Gibson made the first electric guitar. Les Paul (the person) had a Gibson acoustic guitar and couldn't hear the harmonica above the guitar. So he invented the "pickup" and made a solid body "acoustic" guitar with the pickup on the top. Les Pauls(the guitar) have not changed in look at all from the beginning, except for a few minor things.
I saw all this on a TV show on Gibsons.
Electric Guitars are the inspiration for cries of "Turn that damn thing down"-Gibson website