – Gear Acquisition Remorse
GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome
GOTW – Guitar of the Week
GMC – Green Multi-Color (famous Ibanez swirl finish)
H
HB – Humbucker (pickup)
HH – 2 Humbucker Pickup Configuration
HNGD – Happy New Guitar Day
HO – Hammer On
HSC – Hard Shell Case
HSH – Humbucker, Single Coil, Humbucker Pickup Configuration
HSS – Humbucker, Single Coil, Single Coil Pickup Configuration
HT – Hardtail
I
J
J-Bass – Fender Jazz Bass
K
L
LE – Limited Edition
LH – Left Handed
LP – Les Paul
LSD – Lead Singer’s Disease
LTHB – Light Top, Heavy Bottom (strings)
M
MHS – Matching Headstock
MIA – Made in America
MIC – Made in China
MII – Made in Indonesia
MIJ – Made in Japan
MIK – Made in Korea
MIM – Made in Mexico
MOP – Mother of Pearl
N
NAD – New Amp Day
NAMM – National Association of Music Merchants
NBD – New Bass Day
NGD – New Guitar Day
NH – Natural Harmonic
NPD – New Pedal Day
NOS – New Old Stock, a new guitar that’s been in a store’s stock a long time
NT – Neck-Thru
O
OD – Overdrive
OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer
OFR – Original Floyd Rose
OHSC – Original Hard Shell Case
P
PA – Public Address
PAF – Patent Applied For (pickups)
P-Bass – Fender Precision Bass
PG – Pick Guard
PH – Pinch Harmonic
PM – Palm Mute
PO – Pull Off
POS – Piece of S#!&
POTS – Potentiometers (volume & tone pots)
PRS – Paul Reed Smith (manufacturer)
PU – Pickups
PUPS – Pickups
Q
QMT – Quilted Maple Top
R
RG – Roadstar Guitar (Ibanez Series)
RI – Reissue
RIG – Respected Internet Guitarist
RR – Randy Rhoads (Jackson Series)
RTFM – Read the F*#%ing Manual
S
SB – Sound Board
SB – Sunburst
SC – Single Coil (pickup)
SC – Single Cutout (guitar body style)
SG – Solid Guitar (Gibson SG)
SS – 2 Single Coil Pickup Configuration
SS – Solid State (amps)
SSC – Soft Shell Case
SSS – 3 Single Coil Pickup Configuration
ST – String Thru
STD – Standard
SUAPYG – Shut Up And Play Your Guitar
T
TAB – Tablature
TOM – Tune-O-Matic (bridge)
TRAIN – Tune, Relief, Action, Intonation, Noodle. A logical order for setting up your guitar.
TRC – Truss Rod Cover
TS – Ibanez Tubescreamer
U
UV – Universe (7-string version of Ibanez JEM)
V
VB – Violin Bass (Höfner)
VT – Very Thin (Höfner)
VOS – Vintage Original Specs
W
WH – White
X
Y
Z
ZPS – Zero Point System
ZR – Zero Resistance
If you have some of your own which I’ve missed leave a comment below! :)
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