History of the Electric Guitar

Many young boys find their first love is the electric guitar. The electric guitar is the basis of rock and roll music, although it can be found in other genres as well. The history of the electric guitar may have begun as early as the 1930s. Audiovox and Rickenbacher both sold electric guitars before 1935. However, it was Les Paul that made changed that changed the history of the electric guitar. He was the first designer of the solid-body electric guitar. Many of his early guitars were manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Corporation; however, their name was not present on the guitar until later. Many well known guitarists such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend and Jimmy Page have used Les Paul guitars. In the late 1940s, Leo Fender created the Telecaster electric guitar. He introduced one of the most famous guitars, the Stratocaster, in 1954.

There have been many important artists in the history of the electric guitar. Chuck Berry was an early rock and roller that became famous for his unique use of the electric guitar. While the electric guitar was the cornerstone of rock and roll, it is also used in Blues music. Buddy Guy is perhaps the most famous Blues electric guitarist. B.B. King is another influential Blues electric guitarist. Both he and Buddy Guy were icons not only of future Blues musicians, but rock and roll icons such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Many consider Jimi Hendrix the greatest musician in the history of the electric guitar. Although his career only spanned five years, Hendrix became still remains an almost godlike figure for young guitarist today due to his eclectic and experimental method of playing. Just as Jimi’s career was cut short by death, so was that of Steve Ray Vaughan, another great guitarist who dabbled in both the Blues and rock and roll genres of music.