Fender Guitar.

The Story of Fender Guitar. 

      Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is the leading manufacturer of guitars, basses, amplifiers and related equipment in the world.

      During a long and glorious history that sees its beginnings in 1946, Fender has literally transformed the way of making music around the world and in all musical genres, from rock 'n roll to country western to jazz, rhythm and blues, country and many more. Everyone, from absolute beginners, hobbyists, as acclaimed artists have used at least once in their life, Fender instruments and amplifiers, and this company is not only a respected brand name in the field of musical instruments, but a real cultural icon. Legendary guitars as the Telecaster ® and Stratocaster ®, Precision Bass ®, and like the Jazz Bass ® models are universally recognized as the absolute reference in terms of design.

  

Leo Fender.

      Leo Fender in the '40s, brilliant inventor of the original Southern California, made some substantial changes to the amplified instruments, then traditional hollow-body, using a simple yet innovative solid-body design, especially for electric guitars. The next step was the realization of the construction process into a set of new tools.

Telecaster 1951

     In 1951 he introduced a prototype solid-body guitar, called the Telecaster ®. The Teler ®, as was often, and this instrument is still called, was the first solid-body electric guitar Spanish Style to be commercialized and mass produced.

      The same year, Fender introduced a revolutionary new invention, the low precision: it could be played like a guitar, and in addition had the keys, and then compared to the double bass, allowed execution much more "precise" (hence the name ) and pitch of the notes, and could be amplified, thus liberating bassists from the slavery of the bulky size and low volume bass and acoustic basses.

      These two historic instruments allowed the establishment of new bands and the advent of a revolution in the field of popular music, what we now refer to as the birth of the classic rock formations. Unlike the big-band popular in the period, the new Fender instruments made it possible to assemble small groups of musicians band small number of items that could still be heard perfectly!

Statocaster 1954

      The Stratocaster made its first appearance in 1954, incorporating many innovations stemming from the suggestions of professionals and musicians of the period, the infant staff and Leo Fender himself. With three single-coil pickup, offered more tonal possibilities, while the body's softly rounded guaranteed by a major executive comfort, and the double cutaway design made it finally possible effortless access to the latest keys.

      The most important innovation, however, was the addition of a vibrato (or "tremolo") bridge built in, this innovation was initially intended to let guitarists bend that could imitate the typical sound of guitar and lap steel Hawaiian guitar, sounds extremely popular among the country artists of that period.

      Nobody could imagine how the Stratocaster would revolutionize pop music! Virtually unchanged from the technical point of view, since 1954, the Stratocaster guitar is the most popular and historically influential of all time, and musicians of all levels continue to rely on its sound, its playability and versatility, today in all musical genres and styles.

      Leo Fender took advantage of the renewed push to introduce creative, in the next decade, a number of instruments that eventually would become the other "classics", including the Jazz Bass ®, Jaguar ® Jazzmaster ® and for guitars, and as the Twin Reverb ® amplifier.

      Because of poor health, Leo Fender was forced to sell the company to CBS in 1965, FMIC and subsequent decades saw a period of huge growth, although the lack of attention to the musicians and music by CBS soon became evident.

      To "re-invent" Fender, CBS was entrusted in 1981 to a new management; William Schultz became company president, with the support of William Mendello. Their five-year plan was based on increasing market share for the Fender brand, thanks to a substantial increase in the quality of products and a renewed investment in research and development.

      When CBS dropped the areas of business unrelated to the broadcast during the 80s, a group of employees and investors led by Schultz bought Fender from CBS in 1985. Finally reported that purchase the brand in the hands of a group of people with a project: design and build the best guitars and amplifiers best in the world!

Fender Broadcaster 1950

      The new Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is born without that was included in the sale or factory machinery. Among other things, FMIC purchased the brand, intellectual property and some shares of stock. Schultz and his colleagues, supported by a small group of loyal employees, dealers and suppliers (some of whom were holding since it was founded by Leo Fender) gave birth to the rebirth of an American icon.

      The new Fender is limited initially to import tools from foreign companies with proven ability to produce reliable, low-cost tools, but soon the need for a higher level of quality led to the construction of main factory in the United States, the Corona, California, in 1985. Subsequently, in 1987, a second factory, modern and avant-garde, was inaugurated in Ensenada, Mexico.

      Also in 1987, in the establishment of Corona, was born the new Custom Shop, with the aim of providing tools to professionals and amateurs dream: Fender has always given great weight to the policy of "open doors" to the professionals and their demands on time and rigorous, and so the Custom Shop has become known very quickly throughout the world as the "temple" of perfection in the realization liuteristica handmade guitars and basses. In 1991, FMIC has moved quarier general of the company in Scottsdale, Arizona: from there are coordinated operations management, marketing, advertising, sales and exports, both in the United States for satellite companies in England, France, Germany, Japan , Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

William Schultz retired in 2005, and since then has been CEO Bill Mendello.

       Since its founding, the group FMIC grown to become a world leader in the fields of construction and distribution of musical instruments. Manufactures and distributes everything guitarists and bassists need, instruments, amplifiers, strings and accessories, but also pro-audio products in the industry. Fender became the world leader in its industry by defining the sound of the music we hear today everywhere, constantly going to meet the needs of musicians, designing and manufacturing high quality tools and always ensuring a service to its reputation. With the advent of the 21st century, management of FMIC intends to maintain this leading position gained from the winning combination of business acumen and ... absolute love for music!