The most common instrument used by singer-songwriters is the guitar. There are many different types of guitars used, but they are generally divided into two main types-acoustic guitars and electric guitars. Of course, any time you to classify something, there is always a few items that don’t fit neatly into your categories. This time, it is the acoustic electric guitar that defies categorization. These highly versatile instruments have elements of both acoustic and electric guitars. They are actually preferred by many musicians, especially for live performance.
Exactly what is an acoustic electric guitar? This instrument-sometimes referred to as the elecoustic guitar-is basically a standard acoustic guitar that has been modified to include transducers or other parts that allow for amplification. The fact that it is really an acoustic guitar at heart makes it different from a semi-acoustic guitar. The semi-acoustic is actually an electric guitar with added sound chambers.
Acoustic-electrics can differ in the volume and quality of the sounds they produce. Early models of the instrument had regular guitar pickups added, but these were not very efficient at pickup up the vibrations of the strings. Likewise, classical acoustic electric models tend to produce less amplification volume. But the best acoustic-electrics are fitted with piezoelectric pickups and a preamplifier. This setup ensures that the instrument is ready to be connected with an amplifier.
The quality of bridge pickups on modern elecoustics can produce rich, dynamic audio. Their preamplifiers are fitted with controls to adjust the equalization of the sound before it ever gets to the amplification system. Some have the ability to control up to six separate frequency bands. This design is an excellent alternative the bulkier microphones.
With the amplified acoustic sound, these acoustic electric guitars are the instruments of choice for many singer-songwriters and classical guitarists. You have the look, feel and sound of an acoustic guitar. However, you also gain control over resonance, tone and volume.
