Fender Corporation
is the world’s foremost manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers,
as well as, related musical equipment.
Fender's history dates back to 1946. Fender has impacted
and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every music genre including
rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues. Anyone
including beginners, hobbyists or the world’s most acclaimed artists
and performers have used Fender instruments, amps
and accessories.
In the 1940s, a southern California inventor Leo Fender
decided that he could improve on the amplified hollow-body instruments
of the day by using a simple solid-body electric guitar design.
In 1951, he introduced the prototype solid-body instrument
eventually called the Telecaster® guitar. The Telecaster® guitar,
was often called the "Tele®" and was the first solid-body
Spanish-style electric guitar to be commercially mass-produced.
Also in 1951, Fender introduced a precision bass guitar.
It could be played like a guitar and had frets so it could be played
with “precision,” and be amplified. This was very liberating for bassists
who were at that time using unwieldy and increasingly difficult-to-hear
acoustic basses.
These two instruments are responsible for laying the
foundation for a new kind of music group and created a revolution
in popular music. It is known as the modern rock combo. This is in
opposition to the “big bands” of the time, electric Fender instruments
made it possible for small groups of musicians to get together and
be heard.
The Stratocaster first appeared in 1954, and became
a favorite of collectors and players alike. It incorporated many design
innovations based on feedback from professional musicians, Fender
staff and Leo Fender himself. Its third single-coil pickup offered
more tonal possibilities, its sleekly contoured body made it more
comfortable, and its double cutaway design made access to upper registers
much easier. As the years went on, several other models were created,
but none has reached the pinnacle of status of the Stratocaster.
Since its founding, Fender Corporation has been an
innovator and collaborator for musicians alike. They manufacture and
distribute everything guitarists and bassists need, from instruments,
amplifiers, strings and accessories to professional audio products
such as mixing boards and PA systems. Fender has become the world
leader by defining the sounds we hear, meeting the needs of musicians,
creating quality products and by backing them up with superior service
and stability.
