Electronic Sound Manipulation In Guitars
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In guitar terminology, anything to do with the manipulation of the guitar's sound is commonly referred to as an 'effect'. Guitar effects can be found in both modern acoustic guitars and electric guitars. For the purpose of this topic, only effects concerned with electric guitars will be mentioned.
There is no one name associated with the creation of guitar effects as, say for example Les Paul and the electric guitar. With that in mind, there is also no exact date that is tied with it's origin. However, the first of the guitar effects owes it's conception to an accidental discovery made by inverting tape reels (to which the guitars were recorded) and playing them back in sync with the original sound, creating a subtle background and yet distinct sound. This effect is the modern day 'Flanger'. An approximation of the time effects were first introduced could be during the late 50s or early 60s the period in which recording with tape reels started to become simplified and more user-friendly. Guitar effects enable the guitarist a new dimension of creativity that would never be available to acoustic guitarist. It spices up the outgoing sound in ways never thought possible...