---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy…"
description: "\"The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound. It's all of the thi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/allan-holdsworth-11931_electric-guitar_the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-th_504464.png"
---

#  The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think…

![“The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound. It's all of the things that are wrong with it that have made it the unique instrument it is.” quote by Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/allan-holdsworth-11931_electric-guitar_the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-th_504464.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/allan-holdsworth-11931_electric-guitar_the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-th_504464.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fde/allan-holdsworth-11931_electric-guitar_the-electric-guitar-s-a-pretty-cheesy-th_504464.png)

> “The electric guitar's a pretty cheesy thing when you think about it, still working on those bits of wire and magnets for its sound. It's all of the things that are wrong with it that have made it the unique instrument it is.”

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The guitar’s imperfections give it a distinct character, making it uniquely valuable.

**In simple terms:** Flaws create its unique sound.

Key Takeaway

Embrace imperfections for uniqueness.

Themes

music creativity craftsmanship

Mood

reflective inspired

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

- instrument building
- music production
- songwriting
- performance practice

Key Concepts

aesthetic theory sound design

Questions to Reflect On

- How do imperfections inspire artistic expression?
- Can you balance precision with character?

A Different Perspective

Over‑emphasis on flaws may limit technical improvement.

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[Electric guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/) [Guitar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guitar/) [Instrument](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instrument/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/)

## Related quotes

> [I still use the guitar pretty much just to hide my gut.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/i-still-use-the-guitar-pretty-much-just-to-hide-my-gut/)

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> [The unique instrument to eradicate poverty and usher in prosperity is our youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-r-narayana-murthy/the-unique-instrument-to-eradicate-poverty-and-usher-in-prosperity-is/)

[N. R. Narayana Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-r-narayana-murthy/)

> [My very first guitar was pretty much unplayable. I was 14 or something. My mom went to a pawn shop and got me a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-campbell/my-very-first-guitar-was-pretty-much-unplayable-i-was-14-or-something/)

[Mike Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-campbell/)

> [A guitar for me is pretty much strictly in the context of writing songs for my band, coming up with ideas with my band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-ian/a-guitar-for-me-is-pretty-much-strictly-in-the-context-of-writing/)

[Scott Ian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-ian/)

> [All I want for Christmas is a rock n roll electric guitar...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-rock-n-roll-electric-guitar/)

[Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/)

> [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/)

[Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/)

> [... Charlie Christians' contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons' contributions to the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-kessel/charlie-christians-contributions-to-the-electric-guitar-are-as-big-as/)

[Barney Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-kessel/)

> [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/)

[Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/)

> [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/)

[Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/)

> [The use of electronics is a natural extension of the instrument - it is an electric guitar. So we guitarists have been plugging into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brady/the-use-of-electronics-is-a-natural-extension-of-the-instrument-it-is/)

Tim Brady

> [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

> [To me, I don't see any difference between a synthesizer and an acoustic instrument. It's what's done on it that counts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/to-me-i-don-t-see-any-difference-between-a-synthesizer-and-an/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [When you play the 12-string guitar, you spend half your life tuning the instrument and the other half playing it out of tune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/when-you-play-the-12-string-guitar-you-spend-half-your-life-tuning/)

[Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/)

> [Like my best friend, I asked for drums for Christmas, and got them. But when he moved on to guitar, I realized two things:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-iles/like-my-best-friend-i-asked-for-drums-for-christmas-and-got-them-but/)

[Greg Iles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-iles/)

> [I play bass. I play a bit of guitar. I've never been to a lesson, so my theory of music is non-existent in any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-play-bass-i-play-a-bit-of-guitar-i-ve-never-been-to-a-lesson-so-my/)

[Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/)

## More by Allan Holdsworth

> [I never use pull-offs because I don't like the sort of 'meow' sound they make with the string being deflected sideways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-never-use-pull-offs-because-i-don-t-like-the-sort-of-meow-sound/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [When I practise scales I will play four notes on one string. If I'm playing a C major scale, starting on F, I'll play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/when-i-practise-scales-i-will-play-four-notes-on-one-string-if-i-m/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [You wait all your life to be signed by a major label, and then when they sign you, they don't want you to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/you-wait-all-your-life-to-be-signed-by-a-major-label-and-then-when/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [As soon as I figured out I didn't know anything about music, I was OK. It's when I thought I could learn something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/as-soon-as-i-figured-out-i-didn-t-know-anything-about-music-i-was-ok/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [I don't get a big recording budget or much promotion, but I have creative freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-get-a-big-recording-budget-or-much-promotion-but-i-have/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [If the whole idea, in the original bebop days, was to get to soloing, then that's all it should be about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/if-the-whole-idea-in-the-original-bebop-days-was-to-get-to-soloing/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [It's obviously flattering when somebody likes something one is doing. But at the same time, I get embarrassed about it. It's the 'I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/it-s-obviously-flattering-when-somebody-likes-something-one-is-doing/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [I don't think about what other people expect or anything. I mean, I sit and worrying so much about what I'M thinking, I'd go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-think-about-what-other-people-expect-or-anything-i-mean-i-sit/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [Most people/musicians hear things differently and what might please one might not please another. One man's meat is another man's poison. Don't be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/most-people-musicians-hear-things-differently-and-what-might-please/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [Music moves forward so quickly; music is an accumulation of knowledge, and musicians keep getting better and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/music-moves-forward-so-quickly-music-is-an-accumulation-of-knowledge/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [When I first started playing, I plunked away just like everyone else. During the Sixties I played in a blues band for a few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/when-i-first-started-playing-i-plunked-away-just-like-everyone-else/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [I don't like playing to guitar players, actually. I'd rather just play to ordinary people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/i-don-t-like-playing-to-guitar-players-actually-i-d-rather-just-play/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

> [Most of the musicians I play with - aside from the form and structure of the music - the interpretation is up to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/most-of-the-musicians-i-play-with-aside-from-the-form-and-structure/)

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> [Jazz is something that's constantly changing. Its sole purpose is to let people improvise, to let them solo differently each time they play. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allan-holdsworth/jazz-is-something-that-s-constantly-changing-its-sole-purpose-is-to/)

[Allan Holdsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

[Explore all 57 Allan Holdsworth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allan-holdsworth/)

## More Electric guitar quotes

> [ Sometimes \[people\] seem to think I came out of the womb, you know, cursing, with an electric guitar. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/sometimes-people-seem-to-think-i-came-out-of-the-womb-you-know/)

[Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/)

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[Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/)

> [The use of electronics is a natural extension of the instrument - it is an electric guitar. So we guitarists have been plugging into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-brady/the-use-of-electronics-is-a-natural-extension-of-the-instrument-it-is/)

Tim Brady

> [There are tons of people in the West who love fiddles, banjos and mandolins. If you got to any cowboy poetry and music gathering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-martin-murphey/there-are-tons-of-people-in-the-west-who-love-fiddles-banjos-and/)

[Michael Martin Murphey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-martin-murphey/)

> [Technology was something I avoided when I started out - I didn't even have electric guitars. Only played acoustic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beck/technology-was-something-i-avoided-when-i-started-out-i-didn-t-even/)

[Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beck/)

> [... Charlie Christians' contributions to the electric guitar are as big as Thomas Edisons' contributions to the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barney-kessel/charlie-christians-contributions-to-the-electric-guitar-are-as-big-as/)

[Barney Kessel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barney-kessel/)

> [I've just been recording mostly acoustic stuff, drums, and sax, and electric guitar. I'm just still writing songs and what not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-phillips/i-ve-just-been-recording-mostly-acoustic-stuff-drums-and-sax-and/)

[Phillip Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-phillips/)

> [All I want for Christmas is a rock n roll electric guitar...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-berry/all-i-want-for-christmas-is-a-rock-n-roll-electric-guitar/)

[Chuck Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-berry/)

> [If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/if-the-person-who-can-effectively-sanction-ill-conceived-wars-can/)

[Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/)

> [I don't touch electric guitars. It's just not my thing - I stick with acoustic guitars only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-matthews/i-don-t-touch-electric-guitars-it-s-just-not-my-thing-i-stick-with/)

[Dave Matthews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-matthews/)

> [When I first started playing, I definitely had a younger scum-punk crowd, but as my music developed more and after I started playing electric…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-loveless/when-i-first-started-playing-i-definitely-had-a-younger-scum-punk/)

[Lydia Loveless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-loveless/)

> [When I was a kid. I started writing when I was 13. I got my first electric guitar when I was 13, but I'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-buckley/when-i-was-a-kid-i-started-writing-when-i-was-13-i-got-my-first/)

[Jeff Buckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-buckley/)

> [The electric guitar was vital in helping what I've achieved where would I be without it? Playing awfully quietly, for a start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-richards/the-electric-guitar-was-vital-in-helping-what-i-ve-achieved-where/)

[Keith Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-richards/)

> [My parents got me a $25 Kent steel-string acoustic guitar when I was around 12. The following Christmas, my parents bought me a Conora…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/my-parents-got-me-a-25-kent-steel-string-acoustic-guitar-when-i-was/)

[Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/)

> [My dreams are always quite attainable, I wouldn't like to spend a lot of money on a car. I've got a mental block about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-kane/my-dreams-are-always-quite-attainable-i-wouldn-t-like-to-spend-a-lot/)

Russell Kane

[Browse all 144 Electric guitar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/electric-guitar/)

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