A good example of this, like we discussed, can be found in the 1940s and 1950s, when electric guitars were mass-manufactured for the first time. Two companies, Fender and Gibson, have come to define through their different designs two alternative ways of approaching the concept of mass-production.
Fender's most famous design was known as the "Stratocaster". Production of this model started in 1954, in Fullerton, California. The guitar shown below is an actual 1954 model:
The Stratocaster is a good example of a design that allows for the implementation of efficient mass-production techniques. Here we can see that the neck of the guitar is bolted onto the body by four screws and a plate:
And here we see (from the underside) that the electronics essential to the guitar are mounted onto a plate:
And this plate is then screwed onto the body of the guitar by eight screws:
Gibson, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, was a much older company that had specialised in making acoustic instruments since the end of the 19th century. Their first electric guitar was known as the Les Paul. In the same year as the first Stratocaster, the Les Paul looked like this, in 1954:
We can see from the picture below that the Les Paul neck joint required gluing onto the body:
The electronics of the Les Paul, as shown here, would've been assembled inside the guitar, and its cables wired through internal canals onto the front of the guitar.
Having seen these photos and brief descriptions of their design features, discuss the implications for the mass-production of these two guitars. Both models are still in production as of today, so they have obviously both worked as successful designs. Discuss why you think this is.
Fender’s Guitar.
ReplyDeleteMass-production:
1.Wood being resewn into sizes where it’s cut to its shape and sanded.
2.The neck being bolted onto the body by 4 screws.
3.A clear base coat put on.
4.Checked and light sanding applied before its being painted.
5.Left to dry and whipped down from finger prints and cheeked the paint is has properly being applied.
6.Plate for the electronics being cut out to its shape and size.
7.Electronics being mounted onto a plate.
8.Then it’s being screwed onto the body of the guitar.
9.Tested that it worked properly and making sure all the wires are properly placed.
Les Paul Guitar.
Mass-production:
1.The wood is being resewn into sizes and proper body shape is being made.
2.At the back a small grove to fit the electronics is being placed.
3.The neck being is then placed onto the body,
4.It is sanded and a clear coat is placed on the guitar.
5.Cheeked and polished and the backing for the electronics being placed.
6.All the strings being put into place.
7.Tested and properly and being placed into its own casing.
Because these designs were mass-produced and they could be made faster if a production line is in place a lot more of the guitars could be sold to the public with good quality finishing touches. The guitars did what they were made to do and looked great.
Fatmah Alkottany (2337966)
ReplyDeleteI think the first guitar produced faster that the other one because of the technology the had such as screws or Wood being cut into one size. whereas, they had to make the second guitar with hand that involve the carve of the wood.
The fender stratocaster did not require a skilled workforce in the process of production. As illustrated in the images, the neck was attached to the body via bolts, the electronics pre attached to a plate then fixed to the body via 8 screws. Each of these steps in the production of the fender strat require no training, keep costs down and increase the efficiency of production ultimately resulting in a cheaper product at a level of quality that appeals to the consumer.
ReplyDeleteThe Gibson on the other hand represents the quality of craftsmanship an older company would be recognized for. A more skilled production line would have been required, with an emphasis on finish and detailing as evident in the modelling of the body to contain wires within the crafted channels in the timber framework and the seamless integration of neck and body using glue and joint. The result is a guitar that has a classically crafted appeal and refinement, and a much more expensive final product.
These two products still exist because they represent two alternative business models that approach the issue of design in different ways catering for different markets. The fender strat focuses more on speed and efficiency of production with the gibson on quality of craftsmanship and refined aesthetic sensibility. The differentiation in workmanship was reflected by different price points available for the consumer.