“Leo was somewhat disgusted that he played an indirect role in the newfangled radical and rambunctious sounds that were taking over radio airwaves”: How the Fender Jazzmaster became the one offset to rule them all – even if no one really used it for jazz

Fender Player II Jazzmaster.

Leo Fender was quite pleased with the success of Fender’s Telecaster and Stratocaster electric guitars during the Fifties. However, he wasn’t thrilled that his inventions were embraced more fervently by rock ’n’ roll and blues players than they were by his favored country and western musicians.

Furthermore, he was somewhat disgusted that he played an indirect role in the growing popularity of the newfangled radical and rambunctious sounds that were taking over radio airwaves.