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Musician Les Paul invented a prototype for what would later become the Gibson Les Paul guitar, which is the second most used electric guitar today.
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The Fender Musical Instruments Company was founded by Leo Fender in Fullerton,California.
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Fender introduces the Esquire as the first solid body guitar to be put into production. The guitar featured one electric pickup in the bridge position.
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Leo Fender, an electrician from Southern California, introduces the Broadcaster as the first solid body electric guitar to have 2 electric pickups.
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A patent had already been issued for the name Broadcaster, so Fender was forced to change the name to the Telecaster, which to this day is the third most popular electric guitar
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The self-proclaimed "world's greatest electric guitar" is created. This guitar is still the best selling of all time and its the most popular model today.
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The Les Paul is put into mass production by Gibson.
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The Beatles come to the U.S. in 1964, and soon after bands like the Rolling Stones, The Kinks, and The Yardbirds followed who were all playing solid body guitars which is why this was the most popular time for them.
