Electric Guitar & Bass Timeline

1950-1963

This timeline includes electric guitars and basses from Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Hofner, and Epiphone. The timeline starts with Fender’s production of their solidbody guitar in 1950 and ends in 1963 when, in my opinion, the majority of the enduring electric guitar models had been established.

1950

  • April – Fender Esquire introduced (single coil bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, string-through pine body with black finish, white pickguard, bolt-on maple neck & fingerboard, no truss rod, 3 steel bridge saddles (2 strings per saddle), around 60 made, discontinued in October due to neck issues)
  • Summer – Fender Esquire body changed to Ash with a butterscotch blonde finish and black pickguard
  • July – Fender “Double Esquire” introduced (2 pickups, three position pickup selector switch – bridge pickup, neck pickup, neck pickup with tone rolled off; volume and pickup blend knob)
  • October – “Double Esquire” renamed Fender Broadcaster (truss rod added, around 200 made)
  • November – Fender Broadcaster given brass bridge saddle

1951

  • January – Fender Esquire reintroduced (truss rod added, three position selector switch – tone control bypass, tone control active, tone rolled off; brass bridge saddles, discontinued in 1970)
  • February – Fender Broadcaster loses its name due a legal dispute from Gretsch over the name “Broadcaster” – later referred to as Fender “Nocaster” (around 475 made)
  • April – Fender “Nocaster” named Fender Telecaster
  • Fender Precision bass introduced (one single-coil pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, string-through ash body with double cutaway and butterscotch blonde finish, black pickguard, bolt-on maple neck & fingerboard, two pressed-fibre bridge saddles (2 strings per saddle), telecaster-shaped headstock)

1952

  • Fender Telecaster pickup blend knob is replaced with tone knob, and is given new wiring (position 1 – bridge pickup with tone knob active, position 2 – neck pickup with tone knob active, position 3 – neck pickup with preset tone roll-off and the tone knob deactivated)
  • Gibson Les Paul introduced (2 “soapbar” P-90 pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, mahogany body with carved maple top and goldtop finish, mahogany neck, bound brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearloid trapezoid inlays, Kluson deluxe keystone tuners, trapeze-style bridge, nickel hardware)
  • Gibson ES-295 introduced (2 “dogear” P-90 pickups with cream covers, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, laminated maple top, back & sides with gold finish, florentine cutaway, cream pickguard with gold floral design, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram inlays, Kluson deluxe keystone tuners, Les Paul trapeze-style bridge, gold hardware, discontinued in 1959)

1953

  • Gibson Les Paul tailpiece changed from trapeze-style to wrap-around style
  • Gibson Les Paul models available with optional Bigsby B-7 vibrato
  • Gibson EB bass introduced (alnico single coil neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, violin shaped solid mahogany body with walnut stain finish, painted on “f-holes,” short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, banjo-style Kluson tuners, telescopic endpin for playing upright, discontinued in 1958)
  • Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet introduced (2 DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), chambered mahogany body with laminated arched maple top, black nitron top, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, melita bridge, “G” tailpiece, discontinued in 1971)
  • Gretsch 6130 Round-Up introduced (2 DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), chambered mahogany body with knotty-pine top, Orange-stain top finish with branded “G,” sides covered in tooled leather, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays w/ cows and cactus, melita bridge, “belt buckle” tailpiece, gold hardware, discontinued in 1957)

1954

  • Fender Stratocaster introduced (3 single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 2 tone knobs (neck and middle pickups), string-through contoured double-cutaway ash body with 2-tone sunburst finish, bolt-on maple neck & fingerboard, 6 individual steel bridge saddles, tremolo system)
  • Fender Telecaster & Esquire finish changes from butterscotch blonde to whitish blonde & white pickguard, bridge saddles changed from brass to steel
  • Fender Precision Bass given staggered pole pieces on pickup, steel bridge saddles, contoured body, and finish changes from butterscotch blonde to 2-tone sunburst with white pickguard
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom introduced (Alnico V neck pickup, “soapbar” P-90 bridge pickup, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, mahogany carved top and body with black finish, mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, small frets, waffleback Kluson keystone tuners, split-diamond pearl peghead inlay, tune-o-matic bridge and stop-bar tailpiece, gold hardware)
  • Gibson Les Paul Junior introduced (single “dogear” P-90 bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, mahogany body with tobacco sunburst finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, white button tuners, wrap-around bridge/tailpiece, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gibson Les Paul TV introduced (3/4 Les Paul Junior with TV yellow finish, maple body, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gretsch 6129 Silver Jet introduced (Duo Jet with silver sparkle nitron finish top, discontinued in 1964)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 600 introduced (single-coil “Horseshoe” bridge pickup, tone selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, maple body with blonde finish, maple bolt-on neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1969)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 800 introduced (double-coil “Horseshoe” bridge pickup, coil-selector switch and tone selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, maple body with blonde finish, maple bolt-on neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1969)

1955

  • Fender Telecaster & Esquire bridge pickup given staggered instead of flat pole pieces
  • Fender Stratocaster offered without a tremolo (referred to as “hardtail” Strats)
  • Gibson ES-225T introduced (first thinline archtop guitar, one “dogear” P-90 pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, 2.25” deep fully hollow laminated maple body with sunburst or natural finish, florentine cutaway, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, white button tuners, Les Paul trapeze-style bridge, discontinued in 1959)
  • Gibson Byrdland introduced (2 Alnico V pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, 2.25” deep fully hollow thinline body, carved spruce top with maple back & sides, sunburst or natural finish, 23.5” short scale length, maple neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, flowerpot peghead inlay, Kluson keystone tuners, tune-o-matic bridge on rosewood base, triple-loop tubular tailpiece, gold hardware)
  • Gibson Les Paul changes bridge/tailpiece to tune-o-matic and stop-bar
  • Gibson Les Paul Special introduced (2 “soapbar” P-90 pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, mahogany body with TV yellow finish, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, white button tuners, wrap-around bridge/tailpiece)
  • Gibson Les Paul TV changes to full scale
  • Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Hollowbody introduced (Two DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), laminated maple top, back & sides, Amber Red finish, branded “G,” maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays w/ cows and cactus, 24.5” scale length, brass nut, aluminum bridge on rosewood base, Bigsby vibrato, gold hardware, discontinued in 1980)
  • Gretsch 6121 Chet Atkins Solidbody introduced (Two DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), chambered mahogany body with maple top, Mahogany Brown finish with branded “G,” sides covered in tooled leather, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays w/ cows and cactus, metal nut, metal bridge, Bigsby vibrato, gold hardware, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gretsch 6136 White Falcon introduced (Two DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), Spruce top, Laminated maple back & sides, white finish with gold sparkle binding, Maple neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays w/ engraved birds, longer 25.5” scale length, Grover Imperial tuners, melita bridge, Cadillac “G” tailpiece, 24K gold-plated hardware, discontinued in 1981)
  • Gretsch 6134 White Penguin introduced (Two DeArmond single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 3 knobs on lower bout (volume, volume, tone), 1 knob on upper bout (master volume), chambered mahogany body with laminated arched maple top, white finish with gold sparkle binding, mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays w/ engraved birds, melita bridge, Cadillac “G” tailpiece, gold hardware, approx 12 made, discontinued in 1964)
  • Gretsch 6131 Jet Firebird introduced (Duo Jet in oriental red top finish and black back & sides, discontinued in 1971)

1956

  • Fender Musicmaster introduced (1 single coil neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, ash body with desert sand finish, anodized gold pickguard, bolt-on maple neck & fingerboard, short 22.5” scale, string-through bridge with 3 steel saddles (2 strings per saddle), discontinued in 1980)
  • Fender Duosonic introduced (2 single coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, ash body with desert sand finish, anodized gold pickguard, bolt-on maple neck & fingerboard, short 22.5” scale, string-through bridge with 3 steel saddles (2 strings per saddle), discontinued in 1969)
  • Sunburst Fender Stratocasters made with alder instead of ash bodies due to better consistency and ease of finishing
  • Fender Musicmaster & Duosonic given a poplar body
  • Gibson Les Paul TV given mahogany body
  • Gibson ES-225T available with 2 P-90 pickups, 3-way selector switch, and 2 volume & 2 tone knobs
  • Gretsch 6120 given plain block inlays
  • Rickenbacker Combo 400 introduced (first production guitar with neck-through construction, single-coil neck pickup, tone switch, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, maple body with Cloverfield green, Montezuma brown, or Jet black finish; gold anodized pickguard, maple neck with neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1958)
  • Hofner 500/1 “Violin” Bass introduced (2 single-coil rosewood pickups, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs on oval plate, arched solid spruce top, brown tortoise-shell pickguard, hollow maple body, 3-piece maple neck, no truss rod, brown stain or brunette finish, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, star peghead inlay, ebony bridge, wire tailpiece, nickel hardware)

1957

  • Fender Precision bass redesigned (split-coil bridge pickup with 2 pole pieces per string, contoured body, anodized gold pickguard, Stratocaster-style headstock, bridge-mounted strings, 4 individual string saddles)
  • Fender Telecaster and Esquire available in 2-tone sunburst finish (made in limited quantities only in 1957 & 1958)
  • Fender Stratocaster offered in blonde finish with 14K gold-plated hardware
  • Gibson Les Paul and ES-295 change pickups from P-90s to PAF Humbuckers
  • Gibson Byrdland changes pickups from Alnico V to PAF Humbuckers
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom changes pickups to 3 PAF Humbuckers (position 1 – bridge pickup, position 2 – middle & bridge pickups, position 1 – neck pickup)
  • Gretsch 6120 given humptop inlays and branded “G” is removed
  • Gretsch 6121 given humptop inlays, ebony fingerboard, the branded “G” and tooled leather sides are removed
  • Gretsch White Falcon, White Penguin, Duo Jet & Round-Up given humptop inlays
  • Rickenbacker Combo 450 introduced (2 single-coil pickups, rotary pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, maple body with Cloverfield green, Montezuma brown, or Jet black finish; gold anodized pickguard, maple neck with neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1984)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 650 introduced (single-coil “Horseshoe” bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, tone selector switch, maple body with sharp double cutaways and natural maple or Turquoise Blue finish, maple neck with set-neck construction, unbound rosewood fiberboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1961)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 850 introduced (double-coil “Horseshoe” bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, coil-selector switch and tone selector switch, maple body with sharp double cutaways and natural maple or Turquoise Blue finish, maple neck with set-neck construction, unbound rosewood fiberboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1966)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 600 & 800 available in Turquoise Blue finish
  • Rickenbacker Combo 800 & 850 add chrome-bar neck pickup
  • Rickenbacker Combo 450 given 3-way pickup selector switch and chrome-bar pickups
  • Rickenbacker 4000 Bass introduced (single “horseshoe” pickup in bridge position, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, maple body with two-tone brown sunburst or natural finish, gold Lucite pickguard, mahogany neck, neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1984)
  • Rickenbacker 4000 Bass given movable bridge cover plate with mutes (guitar could be played muted or unmuted)
  • Hofner 500/1 bridge pickup moved closer to the neck and given vertical peghead inlay

1958

  • Fender Jazzmaster introduced (first Fender guitar with rosewood fingerboard, 2 wide single-coil pickups, rhythm/lead switch, Lead circuit – 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume & 1 tone knob, Rhythm circuit – neck pickup volume & tone thumbwheels, offset double-cutaway alder body with 3-tone sunburst finish, gold anodized pickguard, maple neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, floating tremolo & bridge with 6 saddles, discontinued in 1981)
  • Fender Stratocaster & Precision Bass finish changes from two-tone to three-tone sunburst
  • Fender Telecaster & Equire given string-through bridges and threaded steel saddles
  • Gibson ES-335TD introduced (2 PAF humbuckers, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, 1.75” deep laminated maple double-cutaway thinline body with sunburst or natural finish, solid maple center-block, long pickguard that extends below the bridge, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot fingerboard inlays, tulip Kluson tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece)
  • Gibson ES-355TD introduced (2 PAF humbuckers, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, 1.75” deep laminated maple double-cutaway thinline body with cherry red finish, solid maple center-block, tortoise-shell pickguard, mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, split-diamond peghead inlay, grover rotomatic tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, bigsby vibrato, gold hardware, discontinued in 1982)
  • Gibson EB-2 bass introduced (humbucking neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, ES-335 style thinline maple body with sunburst or natural finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, banjo-style tuners, discontinued in 1961)
  • Gibson Flying V introduced (2 PAF humbuckers, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volumes and 1 tone knob, Korina body with natural finish, Korina neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, V-shaped headstock with glued-on plastic Gibson logo, Tune-o-matic bridge, “V” tailpiece with through-body stringing, gold hardware, only 98 made, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gibson Explorer introduced (2 PAF humbuckers, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volumes and 1 tone knob, Korina body with natural finish, Korina neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, six-in-a-line tuners, Tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, gold hardware, only 22 made, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gibson Les Paul finish changed from Goldtop to Sunburst & renamed Les Paul Standard (around 2000 made)
  • Gibson Les Paul Jr redesigned with double cutaway and new cherry red finish
  • Gibson Les Paul TV redesigned with double cutaway
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom given gold Grover rotomatic tuners
  • Gretsch redesign on all models
    • Introduces Filtertron humbucking pickups, 3-way tone switch replaces tone knob, ebony fingerboard replaces rosewood, “Neo Classic” thumbprint fingerboard inlays, metal bar bridge or “space control” roller bridge replace melita bridges
  • Gretsch introduces Super Project-O-Sonic stereo electronics on the White Falcon – three strings captured by each pickup and sent to a separate output. The controls included two 3-way tone switches (one for each pickup) and a 3-way pickup selector switch
  • Gretsch 6122 Chet Atkins Country Gentleman introduced (2 Filtertron Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector and master tone selector switches, 2 individual pickup volume knobs, master volume knob, thinline laminated maple body with mahogany brown finish, painted “f” holes, short 24.25” scale, maple neck, bound ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays, metal nut, Grover Imperial tuners, metal bar bridge, Bigsby vibrato, gold plated hardware, discontinued in 1980)
  • Gretsch 6119 Chet Atkins Tennessean introduced (1 Filtertron humbucking bridge pickup, master volume knob and 3-position tone switch, laminate maple body with cherry red finish, 3-piece maple neck, unbound ebony fingerboard with thumbprint fingerboard inlays, bone nut, zero fret, metal bar bridge, Bigsby vibrato, chrome hardware, discontinued in 1978)
  • Gretsch Single Anniversary introduced to commemorate Gretsch’s 75th year (1 Filtertron humbucking neck pickup, master volume knob, 3-way tone selector switch, laminated maple body with sunburst (6124) or 2-tone smoke green finish (6125), maple neck, unbound ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays, roller bridge, “G” tailpiece, discontinued in 1977)
  • Gretsch Double Anniversary introduced to commemorate Gretsch’s 75th year (2 Filtertron humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector and master tone selector switches, 2 individual pickup volume knobs, master volume knob, laminated maple body with sunburst (6117) or 2-tone smoke green finish (6118), maple neck, unbound ebony fingerboard with thumbprint inlays, roller bridge, “G” tailpiece, discontinued in 1977)
  • Gretsch Duo Jet available with optional Bigsby vibrato
  • Rickenbacker Capri Thin Hollowbody Series 310-325 introduced (2” deep double-cutaway maple hollowbody with two-tone brown sunburst or natural maple finish (some had an f-hole and some had a solid top), 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone control, gold pickguard, short 21” scale length, maple neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays)
    • 310 (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, no vibrato)
    • 315 (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, Kauffman vibrato)
    • 320 (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, no vibrato)
    • 325 (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, Kauffman vibrato)
  • Rickenbacker Capri Thin Hollowbody Series 330-375 introduced (2” deep double-cutaway maple hollowbody with cat-eye sound hole and two-tone brown sunburst or natural maple finish, gold pickguard, 3-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, “oven” knobs)
    • 330, 360 (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, “sheet metal” tailpiece, 360 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays, bound fingerboard and body binding)
    • 335, 365 (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, Kauffman vibrato tailpiece, 365 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays, bound fingerboard and body binding; 365 discontinued in 1975, 335 discontinued in 1978)
    • 340, 370 (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch (bridge, neck & middle, neck), 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, “sheet metal” tailpiece, 370 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays, bound fingerboard and body binding)
    • 345, 375 (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch (bridge, neck & middle, neck), 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, Kauffman vibrato tailpiece, 375 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays, bound fingerboard and body binding, 345 and 375 discontinued in 1975)
  • Rickenbacker Capri Thin Full-Body Series introduced (2.5” deep single-cutaway maple hollowbody with cat-eye sound hole and two-tone brown sunburst or natural maple finish, gold pickguard, 3-piece maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard, “oven” knobs)
    • 330F, 360F (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, “sheet metal” tailpiece, 360F with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays and body binding; 300F discontinued in 1960, 360F discontinued in 1973)
    • 335F, 365F (2 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, Kauffman vibrato tailpiece, 365F with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays and body binding; 335F discontinued in 1960, 365F discontinued in 1973)
    • 340F, 370F (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch (bridge, neck & middle, neck), 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, “sheet metal” tailpiece, 370 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays and body binding; 340F discontinued in 1963, 370F discontinued in 1973)
    • 345F, 375F (3 chrome-bar single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch (bridge, neck & middle, neck), 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, Kauffman vibrato tailpiece, 375 with “deluxe” triangle fingerboard inlays and body binding; 345F discontinued in 1963, 375F discontinued in 1973)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 425 introduced (1 chrome-bar single-coil bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, tone selector switch, maple “cresting wave” body with sunburst finish; maple neck with neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1973)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 450 redesigned with “cresting wave” body shape and sunburst finish
  • Rickenbacker Combo 800 given neck “chrome-bar” pickup and single-coil “horseshoe” bridge pickup
  • Rickenbacker Capri 310, 315, 320, and 325 given 2 volume and 2 tone knobs
  • Rickenbacker 4000 bass given walnut neck
  • Hofner 500/1 given black plastic pickup covers and rectangular control plate with 2 volume knobs, 2 pickup on/off sliders and 1 volume boost slider

1959

  • Fender Stratocaster, Telecaster, Esquire, Musicmaster, Duosonic, and Precision Bass given unbound slab rosewood fingerboards (May)
  • Fender Telecaster Custom & Esquire Custom introduced (alder body, 3-tone sunburst finish, white body binding, discontinued in 1972)
  • Fender Telecaster & Equire change back to string-through bodies from string-through bridges
  • Fender Jazzmaster & Precision bass pickguard changed from anodized gold to tortoise shell or white
  • Fender Musicmaster & Duosonic given cream-colored pickguards
  • Gibson ES-330T introduced (1 “dogear” P-90 pickup in middle position, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, fully hollow 1.75” deep thinline double-cutaway maple body with sunburst, natural, or cherry red finish, neck joint at 16th fret instead of 19th fret, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, white button tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, trapeze tailpiece, discontinued in 1962)
  • Gibson ES-330TD introduced (2 “dogear” P-90 pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, discontinued in 1972)
  • Gibson ES-345TD introduced (2 PAF humbuckers, stereo electronics – one pickup to each output, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, Vari-tone rotary tone switch, 1.75” deep laminated maple double-cutaway thinline body with sunburst, natural, or cherry red finish, solid maple center-block, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, gold hardware, discontinued in 1971)
  • Gibson ES-355TDSV introduced (ES-355 with stereo electronics & Vari-tone rotary tone switch)
  • Gibson Melody Maker introduced (1 single-coil bridge pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, mahogany body with tobacco sunburst finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, white button tuners, wrap-around bridge/tailpiece, discontinued in 1963)
  • Gibson Les Paul Special redesigned with double cutaway and cherry red finish. Late 1958 renamed SG Special
  • Gibson EB-0 bass introduced (humbucking neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, solid mahogany body with Junior-style double cutaway, cherry red finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, banjo-style tuners, discontinued in 1979)
  • Gibson EB-2 given push-button bass-baritone tone modifier
  • Epiphone ES-212T Sheraton introduced (2 New York single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, laminated thinline double-cutaway maple body with sunburst or blond finish, solid maple center-block, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with V-block fingerboard inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, frequensator tailpiece, gold hardware, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Crestwood introduced (2 New York single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, double-cutaway mahogany body with sunburst finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece, gold hardware, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Coronet introduced (1 New York single-coil pickup in bridge position, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, double-cutaway mahogany body with sunburst or black finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, wrap-around bridge/tailpiece, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone EBV-232 Rivoli bass introduced (large single-coil neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, ES-335 style thinline laminated maple body with sunburst or natural finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, banjo-style tuners, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Crestwood renamed Crestwood Custom and given cherry red finish
  • Gretsch Anniversary given nameplate on peghead and bigsby vibrato
  • Gretsch White Falcon Project-O-Sonic adds an additional two 3-position pickup selector switches for a total of 54 tonal variations
  • Gretsch 6120, 6121, and Country Gentleman given zero fret and bone nut
  • Gretsch Duo Jet and White Penguin given zero fret
  • Rickenbacker 360, 365, 370, and 375 available in autumnglo finish

1960

  • Fender Jazz bass introduced (2 single coil pickups with 2 pole pieces per string, concentric volume and tone knobs, offset double-cutaway alder body with 3-tone sunburst finish, tortoise shell pickguard, tapered maple neck with narrow nut, slab rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, bridge-mounted strings, 4 individual string saddles, individual felt string mutes under strings)
  • Fender Jazzmaster offered in blonde finish with 14K gold-plated hardware
  • Gibson Les Paul Standard redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway, thinner mahogany body with no maple cap, sideways “Vibrola” vibrato, cherry red finish (known as “SG/Les Paul Standard”)
  • Gibson ES-335TD, ES-345TD & ES-355TD given shorter pickguard
  • Gibson ES-335TD available in cherry red finish and given double-ring tulip Kluson tuners
  • Gibson ES-355TD available in sunburst and natural finish
  • Gibson Byrdland given florentine cutaway
  • Gibson Melody Maker D introduced (2 single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone controls)
  • Gibson EB-2 & EB-0 basses given right-angle tuners
  • Epiphone Wilshire introduced (2 “soapbar” P-90 pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume & 2 tone knobs, double-cutaway mahogany body with sunburst or cherry red finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, stop tailpiece or vibrato, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Newport bass introduced (humbucking neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, double-cutaway solid mahogany body, cherry finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Rivoli bass given humbucking pickup, right-angle tuners, push-button baritone tone modifier switch, and flip-up string mute
  • Epiphone Coronet given “dogear” P-90 pickup and cherry red finish
  • Gretsch White Falcon given back pad and double string mutes
  • Gretsch Anniversary given Hi-Lo Tron pickups and rosewood fingerboard
  • Gretsch 6120 given thinner 2.5” deep body
  • Rickenbacker introduces a new Fireglo finish which largely replaces its two-tone brown sunburst finish on all models
  • Rickenbacker Capri 360, 365, 370, and 375 available with “Rick-o-sound” stereo electronics
  • Rickenbacker 4000 bass given maple & walnut neck and available in fireglo finish
  • Rickenbacker Combo 450 given 4 knobs (2 volume and 2 tone)
  • Hofner 500/1 given “toaster” pickups and a truss rod

1961

  • Fender offers custom colors on all models (Olympic white, Black, Fiesta Red, Dakota Red, Shell Pink, Lake Placid Blue Metallic, Daphne Blue, Sonic Blue, Sherwood Green Metallic, Foam Green, Surf Green, Shoreline Gold Metallic, Inca Silver Metallic, Burgundy Mist Metallic) in addition to standard blond and sunburst finishes
  • Fender Musicmaster & Duosonic available with sunburst finish and a white pickguard
  • Fender Jazz bass given 2 volume & 1 tone knob instead of concentric knobs
  • Gibson EB-3 bass introduced (2 humbucking pickups, 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, 4-position rotary tone switch, SG-style mahogany body with cherry red finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1979)
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway, thinner mahogany body, sideways “Vibrola” vibrato, and white finish
  • Gibson Les Paul Junior redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway, scalloped body and wrap-around “stairstep” tailpiece
  • Gibson Les Paul TV redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway, scalloped body and wrap-around “stairstep” tailpiece, TV or white finish
  • Gibson SG Special redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway, scalloped body, cherry red or white finish
  • Gibson ES-330, ES-335TD, and ES-345TD no longer available in natural finish
  • Gibson ES-355TD given sideways “Vibrola” vibrato
  • Gibson Melody Maker given rounded double cutaway
  • Gibson EB-0 redesigned to include pointed double-cutaway and scalloped body
  • Epiphone E230T Casino introduced (1 “dogear” P-90 pickup in middle position, 1 volume and 1 tone knob, fully hollow double-cutaway laminated maple body with sunburst or Royal Tan finish, tortoise shell pickguard, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, trapeze tailpiece, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone E230TD Casino introduced (2 “dogear” P-90 pickups, 3-way selector switch & 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Newport Deluxe bass introduced (2 humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, double-cutaway mahogany body with cherry finish, short 30.5” scale length, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1963)
  • Epiphone Newport bass given asymmetrical double cutaway and “batwing” headstock with 4-on-a-side tuners
  • Epiphone Crestwood given 2 Mini Humbucking pickups, oval pearl fingerboard inlays, nickel hardware, and vibrato tailpiece
  • Epiphone ES-212T Sheraton given 2 Mini Humbucking pickups and vibrola unit
  • Epiphone Wilshire given 2 Mini Humbucking pickups
  • Gretsch Duo Jet and White Penguin given double cutaway and standby switch
  • Gretsch Country Gentleman given double cutaway body, back pad, double string mutes, and standby switch
  • Gretsch 6120 given thinner 2.25” body and standby switch
  • Gretsch Tennessean given thinner body (2.6875” to 2.25”), painted “f” holes, 2 Hi-Lo Tron pickups, 3-way pickup selector and master tone selector switches, 2 individual pickup volume knobs, master volume knob, bound rosewood fingerboard, and dark cherry-walnut finish
  • Gretsch Anniversary and Double Anniversary given Hi-Lo Tron pickups
  • Gretsch Double Anniversary available with Project-O-Sonic stereo wiring (“half pickup” system)
  • Rickenbacker switches from the Kaufmann vibrato to its in-house designed Ac’cent vibrato
  • Rickenbacker Capri Thin Hollowbody series guitars made thinner (from 2” to 1.5”)
  • Rickenbacker Capri Thin Fullbody series guitar made thinner (from 2.5” to 1.6875”)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 460 introduced (2 single-coil chrome-bar pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume, 2 tone, and 1 blend knob (blended in the unselected pickup and controlled the balance of pickups when both were selected), bound maple “cresting wave” double-cutaway body with fireglo, black or natural finish; white pickguard, maple neck with neck-through construction, bound rosewood fingerboard with triangle inlays, discontinued in 1985)
  • Rickenbacker 4001 bass introduced (2 single-coil pickups (horseshoe in bridge position and chrome-bar in neck position), 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, bound double-cutaway maple body with fireglo finish, maple and walnut neck, neck-through construction, bound rosewood fingerboard with triangle inlays, movable bridge cover plate with mutes, optional stereo “Rick-O-Sound” electronics, discontinued in 1986)
  • Hofner 500/1 given “Cavern” pickups, cream pearloid pickguard, and laminated spruce top

1962

  • Fender Jaguar introduced (2 single-coil pickups with metal sideplates, rhythm/lead switch, Lead circuit – 2 individual pickup switches, 1 mid-tone cut switch, 1 volume & 1 tone knob; Rhythm circuit – neck pickup volume & tone thumbwheels; offset double-cutaway alder body with 3-tone sunburst finish, tortoise shell pickguard, shorter 24” scale, maple neck, unbound veneer rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, floating tremolo & bridge with 6 saddles, discontinued in 1974)
  • Fender fingerboards change from rosewood slab to veneer
  • Gibson ES-335TD given small block fingerboard inlays and nylon bridge saddles
  • Gibson ES-330 given small block fingerboard inlays and nickel-plated pickup covers
  • Gibson Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom, and ES-355 available with Maestro vibrato with ebony block
  • Gibson SG Special available with Maestro vibrato
  • Gibson Melody Maker available with Maestro vibrato and cherry red finish
  • Epiphone E360TD Riviera introduced (2 Mini Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, laminated thinline double-cutaway maple body with Royal Tan finish, solid maple center-block, tortoiseshell pickguard, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with oval fingerboard inlays then single parallelogram fingerboard inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, frequensator tailpiece, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone E230 Casino given single parallelogram fingerboard inlays, nickel-plated pickup covers, white pickguard, and optional vibrato unit
  • Epiphone Coronet available with optional vibrato tailpiece
  • Epiphone Crestwood available in white finish
  • Gretsch 6070 “Country Gentleman” bass introduced (1 Filtertron bass bridge pickup, volume knob, tone selector switch, standby switch, hollow laminated maple body with painted f-holes, sunburst finish; back pad, maple neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, “G” tailpiece, telescopic endpin for playing upright, gold hardware, discontinued in 1972)
  • Gretsch 6120 given thinner 2″ double cutaway body, painted f-holes, back pad, and string mute
  • Gretsch 6121 Chet Atkins Solidbody given double cutaway and standby switch
  • Gretsch White Falcon given thinner double cutaway body and zero fret
  • Gretsch Duo Jet given Burns mk9 vibrato and gold hardware
  • Gretsch Tennessean given thinner body (2.25” to 2”) and given standby switch
  • Rickenbacker Combo 615 introduced (2 single-coil chrome-bar pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume, 2 tone, and 1 blend knob (blended in the unselected pickup and controlled the balance of pickups when both were selected), maple “cresting wave” double-cutaway body with fireglo, black or natural finish; Ac’cent vibrato, split white pickguard, maple neck with neck-through construction, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays,discontinued in 1977)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 625 introduced (2 single-coil chrome-bar pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume, 2 tone, and 1 blend knob (blended in the unselected pickup and controlled the balance of pickups when both were selected), bound maple “cresting wave” double-cutaway body with fireglo, black or natural finish; Ac’cent vibrato, split white pickguard, maple neck with neck-through construction, bound rosewood fingerboard with triangle inlays, discontinued in 1977)
  • Rickenbacker Combo 450 available with “Boyd” vibrato
  • Rickenbacker Combo 460 given “Rick-o-sound” stereo electronics
  • Hofner 500/1 given “Diamond logo” pickups with the rear pickup moving further towards the bridge, and horizontal Hofner script peghead logo

1963

  • Fender drops Shell Pink as a custom color finish and adds Candy Apple Red
  • Fender Telecaster offered with a mahogany body and transparent red finish (discontinued in 1965)
  • Fender Musicmaster & Duosonic available in white and “Red-Mahogany” finishes with tortoiseshell or brown pickguard. The sunburst finish was dropped from the models
  • Fender Jazz bass mutes removed from under the strings and changed to foam mutes attached to the bottom of the bridge cover
  • Gibson Firebird introduced (“reverse” style mahogany body, mahogany neck with neck-through construction, 6-in-a-line banjo-style tuners, sunburst finish or custom colors optional, discontinued in 1969)
    • Firebird I (1 Bridge Firebird Humbucking pickup, 1 Volume and 1 Tone knob, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, wrap-around tailpiece)
    • Firebird III (2 Firebird Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, vibrato tailpiece)
    • Firebird V (2 Firebird Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, deluxe vibrato tailpiece)
    • Firebird VII (3 Firebird Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch (bridge, middle & bridge, neck), 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, bound ebony fingerboard with block fingerboard inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, deluxe vibrato tailpiece, gold hardware)
  • Gibson Thunderbird II bass introduced (1 humbucking pickup in middle position, 1 Volume and 1 Tone knob, “reverse” style mahogany body with sunburst finish or custom colors optional, standard 34” scale length, mahogany neck with neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 4-on-a-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, discontinued in 1969)
  • Gibson Thunderbird IV bass introduced (2 humbucking pickups, 2 Volumes and 1 Tone knob, “reverse” style mahogany body with sunburst finish or custom colors optional, long 34” scale length, mahogany neck with neck-through construction, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 4-on-a-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, discontinued in 1969)
  • Gibson offers custom colors on Firebird and Thunderbird models (Polaris White, Cardinal Red, Ember Red, Frost Blue, Pelham Blue, Kerry Green, Inverness Green, Golden Mist, Silver Mist, and Heather)
  • Gibson Les Paul Standard renamed SG Standard and given Maestro “Lyre” vibrato
  • Gibson Les Paul Custom renamed SG Custom and given Maestro “Lyre” vibrato
  • Gibson ES-355 given Maestro “Lyre” vibrato and gold Kluson “waffleback” tuners
  • Epiphone offers custom colors (Sunset Yellow, California Coral, and Pacific Blue)
  • Epiphone solidbody headstocks changed to a longer and slimmer shape and the body modified to an asymmetrical shape
  • Epiphone Crestwood Deluxe introduced (3 Mini Humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, mahogany body with cherry red, white, or custom color finish, mahogany neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, 6-on-a-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, “tremotone” vibrato, nickel hardware, discontinued in 1969)
  • Epiphone Embassy Deluxe bass introduced (2 Thunderbird humbucking pickups, 2 Volumes and 1 Tone knob, double-cutaway mahogany body with cherry or custom color finish, long 34” scale length, mahogany set neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, tune-o-matic bridge, discontinued in 1970)
  • Epiphone Crestwood changes from 3-on-a-side tuners to 6-on-a-side tuners and given a bound fingerboard
  • Epiphone Coronet changes from 3-on-a-side tuners to 6-on-a-side tuners and available in Green Silver-fox finish
  • Epiphone Wilshire changes from 3-on-a-side tuners to 6-on-a-side tuners
  • Gretsch Duo Jet available in custom sparkle finishes (gold, champagne, burgundy, tangerine, and silver)
  • Gretsch Double Anniversary given bound fingerboard and available in 2-tone Tan finish
  • Rickenbacker Capri models 310-325 given 5 knob configuration (2 volume, 2 tone, and 1 blend knob) and white pickguards
  • Rickenbacker Capri models 330-375 and 330F-375F given R-tailpiece (on non-vibrato models), 5 knob configuration (2 volume, 2 tone, and 1 blend knob), and white pickguards
  • Rickenbacker 4000 bass given tailpiece with under-string mutes, white pickguard, and available in black and autumnglo finishes
  • Rickenbacker 4001 bass given tailpiece with under-string mutes and available in black and natural maple finishes
  • Hofner 500/1 given “Staple” pickups

Other Notable Electrics

These guitars fall outside of the parameters of the timeline, however, are definitely of note.

  • 1953 Supro Dual Tone (2 humbucker-sized single-coil pickups, 2-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs, single cutaway basswood body with arctic white plastic finish, strip tuners with white buttons, bolt-on maple neck with black finish, unbound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, rosewood bridge, plate tailpiece, gold hardware)
  • 1956 Danelectro U2 (2 single-coil lipstick pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, first electric guitar with concentric volume and tone knobs, poplar sides with masonite top and back, black, copper, royal blue, coral red, or surf green finish; strip tuners with white buttons, maple bolt-on neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, rosewood saddle, discontinued in 1958)
  • 1956 Danelectro UB2 (6-string baritone guitar, 2 single-coil lipstick pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, concentric volume and tone knobs, poplar sides with masonite top and back with black, copper, or grained ivory finish, strip tuners with white buttons, maple bolt-on neck, 29.75” scale, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, rosewood saddle, discontinued in 1958)
  • 1960 Guild Starfire I (DeArmond single-coil neck pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone control, laminated 2” deep single-cutaway laminated sapelli mahogany hollowbody with cherry red finish, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, adjustomatic bridge on rosewood base, harp tailpiece, discontinued in 1964)
  • 1960 Guild Starfire II (2 DeArmond single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, discontinued in 1976)
  • 1960 Guild Starfire III (2 DeArmond single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, Bigsby vibrato, discontinued in 1973)
  • 1963 Guild Starfire IV (2 “Anti-Hum” humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume, 2 tone, and master volume controls, laminated 2” deep double-cutaway laminated mahogany or maple semi-hollowbody with sunburst or cherry red finish, 3-piece mahogany & maple neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, adjustomatic bridge on rosewood base, harp tailpiece, nickel hardware)
  • 1963 Guild Starfire V (bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, bigsby vibrato, nickel hardware, discontinued in 1973)
  • 1963 Guild Starfire VI (laminated 2” deep double-cutaway laminated maple semi-hollowbody with sunburst or blonde finish, 3-piece maple and walnut neck, bound ebony fingerboard with block & triangle inlays, bigsby vibrato, gold hardware)
  • 1963 Guild S-50 Jet-Star (1 “Frequency Tested” single-coil pickup in middle position, 1 volume and 1 tone control, mahogany body with cherry red finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, combination bridge-tailpiece, nickel hardware)
  • 1963 Guild S-100 Polara (2 “Frequency Tested” single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, mahogany body with cherry red or sunburst finish, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, Hagstrom vibrato, nickel hardware, built-in guitar stand)
  • 1963 Guild S-200 Thunderbird (2 “Anti-Hum” humbucking pickups, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, solo/rhythm switch, 2 on-off pickup switches, solo tone modifying switch, mahogany body with cherry red or sunburst finish, mahogany neck, bound rosewood fingerboard with block inlays, Hagstrom vibrato, nickel hardware, built-in guitar stand, discontinued in 1970)
  • 1964 Fender Mustang (2 single-coil pickups, sliding switch for each pickup (turns pickup on or off and puts pickups out of phase if switched in opposite directions), 1 master volume and 1 master tone control, alder body with red, white, or blue finish, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, 22.5″ or 24” scale length, tremolo, discontinued in 1981)
  • 1966 Fender Mustang Bass (single split-coil pickup, 1 volume and 1 tone control, alder body with red, white, or blue finish, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, short 30” scale length, bridge with individual string saddles and string-through body, discontinued in 1981)
  • 1968 Fender Thinline Telecaster (2 single-coil pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone control, ash or mahogany semi-hollow body with single f-hole and natural finish, maple neck, maple cap fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1979)
  • 1971 Fender Thinline Telecaster (2 wide-range humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 1 volume and 1 tone control, ash or mahogany semi-hollow body with single f-hole and natural, sunburst or black finish, maple neck, maple cap or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, bridge with six individual saddles, discontinued in 1979)
  • 1972 Fender Telecaster Custom (wide-range humbucking neck pickup, single-coil bridge pickup, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, ash or alder body with blonde, black, natural or walnut finish, maple neck, maple or rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, discontinued in 1981)
  • 1973 Fender Telecaster Deluxe (2 wide-range humbucking pickups, 3-way pickup selector switch, 2 volume and 2 tone controls, contoured ash or alder body with blonde, black, natural or walnut finish, large stratocaster-style headstock, maple neck, maple fingerboard with dot inlays, bridge with six individual saddles, discontinued in 1981)