California Trippin’ Part 4; Fender Visitor Center

Our road trip to visit California guitar builders will be a long to be remembered one. First stopping at Carvin Guitars in San Diego, followed by Taylor Guitars, then finally completing the stringed trilogy with a stop at the Fender Guitars factory in Corona. Each of these manufacturers of fine musical instruments operate within industrial parks— after all, their focus is not entertaining guests, rather building tools for musicians to express themselves.

Touring Fender Guitars begins at their new Visitor Center which opened in Sept of 2011. It is an impressive facility featuring displays from the companies history-- many of which can be picked up and played by visitors. It also includes an amp room where visitors can choose from several walls of Fender guitars, then plug into any of the amplifiers from Fenders catalog. 

Hanging out & Jammin' in the amp room

Another reason to stop at the Visitor Center is to see the special exhibits they host; we were lucky enough to see the Jimi Hendrix exhibit which ran from March to May. Many of the items on display were from Seattle's Experience Music Project; event posters from Woodstock, a guitar & strap used at the concert, various clothing, letters, and a huge wall plastered with photos of Jimi chronicling his musical career. 

Jimi Hendrix Wall of Fame

                                

The center also acts as a museum for Fender's history; displays containing key artwork and guitars of that era fill at least half of the floorspace. Some displays included not only a specific period in time, but also specific artists and their favored Fender guitar.

Dick Dale a.k.a "King of Surf Guitar"

What visitor center would be complete without a gift shop? Fender has that covered-- and in a big way! Guests can purchase everything from guitar picks, strings, books, t-shirts, ball caps... even place an order for a guitar-- right there at their Visitor Center. There is an enclosed room adjacent to the amp room where guests can talk with a Fender technician and choose the guitar they want built by selecting various sample parts hanging on the wall. 

There is a lot to take in here, and we haven't even started the factory tour yet! I'll save that for the next post...

Stay tuned, and in tune!