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Legend has it that when Leo Fender gave an early Fender Stratocaster and amp to Dick Dale, Leo told him to "beat it to death" and tell him what he thought of it. Dale promptly attacked the guitar with his usual style, but blew up Fender's amp and speakers.

He then did it again 48 more times.

Exasperated, Dale helped Leo Fender design a louder amp, the Showman, that could cope with his incendiary playing.

'Showman' is a perfect nickname for surf-guitar legend Dale, whose upside-down-strings playing is as unique as you’d expect from a man who once kept a pet lionness in his kitchen.

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