The guitar itself is an instrument that dates back centuries before it’s common use today as a popular instrument in blues, rock and roll, and other types of music such as heavy metal. Early versions of stringed instruments are found all across the world, and in modern versions such as the sitar, the banjo, the violin, and the harp. The guitar was a popular instrument and continues to be so in classical music, but the popularization began in the early 20th century as part of the blues movement in the twenties and thirties that became known at the blues.

One of the first electric guitar uses was by well-known bands to claim they were influenced by blues was The Beatles, who were followed by Bob Dylan, a folk artist, who modernized the folk style and began using electric guitars in his performances. Needless to say, like any drastic change of method from the celebrated norm, this was met with a lot of resistance, but eventually the electric guitar had successfully permeated not only the blues and rock scene, but that of folk music, as well.

Among the many effects available on an electric guitar, as opposed to its acoustic counterpart, the sheer size of the growing concert hall called for more volume from any given musicians. Again, while they are fresh in mind, the Beatles played a concert at Shea Stadium in New York City– this certainly would not have been possible on the standard, acoustic guitars. Surely no one would have heard a note from the stage.

One more benefit to the electric guitar, as popularized by guitarist Eric Clapton during his Cream years, would be the many effects placed onto the guitar’s sound by tampering with the reverb, echo, and the tightening and loosening of the strings to create a heavily altered effect.

The electric guitar is one of the greatest instruments to start learning music on. The best thing about it is that anyone can learn it quickly. I started to learn on an acoustic guitar many years ago but now I recommend that young students start on the electric.

The electric guitar is a lot easier for kids’ fingers to hold down the strings. Also, the sound comes from the amp, so the strings are lighter. This makes them softer on the fingers and doesn’t hurt as much as the acoustic.

When you first learn the guitar, your fingers are going to hurt allot. Players need to stick with it and not give up because callouses will develop on the fingers. Some students even give up because their fingers hurt too much at first. But it makes it easier to stick with it and not give up when you use the electric guitar.

Some people think that electric guitars are very expensive. That is only partially true. Very good Fender and Gibson guitars can run in the thousands, but stores sell “packages”. Packages are a combination of an electric guitar, amp, and everything else you need to play for around 200 dollars. I recommend beginners pick up one of these packages to learn the guitar.

You ever wonder how to get that “spaghetti western” sound from The Good the Bad and the Ugly and other westerns? Ever try to get that surf guitar sound too? Well that original sound came from a guitar amp called the Fender Champ.

These days you can get all types of amplifier simulators—some even come bundled with sound recording software like Garageband and these are fun. But there is nothing like the real thing. I have a Fender Champ Jr. and I absolutely love one knob on it - the Tremolo. It modulates the sound and gives it a wavy twang, long or short vibe depending on which way you turn the knob and what frequency you give it.

It’s really an unmistakable sound. It will remind you of tumbleweeds and deserts and dust storms and cowboy movies. I also like the way the Fender Champ because it looks cool. It’s an amp that I don’t mind standing next to at a gig. It has that nifty visual appeal going for it. So there you have it. It looks good and sounds good. What more do could you want?

I’ve had the rare and fun occasion of sitting down with a variety of amplifiers and different rare vintage guitars. I could have spent all day in there. But I think I will always come back to the Fender Champs. I just love them. (Cue dream sequence of me sitting in heaven with a rare vintage guitar plugged into a Fender Champ.)