Rob Engel's guitar making career began with a job working for guitar and pickup maker Tom Doyle in New Jersey, building on his previous experience as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Engel then opened his own shop in the mid 1990s. Engel is best known for his distinctive hollow bodied electric guitar - which started as a collaboration between himself,  guitarist Lenny Argese and Bob DeVos. Bob needed a guitar that could compete with the volume of the organ, sax and drums but without feedback. So the first Engel hollow body was created – which Bob still plays today. 

Source: Engel Guitars website (10 April 2017)

Source: Luthier Rob Engel by Marc Ybaben. Just Jazz Guitar. November 2010