Who Invented The Solid body Electric Guitar? Les Paul? Leo Fender? Neither! 

Rickenbacher made an electric guitar before either in the late 1930’s

Leo Fender went to see MyrleTravis perform in 1949 Myrle had a solid body guitar built by Paul Bigsby, Leo borrowed that guitar for a week and took his ideas from that guitar

Fender in my opinion perfected the electric guitar . The Fender Stratocaster changed the sound of modern popular music . Guitarists became legends because of Mr Leo Fender . Genius . ✨✨✨🎸✨✨✨🎼🎼🎼🎼🇺🇸🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅

Rickenbacker in 1931 came out with the 'frying pan' solid wood guitar mainly aimed at lap style playing for the era popular 'Hawaian music. This must be acknowledged as one of the first production electric type guitars.

Paul Bigsby built a guitar with Les Paul shaped body and a Stratocaster headstock. Leo, Les and Paul were pals so it seems they tossed ideas around and between them they each influenced eachother and bingo the electric guitar came to life.

I am a fortunate owner of a Fender American Standard Deluxe HSS Strat. I've always loved this instrument, but now... I have a whole new level of respect for what went into making it the guitar it is today. This is a really excellent 'too short' documentary of one of America's premier guitar/amplifier companies.

George Beauchamp invented the electric horseshoe pickup while working with Adolph Rickenbacher marketing the "Frying pan" solid body steel guitar in 1931. Standard guitars with horseshoe pickups followed soon after.

I'm glad you touched on the CBS purchase of Fender. The "vintage guitar" dealers who derided the CBS guitars as junk now charge premium prices for those same guitars. That's what soured me on the whole vintage guitar market except for Gibson archtops, which I guess if you really find a good one can be truly magical.

What about the Slingerland Guitar? Yes! Slingerland the Drum Company. In 1936 their prototype 'Songster' guitar came out. Solid body electric guitar Slingerland sold for three years, 1937 - 1939. Any Takers???

"Less" Paul ? Probably should fix that.

Leo was the Henry Ford of the electric guitar!

Actually, the first electric solid body guitar was build by a carpenter called Paul Brandt in Aumühle near Hamburg in Germany in 1926.

Norwegian electric guitar ;Nilsen 1947 -1952 .produced 500 of them

Paul Bigsby, who made a number of solid guitars for C&W stars of the day, although Rickenbaker's "frying pan" slide was truly the first. Fender's Telecaster was similar to the Bigsby, which Leo had seen and the result was years of bad blood between them. Anyway, that only relates to the solid electric, the electric guitar was invented in the 1920s and, of course Charlie Christian was using one in the 1940s. Leo Fender and Les Paul were contributers to existing technology, but they certainly didn't invent it.

There was a fella in Australia too... before these others, more in line with the lap steels discussed here - 1930s I believe.

The title is misleading.

We ALL stand on the shoulders of those before us. NO TELLING WHO was the first to say Hey i wonder if I could use a megaphone to make the guitar louder.. FIRST ELECTRIFIED megaphone 1915 ..in any event Thanks to all the early trailblazers who gave us the wonderful solid body electric guitar...

Just as Ford didn't invent the automobile. both Ford and Fender were production engineers who mass-produced models that made them affordable. Leo's 3-drum , edge standing belt sander (which he himself machined) made a phenomenal difference. Long before numerically controlled milling machines, Leo's pin guided pattern routers so changed to game. I personally toured the Fullerton factory less than a year after CBS bought Fender. Seeing the original machines and work-stations so i spired my custom guitar building. John Carruthers totally took production engineering to another level for both Fender AND Gibson. John's was another shop that totally put my head in another place

Hey , Thank you for Uploading this .

wow, George Gruhn is so young looking at the start. Still has the same speech patterns.

So glad this came up in my suggestions. Only problem is now I've got to exercise self discipline and not binge watch all of your footage in one weekend!

I thought Rickenbacker was first.

No matter who invented what, we must all give credit for sketching out a headstock with all the tuning keys on one side, then giving it to Paul Bigsby to build. I'm not sure about this, but I think Merle Travis also invented the "Whammy bar", but don't quote me on that one. But he definitely invented the headstock with all tuning keys on one side.

Until he started speaking, Mr Randall’s appearance had me thinking that Jimmy Stewart had something to do with solid body electric guitars !..

I love Leo Fender and Fender guitars. I used to have a 1957 Fender Telecaster but it was stolen from me and I'm still heartbroken to this day. But this video is historically very unfair because it fails to mention Paul Bigsby, who was also a mechanical/electrical genius like Leo. Bigsby was building solid-body guitars in California before Leo was, and Leo was very inspired by him. Give credit where credit is due.

Say what you want about the origin of the 1st solid body electric guitar? But all props go to Leo Fender, in my opinion. Besides his creations, his amplifiers are really the key to the evolution. Leo Fender started the whole high volume trend by building amps for Dick Dale. Besides that Leo invented the electric Bass guitar, and the iconic amplifier for it. The '59 Fender Bassman is the platform copied by Jim Marshall! Ironically Leo designed and perfected the electric Bass to the point where he was satisfied calling it the Precision Bass. And it's unchanged to this day. The irony I've referred to is Leo Fender never learned how to play it? If it's a question as to who was the 1st inventor? It's Leo Fender for perfecting the instrument to it's iconic status we have our $hit blown away to today! RIP 🙏 Leo Fender and thank you!❤

Nice to see some comments from guitarists that know the real history of electric guitars. As a long time "stay at home" pretty good player, this is interesting.

This is quite the interesting video .. Leo , reminds me of my Grandpa … 🇨🇦💕

LES is more, Old 70's Gibson ad. Leo perfected the assembly and made them fast and cheaper. No luthier needed. I have a Les Paul and many fenders.

The title should be about who invented the modern solid body electric guitar. The electric guitar was invented by Rickenbacker in 1932. The first patent for an electromagnetic pickup was in June 8, 1932, by Rickenbacker Corp., under the name Ro-Pat-In.

Rickenbacher. End of story. Leo made it better.

Don Randall was an absolute legend!

Adolph Rickenbacker and George Beauchamp: They are credited with inventing the first mass-market electric guitar in the 1930s.

You cannot always attribute one person to an invention because it depends on the question. You might want to say Les Paul or Rickenbacker as a one off with no production models and little success. You might want to say Leo Fender as a successful, workable, mass produced intstrument. I'm glad Fender came up with the Telecaster, one of the greatest guitars of all time.

Fender had the patent. That’s his answer.

Beauchamp and Rickenbacher - On the kitchen table - look it up.

So many wrongly believe George Beauchamp built the first successful guitar pickup used in a 'successfully' marketed product, the Ro-Pat-in Frying pan. Beauchamp was a musician, indeed a big idea man, a fun and a likable guy who was charismatic and also the guy who had the alcohol when you weren't supposed to. His name is on patents for the National guitar but it is now fully accepted that John Dopyera invented the resonator guitar. John Dopyera's nephew Paul Barth worked thru the developments and designed and built that first guitar pickup used in the frying pans, with George Beauchamp his partner, motivator, and at times having hands on tinkering. Both Paul and George took up learning some electronics. The thing was built on Paul Barth's mother's kitchen table with George and a sewing machine motor used to wind the coils. The point being, Beauchamp was not a mechanically minded individual, but without him there is no National, Dobro, or Rickenbacker guitars! You may also learn that Paul Barth helped, and taught Mr Fender establish production capabilities in his new factory having many years experience with with production at Rickenbacker. Paul Barth built Black Widdow guitars belonged to Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix. George Harrison used one of Barth's fretless guitars on the White Album. Look it up please, Bartell and for further reading, Finding Fretless by our friend Paul Brett in England. Learn about Paul Barth and much more.

They didn't invent the solid body guitar they just made it better

all this discussion and not one mention of Merle Travis' role in Bigsby's and then Fender's guitars.

Fender necks are not "bolted". Bolts need washers and nuts. Fender necks are screwed on only.

I have it on very good authority that Muddy Waters invented electricity and Jimi Hendrix invented the electric guitar.

On August 10, 1937, the United States Patent Office recognizes the electric guitar-the instrument that revolutionized jazz, blues and country music and made the later rise of rock and roll possible-with the award of Patent #2,089.171. It went to George D. Beauchamp, a musician-turned-inventor for an electrified instrument known as the Rickenbacker Frying Pan.

When I saw the thumbnail, my first thought was: Ben Matlock invented the electric guitar?

i love the way you present your ideas, so clear and impactful!

I know people laughed at the strat. But Gibson cam out with the Flying V, Modren or what ever its name and Explorer made of Koreana. People didn't want them thought he was out of his mind. Just ahead of his mind. Gibson built the SG for Les Paul and said he wouldn't be seen with it. Actually from what I understand Les had a bad attitude, but that's hear say. I know Leo had Bill Carson take out teles to play live while touring and would get orders. Then while on the road they found out that Gretch had a drum set named after the first teles. So he told Bill Carson to take of the decals off, which at that time wasn't under the finished so it could be scratched of with your finger nail. Bill even took time to track down from the bill of sale the people he had sold the tekes to. Gretch was filing alaw suit if it wasn't removed. The no caster which is worth a lot now. Some teles were made with pine bodies at the time too. I have a few G&L guitars that were put together by himself during a holiday when he was assembling guitars by himself at his desk. He signed the inside of the neck joint with a pencil. I would go to as many pawn shops as possible, even in different cities before people knew about this, I'd get back to the motel and take the necks off look and if it wasn't there , I'd put the neck back on take them back home with me clean and do a setup and sell them for more than I bought them for later. I'd get deals either because I knew the dealers or because I bought all they had. I now have 7 with his name written in pencil in the neck pocket 2 have his signature on the neck and pocket they also and have different necks on them. I have one that is signed in the neck pocket the neck and back of the pickguard. I've wondered if he did this intentionally. I've had them inspected by a few who study signatures and all have said it's Leos signature. I never told any that I already had them checked. I wanted them to all to be in agreement without being biased in anyway. I have paper work stating that this is Leo Fenders signature without a doubt. I've had 2 older Fender and G&L personal who worked with lLeo who Said yeah that's his signature one said chicken scratches. I've shown them to private collectors and they wanted to purchase one if them and offered me a good amount of money but I didn't take it. I did look at a few of their prized possessions but there wasn't anything that I wanted or I didn't already own. I have a scrap book with high quality photos of every inch of my guitars and serial numbers, even pictures with the pick guard showing the wiring selector switch, pots, caps, everything. I enjoy showing them off when going to personal collectors, or shops that deal in guitars. These guitars just don't sit in the case. I take so many out and play them. They are kept in a controlled environment. Every 3 mo 3 of my close friends get to gather and go tbough and check each guitar taking time to set and play them. We check setups when tuned to perfect pitch. Check acoustics for any wood separation. We check everything. I am going to start selling my ladies but only to a good home where I know she'll be loved and played. Only a few of these guitars have seen the inside of a club or large venue since I've owed them. Yes they have been cleaned up but nothing has been changed. Same original case quite a few with all the paper work tags, guitar strap and invoice. Pretty cool. If someone is interested I meet them at a nice club where people are around and plus early enough so they can bring their amp of choice unless I'm selling a amp also. If I'm selling a amp too, I ask them to bring one of their guitars that they may use to play though the amp. Plus I have my back covered. Someone I know shows up early and then someone shows up about the time I show up. I do this because a vintage collector, appraiser and vintage store owner was robbed by gun point when trying to do a legit meet and sale. They beat him up pretty bad. Now that sucks.

Awesome info, thank you ☕🎸

try Paul Bigsby

It seems to me that Leo's amplifiers must have been far more complex than his guitars in design but guitars are far more interesting to talk about.

Several people contributed to the invention. Fender saw a solid body that Paul Bigsby made for Merle Travis (Travis had given Bigsby a sketch of what he wanted). Fender borrowed it from Merle Travis to make measurements of it. Several people contributed to the invention. Les Paul built "the log" several years after Rickenbacker had designed a solid body. The Gibson Les Paul was designed by Gibson (not Les Paul). The Les Paul model was Gibson's response to Fender's solid body guitar. ----Who's On First ? ---Abbott and Costello

The electric guitar created itself, in a manner of speaking. It was inevitable; couldn't be avoided or stopped after the creation/invention/development of the microphone that plugged into the electric audio amplifier, which connected to a 'loud speaker'. And so much more before that; like musical entertainment. Getting the e-guitar to the masses was the BIG big deal. Leo Fender did that.

It was in fact both Les Fender and Leo Paul.

Why does one have to be better than the other? They both did a lot for music and recording. I’ve never understood why to like one you have to hate the other. I own both.

To Fender Guitar Files, his name is Les Paul, 1 s not 2😊

Other than bragging rights, it does not matter. It was a matter of time, a short time before someone was going to invent it.

O.W. Appleton built the 1st solid body electric guitar. Before WWII. RU-vid has a video of it being played. You can google Mr. Appleton and read the whole story. .

George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker.

That's not Rex Gallion at 7:53, but rather Alvino Rey

The real hero of production Forrest White .

To each his own.

Leo came up with a good design (Telecaster) and later an even ergonomically better design (to me at least) with the Stratocaster. I wouldn't mind owning a Tele next to my Strat 😅

"Complete history" ! ?!?!? NOT even close. PRS rules!

G&L was incorporated by Leo Fender and George Fullerton and made even better guitars! Unfortunately, not many are even aware of these guitars. Still made in Fullerton, California although the Tribute series are Asian built and are quality instruments as well.

Bigsby invented the solid body Merle Travis Guitar and later Leo Fender basically borrowed the Headstock for the Stratocaster. Leo Fender may have sold in large quantities, but Leo Fender and his company borrowed from everyone…You want to talk about amps, Leo borrowed ideas from Standel in nearby El Monte. Now there’s nothing in borrowing ideas if you credit the source.

With all due respect and gratitude to Les Paul and Leo Fender (and that's a tremendous amount... Paul Bigsby as well), does the name Rickenbacker ring a bell? Does the name Paul Tutmarc ring a bell?

LES Paul

Nigel in Canada🇨🇦 if a guy buys a Les Paul? he HEARS WITH HIS EYES and he chooses his women the same way

That is the sort of question like what came first, the chicken or the egg...

DUDE ! Remember, Leo Worked for Les Paul before moving to California !

A top tier engineer and all around wonderfully brilliant guy but it always struck me as odd how he was so pig headed about that damn ashtray cover-- This is the guy who cut cost wherever he could (and rightfully so as a business man) and here is the glaring cost cutting measure....get rid of that thing everyone immediately takes off and throws in either the case or the trash....he just adamantly refused to do so....For his entire tenure...weird.

This is a Fender promo, not an independent documentary. So of course it’s going to fudge the truth in favor of Fender. That being said, it’s still informative. 👍🎬

I think you must have meant "Lee Yo Fender"?

very informative. thanks

I thought Leo made lap steel guitars 1st before changing to building guitars.

Less Paul.. Les draait zich nog maar een keer om in zijn graf.

I thought Rickenbacker was the first….looks like I’m wrong.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

DeArmond is most responsible because electric guitars start with electric pickups though not the first pickups they were the first widely sold and great sounding pickups.

EDDIE DURHAM, GEORGE BARNES, FLOYD SMITH. The holy tr7ity. The rest is boloney. They were the 1sts.

Why not tag this worthy representation "(How) Fender got it right first time (and second.. ..and third.. ..and fourth.. ..and..)..

RICKENBACKER!

Les Paul was more interesting than Fender.

I have a ipion opinion leo fender invented the electric guitar before les Paul ❤😊

A tree invented the solid body guitar !

Adolf Rickenbacher That's who!

Someone from Scotland probably… they invented everything else

Look up George Beauchamp and Gage Brewer in Wichita, Ks. for some interesting reading about the electric guitar.

Adolph RICKENBACKER.

Actually gretch made one of the first solid body electric guitars

Rickenbacker

Nice opinion, but you haven't researched, have you? Bigsby was making electric guitars before either Les Paul (one S) or Leo Fender. Les Paul even took the single cutaway shape fro Bigsby. Leo took the headstock. I was personally invited to Les Paul's funeral. But what would I know?

Does it really matter?

Kay

If you create enough subcategories, I invented the Electric guitar........ Rickenbacher....... do you need a history lesson?

Bigsby did

Caveman was the first😊

Epiphone make some great guitars especially when they were being made in Kalamazoo, Michigan sometime Gibson was. Today I wouldn't purchase a new LesPaul unless they had a complete row of them so I could go down the line and strum and play each without a amp 1st. If it doesn't have sustain and tone without a amp, I don't want it. I've done the same thing with cheaper Epiphone's and found some nice guitars, real nice. Just because they aren't made in America doesn't make them any worse. Actually I've found guitars made in Japan to sound and play better than American guitars today. Japanese are master wood workers and take pride in their job no matter what the task. Americans are lazy, and if it's ok then it's ok, let it pass just enough to pass inspection which some of them are lacking on their job. Fender, why pay more for a American Strat or Tele when you can get one for a much cheaper price just over the border. If need be you can change out hardware, but usually you don't need to do so. If you do tuners or pickups. I've taken a shit guitar across the border with paper work of buying it in the states. Went across the border bought a Fender put it in the case gave the shit guitar away. Checked at the border, paper work in order no questions. Just stayed a day and night came back next day. Told them I set in with some players and friends at a club, no pay just for enjoyment. I often do and play with a few from Az. along with their friends in Mexico . I've bought Fenders and high quality guitars that you can't get in the US from Japan. I lived in Japan for 4 yrs. gaining meeting influential musicians and gaining so many friends. Most play various instruments but most play guitar for a living. They all know exactly how I check out my guitars they do it the same way, most know how my setup is. They have sent me signature models you can't get here in the States without giving a arm and leg. They send guitars to me at their cost, no more or less. They have a great deal of friends too. I pay for shipping and handling and always tell them to add more their trouble. They're great friends they have never taken more than the cost even though I insist. We have accounts that have a certain amount in to keep it active and add more when needed. We all have access to the accounts so it just shows up as a withdraw. If they ever need anything I'm there no equipment. I've loaned them equipment. One relative had to come to the US to work for a auto factory owned by a group ofJapan. He's a engineer. The company paids for everything, Housing, car or van or both If you have a family. They send engineers or other high profile management about every 2yrs. He worked alot of hours, that Americans who complain about. When we both weren't working or I wasn't on call, we spent many hrs. together along with my family. He stayed at my home for 2wks when he1st arrived. He played jazz guitar, but didn't know what he was playing. His martial arts instructor or Sensi showed him how to play, jazz progressions and how to adlib over them. We spent time playing as much as we could. When went looking at guitars, He saw the prices of guitars couldn't believe the markup between guitars from Japan to the US. He said I can get you same guitar cheaper even with shipping. He had friends check some out had them sent to his place of employment and brought them to me. I received some beautiful guitars plus a couple handmade from a close friend of his. He only builds so many per year. And the man who builds them is backed up. Your put on a waiting list and must pay at least 1/2 down before starting the build and full amount before shipping. The guitars come with a lifetime guarantee, which he does honor. If something's wrong with it due to his mistake you ship it and he pays shipping and handling back plus reimbursement for you shipping the guitar. He does request photos that shows each problem. I didn't get put the on list. He did it to a extreme favor to the engineer who came over. The guitar sounded unbelievable, neck joint no shims. My friends knew I wanted a special color white guitar and he did it for me. It looks like a pearl when it changes color with light but has the smallest diamond dust flake I've ever seen. Probably never will. When I opened the case it smelled good nitrocellulose finish. Everything perfect. I asked him how much I owed him he said it was a gift from him and friends. They all knew my setup strings I use. The guitar was setup perfect, He wound the pickups. They told him all the various music I played and made them accordingly, and adjust each one so when switching from pickup to pickup there wasn't this huge change in tone. They told him I prefer 2 volumes and one tone. I also like mini toggle switches tilted so my hand can switch on the fly but in the area were a 5way selector switch would be. I like a 12 db boost to kick in for more sustain. Usually you need to unplug, he made mine with a push switch on the tone knob. Pretty nice. I don't use trem. Much but he set it up with one heavy spring in the middle , put the others in a sealed bag inside the case with 2 extra Allen wrenches. On each side of the heavy spring he put tremsettrer. Stays in tune no matter how much hell you give it. I wanted a rolling nut on my next guitar but he put a bone nut that doesn't hang up period string meets the edge perfectly and he used down to 6000 grit sand paper when finishing the nut. Smooth as silk. When it arrived it wasn't in a shipping container forever. It came on the private plane that the executives flew back after a important meeting in Japan. The guitar had been finished and one of them picked it up to bring it here. I didn't know this was taking place. Of coarse I knew of his guitars had played one, but the waiting list is so long and people from all over the world are waiting on guitars. But when I opened this and he said it was for me and a gift I couldn't help it tears ran down my face. This guitar plays perfectly in tune from day one. I can get every tone I want from it and more. I usually play though 3 amps Steve times and use a pedal when switching slowly to another ampsetup. I believe this guitar is one of my prized possessions even against most of the vintage. guitars I own. It's nice to have true great friends. Before he left to go back to Japan gave a him a 1958 John D'Angelico, almost mint condition. It's been appraised a number if times. It had original paper work even receipt which is strange. The finishes doesn't have any scratches front or back. No neck wear. Frets weren't even worn. Had flat wound strings on it which I took off. Buff the frets, fretboard wasn't dirty, no build up of sweat or any type of residue. I bought it from a person in New York through word of mouth about this guitar. It had been passed down from his dad to his son, the dad did play jazz but became sick. The son kept it as a treasure. From his dad but didn't play much . He was told by someone on taking care of it. The finish has very very minor problems with the binding coming loose but that was retaken care of. I gave it to the engineer who played jazz and had taken all the time to get me this guitar. I know it went to a great home. He cried bowed many times saying thank you thank you. St first he didn't want to take it but I kept insisting that he deserved it and I wanted it to go to a great home where it would be played and cherished. So I have a picture of us holding both guitars. And a picture of him 0laying it recorded on my phone. You could see in his face the concentration but also the love he had for the instrument he just recieved. After playing he kept shaking his head saying I don't believe it that this guitar is mine but I don't deserve it. I told him again yes you deserve it more than you know or realize. He said I'll treasure this forever, it will always be taken care of. We hugged each other. We talk on the phone like I do with others he sends me pictures or others send me pictures of him playing it. The Luthier who built my custom guitar sent me a text and a pic of him playing it. He said that the guitar that I gave could have not went to one of the kindest, warm loving man of others. That it was wonderful to see someone finally acknowledge his joy and love of music let alone the kindness he gives to others. Those words mean so much. If I could find more people like him, I'd proudly give more guitars away. Selling them I'd difficult for me to do, to give one away of that caliber is unheard of . Lol

Rickenbacher

Errrrrr.... Epiphone ?

Neither of them!

What freaks me out is that Fender has NEVER fixed the Stratocasters volume-knob location. Its WAY too high. You keep hitting it, when playing. I've seen many concerts where the artist (Richie Sambora and Iron Maiden) is constantly messing with the volume knob and turning it back up, because you naturally keep turning the volume down, when playing. I CANNOT BELIEVE Fender hasn't fixed it yet. Im thinking, they probably are afraid to touch or change one of the most successful guitars of all time. Anyone who plays a Stratocaster knows EXACTLY what im talking about. Like they say in the video, Leo Fender was never a guitar player. This is the reason for the volume knob location. He just slapped the knob on, never playing it himself.

jimi hendrix made sure to play the amp and the gadgets and sound and not play only electrified acoustic guitar. he is the only one that matters. not the manufacturers. otherwise there would be only silly surf music and boring country around.