History of Electric guitar in Timeline

The electric guitar requires external amplification to produce sound, differing from acoustic guitars. Pickups convert string vibrations into electrical signals, which are then amplified through loudspeakers. The sound can be altered using amplifier settings, guitar knobs, and effects such as reverb and distortion. Distortion and overdrive are key elements in genres like blues, jazz, rock, and heavy metal. Hybrid designs include semi-acoustic and acoustic-electric guitars, combining features of both electric and acoustic instruments.

1931: "Frying Pan" guitar designed

In 1931, the "Frying Pan", the first electrically amplified stringed instrument to be marketed commercially, was designed by George Beauchamp and Paul Barth.

October 1932: First Public Performance of Electric Guitar

In October 1932, the Ro-Pat-In Electro A-25 "Frying Pan" was the first electric guitar used in a publicly promoted performance, performed by Gage Brewer in Wichita, Kansas.

1932: Ro-Pat-In guitar has top so heavily reinforced that it essentially functioned as a solid-body instrument

In 1932, Gage Brewer's Ro-Pat-In guitar had a top so heavily reinforced that it essentially functioned as a solid-body instrument.

1932: Rickenbacker makes electric guitar designs

In 1932, Rickenbacker was already making their own electric guitar designs.

1932: Electric guitar invented

In 1932, the electric guitar was invented and adopted by jazz guitar players to play single-note solos in large big band ensembles.

1932: Commercial production of "Frying Pan" begins

In late summer of 1932, commercial production of the "Frying Pan" guitar began by the Ro-Pat-In Corporation (Electro-Patent-Instrument Company).

1933: Construction of Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts begins

Construction of Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts began in 1933, and fewer than 50 were constructed between 1933 and 1937.

1933: Dobro makes electric guitar designs

In 1933, Dobro was already making their own electric guitar designs.

1934: Vivi-Tone offers first solid-body guitar

In 1934, Vivi-Tone offered the first solid-body Spanish standard guitar, featuring a plywood body affixed to a wood frame.

1934: Company renamed Rickenbacker Electro Stringed Instrument Company

In 1934, the Ro-Pat-In Corporation was renamed the Rickenbacker Electro Stringed Instrument Company, and George Beauchamp applied for a United States patent for an Electrical Stringed Musical Instrument. Also, in 1934, the company National, AudioVox and Volu-tone were already making their own electric guitar designs.

1935: Rickenbacker markets the Electro Spanish

In 1935, Rickenbacker marketed the Electro Spanish, a substantially solid Spanish electric guitar made of Bakelite.

1935: Vega, Epiphone and Gibson make electric guitar designs

In 1935, Vega, Epiphone (Electrophone and Electar), and Gibson were already making their own electric guitar designs.

1935: Release of Electro-Spanish Model B and Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts

In early-mid 1935, the Electro String Instrument Corporation released the Electro-Spanish Model B and the Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts, which was the first full 25-inch scale electric guitar ever produced.

1936: Many others make electric guitar designs

By 1936, many other companies were already making their own electric guitar designs.

1936: Gibson markets first electric guitar

In 1936, Gibson marketed its first production electric guitar, the ES-150 model, featuring a single-coil, hexagonally shaped "bar" pickup designed by Walt Fuller, and later named for Charlie Christian.

1936: Mention of Gibson ES-150 in Guitar World magazine

In 1936, the Gibson ES-150 was an important electric guitar and mentioned on Guitar World magazine's top 10 list.

1936: Slingerland introduces solid-body electric model

In 1936, the Slingerland company introduced the Slingerland Songster 401, a wooden solid-body electric model, and its lap steel counterpart, the Songster 400.

1937: Construction of Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts ends

Construction of Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts ended in 1937, and fewer than 50 were constructed between 1933 and 1937.

1937: Patent issued for Electrical Stringed Musical Instrument

In 1937, George Beauchamp's patent for an Electrical Stringed Musical Instrument was issued, though other manufacturers were already producing their own electric guitar designs.

1940: Les Paul designs "log guitar"

In 1940, Les Paul designed and built a functioning solid-body electric guitar from an Epiphone acoustic archtop as an experiment. It was called the "log guitar".

1940: Creation of Les Paul's "log"

In 1940, Les Paul's "log" guitar was created; however, the feedback associated with amplified hollow-bodied electric guitars was understood long before this.

1941: Appleton develops solid-body guitar

In 1941, O.W. Appleton developed a solid-body Spanish style guitar resembling Gibson's Les Paul and contacted Gibson and Fender, but was unable to sell the idea.

1946: Merle Travis commissions a solid-body guitar

In 1946, Merle Travis commissioned steel guitar builder Paul Bigsby to build him a solid-body Spanish-style electric guitar.

1948: Bigsby delivers solid-body guitar to Travis

In 1948, Paul Bigsby delivered a solid-body Spanish-style electric guitar to Merle Travis.

1950: Fender Esquire and Broadcaster first made

In 1950, the first mass-produced solid-body guitars, the Fender Esquire and Fender Broadcaster (later Fender Telecaster), were first made.

1951: Mention of Fender Telecaster in Guitar World magazine

In 1951, the Fender Telecaster was an important electric guitar and mentioned on Guitar World magazine's top 10 list.

Fender Standard Telecaster - Butterscotch Blonde Bundle with Strap, Guitar Cleaning Kit and Austin Bazaar Instructional Video

Check it on Amazon

1952: Floating tailpiece appears on 1952 Gibson Les Paul

In 1952, a floating or trapeze tailpiece appeared on the 1952 Gibson Les Paul.

1952: Mention of Gibson Les Paul in Guitar World magazine

In 1952, the Gibson Les Paul was an important electric guitar and mentioned on Guitar World magazine's top 10 list.

1952: Gibson Les Paul introduced

In 1952, the solid-body Gibson Les Paul, designed by Ted McCarty, was introduced, sharing nothing in common for design or hardware with Les Paul's "log guitar".