history of the Stratocaster

When Leo Fender introduced the Stratocaster in 1954, it changed the course of music. Inside "The History of the Stratocaster" you'll find out everything about the most imitated electric guitar ever: the people who build it, the musicians who give it a voice, and its history, from the '50s to the new models and main series

evoluTion OF THE Stratocaster

The purpose of this chapter is to examine in greater detail the Fender Stratocaster’s major components and to describe how they have evolved between 1954 and 1987. The information provided will give you handy identification tips and contribute to selecting useful criteria for both dating and authenticating vintage Strats

Stratocaster: SPECS AND SERIES

This reference listing offers a simple, condensed format to convey a large amount of information about every Fender Stratocaster made since 1954. The list includes all the models made in the USA, Mexico, Japan, Korea, China and Indonesia, and the most limited editions. Each guitar is listed by its Series and by the Country of manufacture

Fender Made in Japan

Fender Japan, Ltd. was a joint venture between Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Kanda Shokai and Yamano Gakki to produce and sell Fender-branded instruments for the Japanese market. In this chapter you'll find everything about the Japanese Fender instruments, from the first JV's Stratocasters, which are still seen today as impressive guitars, to the most recent ones

eVOLUTION OF THE tELECASTER

Players and collectors are aware that numerous details distinguish Esquires, Broadcasters and Telecasters throughout the years. The purpose of this chapter is to examine in greater depth how the most significant features of the first Fender guitar have evolved over the pre-CBS and CBS eras, explaining why Tellies of different periods do not feel, sound, or look the same​

Signature & Tribute StraTS

Inside this chapter you'll find out everything about the most iconic Stratocasters ever and about the origin of the signature and tribute models of the most important Stratocaster players, like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Rory Gallagher, David Gilmour. The information provided explains because the signature model is not a replica of the original guitar

STRATOCASTER dating

Fender guitars were almost built like a kit and put together from components stored on shelves or in bins and some parts might have been fabricated many months before assembly. Hence, the question “When this Fender instrument was built?” is not completely appropriate and should be rephrased as “When this Fender instrument was assembled?” Therefore, dating a Fender instrument requires experience and sharp eye for detail

HISTORY OF THE celestion

Speakers are extremely important when talking about tone. Celestion's ability to innovate and the experience it gained up until the early '60s helped it develop a range of speakers designed for the guitarist, and one, in particular, that would allow Marshall amplification to become ‘the sound of rock’. Inside this chapter you'll find out everything about the Celestion and its first guitar speakers: from Vox Blue to Greenbacks Rola and Pre Rola

THE BIRTH OF Marshall

Marshall's guitar amplifiers are among the most recognized in the world. Born in 1962 from a music shop in Hanwell, Jim Marshall helped define rock music and has changed the music industry forever. Marshall amps were conceived after guitarists visited Jim's shop complaining that the guitar amplifiers then on the market didn't have the right sound or enough volume.
Read more about the iconic Marshall history and the first Plexi amps

news:

10/15/2025:
Made in Japan Traditional Series, ​Made in Japan Heritage Series, Made in Japan Hybrid Series, Made in Japan Modern Series
Update:
Fender Japan, Fender JV and SQ
​06/24/2025:
Fender History Updates:
American Elite Series
The 1985 Buyout and the new FMIC
From Weston Presidio to Servco
06/22/2025
Updates:
American Standard 2nd and 3rd Series
American Professional, V-Mod and Shawbucker
American Professional II, V-Mod 2 Pickups
American Deluxe Series and Noiseless Pickups​

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Fuzzfaced is born like a hobby project and it’s run by a single person, but some stories are contributed by people who share the passion for music history, like you, or who worked at Fender, Gibson, or for other brands, or who were personally involved in their history or who met famous guitarists. Nothing is permanent, and if there are mistakes, they will be fixed, if there's something missing, it will be added.
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