Les Paul & Leo Fender Part II

# Stuff You Should Know: Fender and Les Paul, Part Two

This episode dives deeper into the fascinating and sometimes murky history of how the solid body electric guitar actually came to be, revealing the surprising contributions of Paul Bigsby and the complicated relationship between Leo Fender's innovations and his inspirations. You'll also discover how a devastating car accident nearly ended Les Paul's career but instead led to an incredible recovery, and learn about the Stratocaster's revolutionary design that changed everything for guitarists. The hosts trace how two landmark 1958 UK tours featuring Buddy Holly and Muddy Waters—both wielding Fenders—directly inspired the British Invasion bands, all while exploring how the electric guitar transformed from a specialized instrument into something that democratized music and literally created rock and roll.