Adolph Rickenbacker in History of Rock & Roll
Adolph Rickenbacker (1886–1976) was a German-American guitar manufacturer who in 1931 founded the Electro String Instrument Corporation. His company was the first in the United States to produce solid-bodied electric guitars.
In 1932, Adolph Rickenbacker and his business partner George Beauchamp produced the first cast aluminum versions of the electric lap steel guitar, also known as the "frying pan."
The original design wasn't perfect and the sticker price was high. Still, his invention would help change the sound of blues and rhythm & blues forever.