Leo Fender

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Image:Leo Fender tinkering.gif Clarence Leonidas Fender (August 10, 1909 - March 21, 1991) was an American luthier who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later founded G&L Musical Products (G&L Guitars). His guitar, bass, and amplifier designs from the 1950s continue to dominate popular music more than half a century later; Fender and inventor Les Paul are often cited as the two most influential figures in the development of electric instruments in the 20th century. (Paul's eponymous Gibson guitar has long been one of the only serious competitors to Fender's iconic designs.)

1 1950 to 1965: the Golden Age
2 Music Man and G&L
3 See also
4 External links

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1950 to 1965: the Golden Age

In 1950, he and George Fullerton introduced first the Esquire and then the Broadcaster, the first standard electric guitars produced by the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company. Due to a trademark conflict with another musical instrument company (the Gretsch Broadkaster line of drums), the Broadcaster's name was quickly changed to Telecaster and perhaps the most enduring electric guitar ever was born.

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Music Man and G&L

In the 1970s, Leo Fender designed guitars, basses and amplifiers for the Music Man corporation. In 1979 he and old friends George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt started a new company called G&L (George & Leo, later Guitars by Leo) Musical Products. Despite suffering several minor strokes, Leo Fender continued to produce guitars and basses. While he continued to refine the fundamental designs he had created decades earlier, he also earned many new patents for innovative designs in magnetic pickups, vibrato systems, neck construction, and other areas. Nevertheless, he never learned how to play the guitar.

A friendly, modest and unassuming man (his "coffee mug" was a styrofoam cup with the word "Leo" inked on it,) he had the lifelong admiration and devotion of his employees, many of whom have remarked that the best working years of their lives were spent under Leo Fender. He died in 1991 from complications of Parkinson's disease. His pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

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