Leo Fender

Clarence Leonidas ( "Leo" ) Fender ( born August 10, 1909 in Anaheim, California, † 21 March 1991 in Fullerton, California ) was an American instrument maker. He founded the company Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, now known as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, and later co-founded the company MusicMan and G & L Musical Instruments.

In the 1950s, Leo Fender was for the development of electric guitar models such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster, the responsibility E -Bass model Precision Bass and guitar amps and electric pianos. Some developed by Fender Musical Instruments are among the most known and most widespread of its kind and serve as a model for numerous imitations and further developments. Leo Fender was one of the pioneers in the history of the electric guitar and the electric bass through his inventions, his achievements in the field of industrial production of these instruments and their successful commercialization.

Biography

Fender, who was born in the Californian city of Anaheim, developed at an early age interest in electrical engineering. As a hobby he built and repaired during his time in high school radio. After leaving high school in 1928, he made at the Fullerton Junior College with a degree in accounting. In 1934 he married Esther Klotzky and worked as an accountant for the California Highway Department. In 1938 he opened a radio shop in Fullerton, California. This not only radios were sold, but also disc changer as well as records, sheet music and musical instruments and repairs carried out. Furthermore, Leo Fender also been employed with various amplification systems for speech, music and instruments and had built plants, which he gave at events.

In 1945 he founded with partner Clayton Orr "Doc" Kauffman, the company K & F Manufacturing Corporation, which established with mostly home-made tools and machines in the premises of the radio business in small numbers Hawaiian guitars and amplifiers. The two had also developed a new cartridge, in which the guitar strings were passed through the coil of the pickup. A principle, as it is applied to the needle of the record player. Also, the company held the patent on an improved disc changer, which was also produced. 1946 K & F was offered by the company Radio -Tel the acquisition of sales in a big way, what Leo Fender took. Kauffman this seemed too bold, and he subsequently left the company. Fender now opened the Fender Electrical Instrument Co., which is now produced in the built-up near the radio business new halls on a larger scale. In the same year, several guitar amplifiers were still on the market (Deluxe, Princeton, Professional).

In 1947 he sold his radio business to Dale Hyatt. Fender was annoyed that he indeed, but could not fix the time usually glued- guitar necks the electrics of the guitars. Therefore, he was thinking about a new kind of guitar with a bolt-on neck. This guitar should consist of single, easily replaceable parts. In 1950, he and George Fullerton presented the very soon renamed the Telecaster Broadcaster. 1951 followed with the Fender Precision Bass is a bass guitar with four strings, the displace over the years not only the bass, but also should characterize the sound of modern popular music. 1954 followed with the Stratocaster another electric guitar, like the Telecaster and Precision Bass the sound of the following decades, but also the appearance of electric guitars influenced decisively. At the same time rang Fender so that mass production in guitar one, as were all the parts of his guitars manufactured separately and bolted together - a time of unusual technique, which was initially ridiculed.

Leo Fender wanted to learn to play guitar itself never, but had played in high school saxophone. He had good relations with the Southern California music scene, which he facilitated the spreading of his vision and did not make him rely on the traditional approach through a dealer network. At the same time his guitars were by the way they manufacture for most musicians more affordable than the competition ( mainly Gibson ). The innovative and highly effective production concept Leo Fender was in the 1950s in guitar to what Henry Ford had been in the 1920s in the automotive industry. Fender's business was dazzling and his instruments were adopted by the musicians. Other models like the Jazz Bass, the Fender Jaguar and Fender Jazzmaster guitars were added. 1965 Leo Fender was seriously ill, the company could no longer lead and was, therefore, agreed to sell it to the media company CBS for $ 13 million. Only after he found a doctor who could cure him. He remained in the coming years, although at CBS officially an advisory capacity, but entered not provided for him the office, and was increasingly in trouble on the way, produced by CBS and developed.

In 1971, Leo Fender founded with his former employees Forrest White and Tom Walker, the guitar and bass company Tri -Sonic, which was eventually renamed MusicMan 1973 in Musitek, Inc. and 1974. For now, only amplifiers have been built, and to have a complete offer in the program, Leo Fender's consulting firm CLF Research was contracted to produce for MusicMan basses and guitars. In the next few years, it became especially famous Music Man StingRay bass that is sold successfully until today. After Leo Fender with the management of MusicMan had difficulties, he went in 1980 and founded in the same year with George Fullerton and Dale Hyatt, the company G & L Musical Instruments (G & L stands for George and Leo ) at the production site of CLF Research in the Fender Avenue in Fullerton. Until his death here were new innovations such as pickups, vibrato systems and neck structures. Leo Fender died on 21 March 1991 from the side effects of Parkinson 's disease.

In February 2009, Leo Fender, a Grammy Award for his outstanding service ( "Special Merit Award ") was awarded posthumously; in 1992 he was accepted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dictionary

• George Fullerton: Guitars From George & Leo. Hal Leonard, ISBN 978-0-634-06922-2.