Vintage Electric

Vintage Electric

Famous Fender Vintage Guitars

When playing a vintage guitar one gets the rush of history that guitar has been through and Fender vintage guitars have over 60 years of rock, jazz, country, and funk to feel. Four of the more famous models are the Stratocaster, the Telecaster, the Mustang, and the Precision Bass.

The Fender Startocaster is a solid body, double-cut electric guitar released in 1954 and still in production today. The original model had a solid maple neck, with 21 frets, 2 or 3 single-coil pickups, and came in a 2-color sunburst finish. This model guitar is the original Strat although because its style and features have been so often copied Strat often refers to similar guitars of any manufacturer. The Startocaster has been played by famous people from Buddy Holly in 1958 to Eric Clapton in 2005 and has had over a dozen other famous musicians endorse various signature models.

The Fender Telecaster, originally called the Esquire and the Broadcaster, was released in 1949 and is still in production. This is the oldest model of the four Fender vintage guitars and hold the title as the longest continually produced solid-body electric guitar. This is a solid-body with two single coil pickups and a fixed bridge. The Telecaster has been played by dozens of famous musicians over the years including Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck. Variations of the Telecaster include the Telecaster Thinline with two Fender Wide Range pickups, the Deluxe with two Fender Wide Range humbucking pickups, and the Custom with single-coil pickup in the bridge and a Fender Wide Range pickup in the neck position. All originally released in 1972 and still produced today.

The Fender Mustang is a solid-body electric guitar with 2 single-coil pickups. Originally produced from 1964 through 1982 it has since been reintroduced and continues to be produced. The 1960s models can now sell for over $1,500.

The Fender Precision Bas (P-Bass) was the first mass-produced electric vintage bass guitar. It was released in 1951 and is still produced today. The original model had a single pickup, 20 frets, and was styled after the Telecaster. In 1957 the P-Bass was redesigned to resemble the Stratocaster and in three years later 1960 had its single pickup replaced with a split-coil pickup wired in humbucking mode. The Telecaster like model was brought back in 1968 as the Telecaster Bass.

The Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company was founded by Clarence Fender in 1946 originally based in California. Now called Fender Musical Instruments Corporation it is located in Arizona however it still has manufacturing facility in California as well as Mexico. Other Fender vintage guitars include the Duo-Sonic (1956-1969), the Jaguar (1962-1975), and the Starcaster (1976-1982). Some of these have been reintroduced and are being produced today.

About the Author

Alan Brenner maintains Blue Tree Vintage. For more information on other Fender vintage guitars please visit.

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