History of the Guitar

The Name Guitar 

The English word "guitar" comes from the Spanish word guitarra. Prior to that, it likely was formed from the Latin word "cithara" and an ancient Sanskrit "tar", which meant string. 

Baroque Guitar 

One of the predecessors to the modern day classical guitar was the Baroque guitar. It was played during the European Renaissance in the 1600s. The Baroque guitar had 9 or 10 strings with 2 strings generally tuned to the same course or note. A lower E string was added later as the form moved toward the modern guitar. 

Antonio Torres Jurado 

In the 1800s Antonio Torres Jurado started building guitars in a similar fashion to the modern classical and acoustic guitars. Most of today's guitars are derivatives, or alterations, of guitars that Torres designed and built. He is often called the Stradivari of guitars (Antonio Stradivari being the world famous violin maker). 

Electric Guitar 

The electric guitar was invented in the United States in the 1930s. The first patent for the electric guitar was awarded to George Beauchamp for a guitar he made with partner Adolph Rickenbacker in 1931. A lot of other inventors and guitar makers were working on electric guitars at the same time. Famous electric guitar makers included Les Paul who pioneered the solid body guitar made by Gibson Guitars.

In 1951 Leo Fender invented the Fender Telecaster. This guitar, together with the Gibson Les Paul, the Fender Telecaster, and the Gibson SG would make solid-body electric guitars hugely popular. These are still the most popular styles and models made today. 

Les Paul's actual name was Lester William Polsfuss and is known as the the modern era designer of electric guitars. He actually made himself the hollow body and solid body electric guitars by himself before working with Gibson to make Les Paul guitars. Many of the best guitar players in the world use a Gibson as well as collect them. 

@Biscuiteater1

 As I know, The Rickenbacker bass Guitar has certainly gained a reputation and a following among musicians, particularly in certain genres of music.

The Rickenbacker bass, especially the Rickenbacker 4001 and 4003 models, became prominent in the 1960s and 1970s, with musicians such as Paul McCartney of The Beatles and Geddy Lee of Rush using them extensively. These basses are known for their distinctive tone, solid construction, and unique features like the "Ric-O-Sound" stereo output.

While the Rickenbacker bass has certainly achieved a level of iconic status and popularity, it's important to note that the "gold standard" of bass guitars is subjective and can vary depending on individual preferences and musical styles. There are many other bass guitar brands and models that are highly regarded and have made significant contributions to the world of bass playing.

So, the choice of a bass guitar comes down to personal preference, playing style, and the specific sound desired by the musician. What may be considered the "gold standard" for one player or genre might not be the same for another.