|
|
|
| Sunday, 09 April 2006 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Gadget Mania Pump up the Volume! Tuning into Electric Guitars by Sinha Dissanayaka
Though generations of musical conservatives have held their heads in dismay at this "vulgar intrusion " into the world of harmony, the "plugged in" version of the good old six string has not failed to please millions. What is this unique device that has inspired cries of "Turn that damn thing off!" for decades? My first real six string... Yes, the Electric guitar is just the same as a normal acoustic (box) guitar in that the tuning and notation is identical. Naturally, it has six strings! The difference is the wonderful (or awful, depending how you look at it!) tone produced by electric amplification of the notes played. Electric essentials Very simply, to play an Electric guitar, you need the following basic gear : One Electric Guitar (!) Lead wire - This connects the guitar with an amplifier. Amplifier (Guitar Amp) Connection to Electric Power supply. Simply the best.... If you're looking for the Rolls Royce or Bentley of Electric guitars, two models have been internationally acclaimed in music industry circles as being the very best in the world. They are the legendary Fender Stratocaster, commonly known as the "Strat" and the Gibson "Les Paul". The Stratocaster, which was the weapon of choice for the guitar music Icons the "Shadows" is still immensely popular decades later, and is still the preferred instrument of guitar legends of today. Apart from Fender and Gibson, several other brands such as Ibanez, Washburn and Epiphone are quite popular. Try before you buy There are many lesser known brands which manufacture guitars with a good feel and great sound. "Try before you buy" is a very valid motto when it comes to choosing a guitar, and several aspects of each guitar, e.g. looking out for bridge warp or other defect , must be considered. If you're a beginner, always seek expert opinion when buying. Reasonably good beginner- level Electric Guitars are available in Sri Lanka for approximately Rs.12, 000 and above. Different types of Electrics: There exist a multitude of guitar types to choose from. Many models differ based on the type and number of pick-up units on the guitar. Some models are known as acoustic electric, which give the player the best of both worlds. Some Electrics are "cut out" for Jazz. Amp it up The Amplifier plays a huge role in deciding the quality of sound, and even an excellent Electric guitar with a sub-standard amp will sound awful. Marshall, Roland and Peavey are some top guitar amp brands which have been tried, tested and trusted. Even a low-end guitar with a great amp sounds pretty good. Pedals Guitar sound effects - pedals are available, which create different varieties of tones at the press of a pedal. This can cause your guitar to sing, scream, go into overdrive, delay etc. at the discretion of the player. Learning to play While many guitarists are self taught, there is no substitute for structured, systematic and thorough learning by way of impartation . There are many good teachers in Sri Lanka, but the best Guitar Guru by far is Derrick Wickramanayake of "Wildfire" fame, who is as good at teaching Guitar as he is at playing it. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
Love 'em or hate 'em, Electric Guitars have been an essential part of the
International Music Scene for over half a century, and even Sri Lankan Music
has incorporated the rich, lilting tones of the Electric Guitar into its
repertoire. 
