The roots of the Fender brand were put down in a humble Californian radio workshop in the summer of 1946, following Doc Kauffman’s amicable departure from his and Leo Fender’s K&F lap steel/amplifier manufacturing venture. Later that year, Leo established the first Fender factory operation locally in Fullerton in order to continue expanding production and, by 1949, had simultaneously progressed the concept of a solid body ‘electric Spanish’ guitar into the prototype phase, paving the way for the release of the Esquire and Broadcaster in 1950 (the Broadcaster was renamed the Telecaster in 1951).
As the company grew, a new bespoke factory building was erected and with the release of these seminal models – followed by the introduction of the revolutionary Precision Bass in 1951 and Stratocaster in 1954 – Fender enjoyed unparalleled success as the world’s first mass producer of solid-body electric guitars.
Fender’s Mexican connection dates back to the early days of the ‘golden era’ period of production in Fullerton, California, which was bolstered by a partially Mexican- American workforce – some of whom, such as Abigail Ybarra and Tadeo Gomez, have since become prominent names in Fender lore. They were not so much ‘master craftspeople’ as members of a solid, dependable team who facilitated Leo’s vision of a streamlined guitar-building facility while operating custom spec machinery to produce instruments at scale and with consistency – an art in itself and the key to Fender’s initial success.
Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
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Denne historien er fra October 2019-utgaven av Guitarist.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve