Some good posts here. It is true Mr. Fleming did not invent the guitar only a version that he got a patent on. I just now heard on a TV channel that he invented THE guitar - no no no. Blacks and African Americans have plenty of real things they can take credit for without making mistakes or a false claim which I assume is only a simple error. Just in music alone the African Americans basically gave birth to an entire genre of spiritual music as well as the blues. The blues was and is still a huge influence on all kinds of music including the ever popular American Rock music and Rock and Roll. The electric pick up was invented about 1926 for the banjo which was king before the guitar surpassed it in national popularity. The pick up was improved and made smaller and found it place finally when put in a guitar. I forget the first pick up company - perhaps National. Anyway Rickenbacher became the early leader, but National and a few others were all putting out early electric guitars and lap steel guitars and were soon joined by the Vega company and many others - all in the 1930's.