Tips
For Choosing An Electric Travel Guitar I
suppose that the first thing to consider when buying an electric guitar is deciding
what you want it for. Is it to be used primarily for travel? Is it your first
guitar? Are you trying for another sound? Does it just look cool? All of these
factors will effect your final decision. Considering these things ahead of time
will ease your decision process. Description
of a guitar A
guitar is a method of suspending and altering the pitch of vibrating strings.
The strings then transfer this vibration to the body. The sound is amplified by
the vibrating guitar body, especially the top on a hollow body or acoustic. The
hope is that this controlled manipulation of the strings may produce something
that can be called music.
Components and options to consider: Strings
Strings are
obviously an important part of a guitar, it wouldn't work without them. It's important
to know if the guitar was designed for steel or nylon strings (most electric guitars
use steel). It's also a good idea to get an idea about what gauge (thickness)
of strings you like. Don't base your buying decision on the condition or thickness
of the current set of strings, they're the easiest thing to change. Neck Necks
are usually made from mahogany or maple; come in different widths and thickness;
and may or may not have a truss rod ( a metal rod inside the neck) installed for
support, and may be adjustable or nonadjustble. Scale
Length - This refers to the vibrating length of string or the distance
between the nut and the bridge saddles. The longer the scale length, the longer
the sustain, the further apart the frets and the tighter the strings. The two
most common scale lengths are 24 3/4", like a Gibson Les Paul, and 25 1/2",like
a Fender Strat. Neck
Construction Through-neck-
The wood of the neck actually extends through the body. This type of construction
is the strongest and eliminates a neck joint. It also transmits the best vibration
and sustain. Set-in
neck - This type of construction glues the neck to the body.
This joint is not as strong as the through-neck design, but is stronger than the
bolt-on joint. Bolt-on
neck- This neck actually fastens to the body with 3 or 4
screws. This type of joint does not transfer vibration as efficiently as the other
choices, but makes it the cheapest to manufacture and easiest to work on to correct
any problems. Tuning
machines There
is a wide variety of tuning machines available. They are usually available in
chrome, black or gold and can come in different configurations; 6 inline, 3-3
or 4-2. There are locking and non-locking models. Nut
(Top Nut) This
is the ridge that extends across the width at the very top of the fretboard. Lengthwise,
it lies between the tuning machines and the bridge saddles and is where the string
pivots. It is also the point that marks the beginning of the vibrating length
of string. It can be made of a variety of materials. Traditionally, it was made
from materials such as ivory or bone. Today it is mostly crafted from synthetic
materials. Fretboard
(Fingerboard) The
fretboard is the top part of the neck where the frets are located and your fingers
touch when you push down on the strings. It is usually made from a hardwood such
as maple rosewood or ebony. It's available in different widths, various finishes
and different radiuses. Frets
At the risk of
dumbing this down too much, the frets are the metal ridges that run perpendicular
to the strings at various intervals down the fretboard. The string is held taught
between the fret and saddle on the bridge when you push the string down on the
fretboard. There are usually 20 - 24 frets with spacing dependent on the scale
length. A variety of fretwire thickness are available, depending on your preferences. Fretboard
Binding Binding
adds a decorative touch to fretboard. The material is mostly decorative on an
electric guitar and usually adds quite a bit to the pricetag. Position
Markers/Inlays There
is a variety of shapes available for the position markers, dots are the most common.
Inlays are designs made of various materials that are imbedded into the surface
of the body and neck. The more complex the design, the more expensive the guitar. Body Electric
guitar bodies are usually crafted from a solid piece of wood, or pieces glued
into a solid piece. Hollowbody and/or semi acoustic guitars have bodies constructed
like acoustic guitars that are formed with a top, back and side pieces of the
body. Inlays and
Binding Inlays
are materials inlaid to the surface of the guitar and are purely decorative touches
that add to the price tag and value of the guitar. Binding is usually a plastic
trim that edges the top and/or back of a body and or fretboard. On a hollow-body
or acoustic guitar, it seals and protects the end grain of the body's top and
sides from moisture and impact damage (to a degree). For whatever reason the guitar
is bound, it usually adds considerable expense to the price tag. Pickups Single
coil pickups- Are associated with a bright mid-range biting
tone. Traditionally they have lower output and are susceptible to noise, Though,
today higher output and hum-free models are available. The tone of these pickups
can be heard in the sound of Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaghan and Robert Cray. Humbucker
Pickups- are two single
coil pickups that are wired out of phase , to cancel the hum and increase the
output. The tone is fatter with a rich sustain. The tone of this pickup can be
heard in the playing of Jimmy Page, Slash and Peter Frampton. Active
Pickups- these pickups do not operate using the same magnetic
principals as the other two. These pickups contain small preamp circuits and require
a power source (batteries) The sound is very clean and clear. Piezoelectric
pickups- These pickups are transducers that are made of pressure sensitive piezo
electric material that converts the vibration to an electrical signal. This signal
does require an additional preamp and EQ circuit to achieve the proper clear piezo
sound. These contact transducers are installed under the bridge saddle or attached
to the guitar top. Magnetic
pickups- These pickups are mounted on the sound hole. Unlike the piezo electric
pickups that can work with any type strings, the magnetic pickups require steel
strings to vibrate within the magnetic field of the pickup in order to convert
the vibration to an electrical signal. These pickups have been widely used longer
than the piezo pickups and don't require a preamp circuit. The tone is not as
natural or clear as the piezo pickups. Bridge
This is the endpoint
of the vibrating string and where it transmits the vibration to the body. It comes
in a variety of styles and is where the intonation is adjusted. The bridge on
acoustic guitar can be adjustable or nonadjustable. Controls Basically
the more knobs, switches or pickups that you add to a guitar, the more sound control
and expense you add as well. Finish
There is are varieties
of finishes available for a guitar. It's best to choose one based on your unique
taste and budget requirements. Other
Things to consider: If
you are buying this guitar for travel; size, weight and portability must be considered.
Generally, you want the most compact guitar with full size functionality as possible.
It's a good idea to
play a number of guitars of friends or in music stores and pay attention to what
features that you like or dislike before you actually go to buy a guitar. The
more familiar you are with what is available and what you want, the better.
Learn how to check a guitar for proper relief (truss rod adjustment); intonation
(bridge/string length adjustment) and action (how far the strings are from the
fretboard). Check that the fret board is not bent, warped, or twisted. Learn
to notice craftsmanship and all the little details. It will help you find any
imperfections, problems or past repairs. If the guitar has binding around the
edges of the guitar body or fretboard, make sure it is flush with the wood and
there are no uneven edges. Become
acquainted with different manufacturers and what is available out there. Consider
the resale value if there's a possibility that you may not keep it forever. Tips
For Buying An Electric Travel Guitar 1)
Decide on a price range and limit that you are willing to spend. 2)
Decide and prioritize the options or features that you want, like is it portable
enough? Is it loud enough? Is it too loud? Then make a list of features in order
of importance (ie. must have, would be nice, etc.) 3)
Compare prices in music stores and on line. It's a good idea to know the value
of the instrument before purchasing. 4)
Consider overall appearance. (Can you see yourself
playing this?) Are there any problems visible? 5)
Especially if the guitar has been used, check the frets for wear; especially the
first 5, as well as the finish; bridge saddles and nut. 6)
How does the guitar feel in your hands and sound to your ear? | 
