Leo Fender and George Fullerton introduced first the Esquire and then the Broadcaster, the first standard electric guitars produced by the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company. Due to a trademark conflict with another musical instrument company (the Gretsch Broadkaster line of drums), the Broadcaster's name was quickly changed to Telecaster and perhaps the most enduring electric guitar ever was born.
In 1951 Fender introduced the Precision Bass, which changed the shape of music forever. By replacing the unamplified "stand-up" contrabass, the "P-Bass" radically changed both the practice and the sound of pop music and jazz. This was followed quickly by the introduction in 1954 of the Stratocaster, whose modernistic styling and musical versatility made it a true cultural icon, easily the most recognizable and popular electric guitar ever made.