their inception . This meant that Dr . Hill ’ s team had to fill in some blanks here and there per necessary build details that were not included in the original filing .
Although the prototyping is not much to look at ,
this audio file demonstrates the very unique sound this instrument makes . It ’ s been compared to infinite guitar ala The Edge , but to me it sounds like a violin , which considering the time of the design is completely groundbreaking .
Although I didn ’ t come across patents to confirm this , it is also believed that there were a number of patents issued around using telephonestyle transmitters placed inside the bodies of banjos and violins in order to amplify the sound . Without the benefit of knowing the applicants ’ names , it ’ s impossible to know if some of these individuals were directly involved in the creation of electric guitars . It is highly probable that these instruments were showcased in a public forum . Be it for entertainment , marketing ops , or both , these instruments would have been known to the inventor crowd .
In true musician form , we ’ re going to wrap up Part 1 of this story with a bit of controversy . It is entirely possible that Lloyd Loar developed the first electric guitar during his tenure at what was then called the Gibson Mandolin- Guitar Mfg . Co . – he just might have been at the right place at the wrong time . According to A . R . Duchossoir ’ s book Gibson Electrics – The Classic Years , Loar was hired by Gibson in 1919 , and served as acoustic engineer , factory production manager , manager of the stringed instrument repair department , and purchasing agent . His accomplishments include the iconic F-5 mandolin and the L-5 guitar , both of which featured his innovative use of ‘ F holes ’, an industry first for both instruments .
According to Duchossoir ’ s book , Lewis A . Williams was one of the founders of the Gibson company , a major stockholder , and was responsible for their raised pickguard which first appeared on the L-1 in 1909 . He was also credited with being a pioneer in the field of loudspeakers and sound reproduction . It is believed that Willams and Loar both thought the future of the guitar lay in the use of onboard electronics . As the story goes , in 1924 , the first electric instruments were shown to Gibson ’ s agents , many of whom were players and / or teachers . Apparently , these folks were not yet ready to ‘ go electric ’ in part because no music for these instruments had yet been written or recorded .