Leo Fender's Finest

Mono Monday: Inventions of the 20th Century: The Telecaster

When you get to inventions of the 20th Century I have a clear favourite, the electric guitar.  

I think you can make a pretty strong argument that the electric guitar is the most important and popular instrument of the last half-century in western music. I don't think that anyone seriously doubts the proposition that the invention of the electric guitar and its widespread adoption  brought about a major change to the technology of music which shaped the sound and direction of modern western musical styles.

Acoustic guitars are wonderful, but can you imagine Eddie Cochrane or Elvis without the electric guitar, or the Beatles and the Stones?  Where would Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix have been let alone Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.  From Soul, Funk and Reggae to Rock, Metal and Punk the electric guitar was a critical component.

Their strong iconography mean that they make easy blips too ....

;-)