The big deal

During its long history, Fender has navigated several tricky turning points, but 1965 marks for some the start of a decline from the standards set by Leo’s original company. Is that view still justified?

If you always believed the CBS takeover transformed Fender guitars overnight, then think again because there were fewer changes than you might have imagined

Not only does this 1969 Tele illustrate Fender’s slowly changing post-Leo period, it also documents a lot of modding. Dave Burrluck should know – he was there!

FAIRFIELD HALLS, CROYDON

THE ULTRA AND Ultra II succeeded Fender’s Elite range as the manufacturer’s highest-end California-made production six-strings, with its most contemporary specs, including neck heel and rear body cont

VERY FEW NAMES in our industry command as much respect as John Suhr’s. His creations are widely considered to be world-beating manifestations of design and craft colliding at the highest possible leve