page_title: Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts
hierarchical_section_title: Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts
caption_attribution_description: Diagrams of Rickenbacker lap steel guitar design from 1934 patent application.
context_page_description: Manufactured by Ro-Pat-In Corporation, Rickenbacker, the Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts is considered the pioneering "grandfather" to the modern electric guitar as it was the first commercially produced, full-scale electric guitar ever produced. It was the first artist signature model having been named after Ken Roberts, a friend of George Beauchamp. In addition, the instrument was the first electric guitar to provide a stock appointed tremolo arm; designed & patented by Doc Kauffman. The Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts holds the current world record for the highest price paid for a guitar, after selling in 2017 for $7.5 million.
context_section_description: Manufactured by Ro-Pat-In Corporation, Rickenbacker, the Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts is considered the pioneering "grandfather" to the modern electric guitar as it was the first commercially produced, full-scale (twenty-five inch) electric guitar ever produced.   It was the first artist signature model having been named after Ken Roberts, a friend of (Ro-Pat-In President) George Beauchamp.  In addition, the instrument was the first electric guitar to provide a stock appointed tremolo arm; designed & patented by Doc Kauffman.  The Electro-Spanish Ken Roberts holds the current world record for the highest price paid for a guitar, after selling in 2017 for $7.5 million.
caption: Horseshoe Pickup
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