So how would the new Fender company accommodate changing styles and tastes, and adapt its venerable Stratocaster guitar to the needs of the present? During the CBS era, clear answers had often eluded the suits who ran the company. One exec opined in private, “What are we supposed to do — build in the same old mistakes, just to keep the purists happy?” Introduced in 1922, the Gibson L5 is the precursor of the modern archtop guitar. It was the first archtop to feature f-holes, which allowed it to project through the horn-dominated bands of the day. Its strong, full, warm sound was an immediate and overwhelming success that turned the heads of makers, players and listeners alike. This 50th anniversary model features three new Custom Shop Vintage 1954 single-coil pickups, a special commemorative 50th anniversary neck plate, and “Parchment” knobs and pickup covers. Also, the likes of Rickenbacker, Gretsch, National and Epiphone, which have increased less quickly until recently, now seem to be making up for lost time. There doesn’t seem to be any let up on this increase in values. The worrying thing is not the running demand but the dwindling supply. We’ve always had many young, new bands come through our doors, and, traditionally, they have cut their teeth on seventies Fenders and Gibsons, or sixties Gibson SGs, Fender Jaguars or Jazzmasters. Great guitars new and used Gibson, Fender, Ovation, Gretsch and Rickenbacker available via the website. The Stratocaster was first produced in early 1954 by Los Angeles engineer Leo Fender, who had tinkered with improving amplified hollow-body instruments since the 1940s. Marshall is the company that originated the amp 'stack' - tracing the impressive lineage of its valve guitar amps. Jose Rodriguez blows on a Fender Stratocaster guitar body to remove wood dust as he does the final sanding work before sending the bodies to the paint shop, at the Fender manufacturing facility. Bass Guitar Review.
