The questions that surround the history of the guitar are many.  Making a guitar is part art and part science. Composite material now plays a role in many of today’s guitars. All of the metal parts of the guitar have also benefited from technology. The guitar construction has changed but little over hundreds of years. The entire world contributes to the guitars we have today in the woods that come from these countries.

The guitar neck must be made from a very hard wood to resist twisting and maple has always been the choice for fine guitar necks. Before the truss rod was used in guitars it was even more important to have a hard wood for the neck of the guitar.

Hard woods such as ebony and rosewood are often used for the fret board of the guitar. These woods will last almost forever as they are hard wearing as well. Fret boards may be made to last a little longer if the surface is planed to produce an even surface again.

For many years the tuning pegs of a guitar were exactly that, a wooden peg with the string wrapped around it. Now more accurate adjustments are possible with machined tuning heads. Bridges are adjustable these days as well. Together these two items have made it so you can tune a guitar and it will stay in tune.The guitar tuner is also a large contributing factor that allows guitar players everywhere to be in tune all the time.

The invention of the electrical pickup changed the course of history for all guitar players. At first crude and simple, the pickup evolved into a precise affair with identifiable sounds. The solid body electric guitar came fast on the heels of the invention of the electrical pickup. The pickup now allowed the guitar to be used in situations it could never have been heard prior to this, such as with a drummer. It is safe to say that the history of the guitar was changed forever by the pickup.

Even though the materials and technology have changed, the guitar remains much the same as it has from the beginning.

Andrew Ellis (Indian Summer) custom ellis 12 string semi acoustic guitar and foot drumming

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