Fender Telecaster - by Dave Hunter (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Authoritatively written and lavishly illustrated, Fender Telecaster 75 Years is the officially licensed anniversary celebration of this legendary guitar.

Embraced for its simplicity and adaptability, the Fender(R) Telecaster(R) guitar is a musical icon around the world and across musical genres, its distinctive design as beloved today as it was when Leo Fender introduced the guitar to the world in 1951.

In Fender Telecaster 75 Years, guitar historian Dave Hunter traces Telecaster(R) guitars across seven-plus decades, beginning with Leo Fender's breakthrough design in his modest Fullerton, California, workshop. From there, Hunter explores:

• The new Telecaster design in the context of the contemporary guitar market and the needs of musicians of the day.
• The Telecaster's solidbody two-pickup configuration, bolt-on neck, and carefully considered body shape, as well as the players who played a part in the guitar's early evolution.
• Design improvements undertaken throughout the Telecaster's first decades, such as the introduction of a rosewood fingerboard and Custom Color options.
• CBS's 1965 acquisition of Fender and its effects on company culture and the Telecaster, as well as the 1985 acquisition of Fender spearheaded by a group of employees.
• Fender's forward-thinking combination of vintage specs and materials with modern features in Telecaster guitars that offer classic styling and current conveniences.

Along the way, Hunter contextualizes the evolving Telecaster within the contemporary guitar industry and shows the relationships that admired players throughout the decades have enjoyed with this guitar, including Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, and Joe Strummer--to name a few!

Illustrated throughout with rare images from the Fender archives, Fender Telecaster 75 Years treats readers to rare behind-the-scenes views of the shop floor throughout the years, studio imagery of the guitars, rare period advertising and brochures, and performance photography of Fender players.

Often imitated but never duplicated, the Fender Telecaster remains a triumph of imagination and design more than seven decades on. This is the official and definitive illustrated story of this guitar--and a must-have for every guitar enthusiast.

Review Quotes

"Hunter amassed an impressive book of history...one reading of the book won't be suffiicent and it is a great identification tool for Fender Tele players and collectors also."

--Eric Dahl, Worship Musician

"From the Hawaiian guitar-and-amp set of 1948 to John 5's hot-rodded Signature model Tele, this book covers everything you need to know about this iconic axe and its storied history. Aesthetically, it comes with a beautifully designed hardcover slipcase and would look incredible on your great-room coffee table or in your studio lounge. If you're a Fender Guitars fanatic, this book is a must for your collection and is sure to impress anyone who picks it up."

--Andre Skinner, The Spill Magazine

"...an expertly crafted monograph on a landmark electric guitar, tracing its history and delving into the finer evolutionary points...and indispensible reference and a moving love letter to the Telecaster."

--Dan McClure, Library Journal

About the Author

Dave Hunter is an author, musician, and journalist. He is the author of several popular books about guitars, amps, and effects, including Star Guitars and 365 Guitars, Amps & Effects You Must Play, as well as Fender: 75 Years and Fender Stratocaster: 70 Years. A regular contributor to Guitar Player and Vintage Guitar magazines, he resides in Kittery, Maine.