Answer: when electric guitar invented, and who made it

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If you are asking when electric guitar invented, the short answer is the early 1930s. Most histories credit George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker with the first commercially viable design, but the exact year depends on whether you mean the first working instrument, the patent or the first recordings. This guide lays out those dates so you can give a clear answer for school, trivia night or your own curiosity.

How we researched

We compared the seven search results supplied for this query, along with their source excerpts. They include two encyclopedia-style pages, three history posts from music retailers, a music school's history page and one question-and-answer thread. We also reviewed six Amazon book listings for further reading. Where dates differed, we noted the disagreement instead of picking one silently. This guide compares products using manufacturer specifications, current Amazon listings and owner reviews; we did not test them hands-on.

The short answer: the early 1930s

The electric guitar was created in the early 1930s. One source gives 1932 as the exact invention year. Musiciangoods credits George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker with building the first one in that period, while Jubal's history post gives 1932. If a quiz asks for one year, answer 1932 and mention the early 1930s.

Why sources give different dates

Wikipedia states that electric guitars were first patented in 1937 (Guitar on Wikipedia). A patent is a legal filing that records a claim to an invention, so it can come after a working prototype already exists. That explains part of the gap between 1932 and 1937.

Recordings are a third date. Bajaao reports that the first recordings of electric guitars were made in 1933 by Hawaiian music artists such as Andy Iona. So a 1932 invention, a 1933 recording and a 1937 patent can all be accurate at once.

Who the inventors were

Nashville's history page says Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp are credited with inventing the electric guitar, and that Beauchamp played a key role in creating the first complete electric guitar (History and Evolution of the Electric Guitar). The same page calls the first commercially successful model the Frying Pan, named for its circular body and long neck. If someone asks who invented it, name both men, not one.

The pickup came before the solid body

Electric guitar history is partly the history of pickups. The acoustic-electric guitar article on Wikipedia says Lloyd Loar created the modern electric pickup for acoustic guitar in the 1930s, and that Harry DeArmond's FHC pickups were the first commercially available ones. They sold well because they did not require modifying the guitar.

The solid-body design came later. Nashville names the Fender Broadcaster, Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster as early solid-body pioneers. Solid-body guitars went on to dominate the market in the 1960s and 1970s, partly because they are less prone to unwanted acoustic feedback.

Common mistakes when answering this question

• Giving the 1937 patent as the invention date without explaining what a patent records.
• Mixing up acoustic-electric and electric guitars. An acoustic-electric is an acoustic guitar fitted with a pickup, while a semi-acoustic adds sound chambers to an electric body.
• Naming one inventor. The sources credit two men and treat the Frying Pan model as the landmark early design.

Where to read more

For a visual overview, Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia is listed on Amazon at 4.7 stars from 95 ratings on Amazon, in the under $100 tier. Amplified: A Design History of the Electric Guitar, rated 4.3 stars from 47 ratings on Amazon and also under $100, focuses on how design shaped the instrument, and it is available here. Rickenbacker Guitars: Pioneers of the Electric Guitar, at 4.7 stars from 57 ratings on Amazon, suits readers who want the story behind the Frying Pan. You can find it on Amazon.

If you are shopping for gear rather than history, our guitar strings guide covers picks for every player, and our beginner bass guide covers bass.

FAQ

Who came first, Les Paul or Fender?

The sources here do not give production dates for Les Paul or Fender models, so they cannot settle who came first. Nashville lists the Fender Broadcaster, Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster together as solid-body pioneers. For a firm answer, check the dated model histories published by each manufacturer.

What was the first song to use an electric guitar?

None of the sources name a song. The earliest recording detail they give is the 1933 recordings by Hawaiian artists such as Andy Iona, and no song title is given.

How does an electric guitar work?

A pickup senses the vibration of the strings and turns it into an electrical signal. An amplifier makes that signal loud enough to hear, which is why the instrument does not need a hollow body to project sound. Wikipedia's guitar article makes the same point about amplification enabling solid bodies.

Conclusion

The electric guitar was created in the early 1930s, and 1932 is the most specific year a source gives. The 1933 recordings and 1937 patent explain why the dates vary. Credit both George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker, and keep invention, patent and first recording separate when you answer. That covers most questions about when it arrived.

Sources

• History and Evolution of the Electric Guitar
• Who Invented the Guitar? Full History and Real Inventors
• Guitar
• Invention of Electric Guitar
• How the Electric Guitar Was Invented
• Acoustic-electric guitar