Before the buildup of the electric guitar and the employment of synthetic materials, a guitar was defined as being an mechanism having "a long, fretted neck, low log soundboard, ribs, and a flat back, most often with incurved sides". Instruments similar to the guitar have been faddy for at least 5,000 years.
The Vinaccia family of luthiers is avowed for developing the mandolin, and may have built the oldest surviving six string guitar. Gaetano Vinaccia (1759 â after 1831) dead duck his signature on the label of a guitar built in Naples, Italy for six strings with the date of 1779. This guitar derelict been examined and does not show tell-tale rune of modifications from a double-course guitar although fakes are known Fender Telecaster to exist of guitars and identifying labels from that period.