Mar 29, 2002 07:14 PM
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(Updated Mar 31, 2002 06:07 AM)
CLASSIC
Classic(or Spanish) guitars are acoustic instruments with nylon strings. They are played fingerstyle. The top 3 strings(1st, 2nd & 3rd) are plain nylon and the bottom 3(4th, 5th, & 6th) are also nylon, but bound with fine plated wire. The nylon strings help to give the delicate and sweet tone associated with these guitars. Popular sizes are full, ¾, ½, but even smaller sized guitars are available.
WESTERN
The western guitar(also known as dreadnought, jumbo or country and western) has a larger acoustic body. This gives a powerful tone and rich resonance suited to the type of music the guitar is used for. It is steel strung and(as a result of the increased tension from the steel strings) the western guitar is more of a robust construction than the classic guitar. The 1st and 2nd strings are plain steel, the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th strings are also steel, wire wound.
Similar to the western guitar, but with a smaller body, is the FOLK guitar, and there are also smaller steel strung guitars. Acoustic ‘round back’ guitars also fall into this category of western guitars. These instruments have bowl backs manufactured from Man Made materials(not wood).
Guitars in the western category are also manufactured in Electro-Acoustic styling. This means pickups and electric controls are added to the body.
All guitars above are played with a plectrum.
ELECTRIC and ELECTRIC BASS
The electric guitar is made for use with an amplifier. The sound is reproduced through the loudspeeker/amplifier system. The electric guitar has 6 strings and the electric bass has 4 or 5 strings. The strings fitted are metal. These are played with a plectrum.
The electric guitar has become very popular not only because the volume of sound can be increased over that made by an acoustic guitar, but because electronically the sounds themselves can be varied. By using the various controls and switches different effects can be obtained without changing your playing style.
To hear the sounds made by an electric guitar, you must connect the guitar to an amplifier. There are different types of systems. For practicing at home or a small place I would recommend a 10 watt amp, these are quite cheap and do the job. Although for a bass guitar you would recommend a 10 watt bass amp.
