Unitar (instrument)

The unitar is a one-string 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.

"Unitar" redirects here. For other uses, see Unitar (disambiguation).

History

Eddie "One String" Jones had some regional success with a Mississippi blues musician, Lonnie Pitchford, who played a similar homemade instrument.[1] In a more contemporary style, Little Willie Joe Duncan, the inventor of the Unitar,[2] had a considerable rhythm and blues instrumental hit in the 1950s with "Twitchy", recorded with the Rene Hall Orchestra.

Design

The home-made unitar often has a piezoelectric sensor as a pick-up, requiring an external amplifier to be attached to produce a satisfactory sound.[1] PVC piping is a common neck material. As with a normal electric guitar, the unitar does not require a reverberating body like an acoustic guitar.

Notable players

See also

References
  1. "Building a Unitar". Onestringwillie.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. "TheHoundBlog: Willie Joe Duncan & his Unitar". Thehoundblog.blogspot.com. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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