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...and ever since generations of electric guitarists have been confused over tremolo and vibrato, because Leo Fender mixed them up.

One the the Stratocaster's major innovations was a bridge system that allowed for large string bends without messing up intonation. For unknown reasons he called this a tremolo system, even though the effect produced using it is vibrato (varying pitch) rather than tremolo (varying volume).

He did a similar thing with the Fender Vibrolux amp. That had a tremolo effect built in, but Fender marketed as vibrato.

wow thanks for the explanation, I always thought they are the same thing but presented differently and never tried to look it up.
The Uni-Vibe (though not a Fender product) is a phaser trying to imitate a rotary speaker, for which the slow and fast settings are often called chorale and tremolo. Go figure.
I dig this, but If you had asked me what the greatest electric guitar design was I would have actualy answered Telecaster.
Too bad about the headstock, but a Telecaster doesn’t look right with any other shape either.
I know it's subjective style-wise, but I feel exactly the same.
Just want to start a little sub thread on favorite guitar YouTube channels. For me it’s Chris Buck, hands-down, his Friday Fretwork series is phenomenal for the history of guitars, amplifiers and rock and roll. He’s also a fantastic guitarist that puts little intermissions in each of his videos with incredible playing.

https://youtube.com/@chrisbuckguitar

Why did so many great guitarists who made their mark using other guitars then settle into boring middle-aged mediocrity playing a Stratocaster? Never understood.
The belly cut for comfort.