Jeff Maguire’s History of the Electric Guitar

This web site traces the history of the development of the electric guitar from Adolph Rickenbachers “Frying Pan” up to the ” Les Paul”. It describes how changes in the state of technology resulted in changes in playing style, and illustrates thoses changes through the four most influential electric guitar players of the twentieth century,Charlie Christian,Les Paul,Chuck Berry, and Jimi Hendrix.

67 thoughts on “Jeff Maguire’s History of the Electric Guitar”

  1. thanks for helping Jeff
    Anthon Holm

    Hello Jeff

    Amazing job you
    have done with your website on Angel fire, i enjoy to read and learn more about
    these Players and the reason behind the music and instruments.

    but i really enjoy
    to read, it but i also have a reason to read it, he he yep a school project. i
    can see there’s a lot who have turned to you for help, and it’s maybe a little annoying,
    hehe but as said, it’s a good job you have done there.

    my problem with
    the exam school project is that i shall could argue for the truth behind my
    sources, that will that sites as yours. so if you have a list or, some kind
    links or book titles i can refer to in my project, or maybe just the knowlegde about you as a source i can trust, maybe it’s your experience and not something you have read. nor the less i would be most most gladly, truly i would.

    so if you can help
    me, i would be your biggest fan so far.

    Regards Anthon Holm, Denmark

    1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
      Charmaine Oreggio

      : Hello, While writing essays on African American inventors, many of my students are wanting to research the guitar and Robert Flemming Jr. Do you have more information about this? no

    2. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
      josean

      : Hello, While writing essays on African American inventors, many of my students are wanting to research the guitar and Robert Flemming Jr. Do you have more information about this?

      what is the date of your birth

    3. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
      PHYLLIS HALL

      : Hello, While writing essays on African American inventors, many of my students are wanting to research the guitar and Robert Flemming Jr. Do you have more information about this? I think it is a total unjust to black americans whose interested in this information not to be able to get a true biography of this important man.

    4. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
      billy

      hi yes flemming was bornin 1857 in mississippi he invented the guitar on march 3rd 1886. is there anymore questions you have about mister Flemming?

      1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
        Tonya

        : hi yes flemming was bornin 1857 in mississippi he invented the guitar on march 3rd 1886. is there anymore questions you have about mister Flemming?

        Do you have any more bio information

      1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
        person #65468465213

        —ummm, whoever said that…..’shut the **** up’, i’m doing a report&presentation on robert flemming, and u need to stop being mean to ppl who r jus tryin to get some help!
        —and whoever asked the question, i’m sorry, buht i dont have any info besides the fact he invented the guitar on March 3rd, 1886, he was african american, and he loved guitars, i hope that u found the info ur lookin for. GOOD LUCK!

    5. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
      Betty Tucker

      Hello, my grandson is seven years old and in the second grade, he is doing a report on Robert f.Flemming,Jr., Do you have any information on him?

      1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
        deighton

        : Hello, my grandson is seven years old and in the second grade, he is doing a report on Robert f.Flemming,Jr., Do you have any information on him?
        no you

        1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
          sorrell s.

          : hello my name is sorrell and i need information on robert flemming jr.
          and maybe a few pictures of him. All i know is that he invented a type of guitar in 1886. thanks

          1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
            annette sperling

            : : hello my name is Emily and i need information on robert flemming jr and maybe a few pictures of him. the one who invented the guitar.

            1. Re: Robert Flemming Jr.
              jermonica dickey

              : : : hello my name is jermonica and i need information on robert flemming jr and maybe a few pictures of him. the one who invented the guitar.

    6. Re: This popular thread has been given its own page :... Chelsey E
      Chelsey E

      Hello, While writing essays on African American inventors, many of my students are wanting to research the guitar and Robert Flemming Jr. Do you have more information about this?

      1. Robert Flemming Jr.
        Tammy

        Guess we are not the only people having difficulty finding more information and pictures on Robert Flemming Jr. If you can email me the information you have, it would be greatly appreciated. I tried viewing from the yahoo thread, however the files tab is grey, unable to select it. Thanks for your assistance. -Tammy

      2. Rober Flemming Jr.
        LuisRA

        It seems that there is a discrepancy between the BOD given by the document in yahoo groups and the one that is shown in several other sites. Yahoo document says that in 1880 he already was 40 years old while sites say that he was born in 1857, which will make him 23 years old in 1880. Any idea why?

      3. Robert Flemming
        Chris Rucker

        Since school children seem to choose Robert Flemming as the subject of a research project every year during African-American History Month, I have provided my research on him for anyone to view. It is all that I know, so please don’t ask if I know anything more, or if I can furnish pictures of him. It is what it is, and you’re welcome to the information. You must go to the following site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/csshlhunley You must join the site to view the “Files” section, where the information on Robert Flemming is posted as: Robert Flemming Biography.doc Robert Fleming and the Blue Light. This information clears up all the nonsense which has been written about him. The references are listed so that you can confirm the facts for yourself.

        1. Robert F. Flemming
          Anonymous

          Hello Chris,

          Thank you for making available information on Robert F. Flemming, Jr. My daughter was assigned him as a person to research and present to her peers. Seemingly, there is not much sites that appear creditable in which to cite information from about him. I also followed your steps to try and access the document you created on yahoo, but was not able to open it. I was wondering if you would be willing to email me a copy of the document, please. Thanks for your time.

      4. Did you know that he was a
        Anonymous

        Did you know that he was a Union sailor during the Civil War? That his ship was the first to be sunk by a submarine, and that he was the first man on the ship to see the submarine approaching on its deadly mission? That his father was a baker in Baltimore, where Flemming was born? That he may have been imprisoned early in life, while pursuing his fortune in Gold Rush California? His patent was for a modification to any stringed instrument such as the guitar, resulting in what he called the “Euphonica.” Did you know that he married late in life, never had any children, and that he and his wife chose to change their race from “Mulatto” or “Black” to “White” when they filled out their census information?

      5. Robert F. Flemming, Jr.
        Chris Rucker

        Robert Flemming’s life has not been detailed elsewhere, but I have put together some facts about him. Did you know that he was a Union sailor during the Civil War? That his ship was the first to be sunk by a submarine, and that he was the first man on the ship to see the submarine approaching on its deadly mission? That his father was a baker in Baltimore, where Flemming was born? That he may have been imprisoned early in life, while pursuing his fortune in Gold Rush California? His patent was for a modification to any stringed instrument such as the guitar, resulting in what he called the “Euphonica.” Did you know that he married late in life, never had any children, and that he and his wife chose to change their race from “Mulatto” or “Black” to “White” when they filled out their census information? If you would like to have more information on this interesting African American man, I’d be happy to send you all the results of my research. You may contact me at my E mail address.

        1. Information on Robert Fleming JR
          rebecca

          My son is doing a report of Robert Fleming JR, we have been on the web and cant find anything. If u have any information please send it to my email.com It is due friday 27, 2012.

          Thank You
          Rebecca Dupuis

        2. Robert Flemming Jr
          Jane

          Hi!

          My daughter needs to write a report about Robert Flemming Jr. for school. Can you please send me information you have about him? If you happen to have a picture can you please send that too, I would really appreciate it!

          Thanks for your help and your time!

          Jane

          1. Robert Flemming, Jr.
            Anonymous

            I don’t anymore about Robert Flemming, Jr than what I’ve written before. See previous posts about the Yahoo group where the information is posted. I’ve never seen a picture of him.

        3. Robert F. Flemming Jr
          Camila isabel

          I wanted to know more about Flemming.
          send me everything you know please and bibliography.
          thanks

          Queria saber mais sobre Flemming.
          me envia tudo o que vc sabe por favor e a bibliografia.
          obrigada

        4. Interesting
          Alexander

          That’s some interesting information, if you have further information, I’d be interested to learn more about Robert Flemming. Do you have your research available online for viewing?

  2. WHERE IS THE HISTORY OF THE GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    jonathan

    PLEASE PUT THE HISTORY OF THE GUITAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

  3. electric guitar history
    Wil Edgar

    im looking for anything on the history of the electric guitar and its advancements.for a school project and for own knowledge.
    thanks later

    1. Re: electric guitar history
      Jessica

      I’m looking for some information on the inventor of the guita: robert f. flemming jr. can some on email me his bio? please?! thanks!!!! 🙂

      1. important
        Jessica #2

        I need some information on Robert F. Flemming Jr. pronto. Sorry, not wanting to be on top of any one but have a report to do and I need some information on Robert F. Flemming

      1. Re: robert f. flemming jr.
        shanice edwards

        i went to firstgov.com and found a image of the guitar but you have to go by patent number which is 338727.you cant print because they got the copy from oringinal one.

  4. Electric guitar history
    Carlos Mojica

    Dear Jeff, I´m preparing a conference about the electric guitar, i will be very thankful if you could help me with information about origins and development of electric guitar

    Thanks
    Carlos

    1. Re: Electric guitar history
      ross wolvey

      : Dear Jeff, I´m preparing a conference about the electric guitar, i will be very thankful if you could help me with information about origins and development of electric guitar

      : Thanks
      : Carlos

  5. Electric guitar history
    Carlos Mojica

    Dear Jeff, I´m preparing a conference about ther electric guitar, i wil be verey thankful if you could help me with information about origins and development of electric guitar

    Thanks
    Carlos

    1. Re: Electric guitar history
      jarred

      : Dear Jeff, i woUld be so THANKFUL if u couLd give me some info on the history and development of electric guitar

      : Thanks
      jarred

  6. yes I am doing a project
    Cam Kelleher

    Hi Jeff my name is cam kelleher and i am doin a project on Electric Guitars, and i have a couple questions:
    Who invented the electric Guitar?
    When was it invented (what year)?
    How was it invented?
    If you have a picture of the first electric guitar please send it to me!
    Where was it invented?
    Well thats about it please email me back! thanks maybe i’ll talk to you later.

    1. Re: yes I am doing a project
      Marge

      :
      : Hi Jeff my name is cam kelleher and i am doin a project on Electric Guitars, and i have a couple questions:
      : Who invented the electric Guitar?

      : If you have a picture of the first electric guitar please send it to me!
      : Where was it invented?
      : Well thats about it please email me back! thanks maybe i’ll talk to you later.

    2. Re: yes I am doing a project
      Brandon Hetfield

      :
      : Hi Jeff my name is Brandon and i am doin a project on Electric Guitars, and i have a couple questions:
      : Who invented the electric Guitar?
      : When was it invented (what year)?
      : How was it invented?
      : If you have a picture of the first electric guitar please send it to me!
      : Where was it invented?
      : Well thats about it please email me back! thanks maybe i’ll talk to you later.

      1. Re: yes I am doing a project
        cool guy01

        the electric guitar was invented by michael jackson in 1875 and was candle powered. it was invented in malaca islands and the whitsundays. i have a picture http://www.givemeapictureoftheguwhoinventedtheelctricguitarnow.com
        this site is very reliable! it was invented when a person fell over and droped a bit of wood on a candle and thats how it was invented!!! cya please reply 2 my email.

        just joking it was invented by Les paul in the 1960s i think. i think there is a picture on encarta or look up the name les paul please reply and give your criticism

    1. Re: I'm doing a project
      Jeff Maguire

      : Hey Jeff i’m doing a project on guitars and if you can get good info please e-mail it to me.

      :
      : Thanks Jamil

      Jamil

      Sorry it took awhile to respond, it’s hard to keep track of the sites links.What kind of info are you looking for,if I have access to it I’ll be happy to send it along.By the way, if you contact me through the submit form on the last page of the site you’ll get through to me a lot quicker.

      Jeff

    2. Re: I'm doing a project
      Jeff Maguire

      : Hey Jeff i’m doing a project on guitars and if you can get good info please e-mail it to me.

      :
      : Thanks Jamil

      Jamil

      Sorry it took awhile to respond, it’s hard to keep track of the sites links.What kind of info are you looking for,if I have access to it I’ll be happy to send it along.

      Jeff

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