Solid Body Electric Guitars

Solid-body electric guitars are the classic electric guitar type, known for their robust, present tones. They can be made from a variety of woods and come in all shapes and sizes.

There are several ways solid-body electric guitars can be made. One of the earliest solid body electric guitars was the Fender Telecaster which, at its essence, is simply two bits of wood screwed together without much fanfare. Only a couple of years later, electric guitar design had evolved to create the Gibson Les Paul. With its mahogany body, hand-carved maple top and set-neck, the Les Paul is a much more complex design.

How the neck is attached to a solid-body electric guitar is important. A ‘bolt-on’ neck uses long screws to attach the neck to the body. This gives a bright, lively tone and is typically associated with Fender guitars. A ‘set-neck’ is a glued neck similar to how acoustic guitars are made. This creates a warmer tone with a long sustain. A ‘thru-neck’ is when there is no distinction between the neck and body. These are often laminates that make the neck very strong. The benefit of this is there is no ‘heel’ where the neck meets the body, so it can be much more comfortable to play higher frets.

What Makes Solid Body Electric Guitars Different?