Leo Fender founded the Fender® company in 1946, building Hawaiian style guitars and small amplifiers. From 1950 to 1954, he spearheaded the most potent creative surge in the history of electrical instrument manufacturing. He designed the first commercially successful solidbody guitar, the Telecaster®; invented the modern electric bass, which transformed popular music; and introduced the most influential of all electric guitars, the Stratocaster®.

His amplifiers set the gold standard for tone and reliability against which virtually all amps are judged to this day. Leo Fender's instruments have had an incalculable effect on popular music of all styles, and on the broader culture as well. They helped change the way musicians work with their tools, facilitated new sounds and techniques, and helped revolutionize the way the entire industry designs and builds instruments. Most significant of all, they helped ignite whole new styles of music.

Fender guitars and amplifiers are outstanding examples of American manufacturing know-how and modern style. More than fine musical instruments, Fender guitars and amps are powerful cultural icons recognized in every corner of the globe.

Fender® instruments such as the Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars are known worldwide as the instruments that started the rock revolution, and they continue to be highly prized by today’s musicians and collectors.

With an illustrious history dating back to 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock ‘n’ roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues and many others. Everyone from beginners and hobbyists to the world’s most acclaimed artists and performers have used Fender instruments and amps, in the process making the company not only a revered music industry name, but also a cultural icon.

Today, FMIC brands include Fender®, Squier®, Guild®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, Charvel®, EVH®, SWR® and Groove Tubes®, among others. FMIC also manufactures a complete line of professional audio equipment under the Fender brand, including the innovative Passport® portable sound system. Fender also offers a complete line of accessories, including strings, authorized replacement parts, cases, straps, clothing and much more.

In January of 2008, FMIC also acquired Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest independent U.S. distributor of musical instruments and accessories. KMC produces and/or distributes Ovation®, Takamine® and Hamer® guitars; Latin Percussion®, Gretsch® Drums, Gibraltar® Hardware, Toca® Percussion, Sabian® cymbals and Genz Benz® amplifiers; in addition to a full catalog of more than 36,000 wholesale music products.

FMIC’s corporate headquarters is located in Scottsdale, Ariz., with manufacturing headquarters based in Corona, Calif.

For more information on Fender and Fender products please visit www.fender.com.