Fender reveals innovations for 2021

FENDER ENTERS 2021 WITH RECORD YEAR MILESTONES, CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY, REVEALS INDUSTRY-LEADING INNOVATION IN ONLINE DEALER MEETING EXPERIENCE 

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Fender Announces All-New, Highly Collectible 75th Anniversary Electric Guitars & Basses, Artist Signature Models, Amplifiers, Squier Contemporary Series Additions, New Accessories and more   

Off the heels of record guitar-playing interest in 2020, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is entering its 75th anniversary year stronger than ever. This past year, Fender welcomed more than 900k new players via the brand’s online learning app, Fender Play, driving consumer demand from beginners and record sales milestones. Fender has now announced a slate of new products for the first half of 2021. The introductions come as an effort to accommodate recent droves of aspiring players and loyal professional musicians learning and creating at home during the pandemic. New additions include products across categories – from electrics and amplifiers to Squier guitars and accessories. 

ELECTRICS 

In 1946, Clarence Leonidas “Leo” Fender created Fender Electric Instrument Company and changed the trajectory of modern music forever. The 75TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES, handmade in Corona, Calif., celebrates Leo’s bold, revolutionary designs with special versions of the Stratocaster®, Telecaster®, Precision Bass® and Jazz Bass® guitars. Featuring unique finishes, premium pickups and remarkably comfortable necks, these instruments honor the timeless Fender designs that reshaped music. Each limited-edition axe is a fitting homage to one of the world’s most popular electric guitar models, providing classic Fender style and tone in an exclusive, upscale package which includes a custom Inca Silver molded hardshell case with plush Lake Placid Blue interior, a special certificate of authenticity, a 75th anniversary ingot inlaid into the back of the headstock and an engraved anniversary neck plate. All models are available with ash bodies in 2-color Bourbon Burst, one-piece maple necks and Custom Shop pickups. 

Combining classic Fender style and dynamic MP- 90 pickups, the NOVENTA SERIES delivers powerful tones and modern playability. Its striking good looks are matched by the midrange bite, crisp highs and smooth lows of the MP-90 pickups. 21 medium jumbo frets and 9.5” radius fingerboards deliver a smooth blend of modern and vintage playability that is distinctly Fender.  

The addition of four NEW AMERICAN ULTRA LUXE models in 2021 will bring the guitar playing experience up a major notch. These elevated models in this series feature versatile, state-of-the-art specs that will inspire players to push their skills to new heights. The AMERICAN ULTRA LUXE series features unique Augmented “D” neck profile with Ultra rolled fingerboard edges for endless playing comfort and a tapered neck heel that allows easy access to the highest register. A speedy 10”-14” compound-radius fingerboard with 22 stainless steel medium-jumbo frets means effortless and accurate soloing.

IN LATE 2020, FENDER RELEASED THE ALL-NEW AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL II SERIES, the second generation of its flagship electric guitars and basses widely adopted by players and working guitarists in the world with over 60 percent of Fender artists across all genres. The series combines a longstanding history of quality with handmade craftsmanship to provide the world’s most relevant artists with a better tool that transcends more genres than any other series before it. 2021 brings additions, such as a Left-Handed Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jazzmaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass models, as well as 5-String and fretless basses to the currently available 10 models.


ARTIST SIGNATURE MODELS 

In true tradition, the Fender® Artist Signature Series honours iconic musicians through product progression and storytelling, creating instruments inspired by the unique specifications of the world’s greatest guitarists and bassists. 2021 will see Fender and some of the world’s leading players continue to blaze trails of product innovation, with this year’s launches including: Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie/The Postal Service), Joe Strummer (The Clash), Dhani Harrison & Jason Isbell.

AMPLIFIERS 

The ‘68 Custom range has become an extremely popular amp series for guitarists who love classic Fender sounds. This year, Fender expands that range with the addition of the Pro Reverb and Vibro Champ. For those who want a bit more variety, additions to the Mustang line will ensure players have access to any tone possible. In addition, the Mustang Micro, an exciting addition to the Mustang line, will ensure players can practice with great tone anywhere. 

SQUIER 

 In response to a growing market abuzz with new players inspired in part by the 2020 Fender Play Through initiative, Fender is introducing several updates to the entry-level SQUIER® lineup in 2021 including an all-new batch of models in the CONTEMPORARY SERIES. Perfect for the player seeking enticing high-performance features and bold aesthetics, the Squier Contemporary Series offers value-packed modern remixes of familiar Fender platforms. These new models all feature modern-voiced Squier SQR™ pickups, rich-looking roasted maple necks for optimal stability, sculpted neck heels for improved hand comfort all the way to the upper frets and painted headstocks with chrome logos for a super-premium look. Select new models include unique pickup configurations and coil-tap switching for single-coil tones, black hardware for a stealthy aesthetic vibe and premium components including a tremolo system by Floyd Rose® for smooth string-bending effects. Models include: 

Contemporary Stratocaster, Contemporary Stratocaster Special HT, Contemporary Stratocaster HH FR, Contemporary Telecaster RH, Contemporary Jaguar HH ST.