Celebrate the legendary guitars and amps of Fender®
with this authoritatively written, lavishly illustrated, and officially licensed history of the company and the culture it inspired. Originating in Leo Fender’s modest radio and amplifier repair shop in Fullerton, California, Fender Musical Instrument Corporation went on to become
the world’s preeminent name in musical instruments. Today, Fender guitars and amplifiers are icons in popular culture, their shapes and sounds instantly recognizable even to those with only a casual interest in music.
From Fender’s first instrument—a 1946 lap steel guitar—to Leo Fender’s groundbreaking early six-string guitar designs like the Esquire that set the standard for the electric guitar explosion to follow,
Fender: The Official Illustrated History traces the company’s entire history to the present. All the innovations and landmark models are here, as well as legendary players who became synonymous with Fender instruments across musical genres.
Among the instruments author Dave Hunter examines: - The instantly recognizable Telecaster® and Stratocaster®
- Fender’s legendary offset guitars like the Mustang®, Jazzmaster®, and Jaguar®
- Lesser-known models such as the Marauder, Coronado, and Bronco™
- The Jazz Bass® and Precision Bass®
- Fender’s acoustic guitars and workhorse amplifiers like the Bassman®, Twin Reverb®, and Princeton®
Along the way, you’ll get in-depth scoops on
the relationships dozens of players have enjoyed with Fender: - Rock ’n’ roll pioneers like Hank Marvin and James Burton
- Classic-rock icons like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton
- Blues legends Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Buddy Guy
- Alt-rock figureheads like J Mascis, Johnny Marr, and Kurt Cobain
- More recent guitar heroes like Courtney Barnett, beabadoobee, and H.E.R.
…the list goes on. In addition, Hunter explores the work of the award-winning
Fender Custom Shop and the guitars produced there.
Illustrated throughout with
rare images from company archives,
Fender: The Official Illustrated History treats readers to rare behind-the-scenes views of the shop floor throughout the years, studio imagery of the guitars, rare period advertising and brochures, and performance images of Fender players.
It’s the definitive look at the Fender’s first three-quarters of a century and
a must-have for every guitar enthusiast.
Gorgeously illustrated and authoritatively written,
Fender®
is the officially licensed celebration of the legendary brand’s iconic guitars, amps, and basses.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
California Dreamin: Young Leo Fender and the Radio Store, 19091946
Chapter 2
Wood, Wire, and Steel: The Birth of Fender Electric Instrument Co.,
19461949
Chapter 3
Twang Comes to Town: The Telecaster Arrives, 19491952
Chapter 4
Radical Curves: The Stratocaster and the Precision Bass, 19511959
Chapter 5
The Need for Tweed: Fender Amps of the Fifties, 19481960
Chapter 6
All That Jazz: Offset Guitars and Upmarket Advertising, 19571962
Chapter 7
Surfs Up: Tolex Amps, Reverb, and Evolving Guitars, 19591967
Chapter 8
Executive Order: The Mustang Debuts, and CBS Comes Knocking, 19621969
Chapter 9
Feelin Groovy: Pianos, Pedals, and Psychedelic Guitars, 19641970
Chapter 10
Saved by the Bill: Declining Quality and a Management Buyout, 19691985
Chapter 11
Hot-Rod Rock: The Custom Shop and Relic Guitars, 19851999
Chapter 12
Border Song: Fender Amps Roar Back, 19842023
Chapter 13
Pro Shop: Vintage Reissues and Modern Masterpieces, 20102023
Chapter 14
Future Perfect: The Next 75 Years, 20232096
Acknowledgments
Image Credits
Index
Dave Hunter is an author, musician, and journalist. He is the author of several popular books about guitars, amps, and effects, including Star Guitars, The Fender Stratocaster, The Gibson Les Paul, and 365 Guitars, Amps & Effects You Must Play, as well as Fender: 75 Years. A regular contributor to Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines, he resides in Kittery, Maine.