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March Birthdays

SurfGuitar101 News & Articles

Happy Birthday Leo Fender!


As Eddie Katcher has pointed out, today is Leo Fender's birthday! He would have been 97!

From Wikipedia: "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. Marshall and many other amplifier companies have used Fender amps as the foundation of their products. Fender and inventor Les Paul are often cited as the two most influential figures in the development of electric instruments in the 20th century."

Read more here.

Here is a Free Information Society biography of Fender.

And let's not forget the 60's surf bands who were early adopters of Fender gear. It has been said that it was the surf bands who cemented the popularity of "The Fender Bass" as a viable electric instrument.

Happy Birthday Leo Fender!


This story has 4 comments.


1.
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I would call Leo the greatest industrial designer of that century! Can you think of (other than a paper clip) a more copied design than the Strat? add in the Tele and Fender had a damn-near monopoly on quality amps in the 60's! What is amazing to me is today you can own the holy grail of amps (ok. in my opinion), the Deluxe Reverb, for a couple of grand in excellent condition. Leo's work is still a deal, and still beyond reliable!

surfneptune | 10-Aug-2006 16:47:55 | Flag
2.
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I never knew Leo stood for Leonidas - actually Leonidas is a well known belgian brand of chocolates... My last name (rombouts) is a well known belgian brand of coffee ... you could say, me and fender gear goes together like coffee and chocolates! Smile

Happy B-day, leo!

WR

WR | 11-Aug-2006 07:25:17 | Flag
3.
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thank God for Leo fender...and his wonderful "Fender Precision Bass"... and the Bassman Amplifier...

and for designing all that cool gear with Dick Dale...

oh yeah, and his mighty mighty "Reverberation Unit"...

man...Leo RULES!

dp | 11-Aug-2006 19:37:32 | Flag
4.
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Yes indeed, yes indeed. A great many thanks are in order to this man. For as long as I live, I will play nothing but Fender guitars through Fender amps.

Jon | 11-Aug-2006 19:43:16 | Flag

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