Clarence Leonidas Fender was born in 1909, and raised in Fullerton, California. As a teenager, he developed an interest in electronics, and soon was building and repairing radios for fellow classmates. After high school, Leo Fender held a bookkeeping position while he did radio repair at home. After holding a series of jobs, Fender opened up a full-scale radio repair shop in 1939. In addition to service work, the Fender Radio Service store soon became a general electronics retail outlet. However, the forerunner to the Fender Electric Instruments company was a smaller, two-man operation that was originally started as the K & F company in 1945. Leo Fender began modestly building small amplifiers and electric lap steels with his partner, Clayton Orr Doc Kaufman. After K & F dissolved, Fender then formed the Fender Electric Instrument company in 1946, located on South Pomona Avenue in Fullerton, California. The company sales, though slow at first, began to expand as his amplifiers and lap steels began meeting acceptance with West Coast musicians. In 1950, Fender successfully developed the first production solid body electric guitar. Originally the Broadcaster, the name was quickly changed to the Telecaster after the Gretsch company objected to the infringement of their Broadkaster drum sets.
Soon Fender´s inventive genius began designing new models through the early 1950s and early 1960s. The Fender Precision Bass guitar was unveiled in 1951. While there is some kind of an existing background for the development of an electric solid body guitar, the notion of a 34 in. scale instrument with a fretted neck that could replace an upright acoustic doublebass was completely new to the music industry. The Precision bass (so named because players could fret the note precisely), coupled with a Fender Bassman amplifier, gave the bass player more sonic projection. Fender then followed with another design in 1954, named the Stratocaster. The simplicity in design, added to the popular sounds and playability, makes this design the most copied worldwide. Other popular models of guitars, basses, and amplifiers soon followed.
By 1964, Fender´s line of products included electric guitars, basses, steel guitars, effects units, acoustic guitars, electric pianos, and a variety of accessories. Leo´s faltering health was a factor in putting the company up for sale, and he first offered it to Don Randall (the head of Fender Sales) for a million and a half dollars. Randall opened negotiations with the Baldwin Piano & Organ company, but when those negotiations fell through, he offered it to the conglomerate CBS (who was looking to diversify the company holdings). Fender (FEIC) was purchased by CBS on January 5, 1965 (actually in December of 1964) for thirteen million dollars. Leo Fender was kept on as a special consultant for five years, and then left when then contract was up in 1970. Due to a ten-year no compete clause, the next Leo Fender-designed guitars did not show up in the music industry until 1976 (Music Man).
While Fender was just another division of CBS, a number of key figures left the company. Forrest White, the production manager, left in 1967 after a dispute in producing solid state amplifiers. Don Randall left in 1969, disenchanted with corporate life. George Fullerton, one of the people involved with the Stratocaster design, left in 1970. Obviously, the quality in Fender products did not drop the day Leo Fender sold the company. Dale Hyatt, another veteran of the early Fender days, figured that the quality on the products stayed relatively stable until around 1968 (Hyatt left in 1972). But a number of cost-cutting strategies, and attempts to produce more products had a deteriorating effect. This reputation leads right to the classic phrase heard at vintage guitar shows, "Pre-CBS?"
In the early 1980s, the Fender guitar empire began to crumble. Many cost-cutting factors and management problems forced CBS to try various last ditch efforts to salvage the instrument line. In March of 1982, Fender (with CBS´ blessing) negotiated with Kanda Shokai and Yamano Music to establish Fender Japan. After discussions with Tokai (who built a great Fender Strat replica, among other nice guitars), Kawai, and others, Fender finally chose Fuji Gen Gakki (based in Matsumoto, about 130 miles northwest of Tokyo). In 1983, the Squier series was built in Japan, earmarked for European distribution. The Squier trademark came from a string-making company in Michigan (V.C. Squier) that CBS had acquired in 1965.
Instruments currently produced in Corona, CA (U.S.), Mexico, Japan, Tianjin (China), and Korea. Distributed by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Scottsdale, AZ. The Fender trademark was established circa 1948 in Fullerton, CA.

FENDER Acoustic Guitars Models

FENDER T-BUCKET 100CE (NO. 096-8075) Image

FENDER T-BUCKET 100CE (NO. 096-8075)

- single cutaway dreadnought-style body, laminated spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, scalloped X bracing, round soundhole with pinstriping design rosette, multi-ply body binding, set C-shaped mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood...

FENDER AMERICAN ACOUSTASONIC STRATOCASTER Image

FENDER AMERICAN ACOUSTASONIC STRATOCASTER

- acoustic modified Stratocaster-style body with forearm and back contour, solid sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with 2-ring rosette, modern Deep C shaped mahogany neck, 22-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlays,...

FENDER ALKALINE TRIO MALIBU (NO. 096-8325) Image

FENDER ALKALINE TRIO MALIBU (NO. 096-8325)

- folk-style body, laminated mahogany top, laminated mahogany back and sides, scalloped X bracing, heart-shaped soundhole with decorative rosette, multiple body bindings, maple neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, St...

FENDER DG-3 VALUEPAK (NO. 095-0300)  Image

FENDER DG-3 VALUEPAK (NO. 095-0300)

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, nato back/sides, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, six-per-side die-cast tuners, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1995-99.

FENDER CD-60 (NO. 096-0600/1539) Image

FENDER CD-60 (NO. 096-0600/1539)

- dreadnought style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, black body binding, round soundhole with multi-ring black (2006-2010) or MOP acrylic (2011-present) rosette, nato neck, 14/20-fret sonokeling fingerboard with regular sized dots (200...

FENDER CONCERT Image

FENDER CONCERT

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, maple back/sides, bound top/back, bolt-on maple neck with neckplate, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, six-per-side chrome tuners, rosewood bridge with white bridgepins, si...

FENDER F-200 Image

FENDER F-200

- grand concert style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 14/20-fret rosewood with dot inlay, Natural finish, mfg. 1982-88.

FENDER CG-5 (NO. 094-0500)  Image

FENDER CG-5 (NO. 094-0500)

- classical style, nato top/back/sides, round soundhole, nato neck, 12/18-fret rosewood fingerboard, slotted headstock, three-per-side chrome tuners, available in Satin finish, mfg. 1995-98.

FENDER GA-43S NATURAL (NO. 095-4300) Image

FENDER GA-43S NATURAL (NO. 095-4300)

- custom-designed body shape, solid AA Grade spruce top, solid mahogany back, rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, three-per-side tuners, available in Natural (-021) finish, mfg. 2001-04.

FENDER GDC-100 SCE (NO. 095-8000)  Image

FENDER GDC-100 SCE (NO. 095-8000)

- single cutaway concert-style body, solid spruce top, laminated ash back/sides, nato neck, rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret Fender inlay, round soundhole with rosette, chrome hardware, Piezo pickup with active electronics, available in...

FENDER F-15 Image

FENDER F-15

- concert style, spruce top, Nato back and sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, adjustable rosewood bridge, black pickguard, Natural finish, 25.5 in. scale, mfg. 1972-1981.

FENDER LS-10 Image

FENDER LS-10

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, tortoiseshell pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, rosewood bridge with black pearl dot pins, ebony veneered peghead with pe...

FENDER BG-29 (NO. 095-2900-021) Image

FENDER BG-29 (NO. 095-2900-021)

- slimline dreadnought style with cutaway design, maple top, round soundhole, maple back/sides, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, two-per-side chrome die-cast tuners, Fishman Acoustic Matrix pickup, onboard preamp, volume/th...

FENDER 600 SX (NO. 095-0600) Image

FENDER 600 SX (NO. 095-0600)

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, tortoise pickguard, five-stripe bound body/rosette, nato back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, rosewood bridge with white black dot pins, rosewood veneered p...

FENDER AG-10 Image

FENDER AG-10

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, five-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, rosewood bridge with black white dot pins, six-per-side chrom...

FENDER FR-48 RESONATOR (NO. 095-4800) Image

FENDER FR-48 RESONATOR (NO. 095-4800)

- steel body resonator, custom Fender f-holes, mahogany neck, 19-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, Micarta saddle bridge, chrome die-cast three-per-side tuners, available in chrome finish, mfg. 2003-09.

FENDER SJ-64 S (NO. 095-6400) Image

FENDER SJ-64 S (NO. 095-6400)

- super jumbo body, solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, bound neck and body, rosewood fingerboard with split block position markers, 20 frets, 25.6 in. scale, gold die-cast tuners, available in Natural Gloss finish, di...

FENDER AVALON (NO. 094-5801) Image

FENDER AVALON (NO. 094-5801)

- folk style, spruce top, round soundhole, black pickguard, three-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret bubinga fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, bubinga strings through bridge, six-per-side die-cast tuners, availa...

FENDER DG-5 (NO. 095-0500)  Image

FENDER DG-5 (NO. 095-0500)

- dreadnought style, nato top/back/sides, round soundhole, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, black plastic pickguard, three-per-side chrome tuners, available in Black, Natural, or Sunburst finish, hard case included, mfg. 19...

FENDER F-210 Image

FENDER F-210

- dreadnought style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 14/20-fret rosewood with dot inlay, Natural finish, mfg. 1982-88.

FENDER KING Image

FENDER KING

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, multiple bound top/back, bolt-on maple neck with neckplate, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, six-per-side chrome tuners, aluminum support rod (t...

FENDER GEMINI II Image

FENDER GEMINI II

- dreadnought style, spruce top, Nato back and sides, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, black pickguard, Natural finish, mfg. 1984-87.

FENDER GDC-200 SCE (NO. 095-8001)  Image

FENDER GDC-200 SCE (NO. 095-8001)

- single sharp cutaway concert-style body, solid spruce top, laminated ash back/sides, nato neck, rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret Fender inlay, round soundhole with rosette, chrome hardware, Piezo pickup with active electronics, availab...

FENDER F-25 Image

FENDER F-25

- auditorium style, spruce top, Nato back and sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, adjustable rosewood bridge, black pickguard, Natural finish, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. 1972-1981.

FENDER BG-31 (NO. 095-3100) Image

FENDER BG-31 (NO. 095-3100)

- non-cutaway design, laminated spruce top, laminated mahogany back/sides, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, chrome die-cast tuners, two-per-side tuners, Piezo with APC-Pro Pre-Amp, available in Candy Apple Red (2003-06) or Metallic Bla...

FENDER JZM DELUXE (NO. 096-7700) Image

FENDER JZM DELUXE (NO. 096-7700)

- acoustic Jazzmaster/Jaguar-style body, spruce top, solid mahogany back, laminated mahogany sides, oval soundhole, maple Jazzmaster/Jaguar neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, Jazzmaster/Jaguar-style headstock with six-on-on...

FENDER FA-100 (NO. 095-0816) Image

FENDER FA-100 (NO. 095-0816)

- dreadnought-style body, laminated spruce top, laminated agathis back and sides, X bracing, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, black/white body binding, laminated agathis neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlays, t...

FENDER BALBOA Image

FENDER BALBOA

- single cutaway style, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, original Fender electronics, Natural finish, mfg. 1983-87.

FENDER FR-50 RESONATOR (NO. 095-5000/5002) Image

FENDER FR-50 RESONATOR (NO. 095-5000/5002)

- spruce top, mahogany back and sides, custom Fender f-holes, chrome finished resonator, round (Model 095-5000) or square (Model 095-5002, 2000-09) mahogany neck, 14/19-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side chrome tuners...

FENDER BUDDY MILLER SIGNATURE (NO. 096-9700) Image

FENDER BUDDY MILLER SIGNATURE (NO. 096-9700)

- slope-shouldered dreadnought style, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with checkered rosette, checkered top binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, Strat-style headstoc...

FENDER T-BUCKET 200 (NO. 096-8050) Image

FENDER T-BUCKET 200 (NO. 096-8050)

- orchestra-style body, laminated figured ash top, laminated ash back and sides, scalloped X bracing, round soundhole with pinstriping design rosette, multi-ply ivory body binding, nato neck, 14/20-fret ivory-bound rosewood fingerboard with...

FENDER T-BUCKET 200CE (NO. 096-8052/8080) Image

FENDER T-BUCKET 200CE (NO. 096-8052/8080)

- single cutaway folk-style body, laminated flame maple top, laminated mahogany back and sides, scalloped X bracing, round soundhole with pinstriping design (2013 only) or holographic (2013-present) rosette, multi-ply ivory body binding, ma...

FENDER GA-45S NATURAL (NO. 095-4500) Image

FENDER GA-45S NATURAL (NO. 095-4500)

- similar to GA-43S, custom-designed body shape, solid AA Grade spruce top, solid mahogany back, rosewood fingerboard with dot position markers, three-per-side tuners, available in Natural (-021) finish, mfg. 2001-04.

FENDER DG-6 (NO. 095-0600)  Image

FENDER DG-6 (NO. 095-0600)

- dreadnought style, Laminated Agathis top, back and sides, Nato neck with rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, rosewood bridge, compensated Urea saddle, 25.3 in. scale, chrome tuners, black pickguard, available in Natural satin (-021) fi...