Electric Guitars Used in Psychedelic Rock
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Discover the electric guitars used by some of the most popular psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s and 1970s.
The Electric Guitar in Psychedelic Rock
The electric guitar has always been a staple in rock music, but it reached new heights in the hands of psychedelic rockers in the 1960s and 1970s. Psychedelic rockers took the basic blues rock sound and added elements of British Invasion pop, garage rock, and acid rock to create a new, mind-bending sound. The electric guitar was the perfect instrument for this new style of music, and the players who mastered it became legends.
The Electric Guitar’s Role in Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that became popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Psychedelic rock typically uses distorted electric guitars, sound effects, and other electronic devices to create a “trippy” or “acid trip” feeling. The electric guitar is an essential part of psychedelic rock, and many famous psychedelic songs would not be the same without it.
The Electric Guitar’s Sound in Psychedelic Rock
The electric guitar’s sound in psychedelic rock is characterized by the use of reverb and distortion. Reverb is used to create a “spacey” or “dreamy” sound, while distortion is used to create a “fuzzy” or “psychedelic” sound. The electric guitar’s sound in psychedelic rock is often compared to the sound of the human voice.
The Electric Guitars Used in Psychedelic Rock
Psychedelic rock is a subgenre of rock music that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The electric guitar is the most important instrument in psychedelic rock. This article will list the different electric guitars used in psychedelic rock.
The Gibson Les Paul
The Gibson Les Paul is one of the most iconic electric guitars of all time. Used by countless legendary musicians including Jimi Hendrix, Slash, and Jimmy Page, the Les Paul has become synonymous with psychedelic rock.
The Les Paul is a solid body guitar, meaning that it is made of one piece of wood (usually mahogany) with no hollow chambers. This makes for a very resonant and toneful instrument, perfect for creating those huge, swirling soundscapes that are characteristic ofpsychedelic rock.
If you’re looking to get that classic psychedelic rock sound, a Gibson Les Paul is the perfect place to start.
The Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster is a model of electric guitar designed in 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson and George Fullerton, and built by Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. The Stratocaster was first introduced in spring 1954, as a model called the “Esquire”. A combination of previous Fender electric guitar models, it featured a single cutaway body style with precursor humbucking pickups which were later replaced with the now ubiquitous three single-coil pickups in 1959. These first Stratocasters used the Leo Quan Badass II bridge. Within a few years, Gibson issued the Les Paul which featured somewhat similar design parameters. Both models quickly became icons of rock and roll music.
The Rickenbacker 360
The Rickenbacker 360 is one of the most iconic electric guitars used in psychedelic rock. It was first introduced in 1958 and was used by some of the biggest names in the genre, including George Harrison of the Beatles and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. The guitar is known for its distinctive jangle and chime, which made it perfect for creating the signature sound of psychedelic rock.
The Electric Guitarists Who Used These Guitars in Psychedelic Rock
The electric guitar has been a staple in rock music since the genre’s inception. Electric guitars were used in psychedelic rock to create the mind-bending, otherworldly sounds that defined the genre. In this article, we’ll take a look at the electric guitarists who used these guitars to create psychedelic rock.
Jimi Hendrix
One of the most influential electric guitarists of all time, Jimi Hendrix played a key role in the development of psychedelic rock. His unique playing style and use of feedback and distortion created a whole new sound that defined the genre. Hendrix used a variety of different guitars throughout his career, but he is most associated with the Fender Stratocaster. He often used effects pedals to create his distinctive sound, and his innovative techniques revolutionized the way that electric guitar is played.
Carlos Santana
Santana is a Mexican and American rock band formed in San Francisco, California in 1967 by Mexican-American guitarist Carlos Santana. The band first came to public attention with their performance of the song “Soul Sacrifice” at the Woodstock Festival in 1969. This exposure helped propel their first album, also named Santana, into a hit, reaching number four in the US charts. With their combination of Latin-infused rock, bluesy improvisations, and Jimi Hendrix-inspired guitar work, Santana became hugely popular worldwide. They followed up with a string of successful albums and singles, including “No One to Depend On”, “Black Magic Woman”, and “Oye Como Va”. Carlos Santana’s use of electric guitars in psychedelic rock helped define the genre.
Eddie Van Halen
One of the most influential guitarists of all time, Eddie Van Halen defined the sound of hard rock in the 1970s and 1980s. He popularized the use of two-handed tapping, did early experiments with feedback, and was one of the first guitarists to use a wah-wah pedal. He used a number of different guitars over his career, but is most associated with his signature model, the Frankenstrat.
