When you think rock ’n’ roll, you think elecÂtric guiÂtars. And when you think elecÂtric guiÂtars, you think about FendÂers and all of those TeleÂcastÂers and StraÂtoÂcastÂers played by legÂendary musiÂcians, from Jimi HenÂdrix, George HarÂriÂson, and KeiÂth Richards, to Bruce SpringÂsteen, Eric ClapÂton, Mark Knopfler, and SteÂvie Ray VaughÂan. The FendÂer ElecÂtric InstruÂment ManÂuÂfacÂturÂing ComÂpaÂny first startÂed operÂaÂtions in FullerÂton, CalÂiÂforÂnia in 1946, but didÂn’t start makÂing Teles (origÂiÂnalÂly called BroadÂcastÂers) until 1950, and StraÂtoÂcastÂers until 1954. And they’re still makÂing them today.
The first video above, “A Strat is Born,” takes you through the makÂing of a conÂtemÂpoÂrary StraÂtoÂcastÂer in four timeÂlapse minÂutes. The action all takes place at FendÂer’s facÂtoÂry in CoroÂna, CalÂiÂforÂnia. The secÂond video below offers a vinÂtage 1959 tour of the FendÂer facÂtoÂry in FullerÂton, CA. Put the two videos side by side, and you can see how much times have … or haven’t … changed.
EpiÂlogue: Jim MarÂshall, a pioÂneer ampliÂfiÂer makÂer, died yesÂterÂday at 88. May he rest in peace.
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JimÂmy Page Tells the StoÂry of “KashÂmir”
Here Comes The Sun: The Lost GuiÂtar Solo by George HarÂriÂson
A Young Eric ClapÂton DemonÂstrates the EleÂments of His Sound
The facÂtoÂry would be at CoroÂna, Ca; not CoroÂnÂaÂdo.
I own and have owned more than my fair share of FendÂer guiÂtars and amps. I have a vinÂtage Esquire from 1961, a StraÂtoÂcastÂer from 1973, and sevÂerÂal more recent examÂples. I must say, unlike GibÂson, whose qualÂiÂty has noticeÂably deteÂriÂoÂratÂed through the years while their prices have soared, FendÂer conÂtinÂues to make great prodÂucts at affordÂable prices. Even though they have underÂgone a lot of changes in ownÂerÂship the last ten years, I hope that they conÂtinÂue to be around for a long, long time. FendÂer guiÂtars are truÂly an AmerÂiÂcan icon.
Back in 1995 I tradÂed for an old FendÂer Strat which has been pieced togethÂer. I have no idea what years the parts are. The logo on the pegÂhead is the thin letÂters with two sets of patent numÂbers. The neck is maple and on the butt end is writÂten in penÂcel “12/57 TG”. The tuners do not have any name on them, just thin lines. The body is a dark colÂored blue and on the insid of the body is writÂten “1968 TG”, the pickÂups are an off white colÂor comÂpared to the bright white volume/tone knobs. I call my FendÂer a “FrankenÂstrat”. It sounds pretÂty good. You can hear it on YouTube whereÂas I have a music video and play this guiÂtar on it. To access the video, type the folÂlowÂing into the YouTube search box ” BOBBY GOODWIN — MUSTANG SALLY’S GOT THE BLUES”.
Cool stoÂry. InterÂestÂing how much hand work still done. What’s with the no-shirt no mask thing in the 50’s!