<P> The first commercially successful solid - body instrument was the Rickenbacker frying pan lap steel guitar , produced from 1931 to 1939 . The first commercially available non lap steel guitar was also produced by the Rickenbacker / Electro company , starting in 1931 The model was referred to as the `` electric Spanish Guitar '' to distinguish it from the `` Hawaiian '' lap steel . </P>
<P> The first commercially successful solid - body instrument was the Rickenbacker frying pan lap steel guitar , produced from 1931 to 1939 . The first commercially available non lap steel guitar was also produced by the Rickenbacker / Electro company , starting in 1931 The model was referred to as the `` electric Spanish Guitar '' to distinguish it from the `` Hawaiian '' lap steel . </P>
when was the first solid body electric guitar made
when was the first solid body electric guitar made
1931
1931