The acoustic guitar as an instrument dates back more than 4000 years ago, originating in what is now Europe and parts of Central Asia. During those times it was constructed principally from animal sinew worked into string which was held tightly over a wooden frame. There is even evidence to suggest the guitar is older still, back so far as ancient Egypt and Babylon. The guitar has an enduring simplicity that belies the lifelong journey that is mastering its playing. There have been many to attempt the task of taming it, though very few have succeeded. Those that do are music legends.
The guitar has traveled the world over; taking the characteristics of every culture and people it touches, gaining in craftsmanship and tone, taking on new shapes as it does so. In our modern era of the 21st century there has never been more diversity in the building, playing, and distribution of the guitar and it has truly taken on a world shape where it is recognized as primary instrument in the genres of flamenco, rock ‘n roll, and jazz among many others.
As musical styles shifted and morphed a need arose that previous body designs and time-honored craftsmanship techniques were not able to satisfy. It was the dawn of the big band era and guitars players of that time were having trouble getting the volume of their acoustic guitars over instruments such as trumpets and saxophones that the larger traveling bands employed. Many innovations were attempted, from steel body guitars to larger body designs. It was these big band/jazz guitars that first began to electrify their guitars.
Rickenbacker Frying Pan
The first hollow-bodied acoustic guitars turned electric with tungsten steel pickups were made by the Richenbacker Company in 1931. The first solid body electric guitars were created by Les Paul and heralded the coming of a new musical age. The electric guitar would quickly become the tool of many frustrated teens an budding musicians, who were able to pick one up cheaply as opposed to the acoustic guitar which was often more expensive and took longer to make.
It was the electric guitar that brought the blues to rock ‘n roll in the 1950s and ’60s which caused an explosion in musical creativity and diversion of styles. it was also the birth of the guitar hero: Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix. There were other firsts happening around this time as well. The electric guitar grew up right along with the rise of television, and was brought into just as vibrant a visual palate as its sounds created. The modern age proved to be the perfect storm for the electric guitar which proved to be the instrument of choice for the American youth. It had a certain testosterone about it, a singular accessibility that other instruments lacked. The electric guitar created a limitless realm of possibility that has yet to be fully mined, for each time technology advances, the ceiling on the possibilities for the instrument gives way to new possibilities. What remains to be seen is how great an impact the digital era of the 21 century will have on an instrument that has woven its way very quickly onto our social consciousness.
Acoustic/Electric Guitar Guide:
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BC Rich Guitars |
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The BC Rich guitars roots are stemming from a small guitar repair shop that specialized in classical and Spanish guitars. The owner, Bernardo Chavez Rico, managed to expand into guitar making business, taking his inspiration from Les Paul acoustic guitars. The earliest guitar styles produced by Rico are the Eagle and the Mockingbird.Later B.C. Rico (that’s how it’s been called back then) expanded into inexpensive mass guitar production and changed its name to B.C. Rich following a lawsuit. The Company has become known for making guitars of an outstanding quality, which has created a following of devoted fans all over the world.Some of the better know B.C. Rich brands include the ASM, Mockingbird, Warlock, Bich, Widow, Seagull, Warbeast, Ironbird, Draco, Stealth, NJ Series, Avenge, Virgo, Kerry King, and the Gunslinger.Throughout the years, B.C. Rich guitars have managed to impress such famous musicians as Terrence Hobbs, Christy Kane, Acey Slade, Dearborn, Craig Ross, Steve Smyth, and Kerry King. |
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Breedlove Guitars |
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Breedlove has been in the business of building acoustic guitars from 1990, merging time-honored conventional techniques with contemporary ingenuity and engineering innovations, which allowed the Company to build some of the most beautiful acoustic guitars on the planet. In the past 20 years Breedlove craftsmen have come up with extraordinary guitar designs that are well-known for their amazing tone and unique aesthetic. Their experiments with JLD bridge truss system allowed Breedlove to create the original Breedlove sound full of bass, resonance, sustain and balance. The company uses only naturally aged tone woods and unique custom inlay designs. Kim Breedlove continues to be the creative force behind the Breedlove’s success story. |
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Charvel Guitars |
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Jackson Charvel Guitars was just a small guitar shop that made guitars to orders in Glendora California, USA. Despite being a small guitar shop, it was making quite some noise in the guitar industry back in the ’80s of the last century. Grover Jackson created six unique guitars using Pointy Headstock design that have quickly become fashionable among guitar players all over the world. In 1985 the production was moved to Japan after Jackson Charvel signed a contract with IMC (International Music Corp). Grover Jackson left the company in 1990, and Jackson/Charvel was subsequently acquired by AKAI in 1997 and then by Fender, in 2002. Fender re-introduced “San Dimas” models to the US market, and Charvel brand experienced a renaissance. These days Charvel offers both boutique-priced made in the USA guitars and lower-end Japanese-made models, in addition to operating a full-service custom shop. |
