Long before shred took hold, instrumental electric guitar was pioneered by players like Link Wray, Les Paul and Hank Marvin – and their groundbreaking contributions shaped the sound of every guitarist who followed

A black and white action shot of Link Wray behind dark sunglasses, bending a note on a Gibson SG and making it squeal.

In this feature, we are taking an in-depth look at some key instrumental innovators. The rock ’n’ roll and surf guitar styles first came to prominence in postwar America, but quickly made their way across the world.

We have selected five of the genre’s best-known players/bands for inspiration: Hank Marvin, The Ventures, Dick Dale, Link Wray and Les Paul. These guitarists and bands were highly influential and their work paved the way for the next generation of six-string innovators.