Hybrid Instruments: Acoustic Electric Guitars

Acoustic-electric guitars are part and parcel with the history of rock and roll; the earliest acoustic electric models were conventional guitars with a magnetic pick-up where it'd do the most good, usually the sound hole, or more rarely, the neck joint of the instrument. These early guitars could be amplified, and could fill a music hall, but they had other problems - most notably fragility (changes in temperature and tuning could mess up the amp pickup) and feedback. They also tended to put gaps into the pure acoustic sound, because the earlier magnetic pickups couldn't handle the higher range frequency that an acoustic guitar makes.

In 1968, there was a major technological breakthrough, with the Ovation piezoelectric bridge pickup.  These amplified the vibrations of the guitar top and body, rather than trying to pick up the sound waves, and converted them into an electrical signal for the amplifiers.  This gave a fuller, more responsive acoustic tone - and got rid of most of the feedback problems.  Even better, they were less sensitive to changes in humidity, and also led directly to the electric guitar.  A bit over a decade later, and piezo bridge pickups could let a 'true acoustic' sound at full concert hall volumes.

Acoustic-electric guitars have a number of benefits beyond being able to rock out a concert hall and still sound like an acoustic guitar with the full shimmering upper range.  They also let you plug your guitar directly into the console, which makes sound mixing a lot simpler.  No need to get a microphone rig for the guitar as well as yourself.  It also let you record in a nearly perfect sound-free environment.

A lot of acoustic electric guitars have additional features that make the more useful to a professional musician - things like a built in equalizer, for modulating the sounds as you play and they make recording studio sessions a lot easier for the reasons detailed above.  They also have the benefits of a general acoustic guitar - the ability to play 'unplugged' allows you to perform in more intimate venues, or practice without having to rent a rehearsal space.   Some acoustic electric guitars with equalizers can also be 'fretted' so that they sound like a pure electric guitar, giving you the most flexibility possible with a single instrument.

All of these options cost money.  In addition to the base cost of a good acoustic guitar, the pickups and other elements will set you back an extra $200 or more if installed later.  Given the price of a good acoustic guitar - anywhere from $500 to $1,000, you'd be perfectly within reason to feel jittery about taking a table saw to a guitar and putting in the gear needed.  Most people who get acoustic electric guitars pay for one that's already been assembled that way rather than retrofit something that they already own.

When looking at acoustic electric guitars, there are some things you should keep track of - first of all, and this is a no-brainer, make sure the handedness of the guitar fits your playing style.  While you're at it, if your guitar has an equalizer (recommended for flexibility) make sure that the controls will be on the top of the guitar when you're playing.  This allows you to adjust it while playing to get the most benefit out of it.  Likewise, with equalizers, more is better - a three band equalizer is the minimum, but the more you can get into play, the more control you have over the exact sound of your music.  Look also for equalizers that can be set to filter out extraneous noises.

Other features to look at include the ability to switch between natural and equalized sounds - if you intend to switch music styles between numbers, this can be a great boon, giving you two guitars in one body.  For recording sessions there will also be options for master volume; this can also be useful for rehearsing without annoying the neighbors.

You'll also want to be aware of where the pick-up is.  Most piezo pickups are installed on the saddle of the guitar, where the strings run, just beneath the sound-hole.  Some have them in different places, which can alter the sound.  Check how the pick up is attached; more than any component other than strings, your pickup is the one that may need replacing over the life of your guitar.  Its location (and any wiring it may have) will determine where you plug the guitar in for the amplifiers.