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What is an Electric Guitar?

Dan Cavallari
Dan Cavallari

Arguably, no other musical instrument has had more of an impact on how music has evolved since the beginning of the twentieth century than the electric guitar. Conceived in the early 1930’s, the electric guitar became a necessity as jazz musicians sought to amplify their sound. Since then, it has evolved into a stringed musical instrument capable of a multitude of sounds and styles. It served as a major proponent in the development of rock and roll, as well as countless other genres of music.

The first electric guitars, designed by Rickenbacker Guitars, were hollow bodied instruments with simple designs and somewhat crude electronics. They employed the use of a pickup — a magnet wrapped in a coil of thin wire that transmits the vibrations of the guitar strings attached to standard acoustic guitars. As time passed, the first solid body guitars began to evolve thanks largely to an Epiphone Guitars luthier — or guitar maker — named Les Paul. The solid body guitar, also initially a crude design, allowed for a more ample sound and warmer tone than the hollow bodies.

Electric guitars were first developed in the 1930s.
Electric guitars were first developed in the 1930s.

Because the electric guitar is a stringed instrument, the best way to create sound from it is to transmit string vibration through magnetic pickups. Generally, there are two types of guitar pickups: single coil and humbucking. Single coil pickups are comprised of a single magnet wrapped in thin wire; they tend to create a bright sound that can be altered depending on its position on the guitar body. Unfortunately, these pickups are more susceptible to creating excess noise and feedback, known in the guitar world as ‘hum.’ These types of pickups came standard on the first production solid body electric guitars and on subsequent models for years thereafter.

A Stratocaster-style guitar.
A Stratocaster-style guitar.

Humbucking pickups were designed to counter the problem of the loud hum associated with single coil pickups. Humbucking pickups are composed of two magnets set opposed to each other to cancel out the feedback associated with single coil pickups, effectively bucking the hum, so to speak. The more powerful humbucking pickups tend to produce a warmer and deeper tone than single coils, and their tone can also be altered depending on their position on the guitar body.

An electric guitar amplifies the sounds from string vibrations.
An electric guitar amplifies the sounds from string vibrations.

The electric guitar, like most electric instruments, must be used in conjunction with an amplifier that will transmit the signal through a speaker, thus creating the louder sound. Though not exclusively, electric guitars almost always employ the use of an external amplifier and speaker system. There are several different types of amps, but the most common are combo amps, which combine the amplifier providing the power and the speaker providing the sound in a single casing, and amp and cabinet set-ups, which separate the amplifier from the speaker or speakers. Both setups are great for different settings, so be sure to choose the one that will suit your needs the best.

An electric guitar requires an amplifier to be heard properly.
An electric guitar requires an amplifier to be heard properly.

Because sound varies depending on the shape, size, material, and components, it helps to try out several different electric guitar and amp setups before choosing one for yourself. Guitars vary immensely in price range, so be sure to decide what your needs are before purchasing.

Discussion Comments

Markerrag

When choosing a guitar, it also helps to know what kind of music you want to play. Heavy distortion is (arguably) best achieved with dual-coil, humbucking pickups. The Gibson Les Paul and Gibson SG lines are great examples of guitars that utilize humbuckers well (Ace Frehley of KISS, for example, has rarely been seen with anything but a Les Paul and Angus Young of AC/DC has used an SG for years).

On the other hand, single-coil pickups are typically viewed as best for clean, punchy tones. Think of Buddy Holly with his Fender Stratocaster or an endless number of funk musicians who also relied on Stratocasters. Also, there's a reason Fender Telecasters are common in country music -- the bright tones coming out of those single-coils are distinctive. Jangle pop musicians, blues artists and a whole lot of folks rely on single-coil guitars to achieve their signature sounds.

Of course, the single-coil vs. humbucker debate isn't so simple. Jimmy Hendrix, for example, is commonly cited as a guitarist who had a huge impact on the development of heavy metal and he relied on a single-coil Fender Stratocaster to achieve his distorted, fuzzed-out sound.

Picking a guitar is tough, huh? I prefer a Stratocaster with a humbucker in the bridge position, but that's just me.

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    • Electric guitars were first developed in the 1930s.
      By: mekcar
      Electric guitars were first developed in the 1930s.
    • A Stratocaster-style guitar.
      By: mekcar
      A Stratocaster-style guitar.
    • An electric guitar amplifies the sounds from string vibrations.
      By: schankz
      An electric guitar amplifies the sounds from string vibrations.
    • An electric guitar requires an amplifier to be heard properly.
      By: matt&stustock
      An electric guitar requires an amplifier to be heard properly.