Comparing Faith Guitars Body Shapes: Venus vs Neptune

Quick Summary 

Faith Guitars is famous for having its own custom lineup of guitar shapes, named for the planets in our solar system. In this article, we compare two popular Faith shapes: Venus and Neptune. 

Faith Venus vs Faith Neptune

While best known for their high-quality, affordable solid-wood acoustic guitar range, Faith Guitars have another quirk that makes them memorable: their custom designed body shapes.

With an unforgettable naming system (each shape is named after a planet in the solar system), Faith have ensured that they stand out in the acoustic market. 

Two of their most popular shapes are the Faith Venus and the Faith Neptune. But how do these shapes compare, and which is better for you? Read on to find out!

The Faith Venus Shape

The ‘Venus’ body shape is perhaps Faith’s most well-known, and was one of the first three Faith body shapes launched back in 2002. 

It’s similar to an auditorium cutaway shape, striking an ideal balance of size and sound. With a 15” lower bout and shallow body, it’s comfortable to play for long sessions without sacrificing power or tone. 

This shape is available across myriad Faith ranges, including the Naked series, Nexus series, Natural series, Blood Moon, Blue Moon, Eclipse & HiGloss. 

The Faith Neptune Shape 

Based on Patrick James Eggle’s acclaimed ‘Saluda’ shape, the Faith Neptune most closely resembles a baby jumbo. It’s available both with and without a cutaway. 

This shape measures 16” across the lower-bout, preserving powerful sound in a more compact format than a traditional jumbo. It stands out as a hardy, full-bodied instrument. 

The Neptune is available across a fair amount of Faith lineups, but slightly less than the Venus. Ranges with the Neptune shape include the Naked series, the Nomad series, the Nexus series, the Blood Moon series, the FX series, and the PJE Legacy series. 

Faith Venus and Faith Neptune Compared

So what’s the difference & which is better for you?

The Faith Venus and Faith Neptune are two distinctly different guitar shapes. 

The Venus comes with a cutaway as standard, and more closely resembles an Auditorium, whereas the Neptune is slightly larger, resembling a baby jumbo, with the option to purchase with a cutaway or without. 

So, which is better for you? Well, that depends on what you prioritise! 

If you want a larger sound and larger instrument, the Neptune is your best bet. But if you want something smaller and more versatile, the Venus might be better.

Key Takeaways

• Core Design Differences: The Venus is an Auditorium-style shape with a 15" lower bout and a shallower depth, whereas the Neptune is a "Baby Jumbo" with a wider 16" lower bout.

• Playability vs. Acoustic Output: The Venus prioritises playing comfort and ergonomic agility for long sessions, while the larger Neptune body chamber delivers greater projection, lower-end resonance, and raw acoustic power.

• Cutaway Preference: The Venus comes standard with an access-friendly cutaway design, while the Neptune is available in both cutaway and traditional non-cutaway configurations.

• Luthier Heritage: The Neptune is directly based on master luthier Patrick James Eggle’s custom Saluda body shape.

• Best Choice for You: Choose the Venus if you want a mid-sized, comfortable, versatile workhorse for fingerstyle and stage playing; choose the Neptune if you want big jumbo warmth and room-filling volume without the bulky frame of a full-size jumbo.