The instruments were called Rickenbackers. It was later known as the Electro String Company. In order to manufacture it, Beachamp sought the help of Adolph Rickenbacker, and the men set up the Ro-Pat-In Company. Beachamp, and others were fired.īeachamp, and his friend and co-worker Harry Watson, who had been fired from National went on to invent the first electric guitar, which was dubbed The Frying Pan due to its appearance. Some other internal disputes occurred, and John Dopyera quit the company. Beachamp was also experimenting with new ideas, which did not sit well with the Dopyeras, who just wanted to manufacture resonator guitars.ĭue to the his initial investment, Kleinmeyer also owned a stake in the company and was demanding returns. He talked up the prospects of this instrument so well that the interested Kleinmeyer cut a check for $12,000.īeachamp went on to become shop manager for National String Instruments. Another attendee at this same party was the most gifted Hawaiian guitarist of the day Sol Hoopi. He wound up as a guest at a party given by a millionaire named Ted Kleinmeyer. To do this he sought funds for this venture. They dubbed this the Tri-Cone.īeachamp wanted to join the Dopyera’s in manufacturing these instruments. This cone was placed In a metal bodied guitar, with a wooden neck. The first prototype did not work.ĭopyera and his brothers came up with the idea of creating a thin cone of three aluminum resonators that had a guitar bridge straddling them. He met John Dopyera, who was repairing violins, and asked for his help. He was on a quest for a louder sounding guitar.Īt some point he had seen an unusual instrument that had a horn on it, and was searching for someone to built such a model for him. He was a vaudeville performer, and played the violin, and lap steel guitar. The other founder of Rickenbacker was George Beauchamp (pronounced Bee-chum). And it was the Rickenbacker Tool and Dye Company that fabricated the bodies. In the 1920's, one of Rickenbacker’s most important clients was The National String Instrument Corporation, which was owned by the Dopyera Brothers. Rickenbacher also Anglicized his name to capitalize on the popularity of his cousin, Eddie Rickenbacker, the WWI Flying Ace. He settled in Los Angeles and in the 1920’s opened a tool and dye shop. The Rickenbacker company was started by Adolph Rickenbacher and George Beauchamp.Īdolph Rickenbacher was a Swiss immigrant, and was an electrical engineer. Perhaps one of the most iconic guitars in Rock history, not just by sight, but by sound is the Rickenbacker 360/12 string guitar.