Fender Amps: The First Fifty Years

Rating:
Summary: Tone Tone on the Range
Review: It's trite but true, most guitarists particularly amateurs and hobbyists spend hours day dreaming about the perfect axe. Yet most of the tone is generated by the amp not the axe. This book is a great introduction to the dynasty of amplification that Leo Fender built and the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation in all its manifestations has carried forward. The book methodically walks the reader through the major eras and types of amplifiers that the company has built over the past six decades. The book is also a great introduction into the basic mechanics of guitar amps. Anyone who uses an electric guitar amp should have a working knowledge of gain, volume, master, channel switching, and the nuances of spring, tube, and electronic reverb. The book is full of photos of old ghost amps of the past, false starts and dead end amp designs, as well as the classics like the fender bassman and twin reverb amps. This book is also a great addition to a coffee table alongside your favorite books on 50s hotrods and airplane designs.

Rating:
Summary: Tone Tone on the Range
Review: It's trite but true, most guitarists particularly amateurs and hobbyists spend hours day dreaming about the perfect axe. Yet most of the tone is generated by the amp not the axe. This book is a great introduction to the dynasty of amplification that Leo Fender built and the Fender Musical Instrument Corporation in all its manifestations has carried forward. The book methodically walks the reader through the major eras and types of amplifiers that the company has built over the past six decades. The book is also a great introduction into the basic mechanics of guitar amps. Anyone who uses an electric guitar amp should have a working knowledge of gain, volume, master, channel switching, and the nuances of spring, tube, and electronic reverb. The book is full of photos of old ghost amps of the past, false starts and dead end amp designs, as well as the classics like the fender bassman and twin reverb amps. This book is also a great addition to a coffee table alongside your favorite books on 50s hotrods and airplane designs.

Rating:
Summary: Fender's Contribution to Pop Culture Via the Amplifier
Review: Teagle and Sprung have done a public service to those of us on the lunatic fringe; we are the misunderstood, the downtrodden, the lovers of vintage guitar amplifiers! After the purchase and restoration of a 1975 Fender Twin Reverb, I became very intense on finding information about these aging workhorses of pop culture..."Fender Amps, The First Fifty Years" is the culmination of my search. I found this reference informational, but also entertaining. Teagle and Sprung describe in detail the marketplace, music scene, and the inner workings of Fender to help readers understand the product releases which shaped the face of modern music. The authors reinforce the importance of the amplifier to the origin and spectacular growth of Fender. The group shot photographs are breathtaking with collateral material often included. The hits and misses of Fender during the last half-decade show that although the company is not infallible, the more you know, the luckier you get. This is a highly recommended addition to any Fender musician's or technician's resources.

Rating:
Summary: Fender's Contribution to Pop Culture Via the Amplifier
Review: Teagle and Sprung have done a public service to those of us on the lunatic fringe; we are the misunderstood, the downtrodden, the lovers of vintage guitar amplifiers! After the purchase and restoration of a 1975 Fender Twin Reverb, I became very intense on finding information about these aging workhorses of pop culture..."Fender Amps, The First Fifty Years" is the culmination of my search. I found this reference informational, but also entertaining. Teagle and Sprung describe in detail the marketplace, music scene, and the inner workings of Fender to help readers understand the product releases which shaped the face of modern music. The authors reinforce the importance of the amplifier to the origin and spectacular growth of Fender. The group shot photographs are breathtaking with collateral material often included. The hits and misses of Fender during the last half-decade show that although the company is not infallible, the more you know, the luckier you get. This is a highly recommended addition to any Fender musician's or technician's resources.

Rating:
Summary: Fender Amps: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know...(and more)
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Fender Amps: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know...(and more)
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: an excellent history
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: an excellent history
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: If you love Fender amps, you need this book.
Review: This is the best yet of the descriptions of the amps and features developed by our hero, Leo Fender. There are good descriptions of the CBS-era amps too.

Rating:
Summary: If you love Fender amps, you need this book.
Review: This is the best yet of the descriptions of the amps and features developed by our hero, Leo Fender. There are good descriptions of the CBS-era amps too.