33°38′46″N111°53′57″W / 33.6460322°N 111.899058°W /33.6460322; -111.899058
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| Formerly | Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company |
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| Company type | Private |
| Industry | Musical instruments |
| Founded | 1946; 79 years ago (1946) inFullerton, California, U.S. |
| Founder | Clarence Leonidas Fender |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California ,U.S. |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Andy Mooney (CEO)[1] Matthew Janopaul (CFO) Evan Jones (CMO)[2] Aarash Darroodi (CLO) |
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| Brands | |
| Owner | Servco Pacific |
| Divisions | |
| Website | fender.com |
TheFender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC, or simplyFender) is an Americanmanufacturer and marketer ofmusical instruments andamplifiers. Fender producesacoustic guitars,bass amplifiers andpublic address equipment; however, it is best known for its solid-bodyelectric guitars andbass guitars, particularly theStratocaster,Telecaster,Jaguar,Jazzmaster,Precision Bass, and theJazz Bass. Fender also developsdigital audio workstation andscorewriter via its subsidiaryPreSonus which was acquired in 2021. The company was founded inFullerton, California, byClarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender in 1946.[6][7]Andy Mooney has served as thechief executive officer (CEO) since June 2015.
In January 2020, Servco Pacific became the majority owner after acquiring the shares of TPG Growth.[8]
The company began as "Fender's Radio Service" in late 1938, inFullerton, California.[9] As a qualifiedelectronics technician, Leo Fender had repaired radios, phonographs, home audio amplifiers, public address systems and musicalinstrument amplifiers. He became intrigued by design flaws in contemporary musical instrument amplifiers and began building amplifiers based on his own designs or modifications to existing designs.[9]
By the early 1940s, Leo Fender had entered into a partnership withClayton Orr "Doc" Kauffman, and they formed theK & F Manufacturing Corp to design, manufacture, and marketelectric instruments and amplifiers.[9] Production began in 1945 with Fender's first stringed instrument design, a Hawaiianlap steel guitar encompassed with a patented pickup and accompanying amplifier. By the end of the year, Fender became convinced that manufacturing was more profitable than repair and decided to concentrate on that business instead. Kauffman remained unconvinced, and he and Fender amicably parted ways in 1946. Fender then renamed the company the "Fender Electric Instrument Company".[9]
The brand's first official guitar design came in spring of 1950 with the release of theEsquire, which came with both single- and double-pickup options. However, as the Esquire's one-piece maple neck proved susceptible to bowing in high humidity, atruss rod was added and the model was renamed the "Broadcaster", and later the "Telecaster" after a trademark dispute withGretsch.[9] The Telecaster's bolted-on neck allowed for the instrument's body and neck to be milled and finished separately, and for the final assembling to be done quickly and cheaply by unskilled workers.[citation needed] The "Tele" was the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.[10] Following the success of the Telecaster, Fender debuted the world's firstelectric bass, thePrecision Bass, in 1951, alongside the first-ever bass amp, theBassman.[9]
In August 1954, Fender unveiled theStratocaster electric guitar. The "now-iconic" Strat differed significantly from the Telecaster's design in several ways, such as using three pickups, a spring-tension vibrato bridge, and a contoured body shape.[9] Following the Stratocaster's release, the Precision Bass received a major makeover, aligning its design more with the Stratocaster, as opposed to the Telecaster. In 1959, Fender released theJazzmaster guitar.[9] Like the Stratocaster before it, the Jazzmaster was a radical departure from previous guitar designs, with an offset body, new vibrato system, and innovative electronics that were designed to (unsuccessfully) capture theJazz guitar market. TheJazz Bass followed in 1960, with theJaguar released in 1962 andMustang in 1964, completing Fender's "classic" instrument lineup.[9] Fender began producing acoustic guitars in 1964, as well.[9]
In January 1965, Leo Fender sold his companies to the Columbia Records Distribution Corporation,[9] a subsidiary of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), for $13 million ($130 million in 2024 adjusted for inflation).[11][12] As Fender later explained, "In 1964 Leo found himself with 17 buildings, about 600 employees, and a back order of $9 million in guitars and amps. The overwhelming demands of the company coupled with his often debilitating illness forced him to sell the company to CBS in 1965."[13] Fender's "CBS-era" saw several notable changes implemented, such as a redesigned oversizedheadstock (1965), bound fretboards with block inlays (1966), and a three-bolt neck joint (1971).[9]
The company introduced new instrument and amplifier designs during this time, as well. TheStarcaster, for one, was unusual because of its shallow semi-hollow body design that still retained the traditional Fender bolt-on neck with a new headstock design. The Starcaster also incorporated a newhumbucking pickup byP.A.F. designerSeth Lover, theWide Range pickup. This pickup was installed in three new incarnations of the Telecaster: theTelecaster Custom, theTelecaster Deluxe, and theTelecaster Thinline.[9]
In 1966, Fender opened a much a larger facility at 1300 S. Valencia Drive adjacent to the existing factory at 500 South Raymond Avenue.[14] Guitar and amplifier production, which had increased 30% in CBS's first year, soon increased another 45%.[14]
Despite the new models and technology, Fender's popularity waned among players due to a perceived decline in quality with CBS' takeover, while so-called "pre-CBS" vintage instruments became highly collectible.[9] To try and restore the brand's reputation, CBS brought in three new executives in 1981: John McLaren,Bill Schultz, and Dan Smith, who had previously worked forYamaha Musical Instruments. To address quality control issues, the Fender Fullerton plant was shut down for a short time in order to revamp the manufacturing process. Fender was also struggling to fight against lower cost copycat guitars on the market. Production was moved to Japan. On March 11, 1982, Fender Japan Ltd. was founded.[15]
After selling his namesake company, Leo Fender foundedMusic Man in 1975, andG&L Musical Instruments in 1979, both of which manufacture electric guitars and basses based on his earlier designs.
In 1985, Bill Schultz and a group of investors—including company employees and external companies like Servco Pacific Capitol—purchased Fender from CBS for $12.5 million and renamed it "Fender Musical Instruments Corporation" (FMIC). However, the sale did not include many of the company's patents or the old Fullerton factory, leading to the cessation of U.S. operations that same year.[9] Production of Fender products instead moved to Japan, but their import strategy became untenable in 1987 when the value of theJapanese yen doubled. Fender reintroduced U.S. production in 1987 with theAmerican Standard series via their newCorona, California-basedCustom Shop, which would also release the brand's first artist signature series models, both Stratocasters, forEric Clapton andYngwie Malmsteen a year later.[9]
In 1987, Fender established a manufacturing facility inEnsenada, Baja California,Mexico, and by 1990 Fender and their Japanese partnersFujiGen had started manufacturing in the city. In 1991, FMIC moved its corporate headquarters from its Corona location toScottsdale, Arizona,[16] and the Ensenada plant took over as Fender's primary export line.[9] The plant was rebuilt in 1994 after a fire.[17] Ownership changed in December 2001, when private equity firmWeston Presidio bought a controlling stake in Fender for $57.8 million.[9] Weston Presidio sought aninitial public offering in 2012, but the IPO was withdrawn to poor market conditions. Longtime investor Servco instead bought out Weston Presidio, withTPG Growth as an equal partner. Fender began new measures to attract customers, including implementing direct-to-consumer sales in 2015; the introduction of a digital learning platform, Fender Play, and a practice app, Fender Songs; and creating aneCommerce store in China to capitalize on the country's growing music scene. These initiatives resulted in a 300% increase in revenue. In 2020, Servco bought out TPG Growth's stake, making them Fender's majority owner.[9]
In 2025, Fender's headquarters will move toPhoenix, Arizona.[18][19]
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Fender's products, particularly its electric guitars, have been prominently associated with numerous notable players, often forming a key part of their tones and styles, and being used during significant moments in popular music history. While often associated with the impending rise ofrock and roll, Fender's initial models, the Esquire and Telecaster, gained initial popularity in the early 1950s with theWestern swing artists that had recently replacedbig bands in popularity.[20] Unlike older, East Coast-based manufacturers, Fender's California location, technological innovation, and affordability meshed with the subsequent emergence of U.S.youth culture and up-and-coming genres like rock and roll,rhythm and blues, andcountry.Johnny Cash's guitaristLuther Perkins adopted the Telecaster in 1954. R&B guitarists likeB.B. King andClarence "Gatemouth" Brown took it up, as well.Dale Hawkins'Top 40rockabilly hit "Suzie Q" (1957) was anchored by a Telecaster-played riff fromJames Burton, who later joinedRicky Nelson's band and repeatedly showcased his Telecasters onThe Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s.[20] Early rock and rollerBuddy Holly was an early proponent of the Telecaster's follow-up, the Stratocaster, famously playing one during a 1957 performance onThe Ed Sullivan Show and giving much of the public their first view of this new Fender guitar.[21] During his October 1958 tour of the U.K.,Muddy Waters—wielding a Telecaster—shocked audiences expecting "folksy acoustic" music with loud, electrified blues instead. Waters' tour proved a pivotal influence on what would become the next generation of electric guitarists from England.[20]
Electric guitar-based music continued to increase in popularity into the 1960s, especially among younger musicians.Surf rock iconDick Dale created his unique sound with a Stratocaster and the brand's amplifiers beginning early in the decade. WhenBob Dylanwent electric at the 1965Newport Folk Festival, he was playing a 1964 sunburst-finish Stratocaster.[21]Jimi Hendrix, perhaps the Stratocaster's most well-known player, famously set one on fire at the 1967Monterey Pop Festival. He also used a Strat during his rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" atWoodstock, a performance considered one of the most iconic moments of the 1960s.[21] Despite his later association with theGibson Les Paul,Jimmy Page was gifted a Telecaster byJeff Beck and used it on much of his earlyLed Zeppelin work, including "Stairway to Heaven".[22] His bandmateJohn Paul Jones played Fender's Jazz Bass model.[23] Outside of rock and blues, session bassistJames Jamerson created a distinctive feel and groove with his Precision Bass on numerousMotown records, amassing 23Billboard Hot 100 number one songs during the 1960s and 1970s.[24]
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David Gilmour ofPink Floyd extensively useda black Stratocaster during the 1970s and 1980s,[21] as did Eric Clapton with his StratBlackie. A former Gibson player, Clapton had boughthis first Fender in 1970. That same year, he gifted a butterscotch Telecaster to his friendKeith Richards just asThe Rolling Stones were about to recordExile on Main St. Dubbed "Micawber", Richards replaced the neck pickup with aP.A.F.humbucker and it became his primary guitar for much of his career.[22]Heartland rockers likeTom Petty andBruce Springsteen played Telecasters on many of their hits, with Springsteen using his hollowed-out 1952 Tele, "The Mutt", continuously since 1973. In the world ofheavy metal,Steve Harris played a single "P-Bass" across all ofIron Maiden's albums beginning in 1975 with the band's debut.[24]
Although Fender's popularity waned somewhat in the 1980s with the rise of heavier music styles and the "superstrat" era, many noted players continued using the brand's guitars and basses.Andy Summers andSting scored a string of hits withThe Police during this time, with Summers using a heavily-modified Telecaster and Sting playing Precision Basses.[20][24]Shred virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen notably stayed loyal to the Stratocaster throughout this era.Stevie Ray Vaughan prominently played Strats throughout his short career, including his favorite, the battered, sunburstNumber One.
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While the Telecaster and Stratocaster remained popular in the 1990s among players likeJohn Frusciante of theRed Hot Chili Peppers andMike McCready ofPearl Jam, manygrunge andalternative rock players gravitated towards other models.Kurt Cobain used Jaguar and Mustang models in addition to Strats.Thom Yorke ofRadiohead has used a Telecaster Deluxe model, while bandmateJonny Greenwood favors Telecaster models like the relatively uncommon Telecaster Plus. BassistsMike Dirnt ofGreen Day andNate Mendel of theFoo Fighters have crafted their tones with Precision Basses.[24]Flea has favored the Jazz Bass, wielding it as both a rhythm and lead instrument.[23] Other recent players to receive Fender signature guitars includeH.E.R. andCory Wong.[25]
The Fender "spaghetti logo" was used by Fender from 1954 to the mid-1960s. By 1965 Fender used a transition logo which was a thicker gold-and-black logo (this logo is associated with CBS).[26]
FMIC has purchased a number of instrument brands and firms, including theGuild Guitar Company, theSunn Amplifier Company, andSWR Sound Corporation. In early 2003, FMIC reached an agreement with theGretsch family and began manufacturing and distributing new Gretsch guitars. Fender also ownsJackson, Olympia, Orpheum,Tacoma Guitars,Squier, and Brand X amps.
On October 28, 2007, Fender acquiredKaman Music Corporation,[27] which owned theOvation Guitar Company,Latin Percussion and Toca hand percussion products,Gibraltar Hardware, Genz Benz Amplification,Charvel,Hamer Guitars, and is the exclusive U.S. sales representative forSabian Cymbals and exclusive worldwide distributor ofTakamine Guitars andGretsch Drums.
In 2011,Volkswagen partnered with Fender to manufacture premium sound systems for its vehicles inNorth America.[28]Volkswagen vehicles inNorth America that offer optional Fender Premium Sound are theVolkswagen Golf,Volkswagen Beetle,Volkswagen Jetta Sedan,Volkswagen Passat, andVolkswagen Tiguan.
In 2014, Fender sold Guild Guitars to Cordoba Music Group.[29]
In February 2015, KMC was sold toJam Industries[30] by FMIC.[31]
In January 2019, Fender purchased theBigsby Electric Guitar Company from its partner Gretsch.The subsidiary operates independently, and produces the popularBigsby vibrato tailpiece as well as severalPaul Bigsby-designed electric guitars.[32]
In November 2021, Fender purchased the Louisiana-basedPreSonus Audio Electronics, a manufacturer of professional audio equipment and software.[33]
In June 2023, Fender opened its first flagship store in Tokyo, Japan.[34]
In 2024, Fender andTeufel Audio jointly launched a speaker line.
Fender published the Fender Frontline magazine as a source of product, artist and technical data for the company's customers.[35] The first half featured interviews and articles about the guitars and the stars who played them, and the second half was a catalog section.[36]
Fender published 27 issues of the magazine from 1990 through 2000.[36] Notable interviewees includedKurt Cobain in Fall 1994, in what was his last interview.[37] Fender had designed a hybrid guitar for Cobain, known as a Jag Stang.[38][37] Other notable interviews featuredPink Floyd guitaristDavid Gilmour,[39]Glenn Hughes fromDeep Purple,[40] andKing Crimson'sAdrian Belew.[41][self-published source]
In 2001, Fender eliminated the interviews and features section, and Frontline became an annual illustrated price list until 2006, when it was replaced with a product guide.[36]
Fender's core product are electric guitars, namely theJaguar,Jazzmaster,Mustang,Telecaster,Stratocaster,Duo-Sonic, Meteora, andJag-Stang.[42] This is alongside bass guitars in theMustang,Jaguar,Jazz,Precision and Meteora models.[43] Fender also manufactures acoustic guitars,lap steel guitars,banjos,electric violins, guitar/bass amplifiers and theFender Rhodes electric piano (until 1983). In addition, Fender produceseffects pedals andpicks.
According to American guitar expert George Gruhn, the Fender Telecaster, Precision Bass, and Stratocaster are "three of the most important models in the history of the electric guitar", and were all introduced between 1950 and 1957.[44] In 1953, Fender also introduced the Stringmaster, a double-pickup model[44] which was popular withwestern swing steel-guitar players.[45]
Fender manufactures and distributes all musical instruments sold under theEVH brand, including Custom Shop models and replicas of theFrankenstrat.[citation needed]
Squier was a string manufacturer that Fender acquired. Fender has used theSquier brand since 1982 to market inexpensive variants of Fender guitars to compete withStratocaster copies, as theStratocaster became more popular. Squier guitars have been manufactured in theUnited States,Japan,Korea,Indonesia andChina.
Fender products have become known for their versatility and "clean" sound, and the design of some of the company's guitar models have become iconic, and a part of popular culture. Daryl Robertson ofGuitar World wrote in 2023, "Fender is arguably the most well-known guitar manufacturer of all time. Without Leo Fender's influence on the wonderful world of guitars, amplifiers and basses, the landscape of music would look very different – it certainly wouldn't be as colorful."[46] Luke Mitchell ofSlashGear wrote in 2023, "Fender amplifiers have defined the sound of blues, rock, and country music, making them a staple for musicians worldwide."[47]
The Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., which entered the sports field by acquiring the New York Yankees, is further diversifying into the guitar and amplifier manufacturing business.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced on Feb. 10 that it has completed an asset sale of the KMC Music wholesale distribution business, including the trade name B & J Music, and certain proprietary brands, to JAM Industries, Ltd. JAM Industries is a global leader in the MI, pro-audio and consumer electronics wholesale distribution business.
KMC Music, Inc. dba KMC Musicorp., CT / •KMI Europe, Inc., DE / •B & J Music Ltd., Canada / •Takamine Gakki Co., Ltd. (12% KMC Music, Inc.), Japan
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