Fender

Having started out repairing radios and amps in 1938, Leo Fender formed the Fender company in 1946 and the initial business was making steel guitars and amps. His first major triumph was the Telecaster (via the Esquire, Broadcaster and Nocaster) released in 1950. Though derided at the time, it's quickly became a popular design that has endured to this day. Though not the first attempt to make a solid body electric guitar, it was the first widely and comercially available. This was swiftly followed by the first commercially successful solid-body electric bass guitars, the Precision bass. He subsequently went on to design some of the most iconic and influential guitar and bass designs in the world, such as the Stratocaster, the Jazz Bass, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, Mustang, Duo Sonic amongst others. Fender's range of amplifiers are also highly regarded amongst pros and hobbyists alike. The Bassman, Princeton, Twin, Hot Rod Deluxe, Deville and countless others.