Discover the Untold Story of the Electric Guitar at MIM

Discover the Untold Story of the ELECTRIC GUITAR

From the MIM exhibit -- The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon

In 1932, the world heard the electric guitar broadcast over the radio for the very first time. This new sound changed music forever. Opening on November 9, The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon exhibition shares the untold story of the electric guitar from earliest imagination to musical revolution — exclusively at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM).

Based on the private collection of guitar historian Lynn Wheelwright, this exhibition features more than eighty of the world’s rarest electric guitars and amplifiers, including some of the first ever heard during the 1930s and 1940s and those played by the most famous electric guitarists known today. The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon shows how the electric guitar shaped musical genres beyond rock and roll, such as Hawaiian music, western swing, dance orchestra, and jazz.

One remarkable instrument included in the exhibition is Alvino Rey’s 1932 Electro A-25, likely the first electric guitar ever played on a national radio broadcast. Considered the “Father of the Electric Guitar,” Rey was not only a talented performer but also a direct contributor to the research and development of amplified instruments for brands such as Rickenbacker, Gibson, and Fender.

Another highlight is the 1940 Gibson ES-250 played by Charlie Christian, the acknowledged pioneer of electric jazz guitar, while a member of Benny Goodman’s sextet. An early adopter of the electric guitar, Christian was already performing captivating solos and thrilling audiences with the new sound by 1937, earning his status as the first modern electric guitar hero.

In addition to early versions of the electric guitar, guests can also see instruments played by some of the most influential electric guitarists, including Pete Townshend of the Who and Ron Wood and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones. One of those guitars is Townshend’s 1976 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe. Featuring modified electronics and marked with a large number “5” for quick identification on stage, this Les Paul was a staple of live performances in the late 1970s.

From the MIM exhibit -- The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon

Throughout the exhibition, guests can view original video production featuring demonstrations of vintage instruments and interviews with Grammy Award–winning jazz guitarist George Benson, guitar historians and collectors, friends and family of the pioneers of the electric guitar, and more.

During opening weekend of The Electric Guitar: Inventing an American Icon (November 9–11), go behind the scenes with special guests who will mark the occasion with engaging talks and demonstrations, revealing why the electric guitar made history nearly ninety years ago and still captures our attention today.

On Friday, November 9, and Saturday, November 10, the MIM Music Theater will present evening concerts featuring renowned guitarist John Jorgenson as he leads a tribute to Charlie Christian with special guest Jason Marsalis along with Cindy Cashdollar and the Hot Club of Cowtown. These concerts will highlight some of the vintage sounds that made groundbreaking electric guitarists famous; concert tickets sold separately. For more information, visit MIM.org.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Boulevard Phoenix, AZ 85050 | Phone: 480.478.6000 | MIM.org