FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

I was staring at the headstock of a friends Telecaster and really admiring the shape and why it was that shape at all. I bought a few books, did some more research and really got in the mind of Leo Fender. His design theory was excellent and I was enthralled. Everything had a purpose both visually and mechanically. Keep in mind that he didn’t play guitar, he was an electronics guy with design sense. So being a furniture maker, I pretended to go back in time and hire Leo to design a coffee table. I created a prototype and sent it to Fender in Corona where it sat on their shipping dock for 6 months. Eventually a deal was struck and both Telecaster and Stratocaster tables were produced with then business partner Matt Souther at Overkill Design. They were a hit. Pressure was on to top the success with a companion piece so I designed the Tweed and Blackface “HotSeats.” This partnership with Fender was a career highlight for sure.

All in the details

One of the beauties of working directly with Fender’s Custom Shop was that I could pick up the phone and ask about anything. They love talking details and supplied any bit of information and artwork. Passion runs deep in that place.