III   Electric:

     Electric guitars are designed to be used with an amplifier.  When choosing an electric guitar, choose an amplifier to fit your situation.  You need to consider the size of the room, and the size of your audience.  The following list provides a brief description of the most common electric guitars.  This website does not carry every style on the list.  Some guitar styles have been included only to provide our customers with the most basic general information.  Electric guitars are made in two basic types, hollow-body and solid-body. 

      

 Flying V Body Style:  

       Electric guitars with the Flying V body style were introduced on the market by Gibson in 1958.  The powerful sound and unusual shape made it one of the most instantly recognizable guitars in the world.  While it was immediately embraced by famous guitar players of the time, it didn't do well, and was discontinued in 1959.  In the mid 1960s, guitar gods of the time began to take an interest.  Jimi Hendrix in particular liked it because he was looking for a guitar with a distinctive shape and powerful sound.  Responding to increased demand, Gibson reintroduced the guitar in 1967. 

     A Flying V guitar is typically made with a solid mahogany body, and mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard.  It has patented Gibson 496R and 500T humbucker pickups with ceramic magnets. Copies of this body style are frequently made by other manufacturers.  When copies are made, it does not imply endorsement by the Gibson Company.  When made by another manufacturer, the body style will look the same, but it will be called by a different name.  The major difference between guitars produced by different manufacturers is in materials used, and the price.  It is up to the consumer to decide if the difference in price is worth the investment or not.  For a novice guitar player, it is probably best to start with a cheaper instrument. 

     We have one guitar in our selection with a Flying V body style.  AXL Bloodsport Jackknife is the version made by AXL.  It is a red and black guitar.  The body is solid alder.  This is the same wood used by Fender to make Stratocasters and Telecasters.  The neck is maple with rosewood fretboard.  The pickups are two EMG-designed humbuckers with Alnico magnets.  This is a very good quality guitar for the price, and will serve the needs of the average player very well. 

Hollow body Electric:

     These guitars are also called semi-acoustic guitars.  Both terms apply to the same guitar.  Some models have a solid center block running the length and depth of the body, with hollow "wings."  Most models have a fully hollow acoustic guitar body to which pickups have been added.  The body will be the same body that is used on an acoustic guitar, but once fitted with pickups, they are designed for use with an amplifier.  Although they are still capable of use as an acoustic instrument, in practice, this doesn't happen.  They are never used in performance as an acoustic instrument.

     The sound box is used to provide an amplified tone that cannot be obtained with a solid-body instrument.  A hollow-body guitar sound box will be either an archtop or a flat-top model.  Hollow-body guitars are capable of producing a fuller and richer tone than most solid-body electric guitars, but are prone to disagreeable feedback in some performance situations.  They can be played much louder than an acoustic guitar.  These guitars are favored by jazz musicians and band musicians.  They are also very popular with lead singers who like to play the blues.  Most notably, famous blues guitarist, B.B.King plays a hollow body guitar he named Lucille.  Lucille is a Gibson ES series guitar.

     Hollow body electric guitars are not to be confused with acoustic electric guitars.  The difference between the two is in the type of pickup used, and where they are placed on the body.  Hollow body electric guitars have humbucker pickups mounted on the top.  These are the same pickups used on solid-body guitars.  Acoustic electric guitars have piezoelectric pickups, usually mounted on the side.  Acoustic electric guitars are explained in more detail on the "How to Choose an Acoustic Guitar" page.

Semi-Hollow Electric:

     A guitar of this type has hollow chambers that were routed out from an otherwise solid body to enhance the sound.  We have one guitar of this type in our selection.

Les Paul Guitars and Copies:

     Les Paul guitars were first introduced on the market by Gibson in 1952.  They are the only archtop guitars with a solid body.  They typically have a solid mahogany body with maple cap.  Over the years, Les Paul guitars have been offered in a variety of finishes and decorative levels.  They have a set neck joint, as opposed to the bolt-on neck joint used in the Fender Stratocaster.  Les Pauls have featured a diversity of hardware options, and an innovative array of pickups.  Early 1950s models had P90 single-coil pickups.  In 1957, Gibson revolutionized the guitar industry with the introduction of humbucker pickups.  Designed to eliminate 60-cycle noise, humbucker pickups were not available from other companies until the Gibson patent expired.  

     LP Copy guitars are produced by numerous other companies.  To avoid any trademark dispute, these unendorsed imitations are required to be clearly labeled as copies.  We have one LP Copy guitar in our selection.  The Solara Classic is Johnson's version of a Les Paul guitar.  Johnson is a well-known manufacturer of bargain-priced guitars.  Solara Classic has an arched maple top with solid mahogany body, and two EMG-designed humbucker pickups.  

SG Guitars and Copies:

     SG guitars are modified Les Paul guitars.  They were launched by Gibson in 1961.  The solid, flat-top, body design is lighter and thinner than a Les Paul, and usually made of mahogany.  Sharply-curved double cutaways form the shape of horns, making this body design instantly recognizable.  The neck joint is moved up three frets to ease access to upper frets.  In 1961, the new guitar was advertised as "the fastest neck in the world" due to its slender neck profile, much thinner than a Les Paul.  The famous guitarist asked to have his name removed from the new guitar model.  As a result, Gibson simply named their new guitar "SG" for "Solid Guitar."  It has been produced in many variations and models.  At different times, the pickups have been one, two, or three humbucker pickups, combined with one or two P90 single-coil pikcups.

     Due to its popularity, this body style has been frequently copied by other manufacturers.  Other manufacturers call their guitars "SG Style" to avoid any trademark dispute.  Gibson has always made their SG guitars with a transparent finish, to allow the grain of mahogany wood to show through.  Taking their cue from Gibson, other manufacturers also use a transparent finish, as this type of finish has become associated with SG guitars.  The transparent Pearl White color of our Stadium Guitar is a Stadium brand exclusive.  Stadium is a well-known brand of discount-priced guitars.  At present, Pearl White SG Style, by Stadium, is the only SG Style guitar in our selection.

Strat Copy:

     The Stratocaster name is trademarked by the Fender Corporation.  Fender first produced this model in 1954.  Since then, Fender has made modifications to the original.  Most notably, the original model had two single-coil pickups and a three-position pickup selector.  In 1977, Fender began producing a model with three single-coil pickups and a five-position pickup selector.  The Stratocaster design has been widely copied by many manufacturers.  Copying this style does not imply any endorsement by Fender.  The term "Strat" has become a generic name for this type of guitar.  Manufacturers other than Fender will call their guitars "Strat-Style," "Strat-Copy," or simply "Strat."

     The Strat body is solid wood, with a flat top, and two cutaways.  The electronic assembly and pickguard are mounted on the body in one piece.  The pickguard is solid white, as opposed to the white pearloid pickguard on the Vintage Strat.  The iconic white pickguard is sometimes replaced by a black pickguard in later models.  Many players favor the bright, clear tone of the single-coil pickups.  It is still frequently produced with three single-coil pickups, but newer designs have been modified to use other pickup configurations.

Vintage Strat Copy:

     The term "vintage" can be confusing.  It usually refers to older guitars that are sought-after by collectors.  There is also a brand by that name.  Our New York Pro Vintage Strat is a faithful reproduction of Strat guitars from the 1960s.  The one-piece maple neck has no fretboard.  The metal frets are embedded directly into the neck.  A pearloid pickguard is it's most distinctive feature, giving it a retro look.  The die-cast machine heads are an older style, carried over from the 1960s.  This guitar is popular with fans of rock music from 1960s, who like to reproduce the look and sound of that decade.  

Tele Copy:

     At the present time, this website does not carry any Tele style guitars.  The Telecaster name is trademarked by the Fender Corporation.  Fender first started commercial production of this model in 1950.  Numerous modifications have been made to the original design since then.  It has been in continuous production since 1950.  Copying this style does not imply any endorsement by Fender.  Manufacturers other than Fender will call their guitars "Tele-Style," "Tele-Copy," or simply, "Tele."

     The Tele body is solid wood, with a flat top, and one cutaway.  While being manufactured, a router is used to make a space to install electronics in the body.  Electronics are accessed for repair through a removable control plate on the back.  The removable plate is an advantage over other electric guitars, giving easier access for repairs.  It has a bolt-on neck.  Early models were produced with two single-coil pickups, and a three-position pickup selector.  Through the years, this model has been produced with an assortment of pickup configurations.  Our New York Pro Tele, WF-175, has one double humbucker pickup, and one single-coil pickup. 

     The Tele has become a favorite of the do-it-yourself craftsman.  Some players can't resist tinkering with the electronics, and creating their own variations.  The bright, rich, tone of this guitar is distinctive.  Installing the electronic assembly in a hole in the body utilizes the natural resonance of the wood.  The "Tele sound" is attributed to a combination of the solid body, and the design of the bridge pickup.  It can be played loudly as a lead instrument, with long sustain if desired.  It has been important in the evolution of country, funk, rock and roll, and electric blues.

 

IV   Amplifiers:

     Still under construction.

V    Definitions:        Still under construction.

Acoustic Feedback, Amplitude, Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, Clipping, Distortion, Equalizers, Frequency Bands, Op-amp,

Pickup:  a device which converts the motion of metal strings into electrical signals.

Piezoelectric Pickups:  are discussed in the Acoustic/Electric guitar section.

Transducer:  also discussed in the Acoustic/Electric guitar section.

Tremolo arm:  (later)