Surf rock -- 1962 -- Dick Dale + the Del Tones -- Misirlou

[ultralite001]

5. One of my favorite stories about the Strat Telecaster...

I can imagine all the bitching + complaining... ['cuz I'm short + have such tiny hands]...

"The Telecaster sounded great but wasn’t especially comfortable to play because its squared-off body dug into the player’s body and picking-hand forearm. Guitarist Rex Gallion is often credited with suggesting that a solid-body guitar didn’t need squared-off edges since it didn’t have an internal sound chamber, and with asking Leo himself, “Why not get away from a body that is always digging into your ribs?” The Stratocaster was consequently given rounded edges and deep body and forearm contours that made it remarkably comfortable and added to its sleekness."

More great stuff here...
https://www.fender.com/articles/behind-the-scenes/the-history-of-the-fender-stratocaster-the-1950s