Fender at Rose Morris

When Leo Fender built his first electric guitar in the 1940's, he created more than just an innovative new instrument. He set the stage for a new cultural shift.

Prior to the 50's, Big Band was the popular music of the day. Many instruments needed extra amplification to be heard over loud brass ensembles. Musicians amplified hollow-body acoustic guitars with mixed results; hollow acoustic guitars produced vibrations that caused harsh feedback in the electric pickups. Guitarists often had to stuff their instruments with newspapers or cloth to reduce feedback.

Fender solved that problem. His instrument was solid throughout, eliminating feedback. The simple design lent itself well to mass production, and its bright, bold tone appealed to musicians and audience alike.

As Fender guitars grew in popularity, they began to change popular music. Around the 50's, the modern rock combo began to replace the Big Band sounds popular in earlier decades.

Fender created many groundbreaking product lines, including the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Jazz Bass. Most Fender guitars came with a tremolo arm or "whammy bar," which was originally added to produce vibrato. It also allowed musicians to make new sounds distinctive to electric guitars. Artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Richie Sambora, and Steve Vai used it to great effect.

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the Fender guitar is one of the defining musical instruments of our age. Rock music, the soundtrack to a cultural shift from 1940's conformity to 1960's rebellion, owes its aggressive sound to their guitars. Without Fender, there would be no rock and roll.