Electric guitar

Invented around 1930

The electric guitar was invented around 1930 in the United States. Unlike a classical guitar, it usually has a non-resonant body and six strings whose sound is captured by electromagnetic pickups attached to the body of the instrument, then amplified by means of electronic equipment connected to loudspeakers.

Prototypes of the electric guitars

The first prototypes of the electric guitars were developed by the American musician Les Paul. First popularised by rock & roll and beat bands, that created the pop music of the 50's and 60's, the electric guitar, in a variety of styles and colors, quickly became the preferred instrument of young people. The style of the famous Stratocaster model, sold from 1954 by Leo Fender, even became a universal symbol.

Building electric guitars

"Building electric guitars" is aimed at folks interested in building instruments who play the guitar themselves or who would like to surprise a son, a daughter, a grandchild or someone else. It explains step by step, with almost 600 photos and more than 100 illustrations, how to build an electric guitar. As for tools, huge investments are not required. If the wood has been adequately prepared in a joiner's workshop, no tools other than the amateur woodworking tools are needed.
As a reward for working with great care and precision everybody will in the end have a good-quality and attractive-looking electric guitar to call their own. I would even go so far as to claim that a home-made electric guitar can well compete with expensive, industrially-manufactured makes; after all you can afford to select the best wood available, to buy high-quality hardware and to tailor the electric guitar to fit your personal requirements. And, what's more, you can afford to invest a lot of time. The special relationship with your electric guitar that you are going to enjoy is something which will hardly ever be experienced with a bought instrument.

How to make electric guitars and bass guitars

Building Electric Guitars: How to make solid-body, hollow-body and semi-acoustic electric guitars and bass guitars
Publisher: Martin Koch
ISBN: 3901314075

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