Fender Guitars Historical Timeline - 1946 — Leo Fender founds Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company in Fullerton, California - 1950 — Telecaster (originally Broadcaster) becomes the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar - 1951 — Precision Bass revolutionizes bass guitar; fretted design enables accurate intonation - 1954 — Stratocaster debuts with three pickups and contoured body — becomes the world's most copied guitar - 1965 — Leo Fender sells to CBS for $13M due to health issues - 1985 — CBS-era ends; employee-led buyout creates Fender Musical Instruments Corporation - 2…