The big bang that was rock & roll in the mid-1950s probably wouldn't have happened had Leo Fender not spent the 1940's fine-tuning the electric guitar. This new, exhaustively researched photo history traces the instrument from it's days as a dinky wooden instrument through the breakthroughs of the Stratocaster. Wonkish fun for guitarists, with nearly 300 pages of photo's. - Andy Greene - Rolling Stone Magazine
This is a remarkable book. It took almost 10 years to put together and it shows. The collection of Fender guitars is the best I have ever seen in any book, and includes a Jazzmaster in the almost mythical Shell Pink custom finish as well as other Fender models in super-rare Inca Silver, Sonic Blue, Foam Green, Shoreline Gold etc. Equally astounding is the collection of original tags, catalogues and other memorabilia which litter the pages and bring the golden age of Fender truly to life. There are artifacts in these pages which I didn't even know existed, and I've been an avid collector for more than twenty-five years.
The text provides a history of the Fender company in the era as well as a description of each model, but does not attempt to describe every change to every guitar or bass in great detail. There are no exploded views or close-ups of the bottom of pickups etc - it's not that kind of book, though I would suspect that the authors could have done that if they had wanted to. Rather it aims for a judicious overview, which places everything in its proper historical context and doesn't frighten off the general reader. That really is the beauty of this book. It will keep the collector/ enthusiast happy because of the plethora of never-before-seen pics of rare guitars and literature. But it will also satisfy the non-specialist who simply wants to look at great designs, historically impotant artifacts and to find out what all the fuss is about. He wont be left in any doubt now. - John Ludlow
This is a stunning compilation, as comfortable on a research shelf as on a coffee table. It doesn't just cover the history of Fender in words and dates, but through amazing photography which brings to life the ascent of Fender from humble beginnings to an American icon. This book is thoroughly researched, and the photographs of amazing vintage instruments are top notch and highly artistic. The authors feature arguably the best examples of vintage Fender gear in the world, and the photos are jaw dropping. The authors go to great lengths to examine Fender and its products in the wider cultural context of what was happening in music at the time, and it is filled with great anecdotes and quotes from well known artists. This is a perfect book for vintage gear enthusiasts as well as anyone interested in mid-20th century design, advertising or pop culture history. - Jason Isador
My first comment is that at the price point I knew this was going out at, I was expecting it to be softbound, not hardbound. I have not been able to put this down since I got home. I honestly thought that Richard's book was the last, best shot at the Fender story, but this is without a doubt, the most exhaustive, brilliantly photographed account of the instruments that came out of that factory over the years. I do not give out superlatives like this very often, but this is a superior effort to every thing that has come before, and stands in a category by itself. Well done, gentlemen! - Jeff Baker
