Paul Tutmarc

Paul Tutmarc (May 29, 1896 – September 25, 1972) was an American musician and musical instrument inventor.In the very early 1930s, Tutmarc began teaching guitar and experimenting with the electrification (and amplification) of various instruments including a piano, zither, and a Spanish-style guitar by using a wire-wrapped magnet as a "pickup" that could be amplified through a modified Atwater-Kent brand radio.His real claim to fame was the development and marketing of the fretted and solid-body Audiovox Model 736 Bass Fiddle, from 1936, which was designed to be used in a horizontal position.The Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle has an original Audiovox 736 Bass, found by historian Peter Blecha in the late 1990s.Bud Tutmarc followed in his father's footsteps as a musician, playing the Hawaiian steel guitar, and instrument manufacturer.
Minneapolis, MinnesotaSeattle, WashingtonCountryHawaiianpopular songVocalsSpanish guitarukulelelap steel guitarbass guitardouble bassesBonnie GuitarAtwater-KentFender Precision Bassbass amplifierMuseum of Pop CulturePeter BlechaHawaiian steel guitarShane TutmarcBlecha, PeterYouTube