-
Leo Fender is Born
Leo Fender was born on August 10,1909 outside of Anaheim, CA to Clarence Monte Fender and Harriet Elvira Wood, owners of an orange grove located between Anaheim and Fullerton, CA. Fender showed an interest in electronics from an early age. At 13, he started repairing old radios that his uncle would send from his automobile repair shop. Source:
Freeinfosociety.com -
Period: to
Early Days of Fender Manufacturing Company
Leo Fender and Clayton Kauffman begin to prototype different models of guitars and guitar pickups. Kauffman later disbanded the partnership between him and Fender, leading Fender to rename the company Fender Manufacturing Company in 1946. Fender later partnered with Don Randall who was in charge of distributing the company's early guitars and amplifiers to retailers. Source:
Guitaristsource.com -
The Telecaster
Leo Fender releases the first commercially marketed electric guitar, the Broadcaster. Due to Gretsch owning rights to a similar name, Fender rebranded the guitar as the Telecaster. The Fender Telecaster sports a solid ash body with two single coil pickups and a maple neck. The bodies were solid, unlike their Jazzbox ancestors, so the sound wouldn't feedback when amplified. Source:
Rocknrollvintage.com
Photo Source:
Pintrest.com Note: month is an approximation. -
The CBS Buyout
Most enthusiasts will agree that 1965 was one of the most important years in Fender's history. CBS agreed to purchase the company from Leo Fender for 13 million dollars. This made a huge impact to the quality of the instruments due to CBS's switch to a mass production model. Collectors now refer to the Fender guitars manufactured before 1965 as "Pre-CBS." Source:
Reverb.com
Photo Source:
Forbes.com Note: month is an approximation. -
Tri-Sonic Inc. Founded
Tri-Sonic, Inc. is founded by Leo Fender, Forrest White and Tom Walker. Fender and Walker used the company to develop new guitar and bass amplifier designs that would compete with earlier Fender Musical Instrument Company amps like the Twin Reverb and Bassman. White was in charge of designing new guitars and basses that wouldn't be associated with FMIC instruments. Source:
Pacair.com
Photo source:
Reverb.com Note: month is an approximation. -
Music Man Begins
Tri-Sonic, Inc. changes its name to Musitek, Inc by the beginning of 1973. In January of 1974, the company makes its final name change to Music Man. Fender is still taking a backseat role in the company in fear of his non-compete agreement with CBS, who bought FMIC 9-years earlier. Source:
Pacair.com
Photo source:
Reverb.com -
Departure from Music Man and the Creation of G&L Guitars
After a steady decrease in sales, Leo Fender sold Music Man to Ernie and Sterling Ball, later known as the company Ernie Ball. Fender then teamed up with George Fullerton, an associate from the original Fender Manufacturing Company, to found G&L Guitars. G&L Instruments were similar to Leo Fender's original designs, but with different cosmetics and modern electronics. Sources:
Glguitars.com, Freeinfosociety.com
Photo source:
Harmonycentral.com -
Leo Fender Dies
Fender, who was suffering from Parkinson's disease, passed away on March 21, 1991 at the age of 81. Fender died on his way to the hospital after being found unconscious inside his home. The official cause of death was not released to the public. Source:
Nytimes.com, Rockhall.com
Photo source:
Chicagonow.com -
Leo Fender Hall of Fame Induction
Leo Fender was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, following his recent death. According to the Hall of Fame, "It’s safe to say there would be no such thing as rock and roll without its distinctive instrumentation," that Leo Fender was responsible for. Source:
Rockhall.com
Photo source:
Rockhall.com Note: month is an approximation. -
Period: to
Fender 60th Anniversary Guitars
Fender Musical Instrument Company releases a line of 60th anniversary guitars in celebration of the founding of the original Fender Manufacturing Company, along with the original guitar models. The line started in 2012 with the 60th anniversary Telecaster followed by the 60th anniversary Stratocasters in 2014. The 60th anniversary models were made in all the Fender factories from China to the American Custom Shop. Source:
William Saxonis, Owner of Bills Music Center
