Anatomy of an electric guitar

Buying an electric guitar. New options ; Other options ; Second-hand options

The big four. Stratocaster type guitar ('S' type) ; Les Paul type guitar ('LP' type) ; Telecaster type guitar ('T' type) ; 'SG' type guitar ('SG' type)

Getting started. Tuning and your first 'power chord'

Getting your guitar working properly. A string change and plastic film removal ; Truss rod adjustment ; Nut adjustment or replacement ; Setting up an 'S' type vibrato ; Restringing a Floyd Rose vibrato ; The Paul Bigsby vibrato ; String trees ('S' and 'T' types) ; Bridge height and intonation ; Neck adjustment ; String height and intonation on a Tune-O-Matic ; Do-it-yourself 'hard tail'

Improving your guitar's performance. Safety first ; Tools and working facilities ; Essential gig bag accessories ; It's worth doing a little maintenance ; Stageside repairs ; Replacing tuners ; Pickup height settings : tone and intonation ; Jack socket maintenance or replacement ; Replacing volume and tone controls ; Replacing pickup selectors ; Pickup replacement ; Authentic sound from a copy guitar ; A little fretwork ; 'Serve and respect' : caring for your axe ; Getting the 'right' sound ; A little light relic work ; Replacing an 'S'-type trem block ; A patch repair on electric bodywork

Specific case studies. A classic 'S' type : Squier Affinity series 'Strat' ; Associated amp : Fender Frontman 15G amp ; A classic 'LP' type : Epiphone Les Paul Standard ; A classic 'T' type : Fender Squier '50s-vibe Telecaster ; A classic semi-acoustic : Epiphone Dot 'Natural' ; A jazz box with ambition : Ibanez Artcore AF75TDG-IV ; A classic retro guitar : Danelectro '63 DG 63 Aqua ; An economy 'Superstrat' : Yamaha Pacifica 112V ; Another classic retro guitar : Eastwood Airline 2P Deluxe ; Italia 'Retro 25' reverb amp ; Lefties' delight : 'LP' type left-handed Encore E99 Blaster ; Associated amp : Encore Blaster 10W amp ; Encore E375 small 'S' type ; Turn it up to eleven! Vintage : 'The Reaper' Flying V metal axe ; Second-hand bargain : Classic Epiphone 'SG' G400 ; A good match : Epiphone 'Valve Junior' 5W amp

Key players and their instruments. The 'rock guitar' pioneers ; The second wave

App. 1. Learning resources ; App. 2. Capacitor codes.