Famous for his pedal steels and tremolo bars, Bigsby built Merle Travis' solidbody electric guitar, and began building electric mandolins in 1950. His first customer was Paul Buskirk (a 10-string). Others included Al Giddings, Eschol Cosby, and most famously, Tiny Moore, who ordered a 5-string in 1952. These instruments are semi-hollow rather than completely solid; they have a neck-through design with hollow wings. The doubleneck instrument pictured was made for Grady Martin in 1952.