The History of Fender Guitar

The Fender Guitar is currently one of the premier electric guitar manufacturers out there. The instrument manufacturing aspect of the company had its beginnings in 1946 when Leo Fender began building them. However, the company actually started in 1938 and was called Fender’s Radio Services. He was actually a skilled technician who repaired radios, phonograph players, amplifiers, and other electronic instruments.

His experience repairing amplifiers actually marked the beginning of the Fender® manufacturer as we know it today. As a technician he had first hand knowledge of the design problems and issues. He began building his own amps in an effort to solve some of these problems.

He then partnered with Clayton Orr Kauffman to form a company called K & F Manufacturing Corp. which specialized in various electric devices and instruments (they made and designed them as well as sold them). Together they created an electric Hawaiian steel guitar. It was shortly after this that Fender and Kauffman had different visions for the business. Kauffman wanted to focus more on repair and Fender wanted to focus on the design aspect. This is when Fender started his company, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Corporation and is now called the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.

Fender® played a huge role in creating solid body guitars and making them widely available. One of their most popular models, the Fender® Stratocaster, or “Strat” for short was the first electric guitar with a solid body. Each year, they expand on their current guitar line while still making those old favorites available.

Now, there are over 26 styles of Fender® electric guitars available. The Stratocaster line has expanded to include special series modeled after celebrity artists such as David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Other models include other Stratocaster models, the Toronado, the Jazzmaster, the Bronco, and the Mustang. For a complete list, visit the official Fender® website.

Fender Guitar also boasts a list of artists who play their electric guitars. These include Sting, Eric Johnson, the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Yngwie Malmstein, Roscoe Beck, and Robert Cray. For a complete list of artists and their profiles you can visit the Fender® website.

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