<P> There are some common characteristics of solid body electric guitars . They typically have six strings although there are some seven - and eight - string models . Most have at least a volume and tone control . If they have more than one guitar pickup they have a switch that allows them to switch between the different pickups . There are various types of pickups that can be outfitted to a guitar . They can have single - coils, a P - 90, or a humbucker . These pickups can be either passive or active (require batteries). </P> <P> Sometimes guitars are outfitted with pick guards which prevent the guitar from being scratched by a guitar pick . </P> <P> The origins of the solid body electric guitar are confusing . The first commercially available solid body electric Spanish guitar was produced by the Rickenbacker company in 1931 . Les Paul, a guitarist, is often erroneously credited with inventing the first solid body, but Fender is often incorrectly credited as the first to commercially market a solid body electric guitar, which itself was based on a design by Merle Travis . Also it is reported that around the same time (1940) a solid body was created by Jamaican musician and inventor, Hedley Jones . In the 1940s, Les Paul created a guitar called the "Log," which came "from the 4" by 4" solid block of pine which the guitarist had inserted between the sawed halves of the body that he'd just dismembered . He then carefully re-joined the neck to the pine log, using some metal brackets ." He then put some pickups that he designed on it . He soon went to companies asking if they would buy his guitar . They turned him down . However, after the Fender Telecaster electric guitar became popular, the Gibson company contacted him and had him endorse a model named after him, The Les Paul guitar . It came out in 1952 . </P> <P> While Les Paul was looking for a manufacture for his log, Leo Fender was working on the Fender Telecaster . It was released in 1950 . The telecaster had a "basic, single - cutaway solid slab of ash for a body and separate screwed - on maple neck was geared to mass production . It had a slanted pickup mounted into a steel bridge - plate carrying three adjustable bridge - saddles ." Its color was blond . It is considered "the world's first commercially marketed solid body electric guitar .". The Telecaster continues to be manufactured today . </P>

Who created the first solid body electric guitar