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Fender 75 Years
Ubiquitous in the music world, Fender guitars and amplifiers are also icons in popular culture, their shapes and sounds instantly recognizable. Authoritatively written and lavishly illustrated, Fender 75 Years is the officially licensed anniversary celebration of the company and its legendary instruments.
Originating in Leo Fender's modest radio and amplifier repair shop in Fullerton, California, Fender Musical Instrument Corporation went on to become the world's preeminent name in musical instruments. Today, Fender's guitars, amplifiers, and script logo are recognizable even to those with only a casual interest in music.
From Fender's first instrument--a lap steel guitar produced in 1946--to founder Leo Fender's groundbreaking early six-string "Spanish-style" guitar designs like the Esquire that set the standard for the electric guitar explosion to follow, author Dave Hunter traces Fender's entire history to the present. All the innovations and landmark models are here, as well as legendary players who became synonymous with Fender instruments across musical genres.
In addition to the instantly recognizable Telecaster and Stratocaster, Hunter examines Fender's line of legendary offset guitars like the Mustang, Jazzmaster, and Jaguar, and bygone models such as the Marauder, Coronado, Bronco, and more. The Jazz Bass and Precision Bass also feature, as do Fender's acoustic guitars and workhorse tube amplifiers like the Bassman, Twin Reverb, and Princeton, to name a few.
Along the way, readers will get in-depth scoops on the relationships dozens of players have enjoyed with Fender: rock 'n' roll pioneers like Hank Marvin and James Burton; classic-rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Eric Clapton; blues legends Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Buddy Guy; alt-rock gods J Mascis and Kurt Cobain...the list goes on. In addition, Hunter explores the work of the award-winning Fender Custom Shop and the wares produced there.
Illustrated throughout with rare images from company archives, Fender 75 Years treats readers to rare behind-the-scenes views of the shop floor throughout the years, as well as studio imagery of the guitars, rare period advertising and brochures, and performance images of Fender players.
It's the definitive look at the Fender's first three-quarters of a century and a must-have for the shelf of any guitar enthusiast.
Originating in Leo Fender's modest radio and amplifier repair shop in Fullerton, California, Fender Musical Instrument Corporation went on to become the world's preeminent name in musical instruments. Today, Fender's guitars, amplifiers, and script logo are recognizable even to those with only a casual interest in music.
From Fender's first instrument--a lap steel guitar produced in 1946--to founder Leo Fender's groundbreaking early six-string "Spanish-style" guitar designs like the Esquire that set the standard for the electric guitar explosion to follow, author Dave Hunter traces Fender's entire history to the present. All the innovations and landmark models are here, as well as legendary players who became synonymous with Fender instruments across musical genres.
In addition to the instantly recognizable Telecaster and Stratocaster, Hunter examines Fender's line of legendary offset guitars like the Mustang, Jazzmaster, and Jaguar, and bygone models such as the Marauder, Coronado, Bronco, and more. The Jazz Bass and Precision Bass also feature, as do Fender's acoustic guitars and workhorse tube amplifiers like the Bassman, Twin Reverb, and Princeton, to name a few.
Along the way, readers will get in-depth scoops on the relationships dozens of players have enjoyed with Fender: rock 'n' roll pioneers like Hank Marvin and James Burton; classic-rock icons like Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, and Eric Clapton; blues legends Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Buddy Guy; alt-rock gods J Mascis and Kurt Cobain...the list goes on. In addition, Hunter explores the work of the award-winning Fender Custom Shop and the wares produced there.
Illustrated throughout with rare images from company archives, Fender 75 Years treats readers to rare behind-the-scenes views of the shop floor throughout the years, as well as studio imagery of the guitars, rare period advertising and brochures, and performance images of Fender players.
It's the definitive look at the Fender's first three-quarters of a century and a must-have for the shelf of any guitar enthusiast.
224 pages, ebook
Published May 18, 2021
10 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 26, 2021
At first glance, you might think it's just another coffee table book of guitar porn showing off glossy photographs of historic guitars. Yes, there are lots of glossy photos in this book of telecasters, stratocasters, the amps, the electric Fender piano, and more. There are, in short, plenty of photos for those suffering from guitar Acquisition syndrome to spend lots of time drooling over.
But, that's not the focus of the book. This is the storied history of Fender Electric, from its inception during The Second World War by Leo Fender in the empty fields of Fullerton. Fender was an amazing pioneer who had the foresight to see a future in solid-bodied electrics that were eventually a mainstay for country and surf music of the Fifties.
"Fender 75 Years" explains the development of different lines and how Leo Fender grew this tiny company. It also charts the eventual sale of the company from its founder to CBS, a conglomerate ill-suited to manufacture quality guitars. Over the CBS years, amazing guitars were produced. Nevertheless, twenty years later, the Fender name was sold off to its executives for essentially what CBS had paid for it. Thus, began the newest chapter in Fender's history and its rebirth.
It's an excellent book for those intrigued by the company's history and filled with enough technical details to give it weight.
Truth be told, I've had my Stratocaster for 25 years and would never think of replacing it.
But, that's not the focus of the book. This is the storied history of Fender Electric, from its inception during The Second World War by Leo Fender in the empty fields of Fullerton. Fender was an amazing pioneer who had the foresight to see a future in solid-bodied electrics that were eventually a mainstay for country and surf music of the Fifties.
"Fender 75 Years" explains the development of different lines and how Leo Fender grew this tiny company. It also charts the eventual sale of the company from its founder to CBS, a conglomerate ill-suited to manufacture quality guitars. Over the CBS years, amazing guitars were produced. Nevertheless, twenty years later, the Fender name was sold off to its executives for essentially what CBS had paid for it. Thus, began the newest chapter in Fender's history and its rebirth.
It's an excellent book for those intrigued by the company's history and filled with enough technical details to give it weight.
Truth be told, I've had my Stratocaster for 25 years and would never think of replacing it.
March 21, 2021
How I read this: Free ebook copy received through Edelweiss
The photos in this book are simply GORGEOUS. It was so interesting to follow the history of the Fender electric guitar, and in a way, it's the history of electric guitars as part of the larger whole, as Fender was such a game changer in the industry. The photos are gorgeous, laid out beautifully and the book is just such an eye-candy, I absolutely loved it. The whole layout, color choices and design decisions in that book were amazing. But it's not just that, it is very informative and interesting to read too. Definitely recommend this one.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
The photos in this book are simply GORGEOUS. It was so interesting to follow the history of the Fender electric guitar, and in a way, it's the history of electric guitars as part of the larger whole, as Fender was such a game changer in the industry. The photos are gorgeous, laid out beautifully and the book is just such an eye-candy, I absolutely loved it. The whole layout, color choices and design decisions in that book were amazing. But it's not just that, it is very informative and interesting to read too. Definitely recommend this one.
I thank the publisher for giving me a free copy of the ebook in exchange to my honest review. This has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
November 15, 2021
Beautifully illustrated, incredibly detailed and informative. A must-have for the bookshelf or coffee table of anyone who owns Fenders, dreams of owning them, or just loves music and the history of music. The opportunity to peek behind the scenes of such a legendary product and company is amazing, not to mention seeing the multitude of famous Fender lovers over the years. Definitely recommended!
I’m very grateful to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing - Motorbooks for the opportunity to read and review Fender 75 Years.
eader
I’m very grateful to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing - Motorbooks for the opportunity to read and review Fender 75 Years.
eader
October 24, 2021
Fender 75 Years by Dave Hunter is a very nice history and a beautiful book full of pictures and, for many of us, memories.
Like many casual guitar players I know of many guitars but not really a lot about the history of the guitar makers. Because of my father I probably know a bit more about Les Paul guitars but even there I am far from an aficionado. So this book was ideal for filling in the gaps between simply associating players with their guitars and understanding the history of both Fender and the industry as a whole.
Like any book about an iconic brand there will be those who think it sounds intelligent to casually toss off that there are better books elsewhere. Maybe, maybe not. But this particular book fills the niche I am in very well. I showed it to a friend who is far more knowledgeable than I am and he decided to order a copy for himself, so that is good enough for me.
Hunter offers enough history and technical information to keep the more knowledgeable happy while making the story itself compelling enough, along with all the pictures, to keep a more casual fan interested. I would imagine that is a fine line to walk but he does so quite well here.
I would recommend this to any guitar lover, whether of the instrument itself or of the music it makes, for both the nostalgia and the history. The size and the photographs make it an attractive book to keep out or have easily available when interested friends might drop by.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Like many casual guitar players I know of many guitars but not really a lot about the history of the guitar makers. Because of my father I probably know a bit more about Les Paul guitars but even there I am far from an aficionado. So this book was ideal for filling in the gaps between simply associating players with their guitars and understanding the history of both Fender and the industry as a whole.
Like any book about an iconic brand there will be those who think it sounds intelligent to casually toss off that there are better books elsewhere. Maybe, maybe not. But this particular book fills the niche I am in very well. I showed it to a friend who is far more knowledgeable than I am and he decided to order a copy for himself, so that is good enough for me.
Hunter offers enough history and technical information to keep the more knowledgeable happy while making the story itself compelling enough, along with all the pictures, to keep a more casual fan interested. I would imagine that is a fine line to walk but he does so quite well here.
I would recommend this to any guitar lover, whether of the instrument itself or of the music it makes, for both the nostalgia and the history. The size and the photographs make it an attractive book to keep out or have easily available when interested friends might drop by.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
March 7, 2023
I can't look at an electric guitar the same after reading this book.
It's mind blowing that in the span of a few years, a small shop in Fullerton, California and one lead inventor (who didn't even play guitar!) could invent and make commercially viable three of the defining musical inventions of modern music: the solid-body electric guitar; the electric bass; and modern amplifiers. Delving into the components' ingenuity makes it even more impressive with how much fundamental innovations were composed into the Telecaster, expanded into the Precision Bass, and refined with added innovations and modern comforts in the Stratocaster.
A fascinating history of the company. Heavily focused on the early years, which are honestly probably the most interesting. I came away with a fundamentally deeper appreciation of Leo Fender, the history of the company (and its almost total mismanagement under CBS ownership), its inventions, and its impact.
It's mind blowing that in the span of a few years, a small shop in Fullerton, California and one lead inventor (who didn't even play guitar!) could invent and make commercially viable three of the defining musical inventions of modern music: the solid-body electric guitar; the electric bass; and modern amplifiers. Delving into the components' ingenuity makes it even more impressive with how much fundamental innovations were composed into the Telecaster, expanded into the Precision Bass, and refined with added innovations and modern comforts in the Stratocaster.
A fascinating history of the company. Heavily focused on the early years, which are honestly probably the most interesting. I came away with a fundamentally deeper appreciation of Leo Fender, the history of the company (and its almost total mismanagement under CBS ownership), its inventions, and its impact.
September 14, 2021
This is an excellent gift book that will appeal to both guitar lovers and music history buffs. It is logically arranged and full of fascinating, readable articles about how the Fender business came to be, how the various instruments and accessories were developed and marketed, and how the course of music was affected, especially in the 50s-80s.
The book is full of stunning photographs, both of the guitars/amps and the wide variety of musicians that have used them. It's a beautiful coffee table book and even people who aren't specifically Fender fans will find it interesting and enjoyable to read.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
The book is full of stunning photographs, both of the guitars/amps and the wide variety of musicians that have used them. It's a beautiful coffee table book and even people who aren't specifically Fender fans will find it interesting and enjoyable to read.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!
September 20, 2021
This wonderful book is not only a fabulous, glossy compendium of lots of guitars I wish I owned, it's also a history of Fender and its groundbreaking designs - and, given the number of artists who have made Fender instruments their signature, it is by extension a history of popular music, too.
Huge in breadth and impeccable in detail, this is a must-have for anyone who grew up dreaming of owning their own Fender guitar one day. Beautiful to look at and richly informative, it's a cut above the usual coffee table tome. Wonderful.
Huge in breadth and impeccable in detail, this is a must-have for anyone who grew up dreaming of owning their own Fender guitar one day. Beautiful to look at and richly informative, it's a cut above the usual coffee table tome. Wonderful.
May 29, 2022
A very well detailed history of Fender. There are a plethora of great photos and snippets of stories of those famous who've rocked a Fender. My only complaint is the disregard for the modern history of Fender for the extreme focus on the early years. The early years have been documented so much that much is gone over in this book that has been gone over before (though it is still a good read and well laid out) and it makes me wish for a more detailed telling of their modern history, from the 90s forward.
Great (and pretty!) read. Would recommend.
Great (and pretty!) read. Would recommend.
October 16, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. A really great read for lovers of music and especially guitars. A walk through the history and such an interesting one.
October 6, 2024
I especially enjoyed learning about the early years. Very informative and well documented.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews