The Google Doodle yesterday, and today, is a playable guitar. Very fun to play with and annoy those around you. The playable Doodle is in honor of what would have been Les Paul's 96th birthday on June 9.
Lester William Polsfuss (1915-2009) was the guitarist, songwriter and inventor behind the solid-body electric guitar. He was born in Waukesha, WI (so I'll have to drive through there when I take my upcoming WI roadtrip/vacation) and sometime around 1940, he developed something called The Log. The Log was a length of lumber with a pickup, a bridge and guitar neck attached to it. The solid body solved the two problems of feedback and sustain.
The electronics continued to improve and with the new electrified instrument, that could also be amplified, rock and roll was possible. It also had the unfortunate side effect of phasing out big swing bands. Venues could hire fewer musicians and not lose volume.
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