This summer, I’m a “CSC Insider” — meaning that I’m getting some VIP treatment, in return for blogging twice a month about the Carnegie Science Center. First off, I attended the opening night gala for Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World.  I also went back with my family the next day. (The video shows clips from both events.)

I know very little about music, so when I found myself with two passes to the opening, I invited my musical friend Mark, who impressed me with his diverse knowledge and  instrumental versatility. (He was game for the washbasin guitar, but opted not to try the guitar hooked into the flaming gas jets.)

Mark demonstrates his musical versatility with this washbasin guitar.

Fire. At an event serving alcohol. The bar was a good thirty paces away from the fire, but it was still rather exciting to contemplate the possibilities.

I had never paid much attention to guitars, but my guest Mark had a personal story about this design.

This is the Ibanez Iceman. Its flipped counterpart is the “Reverse Iceman,” or the “Fireman.” The distinctive design is as much about marketing and personality as about function.

USSR cold war guitar. Compare with the ornate floral designs of the Teisco.

Love those slider switches.

If I recall correctly, the Superstrat was custom-built by Eddie Van Halen; the new instrument made new music possible.

The gold sparkles of this EKO model mistily and mesmerize.

A luthier is the proper term for the a person who makes guitars.

I don’t know why i didn’t take any photos showing the insides of guitars, but this display of luthier tools speaks to the nature of the craft.

Sears sold this guitar/case/amp combo.

Rock was definitely most prominent in this exhibit, but this Chet Atkins guitar represented the country genre.

Mark demonstrates his musical versatility with this washbasin guitar.

3D printed guitar.

The Cochran Boosteracaster does the steampunk subculture proud.

Very amusing.

Live entertainment on the stage.

I put two in my fanny pack to bring home to the kids, but stepped on them (the cookies) in the middle of the night. They (the cookies and the kids) were crushed.

Fire. At an event serving alcohol. The bar was a good thirty paces away, but the proximity was still kind of exciting.

I had to use my imagination a bit to see this as the world’s largest playable guitar.

The strings vibrate, anyway.

Because you can never have enough touch-screen kiosks in a museum geared for kids.

What’s Greek for “neck”? This is an octo-something.

Oh, yeah, that’s right… guitars aren’t just vehicles for exploring culture and understanding science.