“What began as a niche guitar developed for Californian country has become a musical universal wrench: from metal to jazz, from pop to grindcore”: The evolution of the Fender Telecaster – the original solid-body electric guitar that started it all

Fender Broadcaster and Telecaster.

It seems strange to say, but a literal lifetime has passed since the Fender Telecaster (initially named the Broadcaster) debuted at the 1950 NAMM Show. Remarkably, its relevance has only grown during the seven decades that have passed since then.

Perhaps that’s because the Telecaster’s simplicity has always meant that it becomes what you bring to it, meaning it could never truly go out of style.