| Electric guitars are strongly associated with | | | | success until the 1950's, when Fender |
| famous musicians of the twentieth century-and | | | | released its first solid-body model: the |
| may be the iconic musical instrument of our | | | | Esquire. The Esquire was followed by the |
| time. Here's a brief history of their rise | | | | Telecaster and finally, in 1954, the |
| in popular music. | | | | Stratocaster. |
| | | | |
| During the Big Band Era in the 20's and 30's, | | | | The aggressive sound of the electric guitar |
| performers experimented with attaching | | | | became characteristic of rock and roll in the |
| microphones to acoustic guitars in order to | | | | 60's and 70's. It was a high-profile |
| amplify the sound. Most electric guitars | | | | instrument during this time, appearing on |
| were hollow-bodied acoustics with electric | | | | stage with dozens of famous bands and |
| pickups. But the hollow space within the | | | | musicians. |
| guitar produced vibrations that made harsh | | | | |
| feedback when interacting with electric | | | | This created demand for affordable electric |
| pickups. | | | | guitars. In the 60's and 70's, electric |
| | | | guitars were too expensive for ordinary |
| Manufacturers experimented with solid-body | | | | buyers. But it wasn't until the 1980's that |
| guitars to get rid of the feedback. One of | | | | Japanese manufacturers stepped forward with |
| the earlier solid-body guitars was an | | | | affordable electric guitars that sounded |
| aluminium instrument known as the "Frying | | | | good. This put pressure on American |
| Pan" or "Pancake Guitar." In 1940, Les Paul | | | | companies such as Gibson and Fender to |
| attempted a solid-body instrument called the | | | | provide their own affordable lines. |
| "log guitar," so called because it was a | | | | |
| simple post equipped with neck, strings, and | | | | Today, the electric guitar is one of the most |
| pickups. | | | | prolific instruments in popular music. You |
| | | | can find it in a wide variety of genres, from |
| The electric guitar did not hit commercial | | | | metal to New Age. |