Audi TT

Audi TT Price

Rs 48,36,000^*  

Ex-Showroom Price In new delhi

Overall

Its good mix up of dynamism and design,unique sporty look makes this car different. With a double-clutch transmission, ample power, and grip for days, the 2008 Audi TT Coupe makes for a more enjoyable drive than the Roadster. Bluetooth, an iPod dock, satellite radio, and optional navigation round out the package. Unique, beautiful design, relatively comfortable for front passengers iPod integration is seamless but incomplete, and the Bluetooth setup has similar shortcomings. Interior storage is all but nonexistent. S tronic is slow, cramped cockpit that is hard to see out of, twitchy suspension The windows are short and the beltline/top of the doors is way too high and because the roof is so slow you can't raise your seat much; so you can't easily see out the sides or navigate in tight places with much confidence. I know this style is popular these days, but if you care about seeing where you are driving (obviously many people don't) then it's just plain annoying. I played with the magnetic suspension a bit. With it on, the ride was firmer but also a noticeably jittery; a lot of noise from the wheels and suspension. With it off the ride was a little softer and not so noisy, but a little less fun. It's much better than an A4 I tested a while ago - the suspension was so bad on that one that I even asked whether it was severely damaged in some way. On its own I think the TT's suspension is great; but compare it to a BMW suspension without any magnetic trickery and you'll see why BMW is the gold standard. I also found that when you aren't pushing the car, the S tronic transmission is slow to shift when you tell it to. If you were really pushing the car it would shift faster. This may make some sense, but it left me feeling disconnected from the car. And no matter how bad you think the back seat will be, it is worse. It's no good for anyone - not even small kids, or a baby seat. Even getting to it is a joke. I wanted a backseat just for my dog, but I'm not sure even he'd find it livable. Despite its great looks, in the end I just kept comparing it to what you can find in a BMW, and despite how ugly most BMWs are today, they are much better driver's cars.

Description

The German car maker, Audi officially brought in its new sportscar, Audi TT with great pomp and show. The car is extremely powerful and highly fuel efficient. This is certainly a high performance sportscar and that’s why Audi price in India has been kept a hefty Rs. 48,36,000. The car will hit the showrooms in India by the month of June 2012. Mr. Michael Perschke happily unveiled Audi TT Sportscar. This coupe has got all the features, which are expected in a sportscar. The car is extremely stylish and promises to deliver superb performance. Audi TT is capable of making you fall in love with it in a single glance and the distinct character given to it gives it a sense of freedom of its own.

The Audi TT Coupe, a two-door sports car, was first launched in 1998 by Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen Group. Globally, Audi TT two car body styles- 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster. In India Audi TT Coupe first hit the roads in 2008 and in 2012 the company reintroduced it with a new more powerful engine based on TFSI technology and a facelift.  The all new Audi TT sportscar has been blessed with 2.0 litre of TFSi petrol engine, which produces peak power of 211 HP along with 350 Nm of peak torque at the rate of 1600-4200 rpm. This powerful and dynamic engine has been cleverly mated with S-tronic gearbox. With this amazing combination, Audi TT delivers an impressive mileage. Audi has also fit in all wheel drive system to enhance the overall driving experience for the driver. One can zoom away with great speed in their Audi TT Sportscar. It merely takes 5.6 seconds to touch the 100 km per hour speed mark, which is remarkable.

 Audi India has worked very hard in designing and developing Audi TT Sportscar. The curvier body with fine lines blends perfectly with each other. The sporty and dynamic feel further adds more charm to the car. The bumper along with the front grille is redone by Audi, while the fog lamps have a distinctive character of their own. The rear end of the car features brand new taillights and fresh diffuser. On the other hand, the side profile of new Audi TT sportscar has restored its typical coupe lines, which help the car in providing a compelling look altogether.



As far as the proportions of 2012 Audi TT are concerned, they are done with utmost care and concern. The length of new Audi TT comprise of 4187mm with a width and height of 1842mm and 1353 mm respectively. The wheel base of the car comes about 2468mm. This means overall, 2012 Audi TT has grown about 2 centimeters.



With such charming exteriors, the company has also taken care of the interiors of the car. Audi India has put all its heart and soul to make Audi TT Sportscar a comfortable, chic and stylish car. The interiors of the coupe have been done tastefully and one would be able to see sophistication everywhere. The use of high gloss black color gives a very posh feel to the interiors. The seats have been upholstered in Leather that has been particularly treated to cut down thermal heating by about twenty degree Celsius, when the coupe is parked outside in sun.

 Besides the aforementioned highlights, the new Audi TT has also been well-equipped with ample of comfort features, which make the car ride much more comfortable and relaxing. The symphony audio system guarantees to make you ride entertaining, while the driver information system aids in driving even on the rugged and rough Indian topography. The air conditioning system is very impressive that is accompanied with automatic climate control function.



Audi India is a known name in the Indian car market and has been very much successful in making its market in India. Audi very victoriously sold more than 106,600 cars to its valuable consumers globally in the month of February 2012, which shows a hike of 16.6% since last year.

Models

Audi TT Models

Audi TT 2.0 TFSI

Powered by a new 2.0 LT TFSI engine with 6-speed S Tronic transmission that delivers high power and reduced fuel consumption

Mileage, Average And Fuel Economy

The 2.0 LT TFSI engine delivers the powerful sporty performance using 10 to 15% less fuel. The mileage is 9.9 Kmpl on urban roads and 5.7 Kmpl on extra urban roads.

Power

The all new 2.0 LT 6-speed S Tronic TFSI engine in Audi TT India with 4-clyinders offer a maximum displacement of 1984cc, maximum power of 211 Ps/4300-6000rpm and peak torque of 350Nm/1600-4200 rpm. The TFSI technology combines direct fuel injection with turbocharging to unlock superior power and dynamic performance.

Acceleration & Pick-Up

A 2.0 LT TFSI engine makes Audi TT coupe race from 0-100 Km/hr in 6.0 seconds while with a combination of quattro permanent all-wheel drive system and S Tronic, it sprints 0-100 km/hr in just 5.6 seconds. It can attain a top speed of 152 mph.

Exterior

View Audi TT Exterior Pictures

If Classy Diva title was ever to be used in terms of cars it would be unanimously given to Audi TT Coupe. Audi has brilliantly managed to combine style with technicality so that every feature of the car serves a dual purpose of enhancing looks and providing some technical/aerodynamic advantage. Audi TT Coupe has a low positioned single-frame grille and flat intake slits beneath the radiator grille. The combo gives the front of the car a very distinctive look and a technical advantage of channeling greater quantities of air to the engine. The sharp edged corners of halogen headlights with LED Daytime running lights look fierce complemented with rounded front and rear fog lamps that provide enhanced illumination. A fully automatic hood with integrated wind deflector claims technical superiority. On the rear, integrated exhaust containing dual pipes on the left emphasize the athletic character of the car. The show stealer, however, is the retractable rear spoiler, which deploys and retracts automatically at set speeds or when the centre console button is pushed. The alloy wheel with styled setting of spokes stay true to the sporty theme of the car.
The width remains same across all the models while length and height vary slightly. In length Audi TT Coupe stretches 4187mm, in breadth it is 1842mm wide with mirrors closed and 1952mm wide with mirror open and in height it measures 1353mm.

Interior

View Audi TT Interior Pictures

Interiors

As a standard all Audi TT models have front sport seats covered in Tetris cloth and a pleasing of combo 3-spoke Sports ‘flat-bottom’ design leather steering wheel with Black leather handbrake grip. Interiors are detailed with Aluminium Laser complemented by a light-weighted smooth aluminuim foot paddle. Standard audio system consists of a Chorus radio/single CD player with front speakers seems only fairly decent. Some other elements like Centre console armrest pad and door handle and front floor mats do not stand out per se but complete the overall interior décor.

Interior Comfort

Audi TT Coupe has but one motivation to provide the driver with maximum ease of driving. The ergonomically designed cockpit and seats make sure of it. A Driver’s Information System (DIS) displaying the vitals of car and instruments angled directly at the driver. The electrically operated door mirrors and heated electric front windows increase the comfort. The leather seat covers are specially treated to reduce thermal heating by as much as 20 degrees Celsius when the TT is parked in the sun. An optional DVD navigation system proves quite handy and never lets you lose your way. The audio system is powered by Bose sound system for an unmatchable music experience. The Audi Music Interface offers wide compatibility as provides support for USB memory sticks, portable hard discs, mobile phones, MP3 players and Apple iPods and even portable cassette players. An optional built-in hands free phone system enables mobile preparation using Bluetooth interface that allows the driver to control basic mobile operations without taking focus off driving the car.

Engine Capacity & Performance

Audi TT Coupé is powered by all new 2.0 TFSI engine with 6-speed S Tronic transmission and 4-cylinders which develops a maximum power of 155 kW/ 4600-600 rpm, peak torque of 350 Nm at 1600 - 4200 rpm and displacement of 1984cc. A number of engine components are re-engineered in order to optimise performance and handling which make it more dynamic and responsive.

Wheels

As a standard, Audi TT models are fitted with 17” x 8.5J ‘7-Y-spoke’ design alloy wheels with 245/45 R17 Y tyres and a tyre mobility system.

Braking & Handling

The innovative Audi Space Frame (ASF) is exceptionally strong but substantially lighter than a traditional chassis. Safety, performance and handling are all enhanced through the careful hand-welding of magnesium and aluminium panels. Audi’s renowned four-wheel-drive technology, quattro provides optimal drive delivery to each wheel continuously, for superior handling and phenomenal grip – even in less than perfect driving conditions. A adaptive suspension based on Audi magnetic ride with two selectable modes (Normal or Sport) operates with help of sensors in the car that monitor the road conditions and adjust the damping effect by varying a magnetic charge which passes through a fluid-based shock absorber for improved road handling, outstanding chassis control and excellent driving comfort.

A 17-inch dual-piston brake system delivers impressive stopping power that completes the high speeding capability of Audi TT Coupe. Floating-calliper brakes with 334mm vented disc brakes on the front and 265mm vented disc brakes on the rear stop the car in a balanced, safe and effective way.

Handling & Safety

When you test your guts with the high power and speed delivered by Audi TT, it ensures to keep you safe all the time by utilizing the most advanced of safety techniques. Beginning with the basics, there are front and rear air bags, side airbags for front seats, front ISOFIX and passenger airbag de-activation switch, First-aid kit and Tool kit and car jack. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) for skid control, Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) and Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) for traction control, Thatcham Category1 approved Anti-theft device, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), locking wheel bolts, electromechanical speed-sensitive power-assisted steering called Servotronic and Warning triangle are some of the standard safety features.

Stereo & Accessories

A Bose sound system in Audi TT Coupe with 8 Channels and advanced amplifiers generated a massive 255 watts of power that operates 12 high performance speakers. The speaker system is made up of one central speaker and two tweeters in the dashboard, two mid-range speakers and woofers in each of the doors, two tweeters and two bass/midrange speakers in the rear side trims and finally a subwoofer. Audi Music Interface makes sure you can provide input from iPod, USB, MP3 players, portable hard disks and mobile phone so that your music experience is never interrupted.

Audi TT Specifications

Audi TT Variants

Variants	Transmission	Engine Description	Mileage		Power	AC	Power Steering	Central Locking
			City	Highway
2.0 TFSI (Petrol)	Manual	1984cc 4 Cylinder 16 Valve	5.7	9.9	155.1 kW @ 4300-6000 rpm	Standard	Standard	Standard

Tata Safari Storme

Tata Safari Storme

 Expected launch Date : May 2012

Estimated Price : N/A

5 April, 2012: Tata Motors is all set to bring in its much awaited SUV, Tata Safari Storme this year. Safari Storme codenamed earlier as Tata Merlin, was unveiled at the Auto Expo this year. Apparently, the Tata Safari Storme launch will be done by the end of April or beginning of May 2012. This SUV will ride on Tata Aria platform and would turn out to be an awesome performer on road and off road as the X2 chassis and double wishbone suspension is borrowed from Aria. The Tata Safari Storme carries the same 2.2 litre of DiCOR engine but will be mated to a new G76 MKII gearbox for better gear shifts. This engine is capable of producing the same 140 BHP of power along with 315 Nm of torque. The interiors have been done in pseudo wood finish, while the high quality upholstery further adds more charm to the SUV. The wheel arches on the exterior have been done beautifully with new wheels, which comes out to be the USP of the car. Tata Safari Storme price would be kept competitive thereby giving a strong competition to its rivals in the Indian car market. Our guess is around Rs 10 lakh. Keep checking this space for more updates.

Tata Safari Storme Review

 

Overall

Tata Motors is one of the best recognized Indian car brands and is geared up to surprise its consumers with a brand new offering, its new generation Safari, named as Tata Safari Storme. This, rules out all the claims that it will be called Merlin which was only used as its codename. Tata Storme made its debut at India’s biggest Auto show, Auto Expo 2012 organized at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 7th January to 11th January 2012.

Tata Storme is basically a nicely updated and enhanced version of Tata Safari. The next generation Safari had been testing since early 2010. However, it is not sure so far as to where exactly it will be positioned price wise, but the update will be given soon by the firm. Our price quote for new Safari Storme is Rs 10 lakh. Tata Safari Storme is a perfect answer to Mahindra’s SUV, Mahindra XUV 500.

The major highlight of the brand new Tata Safari Storme will be its powerful and bold engine. The SUV will feature the same masculine 2.2.Litre of DICOR diesel engine that would churn out peak power of 140 BHP along with 320 Nm of maximum torque. The engine is coupled with a revamped and refreshed G76 MKII 5 speed manual transmission for better gear shifts. The icing on the cake is that Tata Storme will be offered in a four wheel drive version accompanied with a low gear ratio that would be made available in the top variant of Tata Safari Storme. Visually, this brand new SUV has been given a major makeover and the interiors have also been updated substantially.

When heading inside the new Tata Safari Storme, the dashboard is intelligently designed with ample of faux wood that makes it look so subtle and sophisticated and the quality of the upholstery is high-class. Tata Motors is well aware of the fact that Indian consumers give as much weightage to the interior comfort in the car as to the engine specifications. The exteriors of Tata Storme have also been reformed to lure consumers and to show them that Safari Storme is actually the updated version of Tata Safari and doesn’t feature the old design.

The exterior of all new Tata Safari Storme comprise of refurbished headlamps along with new design at the front end that makes the SUV look more up to date and fashionable. Fresh wide grille, new wraparound headlamps with projectors, thick chrome band on radiator grille, newly designed front bumper with round fog lamps are the elements of new face.  On the other hand, the rear end got a little cosmetic makeover just to make it different from Tata Safari.

This time around, Tata Motors has its hopes high regarding the sales figures of Tata Safari Storme. Earlier too, Tata Safari was one of the best selling cars by the company and with the next gen Storme; the company aims a little higher. The consumers in the country are eagerly waiting for the new Tata Safari Storme. This SUV will lock horns with the recently launched Mahindra XUV 500, which has been receiving raving reviews since the time of its launch. Therefore, it’s currently impossible to predict whether or not the Tata Storme will be able to take over the Indian car market. Price wise, the company hasn’t revealed the exact price range of Tata Storme, but rumour has it that the new Tata Safari Storme will be competitively priced thereby giving the Indian consumers an ease to purchase it.

Models

Tata Safari Storm 4x2	This variant will be powered by diesel engine of 2179 cc producing 140 bhp-320 Nm. However, the power will be supplied to only front wheels as this model is two wheel drive model.
Tata safari Storm 4x4	This bold and masculine SUV is expected to be a four wheel driver, which would be powered with 2.2 Litre of DICOR diesel motor. The engine would be capable of producing 140 BHP of peak power along with 320 Nm of peak torque. The new Tata Safari Storm would be the 7 seater SUV, similar to the gold old Tata Safari.

Mileage, Average And Fuel Economy

The all new Tata Safari, now known as Tata Safari Storme will deliver an impressive mileage, which would make this SUV one of the best in the lot. The car has 2.2 litre of DOHC DICOR diesel engine that churns out peak power of 140 BHP at the rate of 4000 rpm accompanied with peak torque of 320 Nm at the rate of 1700 rpm. With the so much of power and ideal amount of torque produced by the engine, the fuel economy of Tata Storme becomes remarkable. The SUV is expected to deliver a superb city mileage of 11 km per litre whereas the highway mileage would be around 15 km per litre.

Power

The yet to be launched Tata Storme will have a power that would impress you all. With a 2.2 litre of DOHC DICOR diesel engine with a displacement of 2197cc, the power churned out by this bold engine is inspiring. The fresh and new Tata Safari Storme acquiesce a massive power of 140 BHP at 4000 rpm along with 320 Nm of torque at 1700-2700 rpm. The engine will have dual mass fly-wheel that would ensure minimum noise, vibration and harshness. Adding more charm to this, would be the five speed manual gearbox along with low friction bearing that would enhance the overall driving experience. However, there is a bit of possibility that the company would provide the SUV with a six speed automatic transmission in near future.

Acceleration & Pick-Up

The brand new and updated Tata Safari Storme will come power packed with 2179cc of 2.2 litre DOHC DICOR diesel engine that would facilitate the SUV to zoom away with the high speed in no time. However, the decision made by Tata for introducing Tata Safari Storme in diesel engine is quite apt, as the Indian car market has soaring demand for diesel cars all thanks to the sky rocketing petrol prices. Another thing is that diesel engine allows the car to give way better pick up and acceleration than any other petrol car. The diesel engine fitted in Tata Storme proffer the owner with respectable pick-up and acceleration. The engine is quietly wisely mated with a G76 MKII 5 speed manual gearbox for better gear shifts that could be turned into six speed automatic transmission in future.

Exterior

The exteriors of the new Tata Safari Storme are done under close surveillance of the highly qualified Tata Motors engineers. The looks of Tata Storme are masculine and just right. The exteriors have been totally refreshed and look very different from the original Tata Safari. The front end of the SUV is pretty neat and unsoiled and is ideal for the youth professionals of India. The projector headlamps are nicely L-shaped together with flat proportions, which appear to be a bit towards box shaped. The headlamps are powered with Xenon that ensures a clear and lighted view of the road at night. In terms of styling, Tata Motors was highly inspired from Range Rover for Tata Storme. This SUV will also sport body colored bumper and the round fog lights placed on the bumpers take the look a bit higher. The five twin spoke alloy wheels complete the overall look of the new Tata Safari torme.

The side profile of Safari Storme comprise of body colored door handles aligned smartly along the body. Just like Tata Safari, the ORVMs sports turn indicator lights. The windows at both the side are electrically controlled and the tinted glasses add more charm to the look of the SUV. The keyless entry and the remote fuel filler along with the panoramic roof are the exterior features that add an edgy and luxurious feel to the Tata Storme SUV.

Moving to the rear end of the all new Tata Storme, the revamped square tail lamps together with body design are quite appealing parts of the car, which are extremely inspired from the Land Rover. On the other hand, the tail lamp has a striking resemblance to that of Force Traveller. The best part of the new Tata Storme is that the spare tyre is now relocated and has been placed under the chassis, which makes the tail gate perfect and give it a close look to Tata Aria. What adds more appeal to the rear end of the car is the 2 dual chrome plated exhaust pipes, which make Storme more robust and aggressive. The car also comprise of rear defogger and rear wiper to cope up with extreme rain and fog.

Interior

The interiors of Tata Safari Storme is similar to that of Tata Aria, which means perfectly stylish and comfortable and better than Tata Safari for sure. The SUV is basically a seven seater and is loaded with ample of features, which is totally remarkable. All new Tata Storme sports new meter dials, electronic switches, two trip meter, white backlight dial and tachometer along with an arm rest for the driver. The dash of the car comes with powerful air conditioning system that climatic control with 2 AC vents. The air conditioning controls also have enhanced looks as they have white illumination around them. The presence of MP3/CD player further adds a tint of luxury to Tata Storme.  The power windows and power steering aid the driver and the passengers to have an effortless and easy ride. The seats are leather covered, which gives a posh ambience to the interiors of the SUV and the third row passengers is foldable. But, the rear seats aren’t foldable.

The driver seat is manually adjusted and the cabin of Tata Storme is less noisy while cruising and acceleration. The 5 speed manual gearbox has a firm and comfortable grip. The power steering is very dynamic and has electric control buttons mounted on them. On the whole, the interiors of the new Tata Storme have a sense of comfort and style, which helps it to more a notch higher amongst its competitors.

Interior Comfort

The comfort level of Tata Safari Storme is up to the mark. Hopefully the price tag of the SUV will be maintained around Rs. 10 lakh and with this competitive price, the car surely sounds comfortable. This new SUV is Tata Motors is quite spacious and has room for 7 adults. What enhances the comfort of the car is the air condition system that has been accompanied with climate control. The leather seats are foldable that comes with power windows, remote fuel filler and remote central locking. Remote boot and MP3 DVD player is also available as a choice. The other bonus features of Tata Storme comprise of tinted glass, ORVM indicator, and electric buttons mounted on the power steering, panoramic sun roof, rear wiper, electric door side mirrors and rear defogger. In the comfort level of the car, the new Tata Storme is complete win-win as compared to the original Tata Safari.

Interior Measurements

The all new Tata Storme is a very improved cabin in terms of space and comfort. The headroom and legroom at the rear, front and the 3rd row are above average. The wheelbase of the SUV is enhanced thereby increasing the rear legroom. The boot space of Tata Storme is 981 litres, but the SUV lacks remote boot, which is a bit of disappointment.

Engine Capacity & Performance

All new Tata Strome will come with an impressive 2.2 litre of DOHC DICOR diesel engine, which operated with very less harshness, noise and vibration. The engine delivers superb performance with brilliant acceleration and awesome fuel efficiency. The engine of Tata Stormeee has a displacement of 2179cc that churns out peak power of 140 bhp at rate of 4000 rpm along with 320 Nm of maximum torque at the rate of 1700 rpm. The icing on the cake is that Tata Stormeee has an excellent acceleration that aids the SUV in touching 100 km per hour speed in merely few seconds. With such superior performance, the new Tata Stormeee will give a tough competition to Mahindra XUV 500.

Wheels

The brand new and refreshed Tata Safari, or should we say, Tata Safari Storme comes with five spoke alloy wheels, which are inspired from Tata Aria. The ABS feature connects the wheel in order to cut down friction and avert the wheels from wearing and tearing. The tyre measurement of Tata Stormee comprise of 235/70 R16 105 S along with the ground clearance of 195mm. The spare wheel will also be provided, which would be placed just beneath chassis.

Braking & Handling

The disc brakes are applied to the rear wheels, while the ventilated brakes go with the Tata Safari Storme front wheels. Tata Motors is an Indian automobile manufacturer, which gives the firm a slight extra advantage in terms of sales as compared to other foreign car makers in the country. With Tata Storme, Tata Motors has tried to proffer the Indian consumers with one of the best SUVs present in the market currently. In spite of churning out 140 BHP of power, this new SUV comes with brilliant control. The power produced is evenly distributed to all the wheels with the help and support of five speed manual gearbox. Also the wheels of all new Tata Storme are jam packed with Independent double wishbone together with torsion bar suspension that is present at the front and at the rear to avert bumps and guarantee a comfortable and smooth ride.

Handling & Safety

The safety features of the Tata Storme are enhanced and improved to a great extent as compared to the old Tata Safari. This new SUV comes with remote central locking system that would make sure that the car is protected from thefts. While driving, the safety features like ABS (Anti Lock Brake System) with ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) and EBD (Electronic Brake Distribution) would surely help the wheel from locking in case of collision or accident. Other safety features comprise of parking sensors for better parking, fog lamps for superior vision in case of unfavorable weather condition accompanied with traction control.

Stereo & Accessories

The entertainment system of the new Tata Storme is also up to the mark. The SUV comes with advanced music system, which produces high quality sound. This music system is packed with classy and notable MP3 DVD player that will deliver a complete musical ambience. The other accessories of the new Tata Strom comprise of incorporated Satellite Navigation system that will assist the drive to mount up the position data to locate on the road in the unit’s map database. Besides this, the SUV also has panoramic sun roof and side ORVM turn indicator lights.

Pros & Cons

Tata Safari Storme Pros :

Premium SUV features and brand value, diesel engine.

Tata Safari Storme Cons :
Looks similar to Safari.

How Guitars Work

	Acoustic Guitar
	The acoustic (non-electrified) guitar is the centuries-old ancestor of the electric guitar. The instrument shown here is an example of the modern Spanish-style six-string acoustic guitar that was developed around 1800. Steel strings were introduced in the 19th century to replace traditional gut strings. Sound is produced by striking the strings and making them vibrate. The energy of the vibrating strings is transferred to the soundboard through the bridge. The guitar's hollow body amplifies the sound of the vibrating strings. The pitch of the vibrating strings depends partly on the mass, tension, and length of the strings. On steel-string guitars, the lower strings are thicker. Tuning the strings changes the tension; the tighter the string, the higher the pitch. Pressing down on the frets changes the amount of the string that is free to vibrate; the closer the fret is to the sound hole, the shorter the vibrating string, the higher the pitch.
	Electric-Acoustic Guitar
	Guitar makers and players have always searched for ways to increase the instrument's volume. Electronic amplification was one of the most successful innovations for building a louder guitar. Some of the earliest electronic experiments from the 1920s and 1930s involved simply attaching a pickup to an acoustic guitar. An electric-acoustic guitar is also called a hollow-body electric guitar Pickups: Electric guitar pioneers tried a variety of ways to pick up the instrument's sound and amplify it. George Beauchamp and Paul Barth developed the first successful electromagnetic pickup system; it was applied to the Rickenbacker Frying Pan guitar, marketed in 1932. Today, pickups are electromagnets mounted under the guitar strings. They sense the strings' vibrations and convert them into electrical signals that travel through a cable to the amplifier to increase the sound. There are two kinds of pickups: single-coil and double-coil, or humbucking. The latter give a fuller sound.
	Solid-Body Electric Guitar
	As makers and players continued to investigate ways of increasing the volume of the electric guitar throughout the 1940s, it became clear that a solid body was a key design feature. In a hollow guitar, the string's vibrations are transferred to the guitar's body. Since the pickup cannot tell string and body vibrations apart, the signal can be jumbled. In a solid-body guitar, the great mass of the solid body has minimal response to the vibrations of the strings. So the pickup "picks up" a cleaner signal of the strings' pure tone. When the solid-body guitar is plugged into an amplifier, the electrical impulses created by the pickups are converted into sound by the amplifier. Special-effects boxes, such as the fuzz box that creates a distorted sound, can change the signal from the pickups, which changes the sound that the amplifier produces.
	Hawaiian, or Steel, Guitar
	Introduced in the United States around 1900, the Hawaiian, or steel, guitar differed from the standard Spanish-style guitar in that it was designed to be played horizontally with a sliding steel bar, a much easier technique than fingering the strings. The lap-steel and pedal-steel are variations of this instrument. The ease of learning and playing the Hawaiian guitar made it popular with both users and teachers. Its alluring effect of sliding between notes endeared it especially to country and blues musicians. Hawaiian guitars became the first and most popular style of electric guitars in the 1930s. The electric models were built out of solid wood, a type of construction that was not commercially adapted to Spanish-style guitars until the 1950s.

Innovative Design

	The guitar's history mirrors the cultural values, preoccupations, and norms in the United States over time. So, too, does the guitar's design, especially since the development of solid-body guitar construction by the 1950s. Because the sound produced by solid-body electrics does not depend on their shape, makers could experiment with a wider range of guitar designs. This era's seemingly radical instruments echoed the popular cultural focus on space-age modernity. The Fender "Strat" recalled the modern tail fins and imaginative colors of Detroit's cars, while the Gibson Flying V literally appeared ready for takeoff.		Prince's Yellow Cloud and PRS Dragon electric guitars.
	Once the electric guitar had been firmly established by the 1960s and 1970s, guitar designs became increasingly distinctive and reflective of popular music trends. And by the 1980s guitarists were more and more concerned with the look as well as sound of their instruments, regarding their guitars as identifying signatures. Eddie Van Halen decorated his guitar with colored sticky tape, and Prince has had guitars of all shapes and colors custom-created for his stage performances. Country musician Junior Brown took the customization of his guitar a step further. To solve the problem of switching back and forth between a Spanish-style electric and a Hawaiian or lap-steel electric, Brown put the two together to form a new guitar, the "guit-steel." Ted McCarty with Paul Reed Smith Prince                         Junior Brown                     Today, makers of electric guitars often emphasize materials, finishes, and overall design as much as the technological aspects of their instruments. Style and craftsmanship are and will continue to be especially important to the marketing success of electric guitars.

Commercial Success

	As with many inventions, the electric guitar initially met with skepticism from traditionalists—performers as well as makers and audiences. But country and blues players and jazz instrumentalists soon took to the variety of new tones and sounds that the electric guitar could produce, exploring innovative ways to alter, bend, and sustain notes. The instrument's volume and tones proved particularly appealing to the enthusiasts of rock and roll, which emerged in the 1950s. While it was important to other genres, the electric guitar was at the heart of the cultural revolution that rock and roll symbolized. The media capitalized on the image of the rock and roller with his slicked-back hair, leather jacket, motorcycle—and electric guitar.		Fender Precision Bass and Fender Esquire with amps.
	Rock and roll music was particularly associated with a new electric guitar design, the Spanish-style solid-body. The earliest known commercially produced Spanish solid-body is the 1939 Slingerland. Around 1940, Les Paul experimented with such a design, and in 1947, Paul Bigsby teamed up with country singer Merle Travis to design a solid-body guitar that more closely resembled the ones we know today. But it was radio repairman Leo Fender who would be the first to successfully mass-produce and market a Spanish-style solid-body electric guitar. Leo Fender Chuck Berry Buddy Holly The immediate success of Fender's new style of electric quickly influenced other manufacturers to start producing their own models. In 1952 Gibson became Fender's first major competitor, introducing its own solid-body guitar with the help of celebrity endorser Les Paul. The mass production of these and other new models of highly desirable electrics allowed teenagers across the country to reinvent themselves in terms of a vision of musical rebellion and independence. Although many people thought that rock and roll would be a passing fad, by the 1960s it was clear that this music was firmly rooted in American culture. And electric guitarists had become the superstars of rock. Live performances in large halls and open-air concerts increased the demand for greater volume and showmanship. Popular groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones generated an international following that verged on the hysterical. Jimi Hendrix Rolling Stones Bonnie Raitt By then, most rock guitarists were no longer aiming to achieve clean, cutting sounds on the electric guitar. They began to experiment, and new sounds and textures, like distortion and feedback, became part of the guitarist's language. Jimi Hendrix was rock's great master of manipulated sound. By using techniques such as maneuvering the guitar's tremolo arm and playing close to the amplifier, Hendrix achieved spectacular effects. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s guitarists continued experimenting. Their new musical vocabulary emphasized loud, raunchy power chords, flashy solos, and overall volume, becoming known as heavy metal. Eddie Van Halen experimented with sounds like "dive bombing," using the tremolo arm to drive the guitar's lowest note even lower. Hendrix had done this and frequently forced the instrument out of tune as a result. But by the mid-1980s, inventor Floyd Rose had improved solid-body guitar tremolo systems, making it possible to "dive bomb" repeatedly. The last several decades have also witnessed the rise of professional female electric guitarists. Thanks to pioneers like Bonnie Raitt, women have earned an equal place in what had traditionally been a male-dominated field. Today, more than six decades after bursting on the American musical scene, the electric guitar still features in all types of music and is played and admired by men and women, young and old, throughout the world.