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Les Paul, NOT the inventor of the electric guitar
By Martin English | August 16, 2009
Almost all the reports of the death of American electric guitar pioneer Les Paul, give the impression he was single-handedly responsible for the creation of the solid-body electric guitar that made rock and roll possible. It’s as if Adolph Rickenbacker, Paul Bigsby, Merle Travis or Leo Fender never existed.
The Electric Guitar was not invented, rather it evolved over several decades. Karl du Fresne has a decent potted history of the electric guitar, from the early electrification experiments of Rickenbacker in the 1930’s through to the Fender Telecaster (1952), and the Stratocaster (1954).
One of the best pars, designed to start a good argument between two or more giutarists, is this:
Arguments about which is the greater guitar – the Fender Stratocaster or the Gibson Les Paul – are a bit like debates between Holden and Ford fans, and ultimately just as pointless. But judged by which guitar was more favoured by great players, the Strat would surely have the edge.
Topics: History, Music | No Comments »
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