Leo+Fender

**Leo Fender**
His name is emblazened across one of the most iconic objects of both popular music and culture, and quite possibly one of the most recognised designs of the 20th century. The item is of course the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar, first produced in 1956, popularised by artists as diverse as Jimi hendrix and Hank Marvin, and still in production today in the same form, more than 50 years from its initial conception.



Leo Fender, (10th August, 1909 - 21st March 1991), started his career as a radio repair technician in the 1940s. Whilst the concept of the electric guitar had been around for some 20 years prior to Fenders involvement, guitar design remained somewhat traditional, with solid bodied instruments, such as Gibsons 'Les Paul' design resembling more traditional jazz instruments. Fender, who first produced the 'Broadcaster' guitar in 1948, broke with tradition and simplified and revolutionised the design and manufacture of the electric guitar.



In terms of design and technology, electric guitar design represents a perfect balance between form and function. It is an object that must be functional, ergonomically sound, robust and as any musician knows, be an object of beauty.