The Fender Guitar
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the world's foremost manufacturer of guitars, amplifiers, and related equipment. Since 1946, the name Fender® has become synonymous with all things rock 'n' roll: from Buddy Holly to Eric Clapton to Kurt Cobain and everything in between. Fender's iconic instruments such the Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known the world over as the instruments that started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized among today's hottest guitarists and collectors alike.In the 1940's, a California inventor named Leo Fender began to look at the way electric guitars were being made, and he quickly realized that he could streamline the process. And with his knowledge of existing technologies, he knew he could also improve upon contemporary amplified hollow-body instruments of the day . . . and improve upon them, he did.
In 1951 he introduced the Broadcaster, the prototype solid-body guitar that would eventually be re-named the Telecaster®guitar. The Tele®,guitar, as it became affectionately known, was the first solid-body electric Spanish-style guitar ever to go into commercial mass production, and it has since been said by many that with his innovations in manufacturing, Leo Fender became the Henry Ford of musical instruments.
In that same year, Leo introduced the revolutionary Precision Bass® guitar. For the first time ever bass players were able to amplify their playing, whereas before, they were limited to the natural capabilities of their acoustic instrument.
The significance of these two instruments is that, together, they laid the foundation for what we know today as the modern rock combo. As opposed to the "big bands" of the era, the electric Fender instruments made it possible for smaller groups of musicians to get together and be heard.
Soon after the Telecaster® and the Precision Bass® guitars, Leo introduced the Stratocaster® guitar in 1954. This new instrument incorporated many design innovations that were based upon feedback from professional musicians, as well as from the staff at Fender and from Leo himself.
Included were the addition of a third single coil pickup to offer a wider array of tonal possibilities, contours on the body of the guitar to provide more comfort for musicians while playing, and an added cutaway on the lower bout of the guitar that provided better playing access to the higher frets. Most importantly, however, was the addition of the all new Fender vibrato, ore "tremolo" bridge. This innovation was originally intended to allow guitarists to bend the strings to achieve a sound similar to a pedal steel guitar, which was very popular at the time among guitarists playing country music.
At the time, nobody could have foreseen that the Stratocaster guitar would go on to revolutionize popular music, but since its introduction, it has become the most popular and most influential electric guitar of all time. Players of all genres of music—many of which were born on a Stratocaster guitar!—have embraced this instrument for its sound, playability and versatility, and musicians continue to turn to the Stratocaster guitar as the essential tool for expressing their creative passion.
Leo Fender continued his creative tear over the next decade, introducing a number of new instrument and amplifier designs. Among them were the Jazz Bass®, Jaguar® and Jazzmaster® guitars, and the Twin Reverb® amplifier, to name just a very few.
In 1965, because of poor health, Leo Fender sold his company to corporate giant CBS. Over the next two decades, Fender Musical Instruments experienced some tremendous growth. But as time wore on, CBS's lack of commitment and real understanding of music and musicians was becoming apparent.
In 1981, CBS recruited a new management team to "re-invent" Fender. William Schultz was soon named President, and was supported by associate William Mendello. They had developed a five-year business plan based on the idea of increasing Fender's presence in the marketplace by dramatically improving quality and making a significant commitment to research and development. This association continued until CBS decided to divest itself from the non-broadcast media business.
So, in 1985, a group of employees and investors led by Schultz purchased the company from CBS. This sale put the name Fender back into the hands of a small group of musically dedicated people who have committed their lives to creating the world's best guitars and amplifiers.
The new Fender Musical Instruments Corporation team had to start from scratch - there were no buildings or machines included in the deal. They owned only the name, the patents, and the parts that were left over in stock. Supported by a core group of loyal employees, dealers and suppliers - some of whom had been with the company since Leo Fender began making guitars and amplifiers - Bill Schultz and his colleagues set out to re-build an American icon.
Initially, Fender imported their guitars from offshore manufacturers who had proven their ability to produce affordable, viable instruments. But the quest for even more control over quality soon led to the construction of Fender's flagship domestic factory in Corona, California. Eventually, Fender would build a second modern manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico, with the goal of being able to build quality instruments and offer them at more budget-oriented prices.
Fender has always recognized the importance of an open-door policy for the professional musician. When artists first started requesting specific features for their guitars, they were accommodated on an individual basis. These relationships led to the formalizing of Fender's custom operation in 1987. Today, professional guitarists and enthusiasts alike can work with the renowned Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California, to create their dream instruments.
In 1991, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation moved its corporate headquarters from Corona to Scottsdale, Arizona. From here, administration, marketing, advertising, sales and export teams oversee the operations of Fender's satellite facilities around the world, which now include the multiple locations in the United States, as well as international operations in Mexico, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands and Japan.
During the past decade, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has grown dramatically in sales and stature. The company manufactures and distributes virtually everything that a guitarist needs to perform, from the guitar, strings and accessories, to the pro audio products including amplifiers and mixing boards. Fender became the world leader by defining the sounds we hear, meeting the needs of musicians, creating quality products and backing them up with service and stability.
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