The Broadcaster was the first commercially successful solidbodied electric guitar..
Developed by Leo Fender and launched in 1950, the name of the guitar was soon changed to Telecaster to avoid confusion with the name of a drum model produced by Gretsch.
Originally known as the Broadcaster, Fender ®had to drop that name because Gretsch® already had trademarked the name "Broadkaster"® for a set of drums. In between, some of these soon-to-be-Telecasters® went out as so-called "Nocasters": The name "Fender"® remained on the headstock, but the rest of the decal was cut off; hence, the decal had no "caster" on it at all. [Source]
It was originally meant for country musicians. When the guitar was first sold in stores, it retailed for less than $200. It was built based on the concept of 1800s German instruments of Johann Georg Stauffer. The Telecaster is one of the most versatile and endurind guitars around. Even Bruce Springsteen is often seen with his vintage Esquire, the single-pickup twin of the Telecaster.
The Telecaster featured a body made of blonde-finished ash, a screwed-on maple neck, two pickups, single volume and tone control knobs, a pickup selector on a steel plate and a black pick guard.
