Hi Peter. Les, like all great eccentric inventors CLAIMS to have invented a lot of things musically.....even when incontrovertable evidence says "Oh no ya didn't"!

The first electrics would appear to be Rickenbackers....a bit before Les' time. The first solid body was built by OJ Appleton from Wisconsin (I think).....BUT.....

Les, Merle Travis, Leo Fender, and Paul Bigsby, ALL claim to have REALLY built the first solid body. My read on the situation, about who had the first WORKING solid body out there on the stage, would put Travis number one. He designed it, Bigsby built it

Sidney Bechet, my all time favourite Clarinet player did a multi-track (on Sheik of Araby) YEARS before Les. But Les REALLY DOES appear to have been the first to have used it practically. He sure did invent "Flanging" though.

Cheers

Rick