The Acoustic Guitar is the result of many evolutions of the lute and other string instruments from the 15th century. Guitars were previously much smaller and had four pairs of strings. The larger-bodied six-string guitar as we know it today was brought about in the late 19th century, and had either gut or steel-strings. Half a century later, gut strings were replaced with nylon. Today we see both steel-string (acoustic) and nylon-string (classical) guitars, the steel-string guitar being more common.

While the guitar has a long heritage tracing its roots back thousands of years to the lute and other similar instruments, the Electric Guitar is a relative newcomer to the family. It was developed in the 1940s as a means for the guitar to be heard in large concert halls and above drums and other louder instruments. The solid body guitar which reduced feedback from the newly incorporated electronics also saw its development at this time.

The Acoustic Bass Guitar is a bass instrument with a hollow wooden body similar to, though usually somewhat larger than a steel-string acoustic guitar. The first modern acoustic bass guitar was developed in the early 1970s by Ernie Ball of San Luis Obispo, California. Ball's aim was to provide bass guitarists with a more acoustic-sounding instrument that would match better with the sound of acoustic guitars.

The Electric Bass Guitar is an electrically-amplified guitar played with the fingers by plucking or slapping, or by using a pick. The bass is similar in appearance to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and scale length, and, usually, four strings tuned one octave lower in pitch, in the bass range. Since the 1950s, the electric bass has largely replaced the double bass in popular music. The bass is typically used to provide the low-pitched bassline(s) and bass runs in popular music and jazz. The electric bass is also used as a soloing instrument in jazz, fusion, Latin, and funk styles.

How the Guiar Makes it Sound

Acoustic Guitar & Bass: Sound is produced when the strings of the guitar are strummed, picked, or plucked. Pitch and key are changed by pressing the strings on the neck thereby “shortening” the strings and changing the sound. The body of the guitar, a hollowed out wooden chamber, serves to amplify the sound. The sound hole serves to project the sound outward toward the audience, providing a rich, loud musical sound.

Electric Guitar & Bass: The electric guitar works much the same way as an acoustic guitar, but is amplified by electronics (magnetic pickups) rather than a chambered body with a sound hole. The electronics in guitars today are considerably more advanced than those in its predecessors producing a guitar that is far superior in quality and sound.

Acoustic Guitar

When selecting an Acoustic guitar, you should first determine whether you are interested in a nylon- or steel-string guitar. Nylon strings have a very mellow, intimate sound and are typically played only with the fingers. They are commonly heard in classical and flamenco music. Steel string guitars have a much louder, fuller sound and can be played with the fingers or a pick. These are the more popular guitars and can be heard in rock, country, bluegrass, and many more styles of music.

What to look for

The most important part in giving the guitar its own individual sound is the top piece of wood, or the soundboard. A soundboard’s construction contributes greatly to the sound, playability, and ultimately the success of the guitarist.

• Beginner-level and inexpensive guitars from big-box retailers and some online catalogs often have soundboards made of a meshed particle board material. Such guitars typically don’t last as long, are hard to play, go out of tune more easily, and need more maintenance more often.
• Better guitars will use soundboards made of glued laminated tops. These guitars will be easier to play, stay in tune longer and have a truss rod for adjustments.
• Solid top guitars are the most desired. They sound and age better than the laminated guitars. Solid tops produce a fuller, thicker tone and are known for their resonance and sustain. A good quality solid top guitar starts around $250.
• Other qualities to look for in a guitar are a straight neck, strings that are easy to press down and do not buzz, a nice smooth comfortable neck with no jagged frets poking out, and good quality tuners that are made from die-cast metals.

What to avoid

Try to avoid guitars that exhibit the following:

• bent or warped necks
• buzzing when a string is plucked
• jagged frets
• have hardware made of pot metals which don’t hold adjustments and easily break

A word of caution: inexpensive guitars made overseas are finding their way into the market. While the lower price is tempting, you should consider that poorly constructed instruments play poorly, hindering the student’s ability to learn. They are also difficult if not impossible to accurately adjust and keep in tune. Many repair shops won’t even touch them, or charge a premium to do so. Most teachers will agree that a poor instrument defeats the student even before he/she has begun.

Electric Guitars

Electric guitars can vary considerably in price with some guitars priced from $50 to well into the thousands of dollars. The materials from which it is made, the electronic components, appearance, and where a guitar is made all contribute to the difference in cost.

What to look for

The following are features to watch for when buying a new electric guitar:

Beginner guitars
Beginner guitars are usually priced under $300 and are typically imported from China and Indonesia. While they are typically made of lesser quality woods, they can still be of decent enough quality to be a good start for the beginning player if purchased through a reputable music store.

A word of caution: guitars priced under $150 often are constructed of poor quality woods, use pot metal hardware which don’t hold adjustments and easily break, and suffer from noisy electronics. Such inexpensive guitars made overseas are finding their way into the market through big-box and other discount centers. While the lower price is tempting, you should consider that poorly constructed instruments play poorly, hindering the student’s ability to learn. They are also difficult if not impossible to accurately adjust and keep in tune. Many repair shops won’t even touch them, or charge a premium to do so. Most teachers will agree that a poor instrument defeats the student even before he/she has begun.

Intermediate guitars
Guitars from $300 to $1000 are considered intermediate level instruments. These instruments are typically made with much better materials and are commonly made in Korea and Canada. It is even possible to find guitars made in the U.S. at the higher end of this price range. These guitars offer the kind of quality and craftsmanship that could last the player many years or even a lifetime of enjoyment. This is the ideal instrument for the beginner as well, because they will be more comfortable to play and have a better sound. These are important features to consider because they will make the experience more enjoyable and increase the likelihood of success.

Advanced / Pro Guitars
Guitars priced from $1000 and up are considered to be advanced to pro-level instruments. These instruments are often hand-made from the very best woods and materials, use the very best electronics, and are typically made in the US and Canada. The best finishes and craftsmanship are found on these guitars.

Other things to look for

Regardless of your skill or budget, some of the features to look for when shopping for an electric guitar include:

• A neck that is straight, not bent or warped
• Metal parts made of high quality alloys
• Smooth comfortable neck with no jagged edges on frets
• Strings that play cleanly with no buzzing (vibrating against the neck)
• Clean sounding electronics

What to avoid

Avoid guitars that:

• Have bent or warped necks
• Use metal parts made of pot metals which don’t hold adjustments and easily break
• Have jagged edges on the neck and frets
• Have strings that buzz against the neck when played
• Have noisy electronics

Perhaps one of the best things you can do when shopping for a guitar is to plug in the guitar into an amplifier and test the electronics. While hearing the ideal qualities of a guitar can be much harder for the beginning guitar player to observe, an experienced employee of Summerhays Music will be happy to help you find an instrument of good quality in the price range you are looking for.

If you have additional questions, or would like to try a few instruments before you buy, Summerhays has a knowledgeable staff and trained luthiers on hand to help and answer your questions. Summerhays also has a rental and/or purchase plan to fit any budget and also services all its instruments. Come into Summerhays Music Center today and start yourself off right on your path to becoming a better guitarist!