The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great book about Fender guitars.
  • The BEST book out there on Strat maintenance
  • fantastic resource
  • a great guide
  • Great
The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat
Paul Balmer
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
StringsStrings | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
  2. The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps
  3. The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton
  4. Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations
  5. Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar

ASIN: 0760329834

Book Description

There are six million out there—from Eric Clapton’s million-dollar “Blackie” to your treasured hand-me-down—and still the world can’t get enough of the Fender Stratocaster, the legendary electric guitar-of-choice for players and dreamers from pioneers like Buddy Holly to today’s garage-band heroes. This is the world’s first hands-on, how-to manual for the Strat, taking the mystery out of maintaining and modifying what is really a relatively simple instrument (two boards, some wires, some pickups). It shows you how to make the most of your Stratocaster—and how to make it truly your own.
With clear text and colorful illustrations, this guidebook takes readers through the basics of selecting and buying Strats; maintenance and repairs such as tuning, setting intonation, tremolo alignment, fret repairs, bridge and nut adjustments, electrics troubleshooting; spur-of-the-moment stageside fixes; and some basic performance enhancements like adding “hot rod” Fender and aftermarket pickups, locking-tremolo nuts, and more.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great book about Fender guitars........2007-06-09

Very well-written book about the history and maintenance of Fender guitars. What I really like most about the book is the generous data provided on Squier guitars! I cannot afford a true Fender Stratocaster. Great info about famous Strat players! Did you know that Buddy Holly played a strat? I love how the book shows what is done to fix guitars using case studies,too. It is the best book that I have read on Fender guitars, ever.

5 out of 5 stars The BEST book out there on Strat maintenance.......2007-04-15

I wanted to give a more in-depth review of this book than what's currently on here now.

First, about myself. As of the writing of this review I'm 38 and have been playing for over 20 years. I have been setting up, modifying and tinkering with guitars all along. So trust me when I say that this book is a must-have if you want to work on your Fender Strat. Or, if you just want to know more about what makes a strat sound and play the way it does, this book serves that purpose as well. If you are already familair with setting up your strat then this book won't tell you anything new, but it's still an enjoyable read.

The book is 176 glossy pages with rich, beautiful professional photos throughout the entire book. The text is very easy to read even for those that aren't entirely familiar with the intricate working and electronics of guitars in general and therefore provides for an enjoyable read even for the casual reader.

What the book is not: Althought it touches on repair, t's not a repair manual. The information on repair is not comprehensive enough to actually do it yourself. It's not a compendium of Strats from year to year giving comprehensive differences and when things changed. This information is already available from other sources. It's not simply a picture book or coffee table book even though the size and Hard Cover format might suggest.

What it is: A comprehensive breakdown of how to set-up your Fender Stratocaster. And it does this in a fashion that allows the new tinkerer to get in there and do the work themselves. Very much in the same vein as Dan Earlwine's books.

The book goes over specific bridge designs and how to adjust string height, trem settings, etc. It explains how to adjust the truss rod on the various styles (bullet, vintage at the heel, at the peghead, etc.). It shows you how to set up the pickup heights, string heights, etc. Also explains some weaknesses inherent in specific designs such as vintage tuners, saddles, etc.

The book also has a great set of appendices that explains Fender neck profiles, body woods, what specific screws are used where (great for knowing what to order if you lost one), and a few other tidbits.

Of note there is a good part of the book dedicated to examining a few specific models of guitars and their specs. They are: 54' Custom Shop, US 57 RI, Chinese Squier, Mexican Fat Strat, Indonesian 'Standard' Squier, Custom Shop Clapton, US 74' reissue, Japanese 50th Anniversary, US Am Series 2005, Chinese Standard Squier. These "case studies" examine the actual guitar in the author's hands, not just the model in generic terms. This information isn't terribly useful, but it is fun to read an offers some insight to the variances of some models.

Lastly, there is a small section devoted to some of the Strat's most famous players and it examine's a famous strat that they used. Again, the information contained is not "defining" to me, but it's fun to read.

In conclusion, the reason to buy the book is for the clearly-written step-by-step instructions on how to set up your Stratocaster. The rest of the information can be found in other places, and probably in better detail, but it's nice to have it all contained in one book.

I think a book like this is long overdue. Without this book the tinkerer would have to spend a few weeks asking Q&A at various guitar forums. And even then you have to figure out who's right and who's wrong. I can say from my own experiences over the years in setting guitars up that this book is an excellent resource for the would-be do-it-yourselfer that wants to learn basic maintenance on his/her Fender Stratocaster.

The book is a joy to read too. If you don't have a Strat and are thinking of buying one...this book will put you over the edge and send you running off to buy one.

Cheers!

5 out of 5 stars fantastic resource.......2007-04-05

If you want to know everything there is to know about the Fender Stratocaster, this is your Bible. History, great photos, set up instructions, it's all there. Two knocks: a bit self serving as if it were a Fender advertisement at times, and I would have liked to have seen case studies on more diverse artists: Malmsteen, Buddy Guy, Gilmour, Sambora, and even EVH. Still a solid 5.

5 out of 5 stars a great guide.......2007-03-10

this is a great book chock full of great information about how to set up and maintain nearly everything on a fender stratocaster. in great pictoral detail. it is invaluable to any person working on strats.
i almost withheld that last star (4-star review) simply because of his choices of which models that they delve into are almost all reissue guitars. i would prefer to see case studies of actual 50s, 60s, 70s, 80, and such stratocasters.

5 out of 5 stars Great.......2007-03-09

It is a great handbook for your Stratocaster setup, a lot of pictures help you to understand better what you have to do.
The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Excellent Read for any Fender Fan
  • A book just as good as the instrument
  • Best of the Stratocaster books
  • Great book
  • "The Fender's Book"
The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
Tom Wheeler
Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

HistoryHistory | Subjects | Books | Africa | Americas | Ancient | Arctic & Antarctica | Asia | Australia & Oceania | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Europe | Gay & Lesbian | Historical Study | Large Print | Middle East | Military | Military Science | Russia | United States | World
StringsStrings | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
GeneralGeneral | Theater | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
  1. The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat
  2. 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
  3. Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar
  4. 50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars 50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
  5. The Beauty of the 'Burst The Beauty of the 'Burst

ASIN: 0634056786

Book Description

The world's most famous guitar had a golden anniversary in 2004, and this official, authorized book/CD package offers the best photos, quotes, facts and sounds to properly celebrate this achievement. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix to today's hottest players, the Fender Stratocaster defines rock'n'roll for generations of fans and players. Special features include exclusive photos from the world's greatest guitar collection, as well as a CD with musical examples of famous Strat sounds and styles hilariously performed by Greg Koch - even spoken excerpts from the author's interviews with the Strat's beloved inventor, Leo Fender. This book also recognizes that the Stratocaster's deeper significance lies in the music that guitarists have created with it. You'll hear what Strat players have to say about their instrument, their music and each other. The Fender Stratocaster both reflects and influences popular culture worldwide. The Stratocaster Chronicles focuses on the people who brought it into the world, the designers and builders who refined it, and the players who have taken it from there.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Excellent Read for any Fender Fan.......2007-07-23

This is an excellent overview of not only the founding of Fender Electric Instrument Company in Fullerton, CA, but an accurate and honest chronology of how the world's most recognizeable guitar was built and marketed, as well as the players around the world who made it's sound their own. Great pictures of many vintage models, and many design differences and changes through the years are documented. For those not grey in the temples enough to have lived it, the CD provides some fabulous sounds of early Strat players at the birth of rock music in the late 50's. Highly recommended!!!

5 out of 5 stars A book just as good as the instrument .......2007-05-24

The Stratocaster Chronicles, truly does Fender guitars the justice of explaining the history and facts of such fine instruments! Must read for Fender fans!

5 out of 5 stars Best of the Stratocaster books.......2007-05-07

Filled with the facts you need to know about this famous guitar and its inventor, C.L. Fender, but it is a good read, also. Tom Wheeler is probably the best of the guitar book authors. I highly recommend any of his books.

5 out of 5 stars Great book.......2007-01-15

Very high quality book on the strat. Gives you everything you wanted to know about the strat, including large clear color pictures. The history of the development is very interesting, and the accompanying CD is a great touch as well. Way too much to read in 1 or 2 sit downs. This is a much longer undertaking. A great coffee table addition.

5 out of 5 stars "The Fender's Book".......2007-01-10

I really liked this book. It isn't a simple guitar's book. Who want the best Fender's book, it's the choice.
The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps
Average customer rating: Not rated
    The Soul of Tone: Celebrating 60 Years of Fender Amps
    Tom Wheeler
    Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

    GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    Recording & SoundRecording & Sound | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat
    2. Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty's Golden Era: 1948-1966 Gibson Guitars: Ted McCarty's Golden Era: 1948-1966
    3. The Gibson 335: Its History and Its Players The Gibson 335: Its History and Its Players
    4. Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations Guitar Rigs: Classic Guitar and Amp Combinations
    5. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat

    ASIN: 0634056131

    Book Description

    An authorized and illustrated book on the most famous amplifiers ever. From the same "dream team" that created The Fender Stratocaster Chronicles - Vintage Guitar magazine's 2004 Book of the Year - comes this new publication covering the other side of Fender's legacy, the instrument amplifier. Revered as much as one's guitar, the Fender amplifier gets its due in this full-color, richly illustrated book. It will be highly desired by the millions who have plugged into one of these indispensable components, and were been delighted at its sound. - Fender is the number one guitar and amp brand in the world. This book has a built-in audience. 2006 is Fender's 60th anniversary. - Over 400 images, including legendary guitarists such as Eric Clapton, B.B. King, Neil Young, Pete Townsend, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Robbie Robertson and Dick Dale. - Unprecedented collection of vintage gear, including never-before-seen amps that were discovered while researching this book. - Accompanying CD features over 50 tracks that make terms and topics come alive.
    Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • SIx Decades of Fender Telecaster
    • Better Fender References are Available
    • very helpful with great photos
    • Excellent history of the Tele
    • Best book for detailed info on the Fender Telecaster
    Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar
    Tony Bacon
    Manufacturer: Backbeat Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    StringsStrings | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Fender Telecaster The Fender Telecaster
    2. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
    3. The Gibson 335: Its History and Its Players The Gibson 335: Its History and Its Players
    4. The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat The Fender Stratocaster Handbook: How To Buy, Maintain, Set Up, Troubleshoot, and Modify Your Strat
    5. Arlen Roth's Masters of the Telecaster Arlen Roth's Masters of the Telecaster

    ASIN: 0879308567

    Book Description

    Launched by the fledgling Fender company in 1950, the Telecaster has become the longest-lived solidbody electric guitar, played by everyone from Muddy Waters to Chrissie Hynde. All who play know that the key to the Telecaster's importance and versatility is its sheer simplicity. Packed with high-quality photographs of the great Telecasters, collectable catalogs, period press ads, and memorabilia, this tribute tells the story of the Telecaster and the Fender Company through exclusive interviews with Fender figures who were there when this musical star was born.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars SIx Decades of Fender Telecaster.......2007-08-12

    Fantastic book for Fender Telecaster users. This book takes you from the beginning to the present History of Leo Fender and his line of Guitars.
    Highly recommended.

    2 out of 5 stars Better Fender References are Available.......2007-07-11

    I bought this book first, before coming across Richard Smith's more definitive history of the Fender Story in "Fender The Sound Heard Round the World".

    This Six Decades of Telecaster is mostly a picture book and light on the Tele story. It does contain a decent Reference Section, which gives a year by year breakdown of the unique features of the Telecaster.

    If you want the Fender Story, get the Richard Smith book. Additionally, I purchased the Fender: The Inside Story book, but it is not an "impartial" telling of the story.

    5 out of 5 stars very helpful with great photos.......2007-01-12

    I like Tony Bacon's guitar books. Plenty of colour photos. History, images. Highly recommended to Tele enthusiasts!

    5 out of 5 stars Excellent history of the Tele.......2007-01-09

    I can't say enough about this book. I am a musician and collector. This is a difinitive work on the history of Fender and the Tele.

    5 out of 5 stars Best book for detailed info on the Fender Telecaster.......2006-10-16

    I read this book with great enthusiasm! It covers The Tele from the very begining up to 2005. With way more information/detail, celebrity players, vintage advertisement (as well as newer instruments) and beautiful photos than any other books printed almost two decades ago!
    This is a modern and thorough update to all Tele information. From the Telecaster's inception to the players that made it sing, it's all here in a very high quality format.
    If you love the Fender Telecaster and want the details covering six decades of droolworthy photos, specs and interveiws you will love this book!
    50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Lousy Layout
    • Fender's great history
    • 4 1/2* Nice Coffee Table Book
    • The icon of American rock music
    • The only unbiased book that tells the whole story
    50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
    Tony Bacon
    Manufacturer: Backbeat Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    StringsStrings | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    SongbooksSongbooks | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    RockRock | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars 50 Years of the Gibson Les Paul: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
    2. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
    3. Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar
    4. The Fender Telecaster The Fender Telecaster
    5. The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton

    ASIN: 0879306211

    Book Description

    The first Fender guitar hit the scene 50 years ago - and music hasn't been the same since! Featuring 200 color photos, this visual chronicle of the premier guitar maker charts every Fender model from 1950 to 2000, accompanied by a parallel timeline of musical highlights. The book celebrates 50 years of Telecasters, Stratocasters, Precision Basses, and other Fender instruments played by such artists as Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Kurt Cobain and many others.

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Lousy Layout.......2007-08-19

    This is one of the stupidest book designs I have ever seen in my life. Each two-page entry has a photo of an instrument split onto the two pages. This is a tightly-bound book which doesn't lie flat, so these otherwise excellent photos are essentially useless. Tony Bacon books are ussually first-rate; it's too bad to see this poorly-thought-out nonsense in a book with his name on it.

    Two thumbs down -- wait for something professionally produced.

    5 out of 5 stars Fender's great history.......2007-04-05

    Great book. A must have for any Fender fan. I enjoyed every line ( and pic) of it.
    Since this year is Fender 60th Anniversary, I expected the book to be updated to today, but the last enter is year 2000.A great purchase anyway.
    Buy it!

    5 out of 5 stars 4 1/2* Nice Coffee Table Book.......2004-10-22

    This is a very good book to develop an appreciation of the Fender guitar and its development from the "Broadcaster" to the "Telecaster" and beyond. There are some outstanding pictures of vintage Fenders, the Fender "Precision" and other basses, steel guitars, and amps, as well as the musicians who played and/or promoted them. There's a sense of history too, as the book's sidebars list important historical and musical events of each era. At this relatively low price, it's a nice, albeit brief, introduction to the history of the electric guitar and the man who both made it commercially viable and made some outstanding innovations.

    Now, I don't want language that only a sound engineer could understand, but the book does not go into enough detail about how the electric guitar works, the differences between guitar brands and among the various Fender models, or the various sonic experiments performed by Leo Fender and his colleagues at the Fender factory in Fullerton, California. This renders the book most suitable for those with a passing (or newfound) interest in the subject, rather than those with a passion for it. For more details, you might try "The Fender Book: A Complete History of Fender Electric Guitars (2nd Ed)" by Tony Bacon and Paul Day.

    5 out of 5 stars The icon of American rock music.......2003-06-08

    Answers many of the questions inquiring minds want to know. I bought it for my 9-year old son, a budding electric guitar player, who was forever asking me questions about Fender. He had found the site on the Internet and was learning the sounds of each of these distinctive guitars from the audio bytes they generously served up. The book is handsomely illustrated and includes all the famous Fenders with short bios on this who played them. But the star of this book is the guitar which has become an icon of American rock music. We have even made some cardboard models of those he likes most. A must have for Fender fans of all ages.

    5 out of 5 stars The only unbiased book that tells the whole story.......2000-10-12

    Mr.Smith was able to write a story of the evolution of Fender Musical Intruments that was crafted in much the same way as Leo Fender's "no nonesense" technical philosophy. It seems that everyone who worked for the company is writing, or has written a book that often is either romanticized or modified to fit a personal agenda. The unbiased approach is both shocking and refreshing. Mr.Smith's book also has hundreds of rare and unseen inside photos of the factory, people, and instruments that alone are worth the price of the book. If anyone is interested in the history of this company, "Fender Sound Heard "Round the World" is the only book you will need. Be warned, the book is as addictive to read and browse as playing a blues lick on your Stratocaster!
    Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • So much information
    • Great Fender Book
    • More than a reference book or fan tribute.
    • Fender: Warts and All
    Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World
    Richard R. Smith
    Manufacturer: Hal Leonard
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    ReferenceReference | Subjects | Books | Almanacs & Yearbooks | Atlases & Maps | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Business Skills | Careers | Catalogs & Directories | Consumer Guides | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Education | Encyclopedias | Etiquette | Foreign Languages | Fun Facts | Genealogy | General | Job Hunting | Large Print | Law | Publishing & Books | Quotations | Spanish-Language Reference | Study Guides | Test Prep Central | Words & Language | Writing
    GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    BusinessBusiness | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Theater | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
    Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Look Inside Reference BooksLook Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Fender: The Inside Story Fender: The Inside Story
    2. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
    3. 50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars 50 Years of Fender: Half a Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars
    4. The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton The Fender Stratocaster: foreword by Eric Clapton
    5. Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar

    ASIN: 0634058754

    Book Description

    No one changed the sound of guitar music more than Leo Fender. He so improved the clarity of the amplified vibrating string that he gave almost every style of music played on the guitar a means to sound better. For five decades, finicky musicians made pilgrimages to Leo's RandD labs to discuss their musical frustrations and seek better ways for guitars to function. In the pages of Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World, you will watch this complex, dedicated man gain success as a true innovator of the new. You will also follow the team of energetic, creative people who steered Fender to fame, men like Don Randall of Fender Sales, Forrest White and George Fullerton of Fender Electric Instruments, and Dale Hyatt and Tommy Walker, two of Randall's growing cadre of savvy, high-powered salesmen spreading Leo's ideas worldwide. This book is the largest collection of Fender historical photos, product shots, patent drawings and advertising materials ever published. Whether you are a musician, a lover of Fender lore, an instrument collector or curious history buff, your search ends here for the ultimate and definitive book presenting the complete, unedited Fender story. "This is by far the best book about Leo Fender yet published." - Vintage Guitar magazine "Sets new standards for books on guitar history." - Country Music magazine "An astounding job of research, reportage, distillation and writing on a subject whose impact on music and society in general is inestimable." - Los Angeles Times "Fender freaks will revel in the model-by-model, year-by-year detail in which Smith unfolds the company history." - Guitar Player magazine

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars So much information.......2007-06-08

    The best book I've come across on Fender and possibly the best available. Lots of information and great period photos. A book you can keep coming back to.

    5 out of 5 stars Great Fender Book.......2001-11-23

    This is by far the best Fender book I have. It is very well written, and it makes for some good reading. He doesn't only describe the great things about Fender but the bad things and mistakes as well.

    This is a very un-biased book and it's very nice to read. The pictures in this book are awesome, and this is only one of the books I have that I trust the facts on. Kudos to Mr. Smith!

    5 out of 5 stars More than a reference book or fan tribute........2000-02-02

    I have a half dozen books on the Fender company and this is by far the best. The typical vintage guitar book serves two functions. It gives information on the history of the instrument - guides to production dates, etc. In addition there are usually lots of pictures for lovers of vintage instruments to salivate over ("guitar porn" as I've seen it described before). This book delivers in that regard, but does not stop there.

    It goes on to serve as an excellent study of a small business struggling to survive and then coping with its own success. I found it hard to put down. Even though I knew the outcome, I found myself carried along with the story. Enough "insider detail" is provided to reveal character and move the "plot," but not enough to bog the book down. The book also serves as the best biography of Leo Fender that I have read. He is revealed as an inspired man with significant flaws. Importantly, "revealed" is the operative word here. Smith generally does not preach or make pronouncements. He describes actions and quotes interviews. The reader is left to his own conclusions.

    5 out of 5 stars Fender: Warts and All.......1999-06-06

    Smith does a great job of telling us who Leo Fender really was: a simple man with a complex mind. The pages of this book are loaded with lots of interesting stories and facts about the man who developed the solid-body electric guitar. Not always complimentary, yet never vicious. An honest presentation of the man who provided the tools that helped create rock-and-roll. Obviously well-researched with many great photos of Fender and his "offspring".
    Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A, Second Edition
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Must have for people who build/repair tube amps
    • Outstanding!
    Circuit Analysis of a Legendary Tube Amplifier: The Fender Bassman 5F6-A, Second Edition
    Richard Kuehnel
    Manufacturer: Pentode Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds
    2. Vacuum Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Preamps Vacuum Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Preamps
    3. Valve Amplifiers, Third Edition Valve Amplifiers, Third Edition
    4. Building Valve Amplifiers Building Valve Amplifiers
    5. Mullard Tube Circuits for Audio Amplifiers Mullard Tube Circuits for Audio Amplifiers

    ASIN: 0976982218

    Product Description

    This book moves beyond general principles of tube amplifier design to carry out an intense examination of one of the most famous circuits of the rock era. The book begins with the 5F6A's relatively simple triode preamps (bypassed cathode resistor, unbypassed cathode resistor, and cathode follower) and then progresses through the mathematically challenging tone stack, long-tailed-pair phase splitter, and push-pull power amp. Every formula for every tube is derived in all its gory detail. The author's methods include the classic load lines and composite characteristic curves of Frederick Terman and the Radiotron Designer's Handbook as well as more modern techniques like linear regression and the Discrete Fourier Transform. Special attention is paid to quantifying the push-pull amplifier's nonlinear response and to analyzing power supply voltage sag as it reacts over time. This expanded, second edition includes an enlarged, fold-out schematic of the Bassman and a new chapter on the Marshall JTM45, which is almost a direct copy of the 5F6-A. The Bassman 5F6A circuit has inspired guitar amplifier designs for over four decades, so sharpen your pencil, fire up your calculator, and find out what makes this amp rock!

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Must have for people who build/repair tube amps.......2007-02-24

    The 5F6-A is considered the mother of all guitar/bass amps from past till present. It took me to read this book before I understood why.
    This book reveils the genius/craftmanship of Leo Fender and doesn't stop there. As most tube amps are altered copies of this particular one, the information is usefull for everybody who wants to keep their amps in good shape with respect to great tone...

    5 out of 5 stars Outstanding!.......2006-11-28

    This is a book for anyone serious about circuit analysis.

    Why is this book important? The 5F6-A circuit is important pedigree of most great tube amps. The techniques (if not the direct analytic results and conclusions) can be applied to almost any guitar tube amp design. If you are serious about designing or building guitar amps then you need to get this book, you won't be disappointed.

    Important in Kuehnel's approach "understanding" not just cold analytic analysis (although that is there as well, and it is superb). In most cases he presents and analyzes a simplified equivalent circuits to provide insight and intuitive understanding, then he follows with a complete soup-to-nuts analysis.

    Each stage of the 5F6-A circuit is rigorously considered as a separate subsystem and the results are eventually integrated and summarized. This allows one to skip around and explore the book in the order of topics that interest them.

    As engineering books go this one is very readable, but it might be difficult for anyone that does not have formal training in electrical engineering (or the like) or is not otherwise a serious student of analytic techniques.
    Toyota Corolla: 2003 thru 2005 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual)
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Good info, low quality binding.
    • Thanks for the pre-order information
    • Helpful!
    • A Tool for Beginners and Experts
    • Haven't used it yet, but Haynes manuals have been very good in the past.
    Toyota Corolla: 2003 thru 2005 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual)
    Geo Ham
    Manufacturer: Haynes
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

    GeneralGeneral | Transportation | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    GeneralGeneral | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    Body & FendersBody & Fenders | Repair | Automotive | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
    All TitlesAll Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    NonfictionNonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
    Similar Items:
    1. Toyota Corolla, 2003 through 2005 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manual) Toyota Corolla, 2003 through 2005 (Chilton's Total Car Care Repair Manual)
    2. TOYOTA TACOMA (1995-2004), 4RUNNER (1996-2002) & T100 (1993-1998)(Haynes Repair Manual) TOYOTA TACOMA (1995-2004), 4RUNNER (1996-2002) & T100 (1993-1998)(Haynes Repair Manual)
    3. Subaru Legacy & Forester 2000 thru 2006: All models (Haynes Repair Manual) Subaru Legacy & Forester 2000 thru 2006: All models (Haynes Repair Manual)
    4. Nissan Sentra & 200SX 1995 thru 2004: All models (Haynes Repair Manual) Nissan Sentra & 200SX 1995 thru 2004: All models (Haynes Repair Manual)
    5. Haynes Ford Ranger Pick-ups 1993 thru 2005 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual) Haynes Ford Ranger Pick-ups 1993 thru 2005 (Hayne's Automotive Repair Manual)

    ASIN: 156392613X

    Book Description

    This repair manual covers all Toyota Corrla vehicles 2003 through 2005

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Good info, low quality binding........2007-06-12

    The info in the book looks to be well organized and comprehensive. The pictures are fairly grainy black and white so not as helpful as they could be. Also, the binding of the book I received was very poor. Many of the pages were not fully cut so I end up having to finish separating them and hoping I don't tear them.

    1 out of 5 stars Thanks for the pre-order information.......2007-06-02

    Nowhere on the product details here on Amazon does it say "Does not include information specific to XRS models". However, turn either the Chilton or Haynes manual over to the back and in small print at the bottom it reads "Does not include information specific to XRS models".

    If you haven't guessed, I purchased the manual because I have the XRS model. I am extremely disappointed that such a small but important detail could not have simply been placed in the product detail section here on Amazon. I have now purchased two manuals that are useless to me because of this mistake.

    It even says: "Book Description: This repair manual covers all Toyota Corrla [sic] vehicles 2003 through 2005". This, then, is a lie.

    Please change the description to warn others who may try to purchase this book but own the XRS model. Thanks.

    5 out of 5 stars Helpful!.......2007-05-16

    So far, so good. I bought this book because I'm a so-so shadetree mechanic and like to work on my cars to the extent my abilities allow. I've owned two Haynes manuals prior to this one, and one was used quite a bit and was a fine reference. I was pleased to find that the Toyota Corolla Haynes manual helped me diagnose my exact problem (failed blower motor resistor) and I had it fixed in a jiffy. Why pay more for the Chilton's?

    5 out of 5 stars A Tool for Beginners and Experts.......2007-04-22

    I bought this manual knowing next to nothing about my 1999 Camry. After spending about a half an hour getting acquainted with it, I was taking my battery out to charge and clean it, changing my oil, and doing all the basic maintenance myself. There is also much more to this manual. I've already saved hundreds of dollars doing the maintenance myself, for mechanics charge hundreds of dollars for simple labor. I suppose that, if you wanted to, you could tear down your whole car and build it again. This guide is definitely worth the money and extremely handy. I'd recommend keeping it in the trunk of your car in case of emergencies, as well.

    4 out of 5 stars Haven't used it yet, but Haynes manuals have been very good in the past........2007-03-19

    I'm sure when I need it it will have what I need.
    Fender Classic Moments: Fifty Years of Modern Music
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Fender Classic Moments: Fifty Years of Modern Music
      Alan Di Perna
      Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover

      GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      Popular CulturePopular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
      Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
      ASIN: 0793555914

      Book Description

      Fender Classic Moments examines momentous musical events of the last half century, focusing on Fender artists. It features over 100 photos and lively text chronicling great guitar moments and history-changing happenings. Includes photos of Elvis singing through a Fender amp at the 1955 Tupelo Fair; DylanÕs amplified antics at the Newport Folk Festival; HendrixÕs fury at Monterey; Eric ClaptonÕs comeback at Live Aid; Smashing Pumpkins at Lollapalooza, and much more!
      Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years
      Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
      • great book full of information and entertainment
      • GREAT!!!
      • anorak bonanza!
      • an excellent history
      • Fender Amps: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know...(and more)
      Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years
      John Teagle , and John Sprung
      Manufacturer: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Paperback

      GuitarGuitar | Instruments & Performers | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Reference | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      History & CriticismHistory & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      RockRock | Musical Genres | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      MIDI, Mixers, etc.MIDI, Mixers, etc. | Theory, Composition & Performance | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
      GeneralGeneral | Composers & Musicians | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
      Stereo & Audio EquipmentStereo & Audio Equipment | Electronics | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Stereo & Audio EquipmentStereo & Audio Equipment | Electrical & Electronics | Engineering | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
      Look Inside Entertainment BooksLook Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
      Similar Items:
      1. A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock A History of Marshall The Illustrated Story Of The Sound Of Rock
      2. The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds
      3. The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat
      4. The Tube Amp Book: Deluxe Revised Edition The Tube Amp Book: Deluxe Revised Edition
      5. Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar Six Decades of the Fender Telecaster: The Story of the World's First Solidbody Electric Guitar

      ASIN: 0793537339

      Product Description

      Includes detailed model features and specs, rare catalog reprints, classic advertisements, endorsee promo photos, and hundreds of close-up photos of these American beauties. Includes a 40-page full-color section (complete with a 2-page pullout group shot of over 60 amps!) and the choicest vintage catalog covers. Also includes sections on how amps work, basic amp maintenance, set-up tips, and detailed parts info necessary for dating and restoring Fender amps.

      Customer Reviews:

      5 out of 5 stars great book full of information and entertainment.......2007-05-06

      well, why is it that fender amps are so great? there's no one specific thing that makes old fender products so great, but some ineffible combination of form and function. Leo Fender and his cohorts throughout the 50s and 60s not only designed circuits that worked, but put them into beautifully designed cabinets - not to mention, of course, the guitars and basses that were designed to play through these items.
      anyhow, this book guides the reader verbally and pictorally through the history of the design and deployment of some of the greatest sounding guitar amplifiers on earth and how they changed both in response to changing musical demands and in advance of those same demands, essentially helping to create the vocabulary of rock and country music in the world over the course of the 50s, 60s, 70s and onward.

      5 out of 5 stars GREAT!!!.......2005-09-26

      This book is probably the most beneficial book I have ever bought! I have been really trying to get into the old vintage tube amps and when I saw this, I figured that Fender was probably the best place to start! This book is worth 5x's what they actually charge!

      4 out of 5 stars anorak bonanza!.......2001-11-21

      To some eyes, a paean to the mecca of tone. To others, a Geek Fiesta. The casual rock fan/guitarist will find at least something in this - plenty of luscious photes of delightful old grandpa amps of the sort that spur observations of the They Just Don't Make Them Like They Used To variety. The owner of a Fender Amp will be thrilled and excited to be able to identify in exacting detail how old and rare his (or her) beauty is, and from what era it comes from. But pity his (or her) friends.

      It's a worthy, thorough, not especially flamboyant book for anyone else. But given the subject matter, you can hardly scold messrs Teagle and Sprung for that.

      4 out of 5 stars an excellent history.......2001-10-05

      This is a seemingly very complete history of all fender amps and effects boxes - a pleasure to read and full of good gossip too. Detailed descriptions of the advances introduced with each line, as well as tube specs! I wish it had a collector's value/price guide as well, but perhaps that is hard to generalise.

      5 out of 5 stars Fender Amps: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know...(and more).......2001-10-02

      This book is a 'must' for any guitar player, collector, hobbyist or afficianado who loves electric guitars and Fender amps. It provides a wealth of information on every aspect of Fender amplifiers and traces the development of Fender amps from the very first models manufactured during the company's beginnings in the mid-1940s up to the most recent models of the 1990s. In addition to detailed descriptions of each model there are many excellent color photos which illustrate the stylistic changes that occurred as amp designs were improved and developed and provide the reader with a delightful visual catalog of the entire Fender amp 'family', including all the 'classic' models sought after by collectors and players alike. For anyone who has an interest in vintage guitars and amps, this book is the definitive reference book on the subject.

      Books:

      1. The Frank Sinatra Reader
      2. The Fred Factor: How passion in your work and life can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary
      3. The Hal Leonard Acoustic Guitar Method: A Complete Guide with Step-by-Step Lessons and 45 Great Acoustic Songs
      4. The Librettist of Venice: The Remarkable Life of Lorenzo da Ponte Mozart's Poet, Casanova's Friend, and Italian Opera's Impresario in America
      5. The Librettist of Venice: The Remarkable Life of Lorenzo da Ponte Mozart's Poet, Casanova's Friend, and Italian Opera's Impresario in America
      6. The Mcdougall Program: 12 Days to Dynamic Health
      7. The Messiah: An Oratorio Complete Vocal Score (G. Schirmer's Editions of Oratorios and Cantatas)
      8. The New Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning: A Project of the Music Educators National Conference
      9. The New Oxford Companion to Music: Volume 1: A-J Volume 2: L-Z
      10. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 2

      Books Index

      Books Home

      Recommended Books

      1. Tsukiji: The Fish Market at the Center of the World
      2. The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
      3. Louis Rukeyser's Book of Lists
      4. Map Use & Analysis
      5. Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways
      6. The Hippocrates Diet and Health Program
      7. Peroxisome Proliferators: Unique Inducers of Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes
      8. Understanding Texas Insurance
      9. Managerial Accounting: An Introduction to Concepts, Methods and Uses
      10. An Investigation of Racial Disadvantage