Turn it up to 11: tech's contributions to rock and roll

Many of rock's greatest moments hinge on shifts in music technology. Here is a chronology of some of the highlights.

The Fender Telecaster



Rock and roll couldn't rock without the electric guitar, and though the Fender Telecaster (originally known as the Broadcaster when it debuted in 1949) wasn't the first electric guitar ever, it was the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.

In addition to having a unique sound, the Telecaster was designed for assembly-line production, which made it much easier to build and maintain than most of the electric-acoustic guitars and the few solid-body electric guitars of the time. What's more, the Telecaster remains in production today, making it the grandpa of present-day electric guitars.

Every self-respecting rocker has this guitar in his or her collection, if possible. Thank you, Leo Fender.

Photo: Courtesy of CasinoKat

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