Leo Fender designed the Telecaster as the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.
Fender introduced the model in 1950 under the name Broadcaster, but the name was changed to Telecaster in 1951 after a trademark conflict involving Gretsch. Its simple slab body, bolt-on neck, two-pickup layout, and bridge design made it comparatively efficient to manufacture and maintain.
The Telecaster became strongly associated with country, rock, blues, and other styles. Its bright bridge-pickup sound and solid construction helped it remain a working musician’s instrument for decades. Keith Richards, Bruce Springsteen, and many other performers have used Telecasters.
The Stratocaster, introduced in 1954, is another influential Fender solid-body design, but it is a separate model with three pickups and a contoured body. That difference explains why the two names are often confused when discussing early electric guitars.