Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Inc. ( FMIC ) is an international, American Group of the musical instrument industry, based in Scottsdale (Arizona ). The company is synonymous with their core brand often referred to as a " Fender" for short. FMIC was founded in 1946 by the radio electrician and inventor Leo Fender Fender Electric Instrument under the name Manufacturing Company in Fullerton ( California). Due to the original Leo Fender's innovations, the company has grown today into one of the most recognized manufacturers of electric guitars, basses, guitar amps and PA systems. The Products of the core brand " Fender" is FMIC has developed through targeted acquisitions of well-known brands in the music industry the world's largest company in the industry since the 1990s.

The company is privately owned, the company's shares are mostly in the hands of the shareholders and senior executives of the company. President is Matt Janopaul, the operating business derives mainly responsible current CEO Larry Thomas.

  • 3.1 core brand " Fender" 3.1.1 Selecting electric guitar models
  • 3.1.2 Selection E -Bass models
  • 3.1.3 Amplifiers and PA Systems

History

The importance and reputation of FMIC and especially their core brand Fender is based mainly on the pioneering work in the 1950s and 1960s. Such was the Telecaster, the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar in the world. The also invented by Leo Fender Precision Bass was the first electric bass with frets.

The time futuristic Stratocaster is another style icon of music history and is considered together with the Telecaster as most copied model. Even with the amp models from Fender the company's reputation is well founded. For example, served the circuit diagram of the Fender Bassman as a template for the development of the first Vox and Marshall amplifiers. After the takeover of Harold Rhodes ' company in 1959 Fender introduced from 1965 also created the famous Rhodes piano. Last but not least connecting products with renowned artists from various genres of popular music today is a major marketing tool for FMIC.

Leo Fender era

Leo Fender was a graduate in business administration and worked in the early 1930s as an accountant in various companies. As a result of the Depression, he lost this job. Already in the 1920s, Fender had operated his hobby as a radio electrician and built, among others, public address systems and amplifiers for different events. In 1939 he founded his own business in Fullerton, "Fender Radio Service ", and applied this with the services and the sale of " electrical equipment, records, musical instruments and repairs, notes."

With the popularization of Hawaiian and country music in the 1920s and 1930s belonged to local Fenders first service Customer semi and fully professional musician who played the lap steel guitars in these styles. In addition to companies such as Fender Gibson and Rickenbacker with these pickups outfitted them and experimented on possible concepts for other products, especially the electric guitar amplification of conventional design, at the time hollowbody guitar (jazz guitars). One of Fender's early customers was Cayton Orr Kauffman, a professional lap steel guitarist and fender as interested in technical details of instrument making. Kauffman had already worked with Rickenbacker in the development of electric guitars. Fender and Kauffman founded the company " Kauffman & Fender" and started the production of its own Lapsteelgitarren and amplifier in a shack behind Fenders store, whose operation was first carried on in addition to production. The instruments had success at the local and regional musicians, labor input, however, was so intense that Kauffman 1946 withdrew from the company.

Leo Fender founded directly for his prosperous business after Kauffman's retreat, the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, moved in 1948 within Fullerton in larger production premises and intensified production. Likewise experimented Fender to develop a solid- body electric guitar with the target direction, this mass-produce and deliver at lower prices than the competition. At that time, other companies such as Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul as well as individual persons and Paul Bigsby had already been working on the same concepts of such an innovative design of a guitar. Bigsby from the local environment in California's Orange County and Fender knew each other personally, and so it is debatable whether Fender has taken direct loans to Bigsbys designs for the musician Merle Travis.

After numerous prototypes brought Fender 1950 finally the electric guitar model on the market, known as the Telecaster today. The success of this model, which was sold for 169.95 U.S. dollars, meant that in 1951 Fender stopped operating his radio and record business. 1953 Fender founded along with Don Randall and others, the distribution company "Fender Sales Inc. " in Santa Anna, California. Randall was a manager and sales manager of an electronics wholesale, originally supplied Leo Fender's business with materials and spare parts. Fender turn left to market its products through Randall's company in the 40s. The success consisted in the fact that Fender could offer guitars and amplifiers, and so a certain idea of ​​the sound of an electric guitar sustainably shape was capable of.

In addition to the development and production of amplifiers which are to this day in the portfolio of FMIC, followed by 1955, the biggest throw of the company with the launch of the electric guitar model Stratocaster. Leo Fender had the basic concept of the Telecaster further developed in this model and in particular suggestions accepted by musicians in terms of comfort, sound variations and other aspects and implemented. Early 1960s, Leo Fender felt physically and mentally exhausted after an intense decade of work. Thoughts of the sale of the company in a lucrative offer he sat around 1964 and sold Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company to an enormous for that time the price of 13 million U.S. dollars to CBS.

CBS time

In February 1965, the American media conglomerate Columbia Broadcasting System ( CBS) took over the entire interest of the FMIC by Leo Fender, who remained active only in an advisory capacity in the area of ​​research and development for the company and in 1970 was eliminated entirely with FMIC.

The period of ownership by CBS is considered ambiguous today. For a FMIC had under the direction of Leo Fender, significant problems with the necessary financial resources and liquidity despite the resounding market success. CBS once again as a major merger had the necessary capital, but it ultimately lacked the deep interest and knowledge and experience in order to fully meet the essential requirements of the development, the manufacture and distribution of musical instruments can. The consequence was, that was initially held in the 1960s by Leo Fender's retirement from the management of the quality standard of the products, however, followed on austerity measures in the products as well as in the production and subsequent staff turnover in senior positions significant losses both in the economic proceeds as and in the product quality.

CBS tried especially the economics of FMIC by numerous product developments and launches, particularly in the business of guitar products to restore. The sales increased significantly (1970 iH $ 20 million,. 1980 $ 60 million ), CBS refrained, however, also necessary reinvestments in a cost pressure through a workforce of approximately 750 employees and the maintenance of five production facilities in Fullerton in all relevant areas with FMIC make. In the late 1970s, the situation was so bad at FMIC, the CBS rather thought of a resolution of FMIC to invest than other funds. In 1980, CBS decided to appoint a new line at FMIC, and recruited from experienced management personnel to competitors such as Yamaha and others.

New CEO is William ( "Bill" ) C. Schultz, he received due to the ailing situation of the Group Executive at CBS a free hand. Schultz realized that among other important prototypes and sample models were unknown given away in the CBS time partly by CBS manager or sold to collectors. Schultz responded immediately by letting zurückbauen to the original form of all modifications to the basic model of the Stratocaster 1970s and brought into production and on the market in order to generate immediate profits. He also had the pressure of the low- price market and the Far Eastern copies of successful Fendermodelle contrary: with the inclusion of the production of " Fender Japan" by local license manufacturer and the market introduction of the Fender Squier (in short " Squier " ) product line. FMIC also put the protection of trademark rights and utility models consistently over competitors by, in particular the use or copy the distinctive headstock designs of the models " Stratocaster " and " Telecaster ". Despite the return to the original brand values ​​and qualities and the economic recovery of FMIC to CBS mid-1980s to part of FMIC, and the company decided to sell.

According to CBS, William C. Schultz today

Twenty years after CBS FMIC had acquired from Leo Fender, CBS sold the company in 1985 to an investor group led by William C. Schultz ( 1926-2006 ). This was the President and CEO of FMIC and introduced the current name, with the aim of developing FMIC to today's corporate structure with the Group and sales holding at the top.

In 2005, Schultz joined at the age of 79 years back as CEO of FMIC, but remained president of the company. CEO was the successor to the former shareholder William Mendello. On September 21, 2006 Schultz died in Scottsdale (Arizona ).

Schultz led FMIC consistently on the brand values ​​back and took up the issue with the old types in the product range electric guitar - the so-called " vintage models " of time before the CBS takeover - with the introduction of the "American Vintage Series " which immediately a sustainable market success was. Similarly, Schultz was the contemporary modern reworking of the types perform while maintaining the conservative outer appearance, this resulted in the launch of the "American Standard Series ". The same strategy pursued FMIC in the category of guitar amplifier in the remake old popular and sought-after models ( "Fender Bassman " ) as well as modern interpretations of classic models.

In 1987 the "Fender Custom Shop " established to meet specific customer needs and to accelerate to the care and marketing strategic bond by famous artists. Was deliberately and is advertised through the Custom Shop of the " myth Fender" and their own efficiency off the image as a mass producer. Opened in 1990, FMIC their Mexican manufacturing facility in Ensenada, Baja California. There, the company manufactures the electric guitars and electric bass guitar models of the " Fender Mexico " series according to the U.S. portfolio. FMIC in Ensenada can also inexpensively perform many works of pre-production for the central production facility in Corona.

1991 saw the relocation of the administrative and corporate headquarters from Corona to Scottsdale.

2008 FMIC took over the " Kaman Music Corporation " (KMC ) from the Kaman Corporation, the largest independent musical instrument and accessory sales in the USA. Kaman has been known since the 1960s as a manufacturer of innovative designs of acoustic guitars Ovation.

FMIC and Volkswagen AG in 2010 a cooperation agreement to work together for Volkswagen to develop a new premium audio system, which is expected to be delivered from 2012 in selected models. FMIC and Volkswagen had worked together in the past at the level of marketing actions, such as through the production of the VW " Stratocaster " from the Fender Custom Shop.

Group structure

FMIC is in its present form a Group holding company that controls all administrative and distributive operations of the Group brands at the headquarters. Central is the marketing of the brand coordinates and develops. The distribution and export is concerned for the North American region itself directly. For the traditionally high-demand European markets FMIC has established offices since the 1990s, in addition to Germany in England, France, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. Sales offices are also made at the production sites in Japan and Mexico. For Germany and the German-speaking countries the "Fender Musical Instruments GmbH " based in Dusseldorf is responsible.

The organizational chart of management arises approximately as follows:

  • The Supervisory Board of the shareholders, represented by the Chairman (President ) Matt Janopaul.
  • The operational management under overall responsibility of CEO Larry Thomas CFO, CHRO Broenen James, Director of Finance and Human Resources
  • CLO (Chief Legal Officer ), CBDO Mark van Vleet, Director of Personnel and Business Development
  • CSO Don Randall Jr., Chief Sales and Marketing

KMC coordinates the operations of own-brand itself in accountability to FMIC.

Production maintains FMIC for the core brand Fender in Corona (California ) the traditional factory next to Fullerton, and Ensenada ( Baja California, Mexico). The marks Jackson, Charvel and Genz Benz produce according to shift in Scottsdale on administrative headquarters of FMIC. At the central place of production by Fender in Corona is also the internationally known and demanded legally separate firmierende "Fender Custom Shop " located.

Sections of the Group

  • Fender

Core brand " Fender"

In addition to the Fender Rhodes piano, the company is better known for his guitar and electric bass guitar models. FMIC has a very finely differentiated pricing gradation, which depends on the production site of the guitar and the quality of the materials and additional parts used, among other things. This can usually limited to direct conclusions on the quality of the guitars.

Selection of electric guitar models

  • Fender Stratocaster
  • Fender Telecaster esquire

Select E -Bass models

Amplifiers and PA Systems

  • Fender Blues Junior
  • Fender Roc Pro 700/1000
  • Fender Bassman
  • Fender Twin Reverb
  • Fender Princeton
  • Fender HotRod (Deluxe)
  • Fender Blackface (Deluxe)
  • Fender Vibrolux
  • Fender Mustang
  • Fender Super Sonic

Other electric guitars and electric bass guitars

  • Fender Custom Shop
  • Squier low price offers the classic Fender models
  • Jackson Guitars
  • Charvel Guitars
  • EVH joint venture of the "Fender Custom Shop " with the rock musician Edward ( " Eddie" ) Van Halen for design and construction of a personalized e- series guitars and amplifiers and accessories

Acoustic Guitars

  • Fender, acoustic steel string guitars, classical guitars and Resonator
  • Guild Guitar Company, electric and semi- hollowbody guitars ( Western)
  • Gretsch Electric Guitars half and full resonance
  • Tacoma Guitars, acoustic steel string guitars ( Western)

Other stringed instruments

  • Fender banjos, mandolins, ukuleles

Amplifiers and PA Systems

  • Fender Custom Shop
  • Gretsch
  • SWR Sound Corporation Bass Amplifiers
  • Sunn

Electronics, accessories

  • De Armond Pickup
  • Fender pickups, strings, instrument cases and cables, components and spare parts, maintenance products

Subsidiary KMC Music Inc.

The subsidiary KMC Music Inc. has the following private label as a producer in the portfolio:

Electric guitars, acoustic guitars

Amplifier

  • Genz Benz

Drums and percussion instruments

  • Gretsch Drums
  • Latin Percussion (LP)
  • Toca Percussion
  • Gibraltar Hardware
Types of business entity Scottsdale, Arizona Chief Executive Officer Fullerton, California Gibson Guitar Corporation Kaman Aircraft Ovation Guitar Company Chief Financial Officer Corona, California Fender Jazzmaster Fender Starcaster Fender Showmaster Fender Cyclone Fender Jagstang Fender Toronado Fender Swinger Fender Lead Series Fender Bass VI Fender Mustang Bass Fender Jaguar Bass Takamine Guitars
330800
de