The Origins of Electric Guitar

Previously, i have discuss about the origin of guitars. Now today i will discuss about the origins of electric guitars. How is the history of the invention of electric guitar? Who is the inventor? And how is the development of electric guitar to the present day? let's discuss it together.

The history of electric guitars began in 1930, when a man named George Beauchamp began searching for ways to increase the volume of the guitar. Known if a wire is given a magnetic field force it can create an electric current. On this basis he researches and conducts an experiment with a Gramophone needle (basically this technology can be found on electric motors, generators, radio and mic). He believes that if the strings of the guitar are vibrated near the magnetic field will be converted into electric current and then converted back into sound waves through the speakers.

_{Image : First Electric Guitar}

After months of trial and working with Paul Barth, the first simple pickup was created, consisted of 6 poles and each pole for each string. Pickup contains a coiled rolled coil. According to the story, he took the coil from the washing machine and twisted it back with a sewing machine motor. This discovery is highly valued and patented.

With this discovery then the next step He is looking for people who want to cooperate and help him in the matter of funds. He contacted his friend Adolph Rickenbacher once at the National String Instrument Company where he worked. They work together and form a company by the name of Rickenbachers Instruments. Finally They started producing the first electric guitar called "The Frying Pan" (probably because the guitar body is made of pot). This is what makes their company written in history as the first factory to make and produce electric guitars.

_{Image : Adolph Rickenbacher}

Then someone named Lloyd Loar introduced an electric guitar with a Spanish guitar-shaped model. He is considered the first to create and market this guitar model. He has conducted many of these experiments from early 1920 and in 1933 founded the company under the name Vivi - Tone, a subsidiary of Gibson Company. This company produces electric guitar with guitar form Spain but in one year this company did not succeed. From this failure, eventually inspired Gibson Company to try to continue creating electric guitars. From the efforts made then created an electric guitar ES-150 which later became the pioneer of electric guitar - the next guitar.

The history of electric guitars continued in 1933 when Alvino Rey who also worked on Gibson Company developed a better electric guitar Pickup in addition to the sound quality of its shape was also changed. Behind the success of ES-150 is still found many shortcomings, because the guitar body is hollow then the vibration of the guitar body also picked up pickup so it comes on the amplifier. In addition to frequent feedback and sound - an unwanted sound. Therefore a famous jazz guitarist Les Paul introduced a new solution to make the body of the guitar solid and not hollow. In the end he succeeded in making solid body guitars and producing a good sound without unwanted feedback or voices. In addition He added pickup on the body of his guitar into two. In 1946 he brought his guitar to Gibson but was rejected on the grounds that consumers were less interested in solid body guitars. He was disappointed that the effort he pioneered finally failed.

Not long after that a man named Leo Fender believes that the guitar made by Les paul with his solid body guitar will be in great demand by consumers. Finally in 1943 he made a solid body guitar made of Ek wood and rented it out to musicians for a lot of support. Finally in 1949 Leo Fender gained success with his solid body guitar model and was awarded.

_{Image : Leo Fender And His Fender Guitars}

Because of the success of Leo Fender with his solid body guitar, the Gibson Company finally came back to look at Les Paul's guitar example and redesign it. In 1952 it was decided to produce solid body guitars and become an industry standard. Although the inspiration came from Les Paul, Gibson guitar that we now know is named after his company.

In 1961 Ted McCarty introduced an ES-335 semi-hollow guitar that was a combination of hollow guitars and solid body guitars. Quickly this guitar became popular used by jazz guitarists such as BB King and Chuck Berry.

_{Image : BB King Used Semi-Hollow Guitar}

Gibson and Fender are guitar makers who have been instrumental in developing this instrument especially electric guitars with futuristic designs. Both have become the standard guitar for musicians, as now we know Gibson SG or Fender Stratocaster. After the two companies have successfully developed electric guitars, then start emerging many other companies that produce electric guitars until now. Such as Jackson, LTD, Ibanez, and many more

_{Image : Electric Gutar Evolution}

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