| Anatomy of the Electric Guitar--Part 1: Body, Neck, and | | | | wood or 2-3 glued pieces. The neck joint is where the |
| Headstock | | | | neck joins the body. Neck joints are categorized as |
| 'Guitar speak' can be a little confusing, especially to | | | | either bolt-on, set neck (glued in place), or neck-thru |
| non-guitarists and beginners. This article describes the | | | | style where the neck continues through to the body in |
| various parts of the electric guitar and some of the | | | | a single solid piece. The heel describes the flattened |
| terminology used in describing these parts. This is part 1 | | | | area on the back of the neck that rests right next to |
| of a 2-part series. | | | | the neck joint. The fretboard or fingerboard refers to |
| The 3 main parts of the electric guitar are called the | | | | the wooden face on the top of the neck usually made |
| body, the neck, and the headstock. | | | | from maple, rosewood, or ebony. The frets are the |
| The body of the guitar is the largest part and where | | | | wire dividers on the fingerboard. Fretmarkers are |
| the strumming hand is positioned and can be made of | | | | placed at set positions on the fingerboard and are |
| various types of wood. Electric guitar bodies can be | | | | commonly made of mother-of-pearl or ink inlays. |
| solid, hollow, or semi-hollow. Solidbodies are usually 2-3 | | | | These inlays are most commonly shaped like round |
| shaped pieces of solid wood glued together. | | | | dots or trapezoids. Most electric guitar necks will have |
| Hollowbodies, like acoustics, have a completely open | | | | an adjustable truss rod running through the center of |
| resonance chambers usually with f-hole shaped | | | | the neck as a reinforcement and counterbalance to |
| openings. Semi-hollowbodies look like hollow bodies | | | | the string tension. |
| from the outside, however, will have a solid block of | | | | The headstock is the portion at the end of the neck. |
| wood through the center of the resonance chamber. | | | | The shape and markings on the headstock are |
| Body shapes can vary widely from the classic | | | | indicative of the brand of guitar. Guitar brands can be |
| 'Stratocaster' and 'Les Paul' shapes to the radical 'flying | | | | instantly recognized by the signature shape of their |
| v' and 'explorer' shapes. The sides that make up the | | | | headstocks. Furthermore, headstocks will usually have |
| body of a guitar are referred to as the top, back, and | | | | the guitar brand name imprinted or inlayed on the top |
| sides. The top of the body can be flat or carved | | | | and have the serial number and other company |
| (curve shaped). The upper bout and lower bout of the | | | | information on the back. The headstock may have a |
| body refer to the head-facing or feet-facing halves of | | | | plastic truss rod plate covering the adjustable end of |
| the body, respectively, when in the playing position. The | | | | the neck's truss rod. The tuners, pegs, gears, and keys |
| horns of the body are the wooden protrusions found | | | | all refer to the string winding hardware located on the |
| on either side of the neck on a Stratocaster shaped | | | | headstock. |
| guitar. Many guitars will have a plastic plate called a | | | | I hope this article will give you a better understanding of |
| pickguard or scratchplate that provides a protective | | | | the various guitar parts and the terminology used to |
| surface for picking and covers the compartment | | | | describe them. Don't miss part 2 of this series: |
| housing the electronics. Guitars may contain a binding | | | | Hardware, Electronics, and Finishes. Visit my website |
| made of celluloid, plastics, or wood that outlines the | | | | for the best value in new and used guitars, factory |
| sides of the body, headstock, and sometimes neck. | | | | 2nds, and refurbished instruments at cheap guitar |
| The neck on a guitar is the long midsection where the | | | | prices. |
| fretted hand is positioned and can be a single piece of | | | | |