The electric bass guitar is an indispensable instrument in modern music, anchoring the rhythm and driving the groove in genres from rock and jazz to funk and pop. But while most people associate the birth of the electric bass with Leo Fender’s popularization of the instrument, the true invention of the electric bass guitar predates Fender’s iconic Precision Bass. In fact, it was a lesser-known inventor named Paul Tutmarc who is credited with creating the first electric bass guitar in the 1930s. Let's take a closer look at the origins of this revolutionary instrument.
In the early 20th century, the need for a new bass instrument became increasingly apparent. As jazz bands grew larger and the sound of electric instruments began to dominate, traditional acoustic bass instruments, like the upright bass, struggled to compete in terms of volume and projection. Musicians needed a way to amplify bass sounds in a way that was portable, practical, and powerful enough to keep up with other amplified instruments like electric guitars.
Paul Tutmarc was an American inventor and musician based in Seattle. He recognized the challenge that bass players were facing with the acoustic bass and set out to develop a solution. After experimenting with various designs, in 1935, he created the Audiovox Model 736, which is widely considered the first electric bass guitar.
The Model 736 was a four-string electric bass that featured a solid body design, unlike the hollow bodies of traditional instruments. It used an electric pickup system, which allowed the instrument to be amplified and heard over a larger ensemble. The Model 736 was small enough to be played while standing, making it more convenient than the bulky upright bass.
Despite its innovative design, Tutmarc’s electric bass guitar didn’t immediately catch on with the music community. In the 1930s, the idea of an electric bass was still very new. Most musicians were still accustomed to playing the traditional upright bass, and many were skeptical about this new electric version. The Model 736 was produced in small numbers and sold primarily through Tutmarc’s company, Audiovox. Without the larger distribution channels and marketing power that would come later, it was difficult for the electric bass to gain widespread visibility. During the 1930s and 1940s, there were other amplified bass instruments, such as electric bass violins, but they were either impractical or did not have the same refined design as Tutmarc’s bass guitar. The electric bass was still a niche instrument at the time, and the rise of rock and roll and the increasing demand for amplified bass wouldn’t truly begin until the 1950s.
Despite these hurdles, Paul Tutmarc's Model 736 represented a crucial step forward in the development of the bass guitar. He had successfully demonstrated the potential of an amplified, portable bass instrument, but the time wasn’t quite right for it to take off. While Paul Tutmarc’s invention laid the groundwork for the electric bass guitar, it was Leo Fender who would go on to revolutionize the instrument and make it a staple of modern music.
In 1951, Fender introduced the Fender Precision Bass, a bass guitar that would go on to become the first commercially successful model of its kind. Unlike Tutmarc’s earlier design, the Precision Bass was featured a sleek, solid-body design and better ergonomics, making it easier to play for musicians transitioning from the guitar.
Once the electric bass guitar began to catch on, it quickly became an essential part of modern music. The Precision Bass, along with subsequent innovations like the Fender Jazz Bass (introduced in 1960), changed the role of the bass in a band. No longer just an accompaniment to other instruments, the bass guitar emerged as a powerful and dynamic instrument capable of driving the rhythm, supporting melodies, and adding depth to music.
The electric bass revolutionized a range of musical genres, from rock to funk to jazz. Icons like James Jamerson, the legendary bass player for Motown’s Funk Brothers, and Paul McCartney of The Beatles became known for their innovative bass lines that showcased the electric bass's potential to shape the sound of modern music.
Although Paul Tutmarc’s Model 736 did not achieve the widespread popularity that the Fender Precision Bass did, his contribution to the invention of the electric bass guitar should not be overlooked. His creation of the first electric bass guitar paved the way for subsequent designs, and his vision of a small, amplified bass instrument set the stage for the instruments that would follow. Paul Tutmarc is now recognized as the true inventor of the electric bass guitar, and his work is celebrated by musicians and music historians alike. In recognition of his pioneering efforts, he was inducted posthumously into the Seattle Music Hall of Fame in 1987.