Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster

Book excerpt: Celebrate the history of both the Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster, and the musicians who made them famous, in this combined edition of Dave Hunter’s two best-selling books. This authoritatively written, painstakingly curated, and gloriously presented edition includes: The story of Fender’s most famous guitars and how they changed the world of music forever The history of both guitars, from concept, design, and model launch through their numerous variations More than 500 photographs of prized Telecasters and Stratocasters, archival images, musicians in action, studio shots, and memorabilia Profiles of more than 75 guitar legends, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Muddy Waters, Luther Perkins, Joe Strummer, Vince Gill, and other icons The Fender Telecaster, created in Les Fender’s Fullerton, California, workshop and introduced in 1950, is a working-class hero and the ultimate blue-collar guitar. It wasn’t meant to be elegant, pretty, or sophisticated. Designed to be a utilitarian musical instrument, it has lived up to that destiny. In the hands of players from Muddy Waters to James Burton, Bruce Springsteen to Joe Strummer, the Telecaster has made the music of working people—country, blues, punk, rock ’n’ roll, and even jazz. Fender’s Stratocaster is arguably the number-one instrument icon of the guitar world. When introduced in 1954, its offset space-age lines, contoured body, and three-pickup configuration set the music world on its ear—it was truly unlike any guitar that had come before. In the hands of the world’s most beloved players, such as Buddy Holly, Eric Clapton, Ike Turner, and, yes, Jimi Hendrix, the Stratocaster has since become a popular instrument of choice among rock, blues, jazz, and country players and, not coincidentally, is also one of the most copied electric guitars of all time. With its unprecedented level of detail and stunning visuals, Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster is the only book tribute worthy of the world’s two greatest guitars.