The Evolution Of The Electric Guitar
From Adolph Rickenbacker’s Frying Pan to Leo Fender’s Stratocaster, the electric guitar is truly an American invention. There are many amazing innovative people responsible for the evolution of the electric guitar.
These people’s contributions are definitely intertwined in electric guitar history. For example, without C.F. Martin’s introduction of the X bracing system in the 1850’s, the steel guitar strings necessary to conduct the electrical impulses delivered by the 1930’s era magnetic pickup would never have been used and developed. Orville Gibson’s 1894 Carved Top design was used in 1952 by Ted McCarty’s group in the design of their infamous 1952 Gibson Les Paul solid body model.
American Ingenuity And Electric Guitar History
F.C. Hall was one of the first investors to see the business potential of the amplified guitar. F.C. Hall’s legendary involvement in the 1946 founding of The Fender Electric Instrument Company was a milestone in electric guitar history. It should also
be noted that F.C. Hall’s 1953 purchase of The Electro String Instrument Company ushered in the successful modern era of Rickenbacker Guitars. Semie Moseley, with his unique high quality Mosrite instruments produced in Bakersfield, California during the 1960’s is another example of the American ingenuity that prevailed in electric guitar history. Without men like these; men of vision, perseverance and ingenuity, there would be no Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Scotty Moore, James Burton, Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Rory Gallagher, Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Billie Joe Armstrong or Johnny Ramone.
Electric guitar history is fascinating to say the least. Many aspiring guitar players have looked longingly at their dream instrument in a music store display, not knowing the depth of creativity and dedication necessary to develop
the technology that made the production of the electric guitar possible. The electric guitar history articles in this section on Rickenbacker, Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Gretsch, Mosrite and Ibanez will provide you with an interesting road to explore the historical impact that those early pioneers of guitar technology have had on the research, development and production of the electric guitar. We at Electric Guitar Setup .com cordially invite and encourage all of you to visit our Electric Guitar History Section to enhance your knowledge and appreciation of the history of this magnificent American contribution to the music world, the electric guitar.
Electric guitar history is another classic American saga. The electric guitar is an American invention, typifying American creativity and ingenuity. The electric guitar evolved as a solution to a problem. The acoustic guitar, an integral part of the early 1930’s Jazz bands, lacked the volume to be heard over the horn sections. When the larger bodied and resonator acoustic guitar designs failed to provide the required volume levels, the magnetic pickup was developed and chapter one of electric guitar history was written.
The First Electric Guitar
The guitar became electrically amplified in 1931 by George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker. The Rickenbacker “Frying Pan” was commercially produced at a time when very few American households had electricity. In spite of this fact, many “Frying Pans” were sold and Rickenbacker’s success set the path for other instrument companies to follow.