Even after nearly seven decades, the Fender holds plenty of significance in the world of music and guitars. These guitars' eccentric shape, style, and craftsmanship warrant high desirability for all kinds of players and budgets.
Some designs that gained immense popularity include the Fender Telecaster, the first-ever masterpiece provided to the music business by the Fender brand in 1950. The Fender Precision Bass arrived a year later. And three more years later, the Fender Stratocaster shook the music industry in 1954. However, it takes some of the best guitarists to play these amazing instruments.
In the following, we’ll learn more about six famous Fender guitar players that have graced some of the most revered musical creations and styles.
Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix is arguably the most popular American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. When the producer of the Fender brand came together with Jimi Hendrix, the dynamics of the music world changed completely.
Jimi was immensely fond of Fender’s electric guitars One of his favorites was the early 1960s white Stratocaster, which was created by combining the pieces of two guitars: the neck of a 1960 Telecaster and the body of a Stratocaster. The hybrid guitar was indeed a masterful creation but Jimi had a great liking for several others that include the 1964 Fiesta Red Stratocaster, 1968 Stratocaster ‘Black Beauty’, 1968 White Stratocaster, 1964 Linda guitar. Some of Hendrix's gear, such as the Showman amplifier, also came from Fender.
Hendrix played both his right and left hands. But he found playing guitar with his left hand easier because of his natural inclination. At the time, he could hardly find a left-handed guitar. So he used to use the standard Stratocaster and would flip it. This would create a unique blend of notes. He appeared to be playing his Fender Stratocaster upside down due to the reversed configuration. ‘With the Rolling Stones’ and the ‘Star-Spangled Banner' were two of the most popular songs he played on this instrument.
H.E.R
This American composer and vocalist made her debut in 2016, and quickly came to fame, receiving 5 Grammy nominations in 2018. It didn’t stop with nominations as she went on to win 5 Grammys plus the prestigious Oscar for her song, Fight For You. There appears to be no turning back for H.E.R. after this. She is now the first black female artist to have worked with Fender.
H.E.R. has become a major force in empowering and influencing young female artists to join the music industry, and she routinely helps promote them by endorsing their work. H.E.R.'s collaboration with Fender culminated in the release of a Stratocaster that comes with a Chrome Glow finish. H.E.R. has since been seen with this guitar, sort of a love affair if we might add. It even went to the Fender Signature Session with her. Regarding Fender guitars, H.E.R. has a see-through acrylic Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster, which she played during her Grammy performance in 2019. She also owns a custom black Stratocaster that appeared in the Pepsi Big Game commercial.
David Gilmour
When listing the world’s top guitarists, there is no way one can forget David Gilmour. The Pink Floyd band member had a history of using Fender Guitars. Gilmour owned ‘The Black Stratocaster’ that he would take with him everywhere and flaunted the magic he could conjure with his hands. He mixed notes on his Black Strat so masterfully that songs like 'Comfortably Numb' and 'Time' are still remembered, dare we say revered. There is no wrong in saying that his career would have been impossible without his Fender guitars and gear.
David was the proud owner of a V57 Stratocaster called 'The Red Strat.' Another favorite strat in his collection is the one with serial number 0001. Multiple Fender guitars were a part of David’s career, like the 1955 Fender Esquire 'The Workmate,’ 1953 and 1955 Les Paul Goldtop, and the 1960s Fender Telecaster. He displayed his love for the Fender brand by working with their amps like the Twin Reverb Head and the Fender Twin Tweed.
Bonnie Raitt
The United States is lucky to have had the world's most famous blues female guitarist, Bonnie Raitt, but the world is lucky to have listened to her music. In her 48-year career, this veteran artist had a tremendous 11 Grammys to her credit and sold over 16 million recordings. Bonnie’s association with Fender is anything but definitive.
A customized Fender Stratocaster named ‘Brownie’ is one of the top Fender assets she owns. Bonnie was the first female performer to receive a signature Fender Stratocaster. The Brownie was featured in some of her most popular songs like ‘Thing Called Love’ and 'Something to Talk About'. She also owned a signature Metallic Blue Burst Fender Stratocaster that initially used to be the property of Robin Trower. Lastly, the 63 Sunburst Strat is a priceless gem in Bonnie Raitt's Fender guitar collection.
Jeff Beck
Jeff Beck is a name not alien to any music enthusiast. The artist served in the industry for decades and produced high-quality music that always riled up his crowd. His versatility and attention to detail warrant his status as the finest of the finest Fender guitar players. He is listed as one of the most influential guitarists of his generation. Jeff Beck owned and played, among others, the Fender Telecaster and the Fender Stratocaster.
Beck rose to prominence as a guitarist in the 1990s, thanks partly to his custom Fender Stratocaster and partly to his musical genius. Beck made the slide guitar sounds using his bare hands. Because of his ability to produce a fresh and different sound on the guitar, he sometimes confused listeners as to which instrument he was playing. 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers' is one of his most memorable Fender guitar solos.
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Where the name of Stevie Ray Vaughan comes, the Fender Stratocaster comes. This American guitarist was skilled at the guitar as any human possibly can be. On this instrument, he was like a true magician that enthralled the audience with unimaginable performances, creating melodious tunes using his hands with an instrument created by those that had equal musical prowess.
Vaughan's outstanding talents include the ability to perform both lead and rhythm guitar sections at the same time. The favorite Stratocaster of Vaughan was named ‘Number One’. This electronic guitar was a hybrid one. Vaughan preferred the left-handed tremolo on his guitar. It was in honor of Jimi Hendrix because his guitar arrangement was like that.
Conclusion
Many musicians and guitarists have given their services to the music industry by exemplifying what it means to be a guitarist. Some of them have always relied on the finesse of Fender instruments, and the six people named above are only a few of the top Fender Guitar players to ever exist.
But since the list is finite and the names are many, some honorable mentions we had to leave out are Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, and Ritchie Blackmore. Avril Lavigne, Mary Kaye, Samantha Fish, and Susan Tedeschi are also a few of the female guitarists that have sported Fender guitars to create their own unique styles.