The first successful guitar that was electrically amplified was developed by George Delmetia Beauchamp in the year 1931 along with Paul Barth and Adolph Rickenbacker. Beauchamp had also invented other musical instruments and was one of the founders of National Stringed Instrument Corporation and Rickenbacker guitars. Born in Texas, in his earlier years he played the lap steel guitar and the violin. Later he tried his hand at developing various electric instruments. In 1931 he formed the Electro String Company by teaming up with Adolph Rickenbacker and Paul Barth to produce and sell electrified string instruments. Beauchamp and Rickenbacker got a US patent for their electric guitar in 1937.
An electric guitar is a musical string instrument played by plucking with fingers or a pick. It converts the vibrations of the metal strings into electric signals using the principle of electromagnetic induction. An amplifier magnifies the signals for driving a loudspeaker. Using electronic circuits, it is possible to modify the electrical outputs from a guitar and add variety to the sound.
The electric guitar has had the most impact on the evolvement of music than any other musical instrument ever since. Jazz musicians found the electric guitar to be of immense help to boost the level of decibel which is very important for jazz music. Since it was first introduced, it has developed into an instrument which is capable of number of styles and sounds.