Over the next few years, guitarists such as the young Lester Polfus (Les Paul) attempt to amplify their guitars with phonograph needles, telephone pick-ups, and microphones.
Throughout the white rural areas of the South, a combination of European musical forms develop. It’s popularity spreads rapidly with the advent of a “new fangled” invention called radio. “ hillbilly music” could now be heard across all of rural America.
America’s infatuation with the blues and " hillbilly music" is fueled by the Sears and Roebuck catalog. Several cheap guitars are offered, starting at two dollars. Guitars begin to make their presence known on America’s musical landscape.
Jazz becomes the “next big thing”. Horn driven bands capture the public’s fancy. Banjos usually provide the rhythm, simply because they can be heard. Guitars are more often found in acoustic instrumental groups and used for vocal accompaniment.
Banjo player, Nick Lucus, is the first to
play a guitar on a recording.
1922- Gibson introduces the L-5 acoustic guitar. It’s America’s
first guitar to offer an adjustable truss rod and a neck joint at the
14th fret.
Lonnie
Johnson
The Dopyera brothers mechanically amplify a guitar with three speaker -like aluminum cones. National, Regal, and Dobro become the prominent resonator guitar manufacturers. Played primarily with a slide, the resonator sound has remained popular with both blues purists and bluegrass pickers.
Eddie Lang