Unitar (Music)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The one stringed guitar, also known as a Unitar is a somewhat less known version of the standard electric guitar. Although rare, the one-string guitar is sometimes heard, particularly in Delta blues, where improvised folk instruments were popular in the 1930s and 1940s.
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[edit] History
Eddie "One String" Jones had some regional success with a Mississippi blues musician Lonnie Pitchford played a similar, homemade instrument. In a more contemporary style, Little Willie Joe, the inventor of the Unitar, had a considerable rhythm and blues instrumental hit in the 1950s with "Twitchy", recorded with the Hall Orchestra.
[edit] Design
The homemade unitar often has been made with a peizoelectric sensor as a pickup on the unitar, requiring that an external amp be attached to operate. PVC piping is a common neck material. Like a normal electric guitar, it needs no reverberating back like an acoustic guitar needs. The plug is usually quarter inch, as the cord is easier to work with.
[edit] Alternate Designs
Many variations have been created, some of which are mentioned below.
[edit] Fiver
This design has five strings around one PVC pipe. It is often considered impractical because of the fact the bumped and misplayed strings are common while turning the instrument to reach the string you want to play.
[edit] Double or triple neck
As the name suggests, this variation has more than one neck, with each neck almost always strung with a different type of string.
[edit] Bow-played
This variation is played be bow, but custom strings are often needed to accommodate both the length of the PVC and the ability to be bowed.
[edit] Extended
This variation is almost never seen, but it includes using custom strings that are extremely long to achieve a wider range of sounds.
[edit] Additional features
The addition of additional features that are usually meant for electric guitar is usually impossibe without an eighth inch to quarter inch adapter. With this adapter, though, you can add almost any kind of effects pedal. Large amps are also an option, although sound quality is not high enough to have any large increase in volume. Installing a permanent adapter may ease connectivity.
Obviously, changing the size and shape of the backing would radically alter the look of the unitar. Alternatively, having no back can add a more future (or retro) look to the unitar.
