Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World [Hardcover]

Richard R. Smith (Author), Tom Wheeler (Foreword)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Garfish Publishing Company (August 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964861275
• ISBN-13: 978-0964861275
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,694,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than a reference book or fan tribute., February 1, 2000

By 

Robert C. Rogers "Bob Rogers" (Blacksburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World (Hardcover)

I have a half dozen books on the Fender company and this is by far the best. The typical vintage guitar book serves two functions. It gives information on the history of the instrument - guides to production dates, etc. In addition there are usually lots of pictures for lovers of vintage instruments to salivate over ("guitar porn" as I've seen it described before). This book delivers in that regard, but does not stop there.

It goes on to serve as an excellent study of a small business struggling to survive and then coping with its own success. I found it hard to put down. Even though I knew the outcome, I found myself carried along with the story. Enough "insider detail" is provided to reveal character and move the "plot," but not enough to bog the book down. The book also serves as the best biography of Leo Fender that I have read. He is revealed as an inspired man with significant flaws. Importantly, "revealed" is the operative word here. Smith generally does not preach or make pronouncements. He describes actions and quotes interviews. The reader is left to his own conclusions.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fender: Warts and All, June 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World (Hardcover)

Smith does a great job of telling us who Leo Fender really was: a simple man with a complex mind. The pages of this book are loaded with lots of interesting stories and facts about the man who developed the solid-body electric guitar. Not always complimentary, yet never vicious. An honest presentation of the man who provided the tools that helped create rock-and-roll. Obviously well-researched with many great photos of Fender and his "offspring".

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fender Book, November 23, 2001

By 

Fender Beck (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fender: The Sound Heard 'Round the World (Hardcover)

This is by far the best Fender book I have. It is very well written, and it makes for some good reading. He doesn't only describe the great things about Fender but the bad things and mistakes as well.

This is a very un-biased book and it's very nice to read. The pictures in this book are awesome, and this is only one of the books I have that I trust the facts on. Kudos to Mr. Smith!