Fender is the world’s leading guitar manufacturer, and the Fender name has become intricately intertwined with all things rock and roll. Fender guitars such as the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass guitars are known worldwide as the musical instruments that paved the way for the musical transformation of the 50′s and 60′s, and they continue today to be extremely prized by musicians and collectors. Of these instruments, the Stratocaster is definitely the superstar of the group. It is one of the most common and enduring models of electric guitars in the world. The Stratocaster has been widely copied, thus proving its influence on the musical industry.

Fender guitars date back to 1946, and in that time, Fender has touched and changed music worldwide and in every genre: rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, and rhythm and blues, to name just a few. Fender instruments and amps have been used both by rank beginners and some of the world’s most talented artists and performers, making Fender a household name that has come to be synonymous with great guitar playing.

Vintage Fender guitars and amplifiers are highly collectible, so collectible, in fact, that Fender started a re-issue series of guitars in 1982. These guitars were so popular that the first few years of reissues, known as American Vintage Reissues, are themselves now high-priced collector’s items and are considered to be some of the finest guitars that Fender ever produced.  Vintage Fender models are  often worth large amounts of money, and many guitarists prefer the timbre or tone of the older models.

The list of guitarists who have played the Fender guitar exclusively is long, and Fender makes a line of signature models similar to the ones guitar greats play or played on. The more expensive of these guitars are an exact replica of the guitarist’s original instrument, and they are known as “Tribute” guitars. Artists with models available in the signature range include Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, John Mayer, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who all have their signature guitars immortalized by Fender in this Tribute line.

Fender has not only inspired generations of musicians, it has inspired everything from Fender fashion to guitar accessories. You can buy Fender shirts as easily as you can buy things like pick-ups and guitar strings. Fender continues to be a vital part of the music industry, supplying the world’s finest musicians with quality instruments. Say the word Fender, and everyone who hears it thinks immediately of great music.