Guitar Equipment And Supplies

The Guitar – From Humble Beginnings To Prominence In Music

The History of The Electric Guitar

When most people think of Electric Guitars, they think of rock music. But electric guitars are more versatile than you'd think. You can find them in jazz, blues, country music, New-Age compositions, and even contemporary classical pieces. Electric guitars are intimately associated with many famous musicians of the twentieth century-and may be the iconic musical instrument of our time.

The demand for electric guitars came during the Big Band Era in the 20's and 30's. The big brass bands of the time were very loud, and other instruments had to be artificially amplified to stand up to their powerful sound. Performers experimented with attaching microphones to acoustic guitars. The first manufactured electric guitars were made in 1931 by the Electro String Instrument Corporation.

The first time an electric guitar is known to have been used in performance was in 1932. Bandleader Gage Brewer of Wichita, Kansas, received two electric guitars directly through Electro String Instruments, possibly for publicity purposes. Brewer wrote about the guitars in an article in the Wichita Beacon before the performance.

The earliest known recording of an electric guitar performance was produced in 1938. George Barnes, a jazz guitarist, recorded two songs with the guitar, called "It's a Lowdown Dirty Shame" and "Sweetheart Land."

The earliest electric guitars were essentially hollow-bodied acoustic guitars equipped with Tungsten pickups. The problem with hollow-body electric guitars is that the hollow space within the guitar produces vibrations when the strings are plucked or strummed. These vibrations account for the unique tone of an acoustic guitar, but they produce harsh feedback when they interact with the pickups in an electric guitar. Early electric guitar players used to stuff rags and newspapers into their hollow-body instruments in an attempt to get rid of the feedback.

One of the earlier solid-body guitars was an aluminium instrument known as the "Frying Pan" or "Pancake Guitar." These guitars were said to have produced a sound similar to that of modern electric guitars.

Several other well-known luthiers experimented with solid-body guitars during the early history of the electric guitar. In 1940, during his time at Gibson Guitars, Les Paul attempted a solid-body instrument called the "log guitar," so called because it was a simple post equipped with neck, strings, and pickups.

The electric guitar did not hit commercial success until the 1950's, when Fender released its first solid-body model: the Esquire. The Esquire was followed by the Telecaster and finally, in 1954, the Stratocaster. The "Strat" was hailed in professional musical and luthier circles alike, and became a signature instrument of such famous musicians as Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and many others.

The electric guitar produced an aggressive sound very different from the melodic and lyrical tones of its ancestor, the acoustic. The sound of the electric guitar became characteristic of rock and roll in the 60's and 70's. It was a high-profile instrument during this time, appearing on stage with hundreds of famous bands and musicians.

This created demand among the general public for affordable electric guitars. In the 60's and 70's, electric guitars were very expensive-too pricey for a buyer who wasn't a famous musician. Although some companies attempted to fill the gap with cheap imitations, the sound of these guitars did not compare to the real thing.

It wasn't until the 1980's that Japanese manufacturers stepped forward with affordable electric guitars capable of professional-quality sound. This put pressure on American companies such as Gibson and Fender to provide their own affordable lines. Electric guitars became more and more successful in the consumer market as quality improved, and prices went down as new manufacturers entered the market. Soon, electric guitars were more accessible than they had ever been.

Today, the electric guitar is one of the most prolific instruments in popular music. You can find it in a wide variety of genres, from metal to New Age. You can also buy an electric guitar like the rock stars have-without paying the prices they pay. Because it's so common in contemporary music and in the hands of amateur musicians, there's little doubt that the electric guitar is one of the most successful instruments of the twentieth century.

Choosing The Right Guitar

Choosing the right guitar may be a problem for a large number of guitarists out there. Luckily there are some tips and tricks that can help you choose the one that will suit you the most.

The legendary Eric Clapton on Guitar

If you are a total beginner in the world of guitar-mastery, I would strongly recommend that you take a look in the direction of acoustic guitars. Because of their narrow necks they are relatively easy to play. The drawback might be those sharp strings, but you can always change them for nylon strings - which is another thing I would really recommend to the beginners. Anyhow, your fingers will definitely tell you when you've had too much of guitar-playing for the day, at least at the very beginning. Nylon strings are going to be much easier on them, allowing you to play at least two to three hours a day, making it possible for you to become better relatively fast. And this is the most important part - you need to be able to see the progress you are making along the path, since this will boost your motivation and help you get even better. Without that kind of stimulation, a lot of guitarists come across a lack of motivation ...

Once you learn the basics, you might be ready to try other kinds of equipment. You might want to try the Classical Guitar if you like rich, soft sound and if you are a fan of sensual, slower music. When it comes to those, keep in mind that they are difficult to play from the 12th fret downwards - they are definitely not something you can practice your rock solos with. However, they turn out to be a great instrument for all the finger-pickers out there and they do have that unique, almost Spanish sound, which makes every note seem just a bit more romantic.

If you prefer rock music and faster tunes, you should take a look towards the electric guitars. First you need a good amplifier, but don't get distracted by those huge numbers about the power. You really don't need anything more than 20 watts at home, trust me on this one. Don't buy some cheap 100 watt piece of equipment, you will be much better off with a quality 20 Watt Amplifier.

When it comes to the guitar itself, I would recommend that you get yourself one of the Stratocaster guitars - they are really easy to play, they have great necks and usually quite solid magnets. One more thing: go to the store and try out many types of electric guitars ... The acoustic ones are quite similar to each other, but the electric guitars are a completely different story. Try at least 10 guitars before you make a decision. It should take you more than an hour, but coming home with a guitar that you are going to use with pleasure makes up for that, believe me.

You need to buy a capodaster as well, it is a great piece of equipment and once you get used to it, you can't really do without any more. Just put it on the 2nd fret and - voila - your guitar is tuned two semitones higher. And that makes it a lot easier for you to sing along, you really should try that. Capodasters can be used with any kind of guitar, so they really are a good investment.

This short article should help you make an informed decision ... and once you become a great guitarist, I hope you'll help someone else to make their informed decision about guitar equipment. Have fun!