CHOOSING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR
The Electric guitar is the instrument that offers the greatest thrill for the music aficionado. Choosing the right Electric guitar is an important part of your learning experience. These tips that will help you make a correct decision about your electric guitar choice.
Are all the guitars the same?
No. There are many types of electric guitars available in the market. The right guitar for you depends on which sound you are interested in achieving. Some guitars can easily switch between jazz, blues and rock without any perceptible difference, other guitars mainly only produce one type of sound. Choosing the sound that you want will simplify your buying decision. Another important consideration is the location of the neck on the guitar. There are two common types of neck positions; they are the "set-neck" and the "bolt-on" neck. The "set-neck" allows you to play for a longer time than the "bolt-on" neck and the meeting point of the neck and guitar is tighter to allow the sound to move freely between the two.
The main dis-advantage of the "set-neck" is that it can be difficult to repair or replace if it becomes damaged. The "bolt-on" neck style is commonly available on less expensive versions of guitars. The simple design locks the neck in a slot on the Guitar Body. Musical experts claim this type of neck style does not give good sound quality and lessens the amount of playing time, but this is principally due to the cheaper type of materials used in the manufacturing. If you want a superior quality sound and can accept a less durable electric guitar, choose for a "set-neck".
What about frets?
Most guitars have 21, 22 and 24 frets which determine how wide and long the neck is. Stratocasters guitars have 21 frets, which gives you a shorter neck. Opting for large frets will let you play more easily, Jackson Guitars are one brand that offer higher frets. The number of frets you should choose will depend on the number of notes you want to play. A higher number lets you play more sounds.
CHOOSING A BASS GUITAR
The modern-day bass guitar has been derived from the double bass guitar, which was used in the late 1950's. Having 4 strings, these instruments add the lower tones to a musical performance. Experimentation with the bass had started as early as the 1920's. It wasnt until the 50's however, that a proper bass instrument was formed. In the mid-20th century jazz became extremely popular. Double bass guitars used in those days were often not well heard due to the lack of amplification. The drums, banjos and other instruments in the band drowned out the sound of the bass. Then in the 1950's, the first Electric Bass Guitar came into existence with modern amplification techniques.
The bass guitar is played like all guitars with the player holding it close to his body in a horizontal position. The strings are plucked with hand or with the plectrum. In the 1970's, the slapping technique became popular.
Today, the bass guitar ranges from 4 strings up to 11 strings. The 5, 6 and 7 strings providing the mid range while the 11 string starts from a lower than human hearing going up to a very high active. Electric bass guitar players use various configurations. These changes are made by using preamplifiers and speaker sets. Signal processors are also varied to provide new soundscapes. In night clubs or concert venues, combo amplifiers are used. These amplifiers are fixed with single loud speakers to make them portable and effective.
The body of the instrument can be of wood or graphite. A wide range of finishing is applied to make it look good. It can be colored or simply clear white. The work done on the body is fine engineering and delicate balances have to be maintained.
A controversy exist about what to call this instrument. For non-musicians, the term "bass guitar" is common, while hardcore players like to call it electric bass or simple electric bass. Slowly but surely however, this instrument has gathered a large following which likes to use its own jargon.
The electric bass is a part of modern country music, post 1970 jazz and funk. Used mainly to provide backing, it adds a depth to the music. This instrument has added a whole new color to our musical pleasure. In soul music particularly, the bass guitar is very effective.
Are sound effects used? Well, yes and no. As the bass guitar sets the tone for the rest of the band, sound effects are not often used, unlike electric guitars. Modern bands however have started experimenting with distortion units to add a new flavor to the bass and a low key that they provide behind the music.
As we go into a new century, electric bass's become more and more popular. All bands use it today to add a subtle background. Many groups like U2 even use it to give a haunted feeling increasing emotional attachment with the music. Newer techniques have made this instrument a crucial part of any musical group today.
THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
The original guitars were Acoustic guitars, which changed in shape over several hundred years. The Acoustic guitar is a descendent of the Classical guitar, which has been around for over 100 years. The main difference between the Classical and Acoustic guitars are that one is strung with nylon strings, while the other is strung with steel strings. Since the Acoustic guitar is strung with steel strings, it has a louder, brighter sound which is appealing to folk and blues players. The Acoustic guitar also has a bigger body size, stronger structure, and a more narrow neck than the Classical guitar and the structure of the Acoustic guitar is stronger so that it can withstand the immense tension placed on it by the heavier steel strings.
Hybrid Acoustic-Electric guitars have been around for roughly 75 years and came into being with the introduction of Guitar Amplifiers. The Acoustic-electric guitars has the ability to be both plugged into an amp and played unplugged.
Facts about the Acoustic guitar
The bodies of cheap Acoustic guitars are typically made from laminated tonewood. More expensive Acoustics are made from higher cuts of Solid Spruce Top wood On an Acoustic guitar, the material which the body is made from really matters, so those looking for a rich sound will want to choose a guitar with a body made from nicer wood such as spruce top wood.
The neck of the Acoustic guitar is usually made from maple, mahogany, or rosewood. However, some Guitar Necks are comprised of different woods. Yet again, the quality of wood does matter. Generally speaking, Acoustic guitars with necks made of a high quality maple or mahogany and bodies made with solid spruce top are quality guitars with great tone. These guitars usually cost $250 on up.
The vibration of the strings is amplified by the soundhole of the guitar. This is where all sound that you hear comes from. If you look inside the soundhole of the Acoustic guitar, youll see the construction of the body. There are braces and linings, all essential to keeping the guitar intact and playable. X-bracing, a strong, durable bracing, is typically used on Acoustic guitars because it is heavy and strong enough to withstand the pressure of steel strings.
On the body of the guitar, youll find the bridge. This is where one end of the strings goes. The strings are inserted into the little holes and the bridge pegs hold them there.
On the neck of the Acoustic guitar is the fretboard. Most fretboards on the Acoustic guitar are made of rosewood or ebony. More expensive Acoustic guitars have fretboards made of higher quality woods.
The headstock of the Acoustic guitar features six tuning pegs (three on each side of the headstock) and six tuners (three on each side of the headstock). Good Acoustic guitars will have die-cast Grover tuners which usually stay in tune longer than other brands of tuners.
Like their Electric counterparts, Acoustic guitars are tuned in the standard E A D G B E tuning. Most Acoustic guitars have six strings, while some have twelve. If you are curious as to the difference between the two, check out our article on Twelve string vs. Six string.
The Acoustic guitar still remains a very popular instrument. It is used in virtually every style of musicrock, pop, country, blues, you name it. Acoustic guitars are wonderful instruments for both beginners and professionals.