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
  • Cyber Monday
  • Artist news
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
Don't miss these
Fender Vintera II Road Worn 60s Telecaster
Guitars Fender’s Vintera II Road Worn series has Golden Era vibe, tone and feel with era-correct pickups and aged nitro finishes
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Guitars Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
Blues phenom Christone "Kingfish" Ingram with his new signature Fender Telecaster Deluxe in Daphne Blue
Artists Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on how the Telecaster won him over – and his new Delta Day signature Tele Deluxe
The Fender x Palace Limited Edition Telecaster has a 90s-inspired rave graphic finish on the front, and the brand's Triferg on the back – the release also includes a Fender x Palace guitar strap and guitar pick set.
Guitars Rave culture meets the first mass-produced electric guitar – Fender teams up with Palace Skateboards for limited run Telecaster
Fender Vintera II 50s Jazzmaster Road Worn
Electric Guitars “It’s clear that the influence of the Custom Shop’s attention to detail is now making its way to the Mexican-made instruments”: Fender Limited Edition Vintera II Jazzmaster Road Worn review
Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons tear it up as ZZ Top play the Aragon Ballroom at Chicago in 1980, with Gibbons playing his legendary Les Paul Standard, Pearly Gates
Artists “"There is something magic in that instrument”: Billy Gibbons on why Pearly Gates is one of the greatest Les Pauls ever
Johnny Marr demoes his new signature Jaguar Special with its trio of custom-wound lipstick pickups.
Artists Fender and Johnny Marr reimagine the Jaguar with signature stunner featuring three custom-wound lipstick single-coils
Gibson and Epiphone's new Back to the Future ES-345s are photographed against the DeLorean as used by Dr Emmett Brown in the movie
Guitars Gibson unveils Custom Shop Back To The Future ES-345 Collector’s Edition – and there’s a limited edition Epiphone too
Gibson 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3: these Murphy Lab aged PAF replicas are limited to just 1000 units worldwide and ship in a brown pink fur-lined Lifton case just like the guitars.
Guitars Gibson cooks up “holy grail” PAF mojo with the 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3 – the ultimate Les Paul tone hack?
Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1959 Les Paul Custom: a the dual-pickup Custom was a lesser-spotted model in the Gibson catalogue in the '50s – they didn't make many of them. But Bonamassa presents us with one and this 'Black Beauty' is equipped with a Bigsby.
Artists Epiphone raids Joe Bonamassa’s Nerdville archive for another reproduction of a vintage unicorn
The new Gibson Murphy Lab Light Aged Acoustics released on 9 September 2025, all lined up in a wood-panneled show room with round windows and a rural landscape outside.
Guitars Gibson expands acoustic Murphy Lab collection with five Light Aged classics – including a Nick Lucas 1929 reissue
The legendary luthier Ken Parker in his workshop with one of his groundbreaking archtop designs.
Guitars Ken Parker, the visionary luthier behind the Parker Fly, has died, aged 73
Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster in new limited-edition white, photographed against a pink background with the new guitar strap and – freshly refinished in black – Hello Kitty op-amp fuzz.
Guitars The Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster returns in limited edition white as Fender announces expanded capsule collection
A PRS McCarty 594 on a hard case
Electric Guitars Best electric guitars 2025: Our pick of guitars to suit all budgets
Mike Mills, Jim Irsay and Kenny Wayne Shepherd perform in 2021
Guitars "You never see a hearse pulling a U-Haul": Legendary $1 billion Jim Irsay Collection to be auctioned in 2026, including Kurt Cobain's Teen Spirit Fender Mustang
More
  • Cyber Monday plugin deals - LIVE
  • JoBo x Fuchs
  • "The most expensive bit of drumming in history”
  • Radiohead Daydreaming
  • Vanilla Fudge
  • 95k+ free music samples
  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.

Deals not to miss
Fender Vintera II Road Worn 60s Telecaster
Fender’s Vintera II Road Worn series has Golden Era vibe, tone and feel with era-correct pickups and aged nitro finishes
 
 
Fender's American Professional Classic series photographed against the side of a chrome tour bus [L-R]: Jaguar in faded Sherwood Green Metallic, HSS Stratocaster in Faded Lake Placid Blue, Stratocaster in Faded Firemist Gold, Telecaster in Faded Butterscotch Blonde, Precision Bass in Faded 3-Color Sunburst.
Fender gives its US lineup a retro-modern makeover with the American Professional Classic range
 
 
Blues phenom Christone "Kingfish" Ingram with his new signature Fender Telecaster Deluxe in Daphne Blue
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram on how the Telecaster won him over – and his new Delta Day signature Tele Deluxe
 
 
The Fender x Palace Limited Edition Telecaster has a 90s-inspired rave graphic finish on the front, and the brand's Triferg on the back – the release also includes a Fender x Palace guitar strap and guitar pick set.
Rave culture meets the first mass-produced electric guitar – Fender teams up with Palace Skateboards for limited run Telecaster
 
 
Fender Vintera II 50s Jazzmaster Road Worn
“It’s clear that the influence of the Custom Shop’s attention to detail is now making its way to the Mexican-made instruments”: Fender Limited Edition Vintera II Jazzmaster Road Worn review
 
 
Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons tear it up as ZZ Top play the Aragon Ballroom at Chicago in 1980, with Gibbons playing his legendary Les Paul Standard, Pearly Gates
“"There is something magic in that instrument”: Billy Gibbons on why Pearly Gates is one of the greatest Les Pauls ever
 
 
Latest in Electric Guitars
Epiphone DG-355
Who needs the £10,499 Gibson Dave Grohl signature DG-335 when the excellent Epiphone version is just £777 today?
 
 
Jeff Beck 1954 Epiphone Oxblood Les Paul
Jeff Beck's 1954 Oxblood Les Paul is the most expensive Les Paul of all time. This Epiphone version comes in at a fraction of the price, and with a further 20% off at Thomann, it may be an irresistible deal for the Jeff Beck aficionado
 
 
Squier Sonic Strat deal
This amazing-value Walmart Squier Sonic Strat deal proves beginner guitarists have never had it so good - get 25% off for Black Friday
 
 
A Strandberg Boden Essential headless guitar on a concrete floor
$300 off the 4.5-star rated Strandberg Boden Essential feels like the guitar deal of the year - save big on the most forward-thinking guitar around
 
 
The Fender x Palace Limited Edition Telecaster has a 90s-inspired rave graphic finish on the front, and the brand's Triferg on the back – the release also includes a Fender x Palace guitar strap and guitar pick set.
Rave culture meets the first mass-produced electric guitar – Fender teams up with Palace Skateboards for limited run Telecaster
 
 
A Strandberg and Epiphone electric guitars on a blue/green background
New Thomann deals are still being added to its Cyber Week sale with fresh-but-serious offers on guitars, pedals, and more - save up to 70% while stock lasts
 
 
Latest in News
Yamaha PSS-A50
I love the Refaces, but at just £59, the Yamaha PSS-A50 is the best Cyber Monday ‘couch keyboard’ deal I’ve seen - and it’s perfect for kids, too
 
 
A pair of Sennheiser HD 490 Pro studio headphones on a light purple background
I’ve tested 13 studio headphones this year and my top choice just landed a serious Cyber Monday deal - save $110 on the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
 
 
user18081971, aka Aphex Twin, on Souncloud
“Got many requests for this one from a few years back”: Aphex Twin uploads new tracks to his Soundcloud page
 
 
Elektron Syntakt Cyber Weekend deals
I love the Elektron Syntakt, mostly because it’s like a Rytm, but cheaper, and it’s got one of the biggest savings I’ve seen this Cyber Monday
 
 
Thom Yorke performs at Sydney Opera House on November 01, 2024 in Sydney, Australia
“We are devastated to have to postpone these two shows at such short notice”: Radiohead put back two Copenhagen dates
 
 
 universal audio
“We built Paradise to make any guitarist feel like they’re playing in a dream studio": Universal Audio releases Paradise Guitar Studio – and it's 25% off for Cyber Monday
 
 

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
  • 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...