Home / A Brief History of Fender

Leo Fender opened a radio repair shop in downtown Fullerton, CA, in 1938. Soon, musicians began coming to the shy inventor in search of improved guitars and amplifiers.

Fender began K & F Manufacturing with fellow inventor Doc Kauffman in a little tin shed behind the radio shop where, in 1945, he unveiled his first electric guitar. In 1946, Fender opened the Fender Electric Instrument Co. at Santa Fe and Pomona streets in Fullerton.

George Fullerton joined Leo's company in 1948. Leo and George designed the solid-body electric "Broadcaster". To avoid confusion with a similarly-named Gretsch drum set, the Fender guitar name was changed to the "Telecaster." The "Tele" as it is affectionately called, quickly caught on and is still a popular seller, over 50 years later. George and Leo also teamed up on the Stratocaster design - a radical three-pickup model with a contoured "waist" for more comfortable play. The "Strat" went on to become one of the most popular -- and widely copied -- guitar designs in history.

In 1965, illness caused Fender to sell his company to CBS Musical Instruments for $13 million. The CBS company poured out thousands of guitars and amplifiers during the next two decades.

In 1981, CBS made an effort to reinvent the company and improve quality by bringing in a new management team. This led to a group of employees and investors purchasing Fender from CBS in 1985.

The new Fender Musical Instruments Corporation built a new factory in Corona, California. Years later, a second factory was built in Baja California, Mexico, to produce a budget-priced line of instruments.

In 1987, Fender acquired the Sunn amplifier company of Lake Oswego, Oregon. This would lead to the reintroduction of classic amplifiers, such as the Sunn Model T.

Fender acquired the Guild Guitar Company in 1995. Guild guitars continue to be crafted today in the historic, 60,000 sq. ft. factory in Westerly, Rhode Island. Fender also operates the Guild Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee.

In 1997, Fender acquired the DeArmond company. DeArmond guitars are built and assembled in Korea, with American-made pickups fitted in Corona.

In 1998 Fender unveiled its new, state-of-the-art facility on a 19-acre site in Corona, CA. The Fender (guitar) Custom Shop also moved to the new location, as did the amplifier Custom Shop.

(portions courtesy of City of Fullerton and
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation)