![]() In 1954, following the success of the Telecaster, Fender unveiled a guitar that would set the standard for generations to come: the Stratocaster. ![]() The Stratocaster® - The World’s Most Influential Guitar As opposed to the “big bands” of the era, Fender’s electric guitars, basses and amplifiers made it possible for smaller groups of musicians to get together and be heard-inspiring the modern rock combo as we know it. It was fretted for more precise playing and could be amplified, laying the foundation for a revolution in popular music-the electrified rhythm section. Held sideways like a guitar, the P Bass® liberated musicians from the confines of the traditional upright bass. That same year, Fender introduced another invention, the Precision Bass®, along with the first bass amp–the Bassman®. Unbeknownst to Fender at the time, the guitar would eventually find its way into the hands of rock ‘n’ roll, R&B and country guitarists everywhere – and its reputation as a reliable workhorse guitar endures to this day. Unlike any guitar that came before it, the Telecaster had a bright, clean and cutting sound, with a prominent high end, thick midrange and bass perfectly suited to western swing. The first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar, the Telecaster would change the way music was made forever. In 1951, he introduced the guitar he named the Telecaster (originally named the Broadcaster). Now fully immersed in the music world, Fender delved deeper into guitars, developing the prototype for a new solidbody alternative to the hollowbody electric favored by swing artists of the day. The Telecaster®, The Precision Bass® & the Birth of the Modern Rock Comboīut Leo Fender’s legacy didn’t end there. In a new post-World War II era when rugged, reliable and suitably loud instrument amplification didn’t really exist, the simple and stylish woodies were by far the best amps of their time-and would go on to set the gold standard for guitar tone throughout the 60s, 70s and beyond. Built with hardwood cabinets, Fender’s original “woodie” amps-as they’ve come to be known in collectors’ circles-were among the first products to bear the official Fender seal. When the two parted ways a few years later, Fender continued working under his own name, developing the original Princeton, Deluxe and Professional amps in 1946. In 1943, he teamed up with local musician and inventor Doc Kaufmann and formed K&F Manufacturing Corp, producing a limited run of amplifiers and lap steel guitars at the height of the Hawaiian music craze. A radio repairman by trade and inventor at heart, Leo Fender made the transition to musical instruments by default, tinkering with his friends’ faulty amps. However, in 1961 the end of the tweed Deluxe era was heralded by the arrival of the more powerful tremolo-equipped brown Tolex-covered 6G3 Deluxe.The Fender story begins over 70 years ago in a small Fullerton, California workshop. Throughout the early days of rock ’n’ roll, the tweed Deluxe proved to be a dependable amp for use both on stage and in the studio. The 5E3’s unique cathodyne phase splitter also adds to its distinctive tone. Partly due to its lack of a negative feedback circuit, the 5E3 sounds characteristically sweet at lower volume due to added harmonics, before breaking up into saturated distortion at higher settings. As per all previous versions, it runs on a pair of cathode-biased 6V6GT power valves (which some hear as akin to the chime of a Vox AC15) and features a 5Y3GT rectifier valve, which has a tendency to sag and produce a slightly spongey attack. ![]() Significant revisions to the Deluxe’s electronics came with the 5C3, which included a negative feedback circuit, although this was removed from the further revised 1954 5D3 ‘wide panel’ design.Īppearing in 1955, Fender’s ‘narrow panel’ tweed amp range featured the now legendary 5E3 model. ![]() The next Deluxe model – the 5B3 – appeared in 1953 and is essentially the same as the 5A3 in terms of circuitry, although by this point Fender’s ‘wide panel’ tweed amp format had been implemented across the line. Model/circuit AA/AB763 Deluxe Reverb releasedĭiscontinued Deluxe Reverb with silver panelĭeluxe Reverb discontinued (superseded by Deluxe Reverb II)Ĭustom Series ‘57 Deluxe released (5E3 reissue) Model 6G3 brown front panel and Tolex cover tremolo circuit Model 5E3 ‘narrow panel’ design 4 inputs cathodyne phase splitter ![]() Model 5D3 ‘wide panel’ design negative feedback circuit removed Model 5B3 & 5C3 5C3 with negative feedback circuit added Model 5A3 tweed cover top/rear chrome control panel 12” speaker Model 26 ‘woodie’ natural finish 10” speaker 3 inputs ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |