Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Christine McVie's masterpiece
  • Macca vs Phil Collins
  • Music theory tricks
  • Kiss From a Rose
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • Yes
  1. Guitars
  2. Electric Guitars

Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 in pictures

News
By The MusicRadar Team
Published 5 July 2010

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970

Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970

In the year that the world's first mass production solidbody electric guitar - the Fender Telecaster - celebrates its 60th birthday, Fender junkies and indeed all fans of hardcore guitar porn should check out one of the sexiest guitar-centric hardbacks we've seen in years.

Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 by Martin Kelly, Paul Kelly and Terry Foster, published by Cassell Illustrated, is available now from www.octopusbooks.co.uk and Amazon.

The book charts the history of Fender from its humble beginnings through to the sale of the company to CBS in 1965 and beyond. Along the way, the company's instruments and amplifiers changed the face of popular music, and this is celebrated in Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 alongside images of some of the most valuable and rare guitars on earth, contemporary promotional material and previously unseen factory photographs.

If you want to get your hands on this wonderful tome, MusicRadar is giving away six copies. But before we tell you how to enter the competition, click through the following gallery taken from the pages of Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970. Be warned: you will want this book!

Page 1 of 11
Page 1 of 11
1946 Model 26/Deluxe Woodie amplifier

1946 Model 26/Deluxe Woodie amplifier

Page 2 of 11
Page 2 of 11
A trio of blond 1950 Broadcasters

A trio of blond 1950 Broadcasters

Page 3 of 11
Page 3 of 11
Late 1950s Precision Bass and Bassman advert

Late 1950s Precision Bass and Bassman advert

Page 4 of 11
Page 4 of 11
1958 Surfburst Jazzmaster

1958 Surfburst Jazzmaster

Page 5 of 11
Page 5 of 11
1960s The Beach Boys Play Fender postcard

1960s The Beach Boys Play Fender postcard

Page 6 of 11
Page 6 of 11
The Golden Age in Telecaster headstocks

The Golden Age in Telecaster headstocks

Page 7 of 11
Page 7 of 11
1962 Bass VI

1962 Bass VI

Page 8 of 11
Page 8 of 11
Early 1960s amplifier advert

Early 1960s amplifier advert

Page 9 of 11
Page 9 of 11
Mid 1960s Bob Dylan Plays Fender postcard

Mid 1960s Bob Dylan Plays Fender postcard

Page 10 of 11
Page 10 of 11
Second-series 1966 Lake Placid Blue Marauder prototype

Second-series 1966 Lake Placid Blue Marauder prototype

Fender: The Golden Age 1946-1970 by Martin Kelly, Paul Kelly and Terry Foster, published by Cassell Illustrated, is available now from www.octopusbooks.co.uk and Amazon.

Want to win it?

Of course you do! We have six copies up for grabs, so hurry up and click here to enter our competition...

Liked this? Now read: 2010 International Vintage Show in pictures

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 11 of 11
Page 11 of 11
The MusicRadar Team
The MusicRadar Team
Social Links Navigation

MusicRadar is the internet's most popular website for music-makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, DJs or producers.

GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high-quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.

TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.

STARS: We talk to artists and musicians about their creative processes, digging deep into the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.

Latest in Electric Guitars
Fender 75th Anniversary Telecaster Road Worn '51
Guitars Fender CEO clarifies his controversial comments comparing cover songs to AI
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up July 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s July 2026 guitar gear roundup: featuring Orange Amps, Harley Benton, Epiphone and more
 
 
Harley Benton Aged Series
Guitars Harley Benton is making hand-aged relic'd guitars for under 250 bucks
 
 
Gretsch Streamliner CVT
Guitars Gretsch puts high-gain sounds on the menu as it adds the $249 CVT to entry-level Streamliner series
 
 
Sire Larry Carlton X1
Electric Guitars “Ideal for beginner guitarists chasing heavier sounds”: Sire Larry Carlton X1 review
 
 
A Charvel Type 2 Tele headstock with an inset of the company's founder, the late Wayne Charvel, who died on 12 July
Guitars Remembering Wayne Charvel, visionary luthier and Superstrat pioneer
 
 
Latest in News
Liam Gallagher and Noel Gallagher perform onstage at the Oasis Live '25 - Toronto concert at Rogers Stadium on August 24, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Gigs & Festivals “Oasis’ schedule is booked”: The Gallaghers’ masterplan for 2027 is allegedly already in place
 
 
midipad
Tech MIDIpad transforms your gamepad into a musical instrument and MPE controller – and there’s a free version
 
 
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 05: Lindsey Buckingham attends the Variety Power of Young Hollywood 2026 event at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on August 05, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/WireImage)
Singers & Songwriters “Quite a few things will reveal themselves”: Lindsey Buckingham teases possible Fleetwood Mac activity
 
 
William Orbit
Artists We look back at a classic William Orbit interview
 
 
William Orbit
Artists William Orbit, the production genius behind Madonna’s Ray Of Light, has died, aged 69
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 05: Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill attend the 'Diaspora Calling' merch pop-up & signing event in celebration of the Fugees 30th Anniversary at 180 Studios on August 5, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Grant Buchanan/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Bands Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean are positive that the Fugees will record again
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...