Kid Guitars

In the 1930s and 1940’s, during the early days of the electric guitar, audio feedback was thought to be a detrimental sound that needed to be eliminated in order to purify music. The very first solid-body electric guitars were invented for the express purpose of reducing feedback levels. However in the 1960’s musicians such as Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend began to cultivate an array of sounds that could be produced by holding a guitar at varying distances from a guitar amplifier. Many kids from this genre fondly remember trying to imitate this trademark sound with their discount childrens guitars, to no avail.

Over time, this technique of perfecting a feedback loop to harmonious or dissonant effect was taken to further levels.  The British rock band My Bloody Valentine released “Loveless” in 1991  More recently, Rage Against the Machine adopted a trademark “crunchy guitar” sound with the help of amp feedback.