Leo Fender built guitars without playing guitar

Leo Fender created some of the most influential electric guitars of the 20th century even though he did not play guitar himself. According to Fender’s biography, he played saxophone and dabbled in piano. His work drew on electronics, radio repair, and conversations with musicians who used his instruments. Fender therefore designed guitars by focusing on how they worked for players, rather than on his own skill as a guitarist. [1, 2]