The Stratocaster Continues: The Sixth Decade of the Fender Strat

by Tom Wheeler

(Book). Tom Wheeler, author of the landmark Stratocaster Chronicles (9780634056789), a book that covered the first 50 years of the Strat, now has delivered the perfect companion book to any guitar player's book collection. Stratocaster Continues features the same award-winning layout, and high-production aspects of Stratocaster Chronicles , creating a beautiful and inspiring journey covering the past 10 years of the Strat. Featuring stunning color photography throughout, Wheeler uses his industry insider connections to bring the words and insights from Fender executives, famous luthiers, and world-renowned guitarists to the millions of Strat fans worldwide. Topics include the 60th Anniversary guitars, Eric Johnson models, Pure Vintage, the re-creation of Clapton's Brownie, the American Standard re-do, and more. These models are pictured and explained in great detail, as well as stories are told on how this guitar continues to rank as one of the most important inventions of modern times, continuing to inspire players and fans everywhere.

104 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2015

About the author

Tom Wheeler was an award-winning music journalist and guitar historian. He was also a beloved SOJC professor. He freelanced for Rolling Stone, served as editor of Guitar Player magazine, and founded Bass Player magazine. He authored eight books about guitars, including the award-winning The Stratocaster Chronicles and The Dream Factory: Fender Custom Shop, as well as a textbook on the ethics of media imagery.

Over the course of his career, Wheeler interviewed many music greats, including Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eric Clapton, Les Paul, Leo Fender, and Keith Richards. Clapton, Richards, and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons all wrote forewords for Wheeler’s books.

After earning a journalism bachelor’s degree from the University of California in Los Angeles and a juris doctor degree from Loyola School of Law in Los Angeles. Wheeler joined the University of Oregon faculty in 1991 and taught classes in feature writing, magazine editing, and grammar at the SOJC. He co-founded the student-run magazine Flux in 1992.