Many people assume that all electric guitars have solid bodies, and in fact this is not the case. It would be true to say that most electric guitars have solid bodies, since generally there is no need for a hollow resonating chamber - the sound being created entirely by the electrical amplifier. However, there are some electric guitars which do have a hollow resonating chamber, and it is believed that this does add an extra natural amplification which is picked up separately from the electrical signal.



Electric guitars' bodies are generally made from hard wood - since the instrument is under tremendous strain at all times. The strings on an acoustic guitar may be made of nylon, but an electric guitar's strings are made from steel, and this has to be stretched so tightly that the neck and body of the guitar are under constant strain. The hardwood body is generally lacquered with several thick coats - giving it the famous sheen and striking appearance. The hardwood used has to be of the very best quality, and the usual practice is to dry the wood first for up to six months before it is cut to shape. The cutting and shaping is a precision task - often managed by computer to ensure the shape is perfect.

Because of the fact that the guitar bodies are made from a natural material - wood, this has to be taken into account. Wood has a natural tendency to warp, shrink, absorb moisture and expand, and any change in shape could be disastrous not only for the quality of sound, but in the very strength of a guitar under enormous pressure already. It is for this reason that the wood is dried for six months to ensure that no internal moisture is still inside, and then when the wood is cut to shape, it is lacquered not just to make it look good, but to ensure that the wood is protected from humidity and any moisture risk. This helps to ensure that the guitar retains its shape, and therefore tone, and also remains strong under the pressure from the strings.

The typical solid body electric guitar is said to have been first developed by renowned guitar manufacturer Les Paul, whose design was produced by the company Gibson. However, the first mass production of a solid body electric guitar was actually the Broadcaster produced by Fender. This name was later changed due to trademark infringement laws to Telecaster. The first Telecasters were produced in 1948, and was later joined in the market by Gibson's Les Paul.

Although hollow body guitars are less common, they do exist. Whereas normally an electric guitar uses a pickup to detect the physical movement of the strings, which is translated into an electrical signal, in hollow body electric guitars the pickup captures a combination of the physical movement of the strings, which it converts to an electrical signal, and the natural resonance of the air in the body of the guitar caused by the string's vibration. This creates a natural amplification which helps to soften the often harsh sound of a purely electric guitar.