Fender time line (60 years)
Squier
a quick time line that might be of interest some of you out there.
60 Years of Fender‹A Timeline (1947 - 2007)
To celebrate our 60th anniversary, we present a
year-by-year guide to Fender products and some famous music
being made on Fender instruments ...
1945 Clarence "Leo" Fender and Clayton "Doc" Kauffman form
a new company, The K&F Manufacturing Corporation, which
begins producing electric lap steel guitars and amplifiers.
1946 Kauffman departs K&F, and the Fender Manufacturing
Company is born. ³I didn¹t see much of a future for
electric guitars ... I guess I was wrong,² Kauffman once
said. The first Deluxe "Model 26" and Princeton amps are
introduced.
1947 The company becomes the Fender Electric Instrument
Company. The Dual Professional amplifier, Fender's first
tweed-covered model, is introduced. as are the Super and
Pro amps. Invention of the transistor.
1949 The first prototype of the Fender Esquire®,
Broadcaster® and Telecaster® guitars is completed.
1950 Fender introduces the single-pickup Esquire® guitar.
1951 Fender introduces the dual-pickup Broadcaster® guitar,
re-named the Telecaster® later that year. Fender introduces
a new invention, the Precision Bass®, the world¹s first
electric bass guitar. The Bassman® amp also debuts.
1952 The Twin amp makes its debut.
1953 Fender¹s Bandmaster and Champ® amplifiers appear.
1954 Fender introduces one of the most famous guitars in
the world‹the Stratocaster®. Volume pedals first appear.
1955 The Tremolux and legendary 4x10 Bassman amps debut.
The first Fender picks are produced.
1956 The first student model guitars, the Musicmaster® and
Duo-Sonic®, are launched. Also new are the Harvard and
Vibrolux® amps, and solidbody mandolins.
Hits this year include "Be-Bop-A-Lula" by Gene Vincent and
the Blue Caps (Johnny Meeks plays a Stratocaster guitar on
it), "I Can't Quit You Baby" by Otis Rush, and "Blue Suede
Shoes" by Carl Perkins.
1957 Buddy Holly appears on The Ed Sullivan Show playing
his Stratocaster guitar.
1958 Fender introduces the Jazzmaster® guitar, the electric
violin and the weirder-than-weird Eccofonic echo unit. Buddy
Holly tours the U.K. with his Stratocaster, inspiring a new
generation of players. His hit single "Peggy Sue" hits the
U.K. charts. Albert Collins releases The Freeze.
1959 The Vibrasonic and Concert amps are introduced, as is
the Custom Telecaster.
Buddy Holly dies in a plane crash. Hank Marvin of the
Shadows gets a Fiesta Red Stratocaster guitar, possibly the
first one in the U.K.
1960 Fender introduces its famous Jazz Bass® guitar and
Showman amp. The Ventures hit the U.K. charts with "Walk
Don't Run."
1961 New: the Fender Bass VI guitar, White Tolex Twin amp,
Reverb Unit and TR-105 wireless unit. Dick Dale records
"Misirilou." Muddy Waters releases his classic album, The
Real Folk Blues.
1962 Fender introduces the sleek Jaguar® guitar and the
Double (soon to be "Dual") Showman amp. Howlin' Wolf¹s
self-titled album is released
1963 The Twin Reverb® Amp is unveiled. So are the Concert
and Folk acoustic guitars, Fender's first acoustics. Also
new are the Deluxe Reverb®, Super Reverb® and Vibroverb
amps, Fender-Rhodes electric pianos and Electronic Echo
Chamber.
John Paul Jones buys the Jazz Bass® that he subsequently
used on eight Led Zeppelin albums. A young Rory Gallagher
buys his first and only Stratocaster guitar, which will
later propel him to great fame and success. Future Fender
signature artist Lars Johann (later Yngwie) Malmsteen is
born in Stockholm, Sweden. Stratocaster hits this year
include Dick Dale's King Of The Surf Guitar album and the
debut single by the Beach Boys, "Surfin' U.S.A."
1964 Fender introduces the Mustang® guitar, and King and
Concert steel-string acoustic guitars. Carol Kaye plays a
Precision bass on the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That
Lovin' Feelin'."
1965 CBS buys Fender for $13 million. New products include
the Pro Reverb amp, Bass V guitar, Electric XII, Kingman
acoustic, Malibu acoustic, Newporter acoustic, Shenandoa
XII and Villager XII 12-string acoustics. Neckplates begin
to be stamped with a big backward "F."
The Beatles' George Harrison and John Lennon play
Stratocasters on "Nowhere Man" from Rubber Soul. Curtis
Mayfield plays one on "People Get Ready" from the
Impressions' Definitive Impressions. Bob Dylan plays his at
the Newport Folk Festival, outraging folk purists. Dave
Davies plays a Broadcaster on the Kinks' smash hit "You
Really Got Me."
1966 Fender's first solid-state (transistor) amps are made.
A larger headstock appears on Stratocasters; other
innovations include Coronado guitars, the Mustang Bass
guitar, Antigua finishes, Wildwood acoustics, the
Solid-State Reverberation Unit and the Echo Reverb disc
delay.
Jimi Hendrix arrives in the U.K. The Jimi Hendrix
Experience release their debut single, "Hey Joe." James
Jamerson plays a Jazz bass on "Reach Out ... I'll Be
There." Ike Turner plays a Stratocaster on "River Deep,
Mountain High."
1967 New are the Bronco guitar; the solid-state Deluxe
Reverb, Pro Reverb, Super Reverb and Vibrolux Reverb amps;
and the rather spaced-out Soundette echo device.
Jimi Hendrix plays (and burns) his Stratocaster guitar at
the Monterey Pop Festival. George Harrison first plays his
hand-painted psychedelic Stratocaster on the Beatles' "All
You Need Is Love" television broadcast.
1968 Fender introduces the semi-hollow Thinline Telecaster,
Bronco amplifier, Pink Paisley and Blue Flower Telecaster,
Montego and LTD hollow-body archtop guitars, Palomino
acoustic, Orchestration + brass/wind effects unit (!),
Dimension IV effects unit, Fuzz Wah pedal, Fender Blender
distortion pedal and Bandmaster Reverb amp. A new black
Fender instrument logo is introduced.
Jimmy Page plays a Telecaster guitar on Led Zeppelin's
eponymous debut album. Status Quo hit the U.K. charts with
"Pictures Of Matchstick Men" and "Ice In The Sun";
guitarists Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt play their
Telecaster guitars on these and all subsequent tracks
throughout their long career.
1969 New at the close of the '60s: Fender Custom, Maverick,
Swinger, F Series acoustics, Redondo acoustic, Bantam and
Super Bassman bass amps, Super Showman and Zodiac amps,
Multi Echo effects box and Super Bassman II.
Jimi Hendrix closes the Woodstock festival with "The Star
Spangled Banner." George Harrison plays a rosewood body
Telecaster guitar in the Beatles' farewell performance atop
London's Apple building. Bruce Springsteen buys his
now-famous Esquire® guitar.
1970 This year's groovy consumables include the 400 PS and
Musicmaster bass amps, the Musicmaster Bass guitar and the
first fretless Fender basses.
Whilst browsing in a Nashville music store, Eric Clapton
buys a black Stratocaster guitar he later nicknames
"Blackie." Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante
is born. Jimi Hendrix dies at age 27. Clapton plays on
Derek and the Dominoes' Layla and Other Assorted Love
Songs. Deep Purple's In Rock stays in the U.K. charts all
year, and features Ritchie Blackmore's dynamic Stratocaster
playing on such hits as "Black Night," "Strange Kind Of
Woman" and "Child in Time."
1971 Three-screw neckplates now used on Fender instruments.
Keith Richards' Telecaster work can be heard on the Rolling
Stones' Sticky Fingers. Curtis Mayfield plays a Stratocaster
guitar on Move On Up, and Rory Gallagher plays one on his
self-titled debut album. Larry Graham's Jazz Bass is heard
on the Sly and the Family Stone classic There's a Riot
Goin' On. Stratocaster guitars can be heard on Traffic's
The Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys and Funkadelic's Maggot
Brain.
1972 The Bassman 10, Bassman 100 and Super Six Reverb amps
are introduced.
Deep Purple's "Smoke On The Water" features one the most
played riffs in guitar history; Richard Thompson's Henry
The Human Fly appears.
1973 The Telecaster Deluxe is introduced.
Pink Floyd release The Dark Side of the Moon. The Isley
Brothers' 3+3 features Ernie Isley's Stratocaster playing.
1974 Pickups change from staggered to flush polepieces.
Hard-tail (no vibrato) and left-handed Stratocasters are
introduced.
Strat-wielding Brit Robin Trower breaks big in the United
States with Bridge of Sighs.
1975 The 300 PS speaker enclosure, Super Twin amp and
Fender Phaser pedal debut.
Bruce Springsteen, Esquire guitar in hand, releases his
landmark Born To Run album. Roxy Music score a worldwide
hit with "Love Is The Drug."
1976 New this year is the Starcaster® guitar.
Robbie Robertson plays his '58 Strat at The Band's farewell
performance. Canada's Rush release 2112. Jeff Beck starts
using Stratocaster guitars again on Wired, a practice he
continues to this day. Other very "Fender-y" albums this
year include Hotel California by the Eagles and Fly Like An
Eagle by the Steve Miller Band.
1977 Five-position selector switches are added to
Stratocasters. Also, the Antigua finish is revived,
Schaller® tuners first appear on Fender instruments, and
the Bassman 70, Bassman 135 and Studio Bass amps are
introduced.
Status Quo release their anthemic Rockin' All Over The
World. Elvis Costello clutches his Fender Jaguar on the
cover of his debut album, My Aim Is True. On the Talking
Heads' "Psycho Killer," David Byrne plays a Duo-Sonic
guitar and Tina Weymouth plays a Mustang® bass. Nile Rogers
plays a Stratocaster guitar on Chic's self-titled debut. The
second Stranglers album, No More Heroes, features Hugh
Cornwell's Telecaster guitar and Jean-Jacques Burnel's
Precision Bass. Junior Marvin plays guitar on Bob Marley's
Exodus.
1978 Thin Lizzy, featuring Phil Lynott and his Precision
Bass, release the Live and Dangerous album. A new group
called the Police hit big with "Roxanne." Mark Knopfler and
Dire Straits release "Sultans of Swing"; Knopfler¹s Fiesta
Red '61 Stratocaster can be heard on several tracks on the
group's hit debut album. Chris Rea's debut, Whatever
Happened To Benny Santini?, earns a gold disc in the United
States; its single, "Fool If You Think It's Over," is
nominated for a Grammy®.
1979 Fender introduces the Lead I and Lead II guitars.
The second Police album, Regatta de Blanc, includes the hit
singles "Message In A Bottle" and "Walking on the Moon." The
Clash release their seminal London Calling. Ry Cooder plays
a Stratocaster guitar on his Bop Œtil You Drop album.
1980 New items include the Fender 30, 75 and 140 tube amps,
and the B-300 head.
Chrissie Hynde and her Telecaster guitar burst onto the
scene with the Pretenders' debut album and hit single
"Brass In Pocket." Iron Maiden's self-titled debut album is
released.
1981 The four-bolt neckplate returns on all models and the
Stratocaster reverts back to the small headstock. The
Micro-Tilt neck adjustment is discontinued, and the
Stratocaster Standard is introduced as Fender's core model.
The twin-humbucker Lead III joins the Lead Series, the
short-lived Fender Bullet guitar is introduced, and the
Walnut Stratocaster and Bassman Compact amp appear. Bright
custom colours become available for a limited period,
including Capri Orange, Monaco Yellow, Morocco Red and
Sahara Taupe.
Sting buys the early-'50s Precision Bass that he still uses
today. The Rolling Stones release Tattoo You and the
Specials close the curtain on Britain's Two-Tone boom with
their biggest-selling single, "Ghost Town."
1982 Fender launches Squier®, the company¹s first line of
imported guitars. The Super Champ amp appears. Vintage
reissue models are launched, including the ¹57 and '62
Stratocaster guitars, ¹57 and '62 Precision basses and ¹52
Telecaster. Standard Series Acoustics appear, as do the
RGP-1 and RPW-1 power amps, Deluxe Reverb II amp and
Bassman 20 amp.
Original nutty boys Madness continue their assault on the
U.K. singles charts with "Cardiac Arrest," "House Of Fun"
and "Our House"; guitarist Chrissy Boy plays Fender guitars
on some of the band's finest moments. Iron Maiden¹s
sophomore album, The Number Of The Beast, turns them into a
stadium-filling phenomenon. Miles Davis hires guitarist Mike
Stern for the album We Want Miles.
1983 New products include the London Reverb, Yale Reverb,
Montreux, Studio Lead, Stage Lead and Twin Reverb II amps;
plus Elite Series guitars and California Series acoustics.
Stevie Ray Vaughan's dazzling skills storm the U.K. on
David Bowie's Let's Dance. Will Sargeant plays a
Jazzmaster® guitar on the Cure single "The Love Cats."
Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck play the ARMS
Benefit Concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 20
Sept., followed by nine U.S. dates.
1984 CBS announces a divesting of all the company's
non-broadcast holdings, putting Fender up for sale. Master
Series guitars and Gemini Series acoustics debut.
Bruce Springsteen¹s Born In The U.S.A. and U2¹s The
Unforgettable Fire are two of the best-selling albums of
the decade. Steve Vai plays modified Stratocasters on his
Flex-Able album.
1985 Fender management, led by William (Bill) Schultz, buys
the company from CBS, putting Fender back in the hands of a
small group of musically dedicated professionals, with
Schultz at the helm. U.S. production is temporarily
suspended, although the newly restructured Fender company
soon opens a new factory in Corona, Calif., and resumes
U.S. guitar production. Fender acquires Sunn® Electronics.
The historic Live Aid charity concert takes place at
London¹s Wembley Stadium. Fender highlights include U2's
the Edge playing a Stratocaster, a Strat-wielding Sting
appearing with Dire Straits, Elvis Costello playing a red
Jazzmaster, Queen's Brian May and Freddie Mercury playing
Telecasters (black and white, respectively), Eric Clapton
playing a Stratocaster and Status Quo playing Telecasters.
Elsewhere in music, Liverpool likely lads Echo and the
Bunnymen weigh in with their most influential album, Songs
To Learn And Sing. Also appearing are Showdown by Robert
Cray and Sting's first solo album, The Dream Of The Blue
Turtles.
1986 U.S. production of Fender amps resumes at the
Fender/Sunn factory in Lake Oswego, Ore.
The flagship American Standard Series is announced. The '57
and '62 Vintage Reissue Stratocasters are introduced; the
first one made is a '57 Fiesta Red model with serial number
V000001, presented to Bill Schulz. The second, also a Fiesta
Red '57, bears serial number V000002 and is presented to
Shadows guitarist Hank Marvin at a special banquet in
London on 12 Feb. The Vintage Plus Stratocaster debuts, as
do amps with red knobs.
Dire Straits¹ Brothers in Arms is the first CD to sell a
million copies worldwide. Fender signature artist Yngwie
Malmsteen releases Trilogy. Elvis Costello and the
Confederates release King of America, featuring Telecaster
master James Burton. Thin Lizzy singer and bassist Phil
Lynott dies.
1987 Fender introduces the American Standard Stratocaster
at the winter NAMM show. The Fender Custom Shop is
established by John Page and John Stevens in Corona, Calif.
Fender begins making low-cost guitars at its new Ensenada,
Mexico, facility. New products include the valve-powered
Twin amp, BXR 300, Strat® Plus and Dual Showman amp.
The Smiths, now at their biggest, put three albums out: The
World Won't Listen, Louder Than Bombs and Strangeways, Here
We Come. Yngwie Malmsteen racks up another hit with
Odyssey. Guns 'n' Roses release the monster Appetite For
Destruction. U2 stages an impromptu live performance at the
Justin Herman Plaza in San Francisco on 11 Nov.; the event
is filmed for the group's film Rattle And Hum. Pink Floyd,
sans Roger Waters, make a comeback with A Momentary Lapse
Of Reason.
1988 Fender introduces its first signature model, the Eric
Clapton Signature Stratocaster. Also new are the Deluxe 85,
Princeton Chorus and Super 60 amps; the Sidekick bass amp
and the Yngwie Malmsteen Stratocaster. Fender Japan
introduces several Stratocasters, including the 12-string
Strat XII, '68 Stratocaster, HM Power Strat, Paisley Strat
and Blue Flower Strat. Previously, the Blue Flower finish
was only available on Telecasters.
Dinosaur Jr. have a big hit with Bug; guitarist, J Mascis
plays a '63 Jazzmaster guitar on several tracks. Thurston
Moore plays a Jazzmaster guitar on Sonic Youth's
breakthrough double album, Daydream Nation. Other albums
include Sting's Nothing Like The Sun and Frank Zappa's
Guitar!
1989 Launch of the M-80 and Power Chorus amps, and the
adorable little Mini Amp.
Chris Rea tops the charts with his biggest-selling album,
The Road To Hell. Bonnie Raitt's Nick of Time also scales
the charts.
1990 Fender reissues the classic 4x10 Bassman amp and
introduces the H.O.T., R.A.D., ¹63 Vibroverb re-issue,
Super 210 and Super 112 amps. Fender's first five-string
Fender basses are made. Guitar whiz Adrian Belew plays a
Stratocaster on his Young Lions album. Texas guitar
wunderkind Eric Johnson scores big with his Ah Via Musicom.
1991 Leo Fender dies of complications of Parkinson's
disease in March.
New this year is the Standard Series; plus the Power Chorus
and X-15 amps, M-80 bass amp, Prodigy II guitar and Japanese
HM Stratocaster.
Nirvana¹s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and mega-album
Nevermind spawn the grunge explosion. Pearl Jam's Ten is
another grunge sensation.The Red Hot Chili Peppers release
Blood Sugar Sex Magik. Buddy Guy releases Damn Right I've
Got The Blues, and Eric Clapton releases his star-studded
24 Nights live album, which includes fellow Strat slingers
Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray.
1992 The ¹65 Twin Reverb Re-issue amp, SX and CX Series
acoustics appear.
Rage Against The Machine release their eponymous debut
album, and REM's multimillion-selling Automatic For The
People tops the charts; the bassists in both groups play
Fender basses. Nirvana play their legendary ³wheelchair²
gig on 30 Aug. at the U.K.'s Reading Festival.
1993 Fender Custom Shop amplifiers‹Tone-Master, Vibro-King,
Blues Deville and Blues Deluxe‹are introduced. Also debuting
are the Bullet, BXR 100, ¹65 Deluxe Reverb re-issue and
Performer 1000 amps; and the Richie Sambora Signature
Stratocaster, Special Edition 1993 Stratocaster,
Harley-Davidson® Stratocaster and Playboy® Stratocaster.
Nirvana release In Utero. Richard Thompson releases
Watching The Dark.
1994 The Stratocaster turns 40 and is celebrated with the
40th Anniversary Stratocaster. BXR 15, BXR 60 and Pro
Junior amps appear; as do the Spring Hill Series and AG
Series acoustics, the Dick Dale Stratocaster, the
Mexican-made Stratocaster Special and the Aluminium
Stratocaster.
Jeff Buckley¹s acclaimed Grace is released. Pearl Jam
release Vitalogy. Blur release their Britpop breakthrough
Parklife, with Graham Coxon's impeccable Telecaster work.
Pink Floyd¹s final album to date, The Division Bell,
appears. Dave Navarro plays a Custom Shop Sunburst
Stratocaster guitar with The Red Hot Chili Peppers at
Woodstock '94; after the performance, for which all of the
band members dressed as Jimi Hendrix, a white Stratocaster
guitar is thrown into the crowd.
1995 Fender acquires Guild®. After taking an order from
Keith Richards for a "beaten up" Telecaster, the Custom
Shop begins making "relic" instruments. The popular DG
Series acoustics debut. Bonnie Raitt becomes the first
woman with a Fender signature guitar (the Bonnie Raitt
Signature Stratocaster); other models include the Buddy Guy
Signature Stratocaster, Carved Top Stratocaster, '54
Stratocaster FMT, '60 Stratocaster FMT, Japanese Floyd
Rose® Standard Stratocaster, Japanese Foto Flame
Stratocaster, Custom Shop Aloha Stratocaster and Custom
Shop Black Beauty Stratocaster.
Radiohead go global with The Bends. Rancid release And Out
Come the Wolves. Elastica splash the U.K. with their
self-titled debut, with frontwoman Justine Frischmann on
Telecaster guitar. Irish Stratocaster legend Rory
Gallagher, 47, dies on 14 June.
1996 Fender moves U.S. amp production from Lake Oswego,
Ore., to Corona, Calif., and celebrates its 50th
anniversary with commemorative guitar and amps. Also
released this year are the Jag-Stang®, Fat Strat, Tex-Mex
Strat, Relic 60's Guitars, Custom Classics, Lone Star
Stratocaster,Traditional Strat,Traditional Fat Strat,
Richie Sambora Black Paisley Stratocaster (Japan) and
Ventures Strat (Japan); plus Hot Rod and Roc Pro amps, and
SPA power amps.
Alannis Morrisette plays a Stratocaster guitar on her
massive-selling Jagged Little Pill. Nicky Wire plays a Jazz
Bass on Everything Must Go by the Manic Street Preachers,
and Eric Clapton¹s four-disc Crossroads II is released.
1997 New products include the Big Apple Strat, Hank Marvin
Stratocaster, Super Strat, Powerhouse Stratocaster, Jerry
Donahue Hellecasters Stratocaster (Japan), Collectors'
Edition Stratocaster (limited run of 1,997), Custom Shop
Monterey Strat (limited run of 210), Jimi Hendrix
Stratocaster, Automatic SE and GT Amps, California Series
Guitars, Fender SRM Series powered mixers, Passport®
portable P.A. system, Amp Can , Jimmie Vaughan Signature
Tex-Mex Stratocaster, '69 Stratocaster, Tex-Mex Strat,
Telecaster Specials and Frontman Series amps. The
DeltaTone System is added to Standard Stratocasters.
Telecaster whiz-kid Jeff Buckley drowns. Radiohead release
OK Computer. Texas have a crossover hit with White On
Blonde; lead singer Sharleen Spiteri plays her Telecaster
guitar on the album. John Fogerty stages a successful
comeback the Strat-filled Blue Moon Swamp.
1998 Fender¹s new 177,000-square-foot state-of-the-art
factory opens in Corona, Calif. The Relic line is
re-organized; the Stratocaster now available with Relic,
Closet Classic and N.O.S (New Old Stock) treatments. Fender
SFX® (Stereo Field Expansion) Amplifier Technology is
announced, and the Sunn line of amps is unveiled at the
winter NAMM Show in Los Angeles. The four Fender Roadhouse
exhibition trailers hit the road, one in the U.K./Europe
and three in the United States. Also new: Showmaster
Stratocaster, American Deluxe Series instruments with
Fender Vintage-Noiseless Pickups, Standard Jazz Bass V,
Hot-Rodded American Series, Toronado , Cyclone , '69
Telecaster Thinline, American Vintage Series, Passport 150,
John Jorgenson Signature Custom Telecaster, Limited Edition
Donald "Duck" Dunn Precision Bass, Limited Edition Matthias
Jabs Stratocaster, Will Ray Signature Mojo Telecaster,
Standard Roland Ready Stratocaster, 1998 Collector's
Edition Telecaster, Deluxe Series Models, American Special
Models, Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, Geddy Lee Jazz Bass, Buck
Owens Telecaster.
Strat player Tom Delonge and Blink 182 release Cheshire
Cat. Meanwhile. Lauren Hill's The Miseducation of Lauren
Hill, one of the biggest-selling albums of the decade,
features reggae legend Chinna Smith palying a Stratocaster
guitar.
1999 Fender's Ensenada factory produces its first Classic
Series Stratocaster. also appearing are Dyna-Touch amps,
Classic Telecaster guitars, Princeton Chorus DSP and
Acoustasonic Pro amps, the Stu Hamm "Urge" Bass II®, the
Power Telecaster, new American Vintage Instruments, the
Deluxe Fat Strat, the Hot-Rodded Precision bass, the Jaco
Pastorius Jazz bass, the LTB mixer and speakers, and
Classic Series instruments. Fender introduces the DeArmond®
line of guitars and basses.
Eric Clapton sells his Sunburst Stratocaster guitar,
³Brownie² at auction for $497,500. Blink 182¹s Enema Of The
State propels them to stardom in the U.K. Travis break
through with The Man Who, featuring Fran Healy on
Telecaster guitar. Stereophonics, with Richard Jones on
Precision bass, release Performance And Cocktails. Feeder
have great success with Yesterday Went Too Soon, with Grant
Nicholas playing a '67 Jazzmaster guitar. John Frusciante
makes a spectacular comeback on the Red Hot Chili Peppers'
Californication.
2000 American Series guitars and basses replace the
American Standard Series. Debuts inclue the '65 Super
Reverb reissue amp, Sub-Sonic guitar, Stratocoustic and
Telecoustic guitars, new folk and bluegrass instruments,
Acoustasonic 30 amp, FV-3 violin, Bassman amp and Muddy
Waters Tribute Telecaster.
Coldplay begin their ascent with the album Parachutes;
guitarists Jonny Buckland and Chris Martin play a variety
of Fender models. Deftones chart with White Pony. Doves
release their classic Lost Souls album. Strat player Geno
Lenardo and his band, Filter, release Take A Picture.
2001 Fender U.S.A. moves its corporate headquarters to a
new location in Scottsdale, Ariz. New products include the
Cyber-Twin® guitar amp, XP Series loudspeakers, 50th
Anniversary American Series Precision Bass, Sting and Steve
Harris signature Precision basses, Zone Bass guitars, Pro
Series amps, GN-45 SCE and GC-42 S acoustic guitars, exotic
wood Jazz Bass models, updated Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck
Stratocaster guitars, Custom Shop 50th Anniversary
Precision bass, Tom Delonge signature Stratocaste, Grand
Auditorium acoustic guitars and the '65 Super Reverb
re-issue amp.
The Strokes invade the U.K. with their album Is This It?
Ryan Adams comes to the fore with his Gold album, featuring
the multitalented musician playing several Fender
instruments. Telecaster tones are heard on Elbow¹s debut,
Asleep In The Back. Jack White¹s Twin Reverb sound is heard
on the White Stripes¹ White Blood Cells album. Buddy Guy
stages a comeback with his highly acclaimed Sweet Tea
album. Turin Brakes release The Optimist LP.
2002 Jackson®/Charvel® Manufacturing Inc. is created under
the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) banner as
Fender acquires both brand names. New this year are the
Cyber-Deluxe amp, Cyber-Twin head, American Special
Toronado Competition Mustang guitar, Mark Hoppus signature
bass, Dyna-Touch Plus DSP amps, Mustang bass reissue, Buddy
Guy Polka Dot Stratocaster, new look Cyclone guitar,
Passport Deluxe 150 and 250 portable sound systems, Reggie
Hamilton signature Jazz Bass and Jazz Bass V.
Clash founder/frontman Joe Strummer dies. Coldplay release
A Rush of Blood to the Head. Aussie rockers the Vines
create a sensation with their debut album, Highly Evolved;
guitarist Craig Nicholls smashes more then 150 Stratocaster
guitars this year. Cooper Temple Clause release See This
Through And Leave.
2003 FMIC is granted the rights to develop, produce, market
and distribute Gretsch® products worldwide. Many new Fender
products appear: figured wood and metallic Showmaster®
models, Acoustasonic amps with DSP effects, American
Deluxe Series guitars with a new pickup design, Global
Design Series acoustics, PRO Series bass heads and
cabinets, 800 Pro Bass head, American Series Precision Bass
with S-1 switching, Highway 1 Texas Telecaster, American
Series Ash Telecaster, Cyclone HH, Jimmy Bryant signature
Telecaster, Custom Shop Flat Head Showmaster guitar,
American Series Jazz Bass with S-1 switching, Rumble
Series bass combos, FM65R Guitar combo, FR-50 CE resonator
guitar and FR-51 resonator bass, Splatter Stratocaster,
Acoustasonic SFX II acoustic combo, Jag-Stang reissue,
GJ-46 SCE, GC-42 SCE, and Big Tex acoustic guitars,
American Series Stratocaster HSS with S-1 switching,
American Series Stratocaster HH with S-1 switching, Mark
Knopfler Stratocaster, Cyber-Champ combo, Custom Shop J5
Telecaster, 400 PRO bass combo, Robert Cray Stratocaster,
Highway 1 Showmaster HSS, Standard Series Stratocaster
Satin Finish, Custom Shop '55 Precision Bass, Pink Paisley
and Blue Flower reissue Stratocaster guitars and basses,
Custom Shop Seymour Duncan Esquire, Artist Series Marcus
Miller Jazz bass V, American Series Telecaster HS, Highway
1 Stratocaster LH, Highway 1 Stratocaster HSS, '51
Precision Bass, Custom Shop '59 Esquire, Esquire Custom
Scorpion, Esquire Custom GT, Custom Shop 1960 Custom
Telecaster, Showmaster Celtic H, Custom Shop '65
Stratocaster, Highway 1 Precision Bass, Highway 1 Toronado,
Aerodyne Jazz Bass I, Strat-o-Sonic Black Dove I and II
guitars, Esquire Custom Celtic guitar, Acoustasonic
Stratocaster and '64 Vibroverb Custom amp.
Biffy Clyro make a lasting impression with The Vertigo Of
Bliss. Oceansize release the majestic Effloresce. The
Strokes are back with the acclaimed Room On Fire album.
Jeff Beck scores a hit with his latest album, cleverly
titled Jeff. Bluesy Stratocaster tones fill Sonny
Landreth's hit album, The Road We're On. Hell Is For Heroes
assault the charts with The Neon Handshake.
2004 FMIC celebrates the 50th anniversary of the
Stratocaster. Several celebrations take place, culminating
in a concert at London's Wembley Arena featuring guitar
legends including David Gilmour, Gary Moore, Hank Marvin,
Ronnie Wood and Joe Walsh. FMIC introduces its Fender Bass
Amplification division, dedicated to the development,
design and marketing of cutting-edge bass amplification.
FMIC also buys SWR® bass amplification and moves production
moves to the Corona, Calif., facility.
New gear includes the 50th Anniversary Custom Shop,
American Deluxe Series and American Series Stratocaster
guitars; the FBZ-66 bouzouki (!), FMO-66 octave mandolin,
SR6300 and SR8500 powered mixers, Passport P-80 portable PA
system, Steel-King® pedal steel guitar combo, Dyna-Touch
III amps, John 5 Telecaster, TBP-1 Tube Bass Preamp, 50th
Anniversary Golden Stratocaster and Custom Shop Limited
Edition SRV Tribute Stratocaster.
Eric Clapton sells his most treasured Stratocaster guitar,
³Blackie,² for $959,500, a record at the time.
Fender-filled albums include A Crow Left Of The Murder from
Incubus, Shatterproof Is Not A Challenge by Hundred Reasons,
Who Killed The Zutons? by‹you guessed it‹the Zutons, Snow
Patrol's The Final Straw and the Thrills' Let's Bottle
Bohemia.
2005 Bill Schultz retires as Fender CEO; he is succeeded by
Bill Mendello. An autographed Stratocaster becomes the
world¹s most expensive guitar, fetching £1,628,632. The
guitar, signed by a host of top musicians, was bought at an
Indian Ocean tsunami benefit relief event in Qatar by
Sheihka Miyyassah Al Thani of the Qatari royal family.
Tacoma® guitars become the newest addition to the FMIC
family.
New products include the Jazz King amp, FM 15DSP and FM
25DSP guitar amps, Classic Series '50s Precision Bass, Big
Block Series Stratocaster (and Telecaster and Precision
Bass), MB-1200 bass power amp, Jazz Bass 24, Reggie
Hamilton Standard Jazz Bass, DG-22 SCE exotic hardwood
acoustics, Fender Blender custom reissue pedal, John Mayer
signature Stratocaster, Eric Johnson signature
Stratocaster, Fender footwear, Speed-e-tuner , G-DEC amp,
Custom Shop Mary Kaye Tribute Stratocaster, Metalhead
guitar amps, Classic Series '50s Esquire and new Bassman
combos.
Fender-iffic albums include the Kaiser Chiefs' Employment,
Athlete's Tourist, Coldplay's X&Y, the Editors' The Back
Room, the Cribs' New Fellas and Hard-Fi's Stars Of CCTV.
2006 Fender celebrates its 60th anniversary. New products
are the 60th Anniversary Limited Edition instruments,
Super-Sonic Series guitar amps, Acoustasonic Ultralight
amp, Rumble 100/210 bass amp, ESV-10 12-fret orchestra and
ESA-10 grand auditorium acoustic guitars, California Series
acoustic guitars, Jazzmaster Ultralight amp, new-look James
Burton signature Telecaster, Tony Franklin signature
fretless Precision Bass and Victor Bailey signature
fretless Jazz basses.
2007 Fender discontinues the American Series HH
Stratocaster (formerly Big Apple Stratocaster and "Double
Fat" Stratocaster). Fender discontinues the American
Series Hard Tail Stratocaster. Two Fender Concept guitars,
the Baja Stratocaster and Baja Telecaster become full
production guitars offered through all Fender Dealerships.
================================
Adams661
Too bad some of it is complete BS. What else would you expect from
Fender? All they live off of is BS because they havent had an
original idea in about 44 years. Well. The Jagstang was a good one
that wasnt carried out properly.