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 Home > Learning Center > Electric guitar

Electric guitar

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The electric guitar is a modern twist on an old idea. The guitar has been a popular instrument since the middle ages. However, before the early 20th century, these instruments were always of an acoustic nature, meaning they produced sound without the need for external amplification. During the 1930’s and 1940’s that all changed thanks to the work and dedication of a few creative guitar innovators.

Early attempts at amplifying guitars began with people such as Les Paul and Adolf Rickenbacker during the 1930’s. These early experiments were done primarily with lap steel and Hawaiian slide guitars. The electric guitar as we know it today (those with a solid-body design) was first designed by Les Paul in the 1940’s. Dubbed the “log guitar” because of it’s very rudimentary design characteristics, this instrument was essentially a chunk of unfinished wood to which was attached a guitar neck.

The first successfully mass-produced, solid-body guitar was introduced to the world by Leo Fender in the mid-1940’s. The “Esquire” as it was called (later changed to the “Telecaster”) was the first to use magnetic pick-ups. These pick-ups were a very efficient means of transferring the vibration of the strings into amplified sound without the typical feedback issues that were common with other designs. The sound could be controlled through the volume and tone knobs that were incorporated into the body of the guitar. The Telecaster became a big hit with many Country-Western guitar players of the era. Fender quickly followed up the success of this guitar with the world’s first viable electric bass guitar (called the Precision bass, or P-bass for short) in 1951 and a more advanced electric guitar (the Stratocaster) in 1954.

The electric guitar is made from the same basic parts as its acoustic cousin. It has a body, neck and headstock, uses the same amount of strings (in most cases) and is played in a similar manner. However, unlike an acoustic, the electric guitar has a solid body. This means that there is no self-contained means for the instrument to produce audible sound by itself. This is why these instruments require the use of an external amplification system. Guitar amplifiers come in many different sizes, designs and capabilities. The “right” amplifier for your particular needs depends greatly on your playing style and sound requirements.

The modern electric guitar still uses the same basic design principles as early models, but with some significant technological advancements. Pick-ups, for one, have become more advanced. Double-coil (commonly called Humbucker) pick-ups have gone a long way towards the elimination of the annoying “hum” that can often be heard on many electric guitars. Advances in string technology have also served to produce much higher quality guitar string, as well as given birth to many variations of string design. The invention of the effects pedal and the advances in their technology, have greatly expanded the possible sounds that are possible on the guitar. Chorus, flanger, wah-wah and distortion pedals are all favorites with guitar players all over the world. Digital technology has expanded the array of effects even further.

The electric guitar has evolved quite a bit since its invention. As technology progresses, new players will continue to advance the possibilities of the instrument.

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