The electric guitar has become an iconic instrument, shaping many musical genres over time. There have been various designs created over time, each with their own distinct characteristics.
When selecting the ideal guitar, it’s essential to take into account both your playing style and what type of music you want to explore. Selecting an electric guitar that doesn’t meet these needs could prove a frustrating decision!
Origins
The guitar, like the piano, has its roots in ancient instruments. One of the oldest still used today is known as a kithara or kilo (Greek for tortoise).
One early guitar ancestor was the Hawaiian lap steel, a solo instrument placed across a players’ lap and played with either metal bar or slide. This type of instrument became popular during the 1920s and 1930s.
Many musicians worked to enhance the sound of these instruments, and in 1934 George Beauchamp invented a magnetic pickup that enabled his instrument to be plugged into an electric amplifier. This innovation marked an advancement in producing high-quality loud guitars; Beauchamp went on to found successful company Electro String Co.
It was this pickup design that revolutionized the electric guitar and revolutionized music forever. Additionally, it helped cement Fender as the world’s leading electric guitar manufacturer.
This pickup was able to generate enough electricity to amplify notes, and it remains popular on most electric guitars today. When a guitar string vibrates against its pickup’s magnetic field at different rates, it disturbs its magnetic field at different rates which then triggers an electrical current – creating the desired sound in various musical applications such as traditional blues and jazz music, rock ‘n’ roll music and beyond.
In 1950, Leo Fender released the first commercially available solid body electric guitar model with a single pickup. He initially called it the Esquire; though simple and straightforward in design, it quickly won over many players’ hearts. By summer 1951, it was renamed to Telecaster and has remained in continuous production ever since.
Design
Electric guitars come in a variety of designs. One popular style is the solid body guitar. This type offers an excellent sound when playing loud with plenty of effects and amplified noises, plus it’s durable enough to handle some serious abuse.
A hollowbody guitar is another popular style of guitar. While it offers acoustic-like sounds, it is more vulnerable to feedback. Additionally, making one can be expensive and finding the ideal sound can be tricky with one.
Modern models often feature necks that protrude from the top of the body and are usually glued in place. This method has long been employed with acoustic guitars, but is becoming increasingly commonplace on electrics as well.
These necks typically have a thicker profile than standard guitar necks, making it more comfortable for players with longer fingers – leading to their popularity among artists such as Eric Clapton.
Other popular neck shapes include the oval shape, which features a smooth curve at the back of the neck. This design has become widely adopted by several Fender models such as the Stratocaster and Jazzmaster.
The neck is the key component to guitar sound and comfort, so it should be carefully designed. The profile and distance between frets must be calculated correctly for smooth playability and good intonation.
Other than the neck, there are other components that contribute to an electric guitar’s sound and feel. These include pickups, which can range from single coil to humbuckers. Pickups have a significant impact on tone so it’s essential that you select them carefully according to your requirements.
Sound
The sound of an electric guitar is determined by several elements, such as its body, pickups, strings and amplifier. Ultimately it’s up to each individual player to decide which sound they prefer.
One of the key characteristics that determines the sound of an electric guitar is its body shape. Hollow-bodied instruments tend to have deeper bass tones, making them great for rhythm and lead playing while solid bodies are more sensitive to distortion.
Another factor that can influence the sound of an electric guitar is the wood used in its body construction. Wood has a direct effect on tone and feel, especially when playing with fingers.
Modern guitars often employ man-made materials for their bodies and necks, such as carbon fiber. This option can be more eco-friendly and cost-effective than other types of woods.
As a general rule, solid-body guitars offer better sound quality and are less susceptible to feedback issues. This is because the string vibrations don’t travel as far on a hollow body guitar, allowing pickups to pick up vibrations better. Some players prefer playing with their fingers on a hollow-bodied guitar; however, this is ultimately down to personal preference.
Uses
Electric guitars have come a long way since their inception. Thanks to advances in technology, modern guitars can now produce an array of sounds – from blues and classical music to rock and roll. The image of guitarist playing on one of these modern electric guitars is one that many musicians will cherish fondly.
The modern guitar is an intricate instrument, boasting numerous components that play an essential role in music making. These include the headstock, frets, nut and truss rod. Other items on your budget should include a great amp, quality stompbox and reliable power cord for ultimate convenience. Despite all this technical complexity, modern electric guitars remain enjoyable to play – especially when musicians have the freedom to explore their talents at live shows or create new musical paths in the studio.
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Styles
The electric guitar is an incredibly versatile instrument, used in numerous genres of music. It comes in various shapes and styles, each offering its own distinct sound that can be enhanced using various effects.
The shape of an electric guitar’s body determines its tone and ease of playability. You have several basic options to choose from: solidbody, semi-hollowbody or hollowbody.
Popular guitars such as the Fender Telecaster and Gibson Les Paul tend to have single-cutaway models (like the Telecaster), but some guitarists prefer double-cutaway guitars with reverb and sustain, especially those offering multiple pickup options. This type of instrument is ideal for guitarists interested in exploring various musical genres.
Neck profile, or the cross-sectional shape of the neck, is another major influence on how an electric guitar sounds. For traditional players it should be thinner near the nut to facilitate chord playing; while metal shredders will find it more flexible near the bridge.
Metal players typically opt for necks with a heavier feel and more V-shaped profiles, like the Steinberger folding neck. These necks provide greater sustain as well as being popular choices.
Electric guitars come in a range of colors, finishes and woods that can affect the sound, though not as much as acoustic instruments do. A high-quality gloss finish helps amplify your sound for greater power output while satin finishes create a warmer ambience.