Explore the process of making electric guitars and guitar strings with a local luthier. Learn about woodworking, electric components, and assembly, as well as the uniqueness of each guitar. Get advice for aspiring luthiers and discover Kreston's guitars.
Electric guitars are made by shaping and painting the wooden body, wiring up the electronics, and ensuring the sound is perfect.
The pickup and amplifier combination in electric guitars are crucial for their distinctive and powerful sound.
Deep dives
Electric Guitar Construction Process
Electric guitars, like those used in hard rock bands, are made using a process that involves shaping and painting the wooden body, wiring up the electronics, and making sure the sound is just right. The guitar builder, Creston Lee, starts by cutting out and shaping the wood, then proceeds to spray paint the body. Afterward, the guitar is polished and assembled, with the electronics properly wired. Lee makes sure to play the guitar and make adjustments if necessary before sending it out to the customer.
Difference Between Electric and Acoustic Guitars
Electric guitars use electricity and an amplifier to produce sound, while acoustic guitars rely on their hollow body and natural amplification. The strings of an electric guitar are not required to vibrate in a hollow cavity, unlike those of an acoustic guitar. Electric guitars can be played at high volumes by using electric amplification, but both types of guitars can use speakers for larger venues. The process of making an electric guitar, as explained by Creston Lee, focuses on creating a solid body made of wood and wiring up the necessary electrical components.
The Role of Pickups in Electric Guitars
Pickups are a crucial component of electric guitars. They consist of magnets with wires wrapped around them, creating a magnetic field. When a string is plucked on an electric guitar, it disturbs this magnetic field, and the resulting disturbance is detected by the wires wrapped around the magnets. This small electrical signal is then sent to an amplifier, which magnifies the sound, allowing it to be heard at much louder volumes. The pickup and amplifier combination is what gives electric guitars their distinctive and powerful sound.
How are electric guitars made? How are guitar strings made? And how, exactly, do guitars work? We’re answering questions about electric guitars with local luthier (guitarmaker) Lea in Burlington, Vermont. Creston gave us a tour of his studio–including his custom glitter room, to help us understand what goes into making an electric guitar.