Fender's history and interesting facts

To identify the manufacturer of a guitar, you usually start by looking at the logo on the headstock. The numerous manufacturers and the evolution of their logos can often reveal the guitar's age.
Speaking of Fender's original logo, there's the "spaghetti logo" (commonly known as the "spaghetti logo") from the 1950s to 1964, characterized by its thin, spaghetti-like lettering.
Even within the "Sparkle Logo" series, there are differences, such as the presence of a patent number. While guitars from the 70s are now considered vintage, there was a time when the Sparkle Logo was synonymous with vintage Fender guitars.
For example, even current Fender guitars are categorized as "Year XX Models," and they basically use the logo appropriate for that year.RecruitIt has been done!

Speaking of Fender "Shadow Logo"Transition logo! While "tora" is often used in the context of "traditional," it actually means "transition"—a period of transition! (I used to get it wrong myself!)

The tiger logo began to change from the spaghetti logo in the mid-1960s, but the timing of the change varied depending on the model.

jazzBassBut in 1961 (from the start of production!), PrecisionBassThe Stratocaster was made in mid-1964, the Telecaster in late 1964, and the Telecaster in early 1966, so there's quite a bit of variation, making it feel like a transitional period.

The lettering is bolder and more impactful compared to the spa logo!

In 1965, Fender was acquired by CBS, marking a turning point. Various specifications were changed across various models, and the logo was one of them.

CBS logoIt's known as the "Black Logo," but it's also called the "Modern Logo"! The black lettering with a gold border makes it much easier to read.👀

Vintage Fender guitars have two types of dot position markers on their rosewood fretboards.
One is clay dot, the other is pearloid dot.
Clay Dot has a matte, slightly brownish, clay-like color!
It's made from a material called Vulcan Fiber, which is like a very hard cardboard made by chemically treating pulp, layering it many times, and then compressing it.
The photo shows a clay dot pattern. One of its characteristics, which began around 1963, is the narrower width of the 12th fret position marker. (Stratocaster, Telecaster)

The Stratocaster was around 1965.Clay DotfromPearloid dotsThe position markers have been changed to the specified design.

Compared to clay, it's more translucent and whitish. Incidentally, pearloid is an artificial material that imitates pearls.

Pearloid wood is used for pickguards, and it's not just Fender; Gibson also uses it for inlays and other details.

Fender, acquired by CBS, underwent a period of transformation around 1965, with changes to its logo, inlays, and other specifications.
Block inlays have been used on Jazzmasters, Jaguars, and Jazz guitars since 1966.BassatRecruitIt has started to be used on rare models such as the Coronado and Bass VI.RecruitIt has been done!
The material is pearloid. It's made of celluloid that imitates mother-of-pearl.

The Jaguar was born in 1965-66, marking the beginning of the Fender CBS era.Binding on the side of the neckThe position markers were changed from dot inlays to block inlays.

By the way, Jazzmaster, Jaguar, JazzBassThey are both following the same path of change!

Around this time, the appearance changed noticeably in late 1965 and mid-1966, and it's interesting how even models from the same year could have different specifications.

Fender before 1967KlusonThe pegsRecruitThey were. While Kluson tuning pegs have undergone almost no structural changes over the years, their appearance has changed slightly.

The only thing that's changed is the lines of the KLUSON DELUXE lettering!
① No text (1954-1956)
② Single line (1957-1963)
③ It changes to a double line (1964-1967).
* (Values in parentheses are for Stratocaster)

And each of them comes with plated knobs and white knobs. The white knobs are available on the Duo-Sonic, Musicmaster, Mustang, and Swinger.RecruitIt has been done!

Fender during the CBS eraF keyWe have developed our own pegs called [name of pegs], and until nowRecruitThe pegs will be completely replaced with new ones from Kluson.

The six F keys have the same design, and by changing the cover, you can easily switch between right-handed and left-handed versions. The Kluson tuners are installed during assembly.BassPreviously, plate modification was required, but the F keys no longer require modification, demonstrating a significant improvement in efficiency.

To be more precise, there are three types of F keys.
① Manufactured by the early Wraith & Ormsted company. The tuning knobs are slightly rounded, and the shafts are chrome-plated.
② The second version from the early 1970s. The knobs are slightly more angular than the initial model, and the shaft has been changed to nickel.
③ In the late 1970sRecruitSchaller's new models feature chrome plating on all exposed parts.

Kluson's Deluxe Tuners were not originally designed for Fender's six tuners on each side, so Fender purchased the tuners from Kluson and then...BassIt appears the plate was shortened and then attached.

There are accounts that the first thing Fender tackled after being acquired by CBS was the development of the F keys, which shows that they were trying to improve the company's efficiency through their products.

Except for the upper part for the 1st string and the lower part for the 6th string, adjacentBassThe method used was to grind away the center of the screw hole on the plate.

The earliest Fender Stratocaster and Telecaster models (up to around 1959) had the following specifications for the fretboard and neck:Maple 1 pieceThat's how it was. (It reappears from the 1970s onwards.)
"One-piece maple" means that the neck and fretboard are made from a single piece of maple wood, without the use of separate fretboard material!
Until then, neither guitars nor violins had necks and fretboards that were integrated into a single piece. However, Fender broke with the conventions of stringed instruments by using a very hard material called hard maple, creating a neck made from a single piece of maple.

There is a wood inlay on the back of the neck,Skunk StripeIt is called that.
Since there is no fretboard, the truss rod is installed from the back of the neck and is then covered with koa wood.
Similarly, a hole for the truss rod is drilled in the head, so the wood plug that fills that hole isHead plugIt is called that.

The Stratocaster was produced from around 1959 to 1962.Slab rosewood fingerboardbutRecruitIt was done.
Slab-laminated guitars are characterized by a flat bonding surface to the neck and a thicker fingerboard. Key distinguishing features include the bonding surface overlapping the truss rod hole and a rounded bulge towards the headstock when viewed from the front!

The Stratocaster, from mid-1962 onwards, featured a rosewood fretboard.Rounded installationIt will change to this.
The bonding surface to the neck is curved, following the radius of the fretboard, and the fretboard material is thinner compared to a slab fretboard.
This apparently prevents deformation caused by humidity and other factors due to the difference in wood used for the fretboard and neck.
The key to identifying a round fretboard is that the adhesive surface does not overlap with the truss rod, and it appears straight when viewed from the front of the headstock!

With the revival of the one-piece maple neck in 1971,Bullet NutIt will appear.
It's said to have been named after its bullet-like shape, but it's also considered one of the signature features of 1970s Stratocasters!
This nut allows for truss rod adjustment from the head side using an Allen wrench.
Besides the Stratocaster, there are also the Telecaster Thinline, Telecaster Custom, Telecaster Deluxe, and Starcaster.RecruitIt was done!

The neck shape of 1950s Stratocasters has undergone gradual improvements, with changes seen every year.
Thick and slightly roundedSoft V-shape '54。
Most in the 1950sA fat U-shaped '55。
From there, the left and right sides were gradually shaved off.The sharpest V-shape in '57(This is Eric Clapton's signature model!)
From 1958 onwards, it gradually became rounder, and in the 1960s...C-shapeWe are heading there.

The 60s style became rounder than the V-shape of the 50s.C-shapebutRecruitIt was done.
The 1963 model, in particular, is characterized by its thicker grip.
While there was a major change in fretboard specifications in the 1960s (from slab-laminated rosewood fretboards to round-laminated ones), the neck shape didn't undergo the same rapid changes as in the 1950s. You can feel that Fender was gradually establishing a "standard" design.
The sound became slightly thicker from the late 1960s onwards, a trend that continued into the 1970s.

The string guide also changes depending on the era.
In the case of the Stratocaster, until the first half of '56Round.

Since thenFeather-shaped, seagull-shaped, butterfly-shapedThere are various names for it,
Iron platePressableThese are the types of rods that were made using this method. Depending on the era, there may or may not be a spacer between the head and the guide, and they may be made of iron or nylon.

From the latter half of 1972, string guides were also installed between the 1st and 2nd strings and between the 3rd and 4th strings. This was apparently done because, with the increasing popularity of light gauge strings, it was thought that it would be better to ensure sufficient tension on the 3rd and 4th strings as well!

StratocasterSmall HeadandLarge headThere are two types of head shapes.
From 1954 to 1966, they had small heads. In other words, models from before the CBS era have small heads.
Some people believe that the original Stratocaster is synonymous with the small headstock, and there are many Stratocaster fans who prefer the small headstock.

From mid-1965 (officially from the 1966 shipment)Large headbutRecruitIt will be done.

This head shape is used on guitars other than Telecasters.RecruitTherefore, it is believed that an effort was made to standardize the head shape, which has become a trademark.
It also appears that this was part of a rationalization effort, as it would cover the market by manufacturing Stratocaster, Mustang, Jaguar, and Jazzmaster models in different scale lengths.
As with the F key mentioned earlier,rationalization"That seems to have been a key phrase for Fender during the CBS era.
From then on, the large headstock became the standard headstock shape for the Stratocaster, and continued into the 70s.RecruitIt will be done.

FenderThe early Stratocasters followed in the footsteps of the Telecaster, and the body material wasAshbutRecruitIt was done.1956Partway through the year, the wood was changed to alder (with some exceptions).72Ash wood will be making a comeback from this year.
Ash wood is known for being a hard wood, producing a sound with clear lows and highs!
but,70Ash from that era50It's completely different from the ones from that era!
There are different types of ash colors.1954~56YearRecruitWhat was being done wasSwamp Ash(It was also used in Telecasters)70AgeWhite AshCompared to that, it's lighter and has a slightly brighter sound.

1956From the middle of the year, the body material of the Stratocaster wasAlderIt was changed to,1972The alder body will basically continue until [year].There are exceptions, such as blonde hair models.）
Alder wood is relatively soft, and its sound has a peak in the low to mid frequencies, giving the impression that the highs are more subdued compared to ash wood.
FenderThe wood used is a type called red alder, which is said to be lightweight due to its lower density, and to resonate in a well-balanced way.

With a Stratocaster1967The body paint wasCompletely lacquered from undercoat to topcoat.That's it.
Lacquer paint has a very thin coating, making it susceptible to temperature and humidity changes. It's a very delicate type of paint, and parts that come into contact with the body may peel off.
Furthermore, lacquer dries very slowly and changes significantly over time. The later switch to poly coating is likely due primarily to this long drying time. (See below)
There's a reason why so many people still insist that "paint must be lacquer!"
The thin finish allows the wood to resonate, and the cracks (weather checking), abrasions, and color changes that appear over time are all aspects that were once considered disadvantages. It's fascinating how these things gradually become part of the instrument's charm.

1967From [year] to body paintingpolyesterbutRecruitIt has begun.1969In later years, the neck also gets a poly finish, which significantly changes the playing feel.
The advantages of poly coating include its quick curing time, ensuring the instrument produces the sound intended by the manufacturer right out of the box. It is also highly resistant to scratches and changes in temperature and humidity.
While it's generally thought that poly coatings are cheaper than lacquer coatings, there isn't a significant difference in the cost of the paint itself. However, because the drying time is much shorter than that of lacquer, the overall cost is lower.

1967From this year onwards, the body will be painted with poly paint.1982Until that year, not everything was painted with poly paint.The undercoat is polyester.Color coat and top coat with lacquerI was using it.
At the time, this use was "Six Skin FinishIt seems they were actively promoting it as an upgraded paint job, calling it "[this upgraded paint job]".

When it comes to classic Stratocaster colors...Sunburst。
Even within the category of "sunburst," the character of the design changes depending on the era.

1954~7Year Yellow background with black2tone
1958year~Red added3It became the tone, and has remained consistent ever since.3Tone Sunburst(1960Age1967~9The red on the models of that age group tends to fade easily, and almost2Some of them look like tones.)
1964year~The base coat has changed to a yellow color, and the paint and coating method is now less likely to show the wood grain.
1968year~The texture has changed considerably because it now uses a poly coating.
1979year~Up until now3In addition to Tone Sunburst, Tobacco, Cherry, and other sunburst finishes will also be available as standard colors.

First picture: 1958 Stratocaster (3-tone sunburst)
The second picture is of a 1966 Stratocaster (a 3-tone sunburst with faded red paint).
The third car is a 1966 Jaguar. The top coat has peeled off, exposing the yellow base coat which makes it difficult to see the wood grain.

FenderThe neck plate issquareandtriangleThere are some like that.
With a Stratocaster1954~71Square until the year4Stopping at the point。1972The year after is triangular3Stopping at the pointThis is what it will be.

Each type of plate has its own variations, and the changes over time are as follows:
early 1954 Square / No engraving
1954~65 Square/Cereal
1965~71 Square / Serial number + F logo
1971 Triangle/Serial Number + F Logo + PAT.PENDING
1971~76 Triangle/Serial Number + F Logo + PAT. No.
1976~82 Triangle/F logo + PAT. No.

The Stratocaster's pickguard was made of single-ply PVC from 1954 to 1959. It changed to a three-ply celluloid design in 1959 when rosewood fretboards were introduced. Its three-layer structure (white/black/white) allows the middle layer to show through the yellowed white, giving it a greenish appearance, hence the name "green guard."

Greenguard was used until around 1964, but it had problems with discoloration and shrinkage because it was made of celluloid. From late 1964 to 1968, the three-layer structure remained the same, but it reverted back to a three-ply polyvinyl chloride material that was less prone to discoloration.

From around 1969 to the end of 1975, the 3-ply PVC construction continued, but the edge angle became steeper (from 40° to 60°) and the back became matte. From 1976 onwards, plastic parts, including the pickguard, began to be standardized to black. Because the pickguard was changed first, there are Stratocasters from that year with a mixed specification of black pickguard, white pickup covers, and white knobs. The photo shows a 1979 model. It is made of black/white/black 3-ply PVC.

The control knobs on a Stratocaster are1957By2Although there were some changes※Since then1977Made of nylon, standardized until the yearWhite KnobbutRecruitIt was done.
1977From next year onwards, the plastic parts will be standardized to black.Black KnobIt will change to this.

※54Year → Styrofoam short skirt knob
54~57Year → Melamine white bakelite knob
The change to nylon is said to be for improved durability.

FenderThe most distinctive feature of the Stratocaster isSynchronized Tremolo Unit。

1954From the year of birth60Throughout the years, there have been minor changes such as chamfering of screw holes, holes in the block section, and the length of grub screws, but there have been no major changes!

The blocks were made of iron. The saddle was made by press-forming sheet metal.

The bridge is arguably the most important component of the sound. From its very beginnings, the parts that make a Stratocaster a Stratocaster were practically perfected!

1972From this yearInertia BlockFrom a separate type made of iron,Made of zinc die-castThe bridge plate andBlock-integratedThis will be changed. At the same time, the saddle will also be changed to die-cast, so it can be said that the sound character will change significantly.

The traditional tremolo unit we've introduced is attached to the body with six screws.6 points supportAnd it's still a classic.

However, in recent years2 point support"butRecruitSome models have been updated!

The biggest advantage is the wide range of motion of the arm!

Because each string is subjected to tension at only two points, it is said to have slightly better tuning stability.

The tremolo arm of a Stratocaster is1954～83Between [year]2The specifications will be changed.

1954~64Up until a certain age,Chrome-plated iron、1964~82The first halfStainless steelAnd no plating,1982~83YearIron chrome plating againThis is what it will be.

1957Those up to that year have a tipLarge angleThat is its distinguishing feature.

60From that decade onwardThe curve is small and it's almost straight.There will be more things.

(The photos compare the differences in curvature.)

1954year~Spaghetti logo

No patent number is listed.

1961year~Spaghetti logo

2.573.254 Telecaster bridge andPUAssembly

2.741.146 Synchronized Tremolo

1962year~Spaghetti logo

2.573.254Telecaster bridge andPUAssembly

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

2.960.900Contour Body

1964second half of the year~Transition Logo

2.573.254Telecaster bridge andPUAssembly

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

2.960.900Contour Body

3.143.028Adjustable neck

1965Mid-year~Transition Logo

2.573.254Telecaster bridge andPUAssembly

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

2.960.900Contour Body

3.143.028Adjustable neck

2.817.261Hum-canceling pickup

(This is a patent related to humbucker pickups used in lap steel guitars.) 1956.3.29Application)

1966year~Transition Logo

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

3.143.028Adjustable neck

DES 169062PrecisionBassshape

1968second half of the year~ CBSlogo

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

3.143.028Adjustable neck

1971First half of the year~CBSlogo “WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO”The notation will disappear.

2.741.146Synchronized Tremolo

1971second half of the year~CBSlogo

3.143.028Adjustable neck

1976year~CBSlogo

The patent number is no longer displayed, and the serial number is listed below the logo.Made in USAThis will be included.