Leo Fender started producing solid body electric guitars in Fullerton, California in 1950, with an electric bass following in 1951... the story has been told many times before; in short, Fender introduces a series of instruments, so perfect in their design that aswell as being the guitars on which countless newer models were based, they continued to sell, effectively unchanged for decades to come.
As used by just about every guitarist you can think of...
Models to look out for: Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Precision bass, Jazz bass, Bass VI. Fifties and early sixties instruments can sell for huge sums, whilst late seventies guitars have a somewhat shaky reputation.
