Tonewood? Shove it up your arse. The Electrical Guitar Company uses aluminium and acrylic and other strange materials to make its guitars…
In the world of electric guitars, few brands have managed to carve out a niche as unique and innovative as Electrical Guitar Company (EGC).
Unconventional materials? Check. Custom-made pickups? Check. A roster of high-profile artists, including the legend that is Steve Albini and none other than the lord of doom himself, Buzz Osbourne? Check.
But what actually makes these guitars so special, so coveted? Buzz ditched his decades-long use of Gibson’s Les Paul for an EGC model. Ditto Aron of ISIS and Old Man Gloom fame.
Let’s dig in and find out, shall we?
The Birth of Electrical Guitar Company
Electrical Guitar Company was founded in 2007 by Kevin Burkett, a luthier with a passion for pushing the boundaries of guitar design.
Burkett’s vision was to create guitars that were not only visually striking but also sonically unparalleled.
He began experimenting with unconventional materials, such as acrylic and aluminum, which would become the hallmark of EGC’s instruments.
The first guitar produced by EGC was the Series 1, an aluminum-bodied instrument that quickly gained attention for its unique look and sound.
The Series 1 was soon followed by the acrylic-bodied Series 2, which further solidified EGC’s reputation for innovation and craftsmanship.
Artists and Endorsements
Over the years, Electrical Guitar Company has attracted a diverse array of artists who appreciate the unique qualities of their instruments.
Here’s just a few of the legends that currently play Electrical Guitar Company guitars:
- Buzz Osborne (Melvins): Buzz has been a longtime endorser of EGC guitars, frequently using the aluminum-bodied Series 1 and the acrylic-bodied Series 2 on stage and in the studio.
- Troy Van Leeuwen (Queens of the Stone Age): Troy has been seen playing various EGC models, including the Series 1 and the Series 2, both live and in music videos.
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen (Beck, Nine Inch Nails): Justin has been a proponent of EGC basses, often using the aluminum-bodied Series 1 Bass in his studio work and live performances.
The EGC Difference
What sets Electrical Guitar Company apart from other guitar manufacturers is their commitment to innovation and quality.
Every EGC instrument is handcrafted in their workshop in Durham, North Carolina, using the finest materials and components available.
One of the most distinctive features of EGC guitars is their use of aluminum and acrylic for the body construction.
These materials provide a unique tonal character that is both bright and responsive, with excellent sustain and clarity.
The aluminum bodies are precision-machined from solid blocks of aircraft-grade aluminum, while the acrylic bodies are hand-cast and polished to a brilliant shine.
Another key component of the EGC sound is their custom-made pickups. EGC pickups are designed and wound in-house to perfectly complement the acoustic properties of their aluminum and acrylic bodies.
The result is a pickup that is both powerful and articulate, with a wide dynamic range and excellent string-to-string balance.
In addition to their innovative body materials and custom pickups, EGC guitars also feature high-quality hardware and electronics.
Every instrument is equipped with premium tuning machines, bridges, and nut materials, ensuring excellent tuning stability and playability.
The electronics are also carefully selected to provide the best possible signal path, with high-quality potentiometers, capacitors, and switches.
Notable Models & Series
| Model | Pickups | Other Features |
|---|---|---|
| EGC Series Two Acrylic | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | 3-ply plastic pickguard, wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| EGC 500 Generation 2 Acrylic | Balanced reverse wound/reverse polarity EGC single coils | Period-correct aluminum bridge |
| EGC 500 Generation One Standard | – | Based on TB namesake |
| EGC 500B Longhorn | 1 EGC split coil humbucker bass pickup | 34″ scale, hard tail string-through EGC bridge, lightweight aluminum tuners |
| Standard | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| Series One | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Forearm/belly reliefs, wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| Series Five | EGC humbuckers or reverse wound/reverse polarity single coils (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | 3-ply plastic pickguard, wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| EGC500 | Balanced reverse wound/reverse polarity EGC single coils | Aluminum resonator plate |
| TT1 | Reverse wound/reverse polarity EGC single coils (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Aluminum pickguard and control plate |
| TT2 | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Larger 3-ply pickguard |
| EGC1000S | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Polished pickguard, wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| EGC1000A | EGC humbuckers (guitar) or EGC bass pickups (bass) | Small polished pickguard, wrinkle black powder-coated rear plate |
| EGC2000 Bass | 1 EGC bass pickup | 34″ scale, hard tail string-through EGC bridge, lightweight aluminum tuners |
Pricing and Availability
Given their handcrafted nature and premium components, Electrical Guitar Company instruments are priced accordingly.
The aluminum-bodied Series 1 guitars start at around $3,000, while the acrylic-bodied Series 2 models begin at approximately $3,500. Custom options and finishes can increase the price further.
EGC also offers a range of bass guitars, with prices starting at around $3,500 for the aluminum-bodied Series 1 Bass and $4,000 for the acrylic-bodied Series 2 Bass.
While EGC instruments may be a significant investment, their unique tonal characteristics, exceptional build quality, and stunning visual appeal make them a worthwhile consideration for serious players and collectors alike.
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