This seemed like such a good idea, then I sat down to write this and my brain turned to mush...
I've been thinking about writing this for a while. I set it up a few times only to change my mind and delete the template. I figure that I'm not in it for the cash so if it sucks I can always trash it later. This time I'm moving forward, for better or worse.
The electric guitar is a miracle of modern engineering. What makes it different from more classical instruments? The sound it generates is a complex mixture of wood, steel, mechanical and electrical circuitry. Mastery of this instrument requires as much engineering as artistry. Every guitarist alive is forever searching for that special sound... a tone that unleashes an aural pleasure strong enough to seduce women and gather an army of fans to worship at our feet (note the obvious sarcasm... don't try this at home {or in front of our wife or girlfriend}).
My favorite Star Trek quote "know why things work on a Starship" and that's kind of what I'm going for here. I thought I'd start by talking about why things work on the Guitar and then kind of see where it goes from there. I know there are a lot of you out there who are just like me, fumbling in the dark, learning one lesson at a time and trying real hard not to suck [except for those days I open the windows, crank the master volume of my amp and do my best to bother the neighbors]. Many of us have lives, families, and jobs. Our Guitars are nothing short of magical... they relieve our stress, spark our imagination, and and revive our souls. They keep us sane in a world that seems to be getting crazier by the minute.
But the myth of tone is that you need a lot of cash for the 'right' guitar, amplifier, or stompbox to transform that clunky, awkward sound coming from my bedroom into a sweet orgasmic bliss that would make Clapton cry and frustrate Van Halen into giving up guitar forever. [yes, we guitarists are legends in our own minds] The reality is that by taking the time to learn how things work, playing with the pieces, [and learning how to play the darn thing] finding your sound and cheaper than you think...
I thought I'd start a conversation about the Electric Guitar, have some fun, maybe meet some cool folks along the way, and write it all down from time to time.
Buckle up Buckwheat...
