Leo Fender: Difference between revisions
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In the 1970s, Leo Fender designed guitars, basses and amplifiers for the [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] corporation. In 1979 he and old friends [[George Fullerton]] and Dale Hyatt started a new company called [[G&L]] ('''G'''eorge & '''L'''eo, later '''G'''uitars by '''L'''eo) Musical Products. Despite suffering several minor [[stroke]]s, Leo Fender continued to produce guitars and basses, earning many new patents for innovative designs in [[Pickup (music)|magnetic pickups]], vibrato systems, neck construction, and other areas. Nevertheless, he never learned how to play the guitar. |
In the 1970s, Leo Fender designed guitars, basses and amplifiers for the [[Music Man (company)|Music Man]] corporation. In 1979 he and old friends [[George Fullerton]] and Dale Hyatt started a new company called [[G&L]] ('''G'''eorge & '''L'''eo, later '''G'''uitars by '''L'''eo) Musical Products. Despite suffering several minor [[stroke]]s, Leo Fender continued to produce guitars and basses, earning many new patents for innovative designs in [[Pickup (music)|magnetic pickups]], vibrato systems, neck construction, and other areas. Nevertheless, he never learned how to play the guitar. |
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Leo Fender died in [[1991]] from complications of [[Parkinson's disease]]. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]. |
A friendly, modest and unassuming man (his "coffee mug" was a styrofoam cup with the word "Leo" inked on it,) he had the lifelong admiration and devotion of his employees, many of whom have remarked that the best working years of their lives were spent under Leo Fender. He died in [[1991]] from complications of [[Parkinson's disease]]. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 05:06, 25 February 2006
Clarence Leonidas Fender (August 10, 1909 - March 21, 1991) was an American luthier who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later founded G&L Musical Products (G&L Guitars).
Born in Fullerton, California, Fender expressed an interest in electrical engineering at a young age. He built and repaired radios as a hobby while in high school. After graduating from high school in 1928, Fender attended Fullerton Junior College, where he majored in accounting. After working as an accountant for the California Highway Department, Fender started a radio repair business, which he and Clayton "Doc" Kauffman soon expanded into the manufacture of electric steel guitars ("Hawaiian" guitars) and amplifiers. After ending business ties with Kauffman, Fender became interested in the idea of a practical, solid-bodied "Spanish-style" electric guitar.
In 1950, he and George Fullerton introduced first the Esquire and then the Broadcaster, the first standard electric guitars produced by the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company. Due to a trademark conflict with another musical instrument company (the Gretsch Broadkaster line of drums), the Broadcaster's name was quickly changed to Telecaster and perhaps the most enduring electric guitar ever was born. In 1951 Fender introduced the Precision Bass, which changed the shape of music forever. By replacing the unamplified "stand-up" contrabass, the "P-Bass" radically changed both the practice and the sound of pop music and jazz. This was followed quickly by the introduction in 1954 of the Stratocaster, whose modernistic styling and musical versatility made it a true cultural icon, easily the most recognizable and popular electric guitar ever made. It is sometimes debated whether Leo Fender invented the solid body electric guitar (it is generally accepted that while he was unarguably fundamental in it's development, he did not actually invent the instrument) but no one disputes that he did, indeed, invent the electric bass guitar.
Ironically, Leo Fender never learned to play guitar himself (although he had played saxophone in high school) but he had close ties to the musicians' community in southern California. Therefore, he could approach the electric guitar unconstrained by tradition, and bring his own vision of the instrument to the public. His method of building the guitar's neck and body separately, and then bolting them together (in guitar lingo: bolt-on neck) was far less expensive than the usual set-neck approach, and made his guitars more affordable and easier to repair than the competition's (mainly Gibson). In creating innovative and highly effective designs that could be efficiently manufactured, Leo Fender was to musical instruments in the 1950s & 60's, what Henry Ford was to the automobile in the 1920s & 30's.
Fender's business took off in the 1950s, as musicians adopted his Telecaster and Stratocaster electric guitars and the Precision Bass. He continued to design new guitars and basses such as the Jaguar, the Jazzmaster, and the Jazz Bass into the 1960s. In 1965, in ill health, Fender sold his company to CBS for $13 million. One can compare this price with the building cost of Marina City: $36 million in 1964.
In the 1970s, Leo Fender designed guitars, basses and amplifiers for the Music Man corporation. In 1979 he and old friends George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt started a new company called G&L (George & Leo, later Guitars by Leo) Musical Products. Despite suffering several minor strokes, Leo Fender continued to produce guitars and basses, earning many new patents for innovative designs in magnetic pickups, vibrato systems, neck construction, and other areas. Nevertheless, he never learned how to play the guitar.
A friendly, modest and unassuming man (his "coffee mug" was a styrofoam cup with the word "Leo" inked on it,) he had the lifelong admiration and devotion of his employees, many of whom have remarked that the best working years of their lives were spent under Leo Fender. He died in 1991 from complications of Parkinson's disease. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.