FENDER SIDEKICK SWITCHER
- 35W, 1-12 in. speaker, solid-state chassis, reverb, two switchable channels, front black control panel, 11 black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, b, Ch. 2: v, g, MV, t, b, m, p, r), black tolex covering, silver grille, mfg. 1988-89.
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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 became a bookkeeper for employment while he still 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, Leo's 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 building small amplifiers and electric lap steels with his partner, Clayton Orr "Doc" Kaufman. Leo and Doc produced their first amplifier and steel guitar in 1945. Kauffman left K&F in early 1946 and Leo Fender took over. Leo then formed the Fender Electric Instrument Company in 1946, located on South Pomona Avenue in Fullerton, California. By 1947, Fender introduced the Model 26 guitar amp and shortly thereafter came the Super. In 1948, the new Fender amps featured a new cabinet construction. The Champion student amplifier was also introduced at this time. With all the increase demand, Fender had not choice but to move to a new building.
Soon Fender's inventive genius began designing new models through the early 1950s and early 1960s. The Fender Bassman Amp was unveiled in 1951, which paved way to an entire line of tweed amplifiers. In 1952, the Twin Amplifier was introduced that consisted of two 12 in. speakers and became the top model of the line. With the success of this line, Fender was forced to move again in 1953. In 1955, Fender developed an amp using the new effect of tremolo that they named the Tremolux. Fender also had a tendency to introduce guitars with corresponding amplifiers. One example was in 1958, the Jazzmaster was released along with the Vibrasonic amp, which was truly an entirely new design. It featured a front facing control panel and its covering was made by the General Tire & Rubber Company. This allowed for these amps to take a lot of abuse and not a lot of wear. The Reverb Unit, Twin Reverb, and the Showman debuted in the early '60s.
By 1964, Fender's line of products included electric guitars, basses, steel guitars, effects units, acoustic guitars, electric pianos, and a variety of accessories. However, Leo's faltering health in the mid-1960s prompted him to put the company up for sale. It was first offerd 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, Fender offered it to the conglomerate CBS (who was looking to diversify the company holdings). Fender (FEIC) was purchased by CBS in December of 1964 for thirteen million dollars. Leo Fender was kept on as a special consultant for five years, and then left when the contract was up in 1970. Due to a ten year no compete clause, the next Leo Fender designed guitars or amplifiers 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, because he was not impressed with corporate life. George Fullerton, one of the people involved with the Stratocaster design, left in 1970. Many people seem to think that quality dropped drastically the day CBS took over. 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, "Is the amp 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) to build guitars for them. 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.
Soon Fender's inventive genius began designing new models through the early 1950s and early 1960s. The Fender Bassman Amp was unveiled in 1951, which paved way to an entire line of tweed amplifiers. In 1952, the Twin Amplifier was introduced that consisted of two 12 in. speakers and became the top model of the line. With the success of this line, Fender was forced to move again in 1953. In 1955, Fender developed an amp using the new effect of tremolo that they named the Tremolux. Fender also had a tendency to introduce guitars with corresponding amplifiers. One example was in 1958, the Jazzmaster was released along with the Vibrasonic amp, which was truly an entirely new design. It featured a front facing control panel and its covering was made by the General Tire & Rubber Company. This allowed for these amps to take a lot of abuse and not a lot of wear. The Reverb Unit, Twin Reverb, and the Showman debuted in the early '60s.
By 1964, Fender's line of products included electric guitars, basses, steel guitars, effects units, acoustic guitars, electric pianos, and a variety of accessories. However, Leo's faltering health in the mid-1960s prompted him to put the company up for sale. It was first offerd 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, Fender offered it to the conglomerate CBS (who was looking to diversify the company holdings). Fender (FEIC) was purchased by CBS in December of 1964 for thirteen million dollars. Leo Fender was kept on as a special consultant for five years, and then left when the contract was up in 1970. Due to a ten year no compete clause, the next Leo Fender designed guitars or amplifiers 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, because he was not impressed with corporate life. George Fullerton, one of the people involved with the Stratocaster design, left in 1970. Many people seem to think that quality dropped drastically the day CBS took over. 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, "Is the amp 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) to build guitars for them. 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.
Amplifiers currently produced in Scottsdale, AZ (Amplifier Custom Shop), Corona, CA (U.S.), Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, Tianjin (China), and Korea. Distributed by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in Scottsdale, AZ. The Fender trademark established circa 1946 in Fullerton, CA.
FENDER Guitar Amplifiers Models
FENDER THE EDGE DELUXE (NO. 815-1700)
- 12W, 1-12 in. Celestion Alnico Blue speaker, five tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7, power: 2 X 6V6, rectifier: 5Y3, two channels, top chrome control panel, four inputs (two inst., two mic.), three black chickenhead knobs (tone, inst. v, mi...
FENDER RUMBLE 350 HEAD (NO. 231-5900)
- 350W, bass head-unit, solid-state chassis, single channel, Delta Comp Adaptive Compression Circuitry, front black control panel, single input with -6dB switch, seven black knobs (v, OD g, OD blend, b, l/m, h/m, t), OD switch, punch shape...
FENDER STAGE 100 DSP (NO. 22-67000-020)
- 100W, 1-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speaker, solid-state chassis, DSP effects, three channels, reverb, front black control panel, single input, 14 black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, Ch. 2 & 3: drive, v, t, m, b, r, r, FX level), mid/contou...
FENDER THE FENDER '57 AMP (NO. 815-0600)
- 12W, 1-12 in. Celestion Alnico Blue speaker, five tube chassis, preamp: 2 X 12AX7 (or 12AY7), power: 2 X GT6V6, rectifier: 5Y3GT, two channels, top chrome control panel, four inputs (two inst., two mic.), three chrome Tele-style knobs wit...
FENDER RUMBLE 500 COMBO (NO. 237-0600)
- 500W, 2-10 in. Eminence speakers with a compression horn, bass combo, solid-state chassis, single channel, front black control panel, single input, eight knobs (g, drive, level, b, low mid, high mid, t, MV), OD switch, bright/contour/vint...
FENDER Stage 100 Head DSP (No. 22-69000-010)
- similar to the Stage 100 except is the head unit only, 24 lbs., mfg. summer 2002-04.
FENDER X-15 (NO. 022-1100-000)
- 15W, 1-8 in. speaker, solid-state chassis, front black control panel, five red knobs (g, v, t, b, contour), headphone jack, black tolex covering, black grille, mfg. 1991-93.
FENDER TONE-MASTER (NO. 081-2000-000)
- 100W into 4, 8, or 16 Ohms, head-unit only, tube chassis, preamp: 3 X 12AX7, dual channels, brownface control panel, one input, nine cream knobs (Ch. 1 v, t, b, m, Ch. 2 gain, t, b, m, v), FAT switches, effects loops, footswitch, one-butt...
FENDER RUMBLE 500 HEAD (NO. 237-0800)
- 500W, bass head-unit, solid state chassis, single channel, front black control panel, single input, eight knobs (g, drive, level, b, low mid, high mid, t, MV), OD switch, bright/contour/vintage buttons, effects loop, aux. input, headphone...
FENDER STAGE 1000 (NO. 236-7000-030)
- 100W, 1-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speaker, solid-state chassis, DSP effects, three channels, reverb, front black control panel, single input, 11 silver-top and 5 black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, Ch. 2: drive, v, Ch. 3: drive, v, t, m, b, r...
FENDER Tone Master 212 Enclosure (No. 081-3000-000)
- 2-12 in. Celestion G1280 speakers, speaker cabinet for Tone Master heads, 13-ply birch cabinet, blonde tolex covering, oxblood grille, 74 lbs., mfg. 1994-2002.
FENDER RUMBLE 112 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 224-7012)
- 250W, 1-12 in. Eminence speaker with a Neodymium magnet, 8 ohm impedance, piezoelectric tweeter, three-position high-freq. level control switch, two 1/4 in. jacks, ported enclosure, Okume cabinet material, black covering, black metal gril...
FENDER STAGE 160 (NO. 022-6800-010)
- 160W, 2-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speakers, solid-state chassis, three channels, reverb, front black control panel, two inputs, 11 silver-top knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, r, Ch. 2: drive, v, t, m, b, r), effects loop, two-button footswi...
FENDER Tone Master 412 Enclosure (No. 081-3001-000)
- 4-12 in. Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, speaker cabinet for Tone Master heads, 13-ply birch cabinet, blonde tolex covering, oxblood grille, 88 lbs., mfg. 1994-2002.
FENDER RUMBLE 115 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 237-0900)
- 600W, 1-15 in. Eminence speaker, 8 ohm impedance, compression tweeter, one 1/4 in. jack, one Speakon jack, lightweight plywood cabinet material, black vinyl covering, silver grille, recessed handles, magnetic locking system to hold Rumble...
FENDER STAGE 160 DSP (NO. 22-68000-020)
- 160W, 2-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speakers, solid-state chassis, three channels, DSP effects, reverb, front black control panel, single input, 14 black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, Ch. 2 & 3: drive, v, t, m, b, r, r, FX level), mid/conto...
FENDER RUMBLE 2X8 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 224-7008)
- 250W, 2-8 in. Eminence speakers with Neodymium magnets, 8 ohm impedance, piezoelectric tweeter, three-position high-freq. level control switch, two 1/4 in. jacks, ported enclosure, Okume cabinet material, black covering, black metal grill...
FENDER STAGE 1600 (NO. 236-8000-030)
- 160W, 2-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speakers, solid-state chassis, three channels, DSP effects, reverb, front black control panel, single input, 11 silver-top and five black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, Ch. 2: drive, v, Ch. 3: drive, v, t, m,...
FENDER TWO-TONE AMP (NO. 082-2000)
- 15W, 1-10 in. and 1-12 in. Eminence speakers, preamp: 3 X 12AX7, power: 2 X EL-84, solid-state rectifier, single channel, reverb, top chrome control panel, single input, six black pointer knobs (r, MV, m, b, t, v,), FAT switch, single-but...
FENDER VIBRO-KING (NO. 081-1000-000)
- 60W into 2 Ohms, 3-10 in. Celestion speakers, tube chassis, preamp: 5 X 12AX7, reverb: 6V6, power: 2 X 6V6-GE Groove Tubes, reverb, vibrato, brownface control panel, two inputs, nine cream knobs (dwell, mix, tone, v, t, b, m, s, i),...
FENDER RUMBLE 210 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 238-0100)
- 700W, 2-10 in. Eminence speakers, 8 ohm impedance, compression tweeter, one 1/4 in. jack, one Speakon jack, lightweight plywood cabinet material, black vinyl covering, silver grille, recessed handles, magnetic locking system to hold Rumbl...
FENDER ULTIMATE CHORUS DSP (NO. 022-6701-020)
- 130W (2 X 65W stereo), 2-12 in. Eminence speakers, solid-state chassis, two channels, DSP effects, front black control panel, two inputs, 16 black knobs (Ch. 1: v, t, m, b, r/d, Ch. 2: g, p, v, t, m, b, r/d, r type, chorus level, chorus t...
FENDER Vibro King 212 Enclosure (No. 081-3004-000/811-0000-010)
- speaker enclosure for the Vibro-King amp, handles 140W, 2-12 Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, 55 lbs., available in Black Tolex covering with a silver grille or Blonde Tolex covering with a brown grille (2010-2012), mfg. 1993-2012.
FENDER RUMBLE 410 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 224-7000)
- 500W, 4-10 in. Fender Special Design speakers, 4 ohm impedance, piezoelectric tweeter, three-position high-freq. level control switch, two 1/4 in. jacks, Okume cabinet material, black covering, black metal grille, recessed spring-loaded h...
FENDER DT 112 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 021-1664-000)
- 1-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speaker, black vinyl covering, silver grille, 38 lbs., mfg. 2000-04.
FENDER DT 412 SPEAKER CABINET (NO. 021-1665-000)
- 4-12 in. Celestion G12T-100 speakers, black vinyl covering, silver grille, casters, 67 lbs., mfg. 2000-04.