Leo Fender

Leo Fender's company introduced the Broadcaster in 1950, which was soon renamed the Telecaster due to trademark issues. It was the first mass-produced, solid-body electric guitar to achieve widespread commercial success.

Surprisingly, Leo Fender never actually learned how to play the guitar himself. He was an electronics technician and amplifier designer who simply consulted with musicians to solve their performance problems.

In 1951, Leo Fender introduced the Precision Bass (P-Bass), the first electric bass guitar to gain widespread popularity. It featured a fretted neck, allowing musicians to play in tune easily and replacing the bulky upright bass.

Leo Fender sold his company, Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing, to the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in early 1965. He sold it due to health issues and remained as a consultant for a short time afterward.