History of Electric Guitars

Robert Johnston

1929

Robert Johnston was a pre-WWII blues guitarist known for songs such as "Sweet Home Chicago" and "Walkin' Blues". There is also a common belief that Johnston sold his soul at the crossroads to the devil to become a skilled musician.

More Noise

1930

Musicians had a need for guitars to be louder. The quiet sound of an acoustic guitar could easily be drowned out by the horns of the bands they were in.

Charlie Christian

1930

A Jazz guitarist named Charlie Christian attached a pickup to his acoustic guitar with the hopes of playing solos in his band. This is often noted as the beginning of electric guitars.

First Electric Guitar

1931

Adolph Rickenbacker created the first electric guitar. He used steel strings as well as wired coils and magnets to create a louder noise. (This is also how telephones used to work.) This guitar was given the nickname of "Frying Pan"

Patent

1934

The Rickenbacker Guitar Company filed a patent for an "Electrical Stringed Musical Instrument." The patent would be granted in 1937.

Spanish Style

1935

Lloyd Loar released the Spanish Style guitar. This guitar notably inspired Orville Gibson.

Gibson

1937

Orville Gibson developed the ES-150 electric guitar. This guitar resembled modern electric guitars but was hallowed bodied which created feedback.

Coils

1941

Electric guitars began to use magnetic single and double coil pickups to create a better sound. These coils are known as pickups.

Fender

1949

Leo Fender created the Esquire which was the first solid bodied electric guitar. The solid body helped remove feedback. The Esquire would later be renamed the Broadcaster.

Scotty Moore

1950

Best known as Elvis's guitar player in the 50's, Scotty Moore was known for his rockabilly style in songs such as "That's Alright" and "Heartbreak Hotel"

Gibson Les Paul

1952

John Huis developed the first solid body guitar to reduce feedback. This guitar would be endorsed by the famous musician Les Paul.

Chuck Berry

1953

Chuck Berry was well known for his rock n' roll guitar style of the 1950's in songs such as "Johnny B. Goode", and "Carol."

Stratocaster

1954

Fender created what is now knows as one of the most famous guitars called the Stratocaster.

Jimmy Page

1957

Best known as the guitarist in Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page uses folk, blues, and rock to perform songs such as "Friends" and "You Shock Me".

Amps

1960

Companies began creating separate amplifiers that allowed for new genres of rock to exist.

New Designs

1960

In the following decades, guitars continued to advance in technology as well as release in new shapes and designs.

Eric Clapton

1962

Known for his electric blues and rock guitar styles, Eric Clapton is known for many songs such as "Layla" and "Lay Down Sally".

Jimi Hendrix

1962

Jimi Hendrix combined the styles of blues, funk, and psychedelic rock to make songs such as "All Along the Watchtower" and "Bold as Love".

Brian May

1963

Known as the guitarist for Queen, Brian May preformed many rock n' roll songs such as "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Another one Bites the Dust".

Eddie Van Halen

1964

Another hard rock guitarist, Eddie Van Halen is known for his guitar playing in songs such as "Jump" and "Eruption".

Tony Iommi

1964

As the guitarist for Black Sabbath, Tony Iommi is a heavy metal guitarist who plays guitar for songs such as "Iron Man" and "Paranoid".

Angus Young

1973

As the guitarist for AC/DC, Angus Young is best known for hard rock songs such as "Back in Black" and "Thunderstruck".

Prince

1975

Prince combined many styles to create a variety of songs such as "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry". His distinctive style helped bring him fame.

Slash

1981

Slash is the guitarist for the band Guns and Roses. He performs many hard rock songs such as "Welcome to the Jungle" and "Sweet Child of Mine."

Kurt Cobaine

1982

Kurt Cobain is known for being the frontman of Nirvana. He, along with his band, helped grunge music become popular throughout the '90's.