Archive for October 27th, 2009
In the early 1900s a banjo was used in jazz groups. The banjo was used since its sound could be heard through the other instruments such as saxes,drums and clarinets. In the 1923s an acoustic guitar with an arched top was made by Gibson, model L5, and this started to replace the banjo. The mid to late 1930s saw the start of electrical amplification and Gibson was up for the challenge with its ES150 an arched top acoustic guitar with a guitar pickup.
There have been several improvements since the 1930s. Today although jazz can be played on an acoustic guitar as well as an solid body electric guitar, the favorite among jazz guitarists is still an amplified electric guitar with the looks from the 1930s. The guitar is identified by its big sound box, arched top, and it “F” holes that look like they belong on a violin, they also have a floating bridge, and possibly magnetic pickups.