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| 2009 American Standard Stratocaster & custom Champ Amp |
Fender Guitars has a long, rich history in music. They are responsible for some of the most popular instruments made. Many musicians have become associated with their Fenders--
-- Buddy Holly and Jimi Hendrix are known to favor Stratocasters.
--Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen are known for playing Telecasters.
--Geddy Lee and Jaco Pastorius are well known Jazz bass fans
--Steve Harris and John Entwistle favor the Precision bass.
One of my favorite, all-time guitars is a daphne blue Strat, so having the opportunity to tour their factory is a real treat.
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| Sanding a Stratocaster body |
Our tour began while we waited for the factory tour group to assemble in the lobby of their Visitor Center. The factory tour began with our guide showing us the machines which stamp out all the metal parts used on their American Series guitars and basses. Right around the corner is the wood shop where mostly alder, ash, maple and rosewood. High above the stacks of wood are computer controlled misters which maintain humidity levels best suited for the various woods.
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| New fret-pressing machine |
CNC machines cut the wood blanks into necks and bodies. The necks and bodies then move to sanding, where a team of people shape the necks, and sand the bodies go through several steps in the sanding process. Fret wire has been pressed into the fingerboards by hand since Fender began making guitars in the 1950s. Changes are being implemented that will make the process more consistent, as Fender has installed the first pneumatic press with others to be installed soon.
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| Guitars drying above the factory floor |
After the guitars are prepped and painted, they are dried in a very unique way; each guitar body is suspended from a conveyor track that runs above the workers below. Those below are working in teams performing final assembly-- everything from matching necks & bodies, to wiring the electronics. After final inspection, the guitars head to shipping where they begin their journey to a various guitar shops around the world.
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| Fenders famous Custom Shop |
Located within the Fender factory is their Custom Shop. In this small section of the factory, that builds very limited versions of Fender guitars. There are only a few dozen workers who make new guitars appear 30-years old, or apply special paint schemes, and unique electronics not usually found on Fenders regular production line.
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Our tour-guide describing why
the CS guitars special |
We spent most of the day at Fender's Visitor Center and factory tour, and we still didn't get to take in all the sights. It was obvious those who work in the factory take a great deal of pride in their work, and their guitars. As we made our way through the factory, everyone we met enthusiastically explained what they were doing.
Pride in workmanship, and the instruments was a common thread between each of the three builders we visited. Of course, the real proof is in the pudding, as they say-- and these guitars did not dissapoint; all played and sounded great!
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| The neck department is proud of their work-- and rightly so |
After the guitars leave their factories, they can often be found at shops such as Norman's Rare Guitars on Ventura Blvd in Tarzana California. We visited Norman's a few days after the Fender factory tour-- which I will write about next week~
Stay tuned, and in-tune!
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