Guitars

With the death of Eddie Van Halen, the guitar is top of mind. Eddie made his guitar sing, arguably the best to ever do it. Jimmy Hendrix fans have something to say over such a claim, and we most certainly do not want to engage in a “who’s the best guitarist of all time” debate. Suffice it to say, Eddie was one of the best, and will be missed. 

The guitar is an old instrument, dating back over 4,000 years. Tanburs and bowl harps were some of the first guitars, and several Egyptian tombs have been unearthed with guitars buried with their owners. The actual name guitar comes from Sanskrit, and the word for string - “tar.” There were dotars (two-strings), setars (three-strings), and then four, five, and six-string guitars. In general, guitars are divided into two categories - electric and acoustic. Electric guitars feature hollow, semi-hollow, or solid bodies. Used widely in rock and roll, R&B, jazz, and blues music, iconic manufacturers such as Gibson and Fender are electric guitar icons. 

Acoustic guitars are more delicately constructed and sub-categorized as baroque, classical, steel-string, archtop, and twelve-string. Acoustic guitars differ drastically in sound as compared to their electric counterparts. They produce a softer sound but are frequently used in all genres of music, including those that employ electric guitars. In terms of brands, Gibson guitars are one of the best. It’s hard to rank guitar brands because individual taste weighs heavily. Founded in 1902, Gibson invented archtop guitars and really hit their stride in the 50s with their now iconic “Les Paul” design. They’ve kept it strong with the Gibson SG and Flying V, classic models that continue to receive rave reviews today. 

Guild is another reputable guitar brand and began with jazz guitars in 1952. During the 1960s blues and folk music influenced a new line of guitars, and when psychedelic rock made its eventual splash, their Starfire line set the world ablaze. Guild was once part of Fender and eventually separated. Some of the best guitarists ever play(ed) with Guilds including Tom Petty, Jerry Garcia, Tom Waits, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the great Muddy Waters. The previously mentioned Fender cannot be left off a guitar list. Doing so could spark uncontrollable violence, and nobody enjoys uncontrollable violence. 

You’ll receive some persuasive arguments for Fender being the best, all-around guitar manufacturer on the planet. The craftsmanship is otherworldly, and the sheer array of styles makes Fender a great choice for literally any genre of music. Jimmy Hendrix brought Fender to the forefront, and Eddie Van Halen was also a fan. The only negatives you’ll find with Fender is the newer, cheaper models aren’t as well constructed as their classic (but more expensive) ones.   

If you’ve ever considered learning the guitar but keep pushing it to tomorrow, stop pushing, pick one up, and start playing today. Online classes have really evolved and there aren’t too many excuses left for delaying this hobby. We guarantee you won’t regret it!