{"id":52083,"date":"2026-07-15T15:56:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:56:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/?p=52083"},"modified":"2026-07-15T15:56:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T14:56:37","slug":"facts-about-the-electric-guitar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Facts About the Electric Guitar We Bet You Didn&#8217;t Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#Facts_about_the_electric_guitar\" >Facts about the electric guitar<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#1_The_electric_guitar_was_the_original_metal_instrument\" >1. The electric guitar was the original metal instrument!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#2_The_Les_Paul_wasnt_Les_Pauls_first_electric_guitar\" >2. The Les Paul wasn\u2019t Les Paul\u2019s first electric guitar<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#3_Fenders_famous_colours_only_exist_because_they_were_cheap\" >3. Fender\u2019s famous colours only exist because they were cheap<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#4_Got_an_old_Gibson_with_no_serial_number_Its_probably_from_1952\" >4. Got an old Gibson with no serial number? It\u2019s probably from 1952<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#5_The_Precision_Bass_got_its_name_from_its_frets\" >5. The Precision Bass got its name from its frets<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#6_Fender_developed_a_7-string_guitar_in_the_1980s\" >6. Fender developed a 7-string guitar in the 1980s<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#7_Great_Scott_The_ES-345_was_actually_released_four_years_after_the_Back_to_the_Future_scene_is_set\" >7. Great Scott! The ES-345 was actually released four years after the Back to the Future scene is\u00a0set<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#8_Guitars_and_guitar-based_music_have_reached_space\" >8. Guitars and guitar-based music have reached space!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#9_The_record_number_of_string_changes_in_an_hour_is_226\" >9. The record number of string changes in an hour is 226<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#10_Eddie_Van_Halen_generously_donated_guitars_to_schools_in_LA\" >10. Eddie Van Halen generously donated guitars to schools in LA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#11_An_interesting_fact_about_pedals\" >11. An interesting fact about pedals<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#FAQs\" >FAQs<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#How_old_is_the_electric_guitar\" >How old is the electric guitar?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#Which_is_older_guitar_or_piano\" >Which is older, guitar or piano?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#What_is_the_best-selling_electric_guitar\" >What is the best-selling electric guitar?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/facts-about-the-electric-guitar\/#Final_thoughts\" >Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.16&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/badwsky\/4447031573\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anthony Catalan<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitars.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guitars<\/a><\/strong> are great. We know it, you know it\u2026 But what else do you know about the instrument? We\u2019ve had some fun putting together this list of interesting <strong>facts about the electric guitar<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2024\/07\/Secondhand-Guitars.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Secondhand-Guitars&#8221; url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/secondhand\/guitars?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=banner&#038;utm_campaign=secondhand_guitars&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Secondhand Guitars Banner&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_module=&#8221;41670&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitars.html&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP ELECTRIC GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Facts about the electric guitar&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Facts_about_the_electric_guitar\"><\/span>Facts about the electric guitar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_The_electric_guitar_was_the_original_metal_instrument\"><\/span>1. The electric guitar was the original metal instrument!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>But not heavy metal. The first commercially successful electric guitar was made from cast aluminium. The Electro A-22, affectionately known as the \u201cfrying pan,&#8221; was developed in the early 1930s by the inventor and musician George Beauchamp, together with the engineer and machinist Adolph Rickenbacker. Yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Electric_Guitars\/Rickenbacker.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>that<\/em> Rickenbacker<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Hawaiian music, with its heavy use of steel guitar, enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1920s, prompting Beauchamp to begin experimenting with pickups for his resonator guitar. Feedback put a stop to that and led to the development of the solid aluminium lap steel guitar.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_The_Les_Paul_wasnt_Les_Pauls_first_electric_guitar\"><\/span>2. The Les Paul wasn\u2019t Les Paul\u2019s first electric guitar<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>In the late 1930s, the electric guitar was a hollow-bodied instrument with a pickup to amplify the sound. The problem with that was unwanted feedback from the hollow construction. To get around it, Les Paul cut a guitar in half and stuck a 4\u201dx4\u201d pine plank in the middle.<\/p>\n<p>He presented his invention, nicknamed \u201cThe Log,\u201d to Gibson in 1941, and they dismissed it as a \u201cbroomstick with pickups\u201d \u2013 at least, until The Fender Broadcaster became a huge success a decade later. When that happened, Gibson realised they needed a solid-body guitar to compete. They contacted Les Paul and began their partnership in 1951, leading to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Gibson\/Les-Paul-Guitar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Les Paul<\/strong><\/a> we all know.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52094\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s.jpg\" alt=\"Gibson Les Paul Custom '70s \" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Fenders_famous_colours_only_exist_because_they_were_cheap\"><\/span>3. Fender\u2019s famous colours only exist because they were cheap<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Building guitars is expensive, so saving money where you can without compromising on quality is just good business. With that in mind, Fender went looking for affordable paint they could use. The result? Many of the iconic colours from the \u201860s were actually repurposed car paints.<\/p>\n<p>The car industry had a range of paint colours that were cheap and easily available, and Fender made the most of that. Lake Placid Blue, Fiesta Red, and Shell Pink were all used on cars before they became guitar finishes!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Got_an_old_Gibson_with_no_serial_number_Its_probably_from_1952\"><\/span>4. Got an old Gibson with no serial number? It\u2019s probably from 1952<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Have you ever used only serial number lookup tools to find out more about a guitar? If you\u2019re fortunate enough to come across a 1952 Gibson, you\u2019ll be out of luck! For that single year, the company decided not to use serial numbers on their guitars.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_52097\" style=\"width: 1340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52097\" class=\"wp-image-52097 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop.jpg\" alt=\"1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-52097\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:1952_Gibson_Les_Paul_Goldtop_-_body_-_EMP_Museum,_Seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Seb Barber<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_The_Precision_Bass_got_its_name_from_its_frets\"><\/span>5. The Precision Bass got its name from its frets<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When electric guitars first started revolutionising popular music, the low end came from the upright bass. It wasn\u2019t long before Fender decided to change that, though, releasing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Bass_Guitars\/Fender_Bass_Guitars\/Precision-Bass-Guitar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Precision Bass<\/strong><\/a> in 1951. If you\u2019ve ever wondered why they called it that, the answer is simple: frets! Upright basses are fretless instruments, but the addition of frets to the P-Bass made accurate intonation on every note simple. <em>Precise<\/em>, in fact.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Fender_developed_a_7-string_guitar_in_the_1980s\"><\/span>6. Fender developed a 7-string guitar in the 1980s<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>When you think of 7-string guitars, Fender probably isn\u2019t the first name that springs to mind. In fact, their first official 7-string wasn\u2019t released until 2024 \u2013 Chris Garza\u2019s Custom Shop Strat. There were some Squiers in the 1990s, but nothing with the Fender name on the headstock.<\/p>\n<p>But there almost was.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 1987, Fender\u2019s head of R&amp;D, Dan Smith, collaborated with Maestro Alex Gregory to create a 7-string Stratocaster as the third Fender artist signature model. Interestingly, unlike modern 7-strings with their heavy-riffing low B, it featured a high A string. Some prototypes were built; it was showcased at the 1988 NAMM show, then\u2026 nothing. It never entered production.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Great_Scott_The_ES-345_was_actually_released_four_years_after_the_Back_to_the_Future_scene_is_set\"><\/span>7. Great Scott! The ES-345 was actually released four years after the <em>Back to the Future <\/em>scene is\u00a0set<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><em>Back to the Future<\/em> is a genuine classic, and so is the Gibson ES-345 featured in the film. It\u2019s a fabulous guitar, and that iconic hollow-body shape fits perfectly with the way we picture 1950s rock and roll. However, the ES-345 was released in 1959, four years after the scene is set.<\/p>\n<p>The guitar that was used in the film has an interesting story behind it, with Gibson hunting for it in the run-up to the film&#8217;s 40th anniversary in 2025, as well as releasing some fantastic replicas. If you want to read more about it, we covered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/back-to-the-future-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>the Hunt for the Back to the Future Guitar<\/strong><\/a> in another post.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Guitars_and_guitar-based_music_have_reached_space\"><\/span>8. Guitars and guitar-based music have reached space!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>We know that the various transmissions that we use for radio, television, and so on are travelling out into space, but did you know that we\u2019ve actually sent recordings out there like some sort of interstellar record swap?<\/p>\n<p>Both Voyager 1 and 2 have a gold-plated copper phonograph record on board. As well as encoded pictures, sounds from Earth\u2019s environment, and greetings in 55 languages, each one contains a sample of music from around the world. Thanks to Carl Sagan\u2019s influence, that musical selection includes Chuck Berry\u2019s &#8220;Johnny B. Goode&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>If you want actual guitars in space, cosmonauts took one to Mir in 1987, and there\u2019s been an acoustic on the ISS since 2001. Astronaut Chris Hadfield famously played Bowie\u2019s Space Oddity on it in 2013.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_52098\" style=\"width: 1340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52098\" class=\"wp-image-52098 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Hadfield with acoustic guitar\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-52098\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jurvetson\/8671257096\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steve Jurvetson<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_The_record_number_of_string_changes_in_an_hour_is_226\"><\/span>9. The record number of string changes in an hour is 226<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever had to change a string in the middle of a song at a gig, you probably know that it can be done fairly quickly when it has to be. However, even with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/MusicNomad-Grip-ONE-String-Winder-Cutter-and-Puller\/85ZO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>the right tools<\/strong><\/a>, you\u2019re probably not as fast as Thomas Silkman, guitar technician and music store owner.<\/p>\n<p>On 20th April 2018, he managed to change 226 strings in a single hour. That\u2019s just over 15.9 seconds per string. To put it another way, that\u2019s the equivalent of restringing 37 guitars in an hour (if four of them were 7-strings). Not a fun way to spend an hour, but a very impressive record!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Eddie_Van_Halen_generously_donated_guitars_to_schools_in_LA\"><\/span>10. Eddie Van Halen generously donated guitars to schools in LA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Music in schools matters \u2013 studies suggest that it can make a real <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9326760\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">difference to academic outcomes<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s also something that most musicians probably feel quite strongly about. The legend that was Eddie Van Halen certainly did.<\/p>\n<p>The hugely innovative and influential guitarist donated no fewer than 75 guitars from his own collection to schools. He worked with the Mr. Holland&#8217;s Opus Foundation, a charity that champions music education in underfunded schools. Those guitars went to seven public schools in low-income areas of Los Angeles, giving hundreds of students access they otherwise wouldn\u2019t have had.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_52099\" style=\"width: 1340px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-52099\" class=\"wp-image-52099 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen.jpg\" alt=\"Eddie Van Halen\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" srcset=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen.jpg 1330w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-600x300.jpg 600w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-1080x540.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-1280x640.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-980x490.jpg 980w, https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen-480x240.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1330px) 100vw, 1330px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-52099\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Van_Halen-8597_%2820643101375%29.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Abby Gillardi<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_An_interesting_fact_about_pedals\"><\/span>11. An interesting fact about pedals<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>We know that you\u2019re interested in more than just electric guitars. So, here\u2019s a pedal fact for you: the largest pedalboard ever put together used 319 separate pedals!<\/p>\n<p>The record was set on 9th July 2019 when YouTuber Rob Scanlon teamed up with Sweetwater to create the mammoth pedalboard. As well as 319 pedals, it involved over 500 feet of cabling and 34 power supplies. If you want to recreate it, the total cost is estimated to be around $90,000 (a bit over \u00a367,000). To be honest, we\u2019d probably suggest starting with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Boss-TU-3-Pedal-Chromatic-Tuner\/C7M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>decent tuner pedal<\/strong><\/a> and working your way up from there.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;FAQs&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_old_is_the_electric_guitar\"><\/span>How old is the electric guitar?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The electric guitar is nearly a century old, with the first commercially successful model created in 1931. It was a lap steel, rather than what we think of as a standard electric guitar, but it laid the foundation for every electric guitar made since then.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Which_is_older_guitar_or_piano\"><\/span>Which is older, guitar or piano?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The guitar is much older than the piano, with early ancestors dating back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The first piano wasn\u2019t invented until around 1700. The word <em>guitar<\/em> comes from the ancient Greek word <em>kithara<\/em>, via Arabic and Spanish! We\u2019ve been playing guitar for a long time.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_best-selling_electric_guitar\"><\/span>What is the best-selling electric guitar?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p>The best-selling guitar of all time is considered to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Fender\/Stratocaster.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Fender Stratocaster<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s been around since the \u201850s and has evolved in that time. With a huge range of models available, including a wide range of pickup options, colours, and hardware choices, there\u2019s a Strat to meet every need!<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Final thoughts&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;20px||||false|false&#8221; border_width_top=&#8221;2px&#8221; border_color_top=&#8221;#f08000&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_thoughts\"><\/span>Final thoughts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There you go! That\u2019s our list of <strong>11 facts about the electric guitar<\/strong> \u2013 what have we missed? Let us know your favourite little-known facts over on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gear4music_official\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitars.html&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;SHOP ELECTRIC GUITARS&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_button button_url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/category\/guitars-bass\/guitar-guides\/&#8221; url_new_window=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text=&#8221;READ MORE GUITAR GUIDES&#8221; button_alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;NEW CTA Button&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.17.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_button=&#8221;on&#8221; button_text_size=&#8221;14px&#8221; button_text_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; button_bg_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_border_width=&#8221;0px&#8221; button_border_color=&#8221;#0e95cf&#8221; button_font=&#8221;Arial|700|||||||&#8221; button_icon=&#8221;&#x35;||divi||400&#8243; button_icon_color=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px|30px||30px|false|false&#8221; box_shadow_style=&#8221;preset6&#8243; box_shadow_blur=&#8221;2px&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Guitars are great. We know it, you know it\u2026 But what else do you know about the instrument? We\u2019ve had some fun putting together this list of interesting facts about the electric guitar.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":52101,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p><span style=\"color: #999999;\">Featured image: Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/badwsky\/4447031573\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anthony Catalan<\/a><\/span><\/p><p>Guitars are great. We know it, you know it\u2026 But what else do you know about the instrument? We\u2019ve had some fun putting together this list of interesting <strong>facts about the electric guitar<\/strong>.<\/p><hr \/><h3>Facts about the electric guitar<\/h3><h4>1. The electric guitar was the original metal instrument!<\/h4><p>But not heavy metal. The first commercially successful electric guitar was made from cast aluminium. The Electro A-22, affectionately known as the \u201cfrying pan,\" was developed in the early 1930s by the inventor and musician George Beauchamp, together with the engineer and machinist Adolph Rickenbacker. Yes, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Electric_Guitars\/Rickenbacker.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>that<\/em> Rickenbacker<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p><p>Hawaiian music, with its heavy use of steel guitar, enjoyed a surge of popularity in the 1920s, prompting Beauchamp to begin experimenting with pickups for his resonator guitar. Feedback put a stop to that and led to the development of the solid aluminium lap steel guitar.\u00a0<\/p><hr \/><h4>2. The Les Paul wasn\u2019t Les Paul\u2019s first electric guitar<\/h4><p>In the late 1930s, the electric guitar was a hollow-bodied instrument with a pickup to amplify the sound. The problem with that was unwanted feedback from the hollow construction. To get around it, Les Paul cut a guitar in half and stuck a 4\u201dx4\u201d pine plank in the middle.<\/p><p>He presented his invention, nicknamed \u201cThe Log,\u201d to Gibson in 1941, and they dismissed it as a \u201cbroomstick with pickups\u201d \u2013 at least, until The Fender Broadcaster became a huge success a decade later. When that happened, Gibson realised they needed a solid-body guitar to compete. They contacted Les Paul and began their partnership in 1951, leading to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Gibson\/Les-Paul-Guitar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Les Paul<\/strong><\/a> we all know.<\/p><p><img class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-52094\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Gibson-Les-Paul-Custom-70s.jpg\" alt=\"Gibson Les Paul Custom '70s \" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/><\/p><hr \/><h4>3. Fender\u2019s famous colours only exist because they were cheap<\/h4><p>Building guitars is expensive, so saving money where you can without compromising on quality is just good business. With that in mind, Fender went looking for affordable paint they could use. The result? Many of the iconic colours from the \u201860s were actually repurposed car paints.<\/p><p>The car industry had a range of paint colours that were cheap and easily available, and Fender made the most of that. Lake Placid Blue, Fiesta Red, and Shell Pink were all used on cars before they became guitar finishes!<\/p><hr \/><h4>4. Got an old Gibson with no serial number? It\u2019s probably from 1952<\/h4><p>Have you ever used only serial number lookup tools to find out more about a guitar? If you\u2019re lucky enough to come across a 1952 Gibson, you\u2019ll be out of luck! For that single year, the company decided not to use serial numbers on their guitars.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_52097\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1330\"]<img class=\"wp-image-52097 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/1952-Gibson-Les-Paul-Goldtop.jpg\" alt=\"1952 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:1952_Gibson_Les_Paul_Goldtop_-_body_-_EMP_Museum,_Seattle.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">John Seb Barber<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h4>5. The Precision Bass got its name from its frets<\/h4><p>When electric guitars first started revolutionising popular music, the low end came from the upright bass. It wasn\u2019t long before Fender decided to change that, though, releasing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Bass_Guitars\/Fender_Bass_Guitars\/Precision-Bass-Guitar.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Precision Bass<\/strong><\/a> in 1951. If you\u2019ve ever wondered why they called it that, the answer is simple: frets! Upright basses are fretless instruments, but the addition of frets to the P-Bass made accurate intonation on every note simple. <em>Precise<\/em>, in fact.<\/p><hr \/><h4>6. Fender developed a 7-string guitar in the 1980s<\/h4><p>When you think of 7-string guitars, Fender probably isn\u2019t the first name that springs to mind. In fact, their first official 7-string wasn\u2019t released until 2024 \u2013 Chris Garza\u2019s Custom Shop Strat. There were some Squiers in the 1990s, but nothing with the Fender name on the headstock.<\/p><p>But there almost was.<\/p><p>Back in 1987, Fender\u2019s head of R&D, Dan Smith, collaborated with Maestro Alex Gregory to create a 7-string Stratocaster as the third Fender artist signature model. Interestingly, unlike modern 7-strings with their heavy-riffing low B, it featured a high A string. Some prototypes were built; it was showcased at the 1988 NAMM show, then\u2026 nothing. It never entered production.<\/p><hr \/><h4>7. Great Scott! The ES-345 was actually released four years after the <em>Back to the Future <\/em>scene is\u00a0set<\/h4><p><em>Back to the Future<\/em> is a genuine classic, and so is the Gibson ES-345 featured in the film. It\u2019s a fabulous guitar, and that iconic hollow-body shape fits perfectly with the way we picture 1950s rock and roll. However, the ES-345 was released in 1959, four years after the scene is set.<\/p><p>The guitar that was used in the film has an interesting story behind it, with Gibson hunting for it in the run-up to the film's 40th anniversary in 2025, as well as releasing some fantastic replicas. If you want to read more about it, we covered <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/blog\/back-to-the-future-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>the Hunt for the Back to the Future Guitar<\/strong><\/a> in another post.<\/p><hr \/><h4>8. Guitars and guitar-based music have reached space!<\/h4><p>We know that the various transmissions that we use for radio, television, and so on are travelling out into space, but did you know that we\u2019ve actually sent recordings out there like some sort of interstellar record swap?<\/p><p>Both Voyager 1 and 2 have a gold-plated copper phonograph record on board. As well as encoded pictures, sounds from Earth\u2019s environment, and greetings in 55 languages, each one contains a sample of music from around the world. Thanks to Carl Sagan\u2019s influence, that musical selection includes Chuck Berry\u2019s \"Johnny B. Goode\".<\/p><p>If you want actual guitars in space, cosmonauts took one to Mir in 1987, and there\u2019s been an acoustic on the ISS since 2001. Astronaut Chris Hadfield famously played Bowie\u2019s Space Oddity on it in 2013.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_52098\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1330\"]<img class=\"wp-image-52098 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Chris-Hadfield-with-acoustic-guitar.jpg\" alt=\"Chris Hadfield with acoustic guitar\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/jurvetson\/8671257096\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Steve Jurvetson<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h4>9. The record number of string changes in an hour is 226<\/h4><p>If you\u2019ve ever had to change a string in the middle of a song at a gig, you probably know that it can be done fairly quickly when it has to be. However, even with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/MusicNomad-Grip-ONE-String-Winder-Cutter-and-Puller\/85ZO\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>the right tools<\/strong><\/a>, you\u2019re probably not as fast as Thomas Silkman, guitar technician and music store owner.<\/p><p>On 20th April 2018, he managed to change 226 strings in a single hour. That\u2019s just over 15.9 seconds per string. To put it another way, that\u2019s the equivalent of restringing 37 guitars in an hour (if four of them were 7-strings). Not a fun way to spend an hour, but a very impressive record!<\/p><hr \/><h4>10. Eddie Van Halen generously donated guitars to schools in LA<\/h4><p>Music in schools matters \u2013 studies suggest that it can make a real <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC9326760\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">difference to academic outcomes<\/a><\/strong>. It\u2019s also something that most musicians probably feel quite strongly about. The legend that was Eddie Van Halen certainly did.<\/p><p>The hugely innovative and influential guitarist donated no fewer than 75 guitars from his own collection to schools. He worked with the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a charity that champions music education in underfunded schools. Those guitars went to seven public schools in low-income areas of Los Angeles, giving hundreds of students access they otherwise wouldn\u2019t have had.<\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_52099\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"1330\"]<img class=\"wp-image-52099 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/storage.googleapis.com\/stateless-blog-g4m-co-uk\/2026\/07\/Eddie-Van-Halen.jpg\" alt=\"Eddie Van Halen\" width=\"1330\" height=\"665\" \/> Creative Commons License by <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Van_Halen-8597_%2820643101375%29.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Abby Gillardi<\/a>[\/caption]<hr \/><h4>11. An interesting fact about pedals<\/h4><p>We know that you\u2019re interested in more than just electric guitars. So, here\u2019s a pedal fact for you: the largest pedalboard ever put together used 319 separate pedals!<\/p><p>The record was set on 9th July 2019 when YouTuber Rob Scanlon teamed up with Sweetwater to create the mammoth pedalboard. As well as 319 pedals, it involved over 500 feet of cabling and 34 power supplies. If you want to recreate it, the total cost is estimated to be around $90,000 (a bit over \u00a367,000). To be honest, we\u2019d probably suggest starting with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Guitar-and-Bass\/Boss-TU-3-Pedal-Chromatic-Tuner\/C7M\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>decent tuner pedal<\/strong><\/a> and working your way up from there.<\/p><hr \/><h3>FAQs<\/h3><h4>How old is the electric guitar?<\/h4><p>The electric guitar is nearly a century old, with the first commercially successful model created in 1931. It was a lap steel, rather than what we think of as a standard electric guitar, but it laid the foundation for every electric guitar made since then.<\/p><hr \/><h4>Which is older, guitar or piano?<\/h4><p>The guitar is much older than the piano, with early ancestors dating back to Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The first piano wasn\u2019t invented until around 1700. The word <em>guitar<\/em> comes from the ancient Greek word <em>kithara<\/em>, via Arabic and Spanish! We\u2019ve been playing guitar for a long time.<\/p><hr \/><h4>What is the best-selling electric guitar?<\/h4><p>The best-selling guitar of all time is considered to be the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gear4music.com\/Fender\/Stratocaster.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Fender Stratocaster<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s been around since the \u201850s and has evolved in that time. With a huge range of models available, including a wide range of pickup options, colours, and hardware choices, there\u2019s a Strat to meet every need!<\/p><hr \/><h3>Final thoughts<\/h3><p>There you go! That\u2019s our list of <strong>11 facts about the electric guitar<\/strong> \u2013 what have we missed? Let us know your favourite little-known facts over on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/gear4music_official\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reddit<\/a><\/strong>!<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[243,105],"tags":[290,107],"class_list":["post-52083","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guitar-guides","category-guitars-bass","tag-guide","tag-guitars"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>11 Facts About the Electric Guitar We Bet You Didn&#039;t Know<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Bit of a guitar geek? Same here. 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