The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "The Stratocaster's originality was so startling that it's easy to overlook its connection to the Telecaster, but as George Fullerton said, "The Stratocaster evolved from..." (more)
Key Phrases: big headstock, vibrato action, peghead decal, Leo Fender, Dan Smith, Bill Carson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The world's most famous guitar has a golden anniversary in 2004, and this official, authorized book/CD package offers the best photos, quotes, facts and sounds to properly celebrate this achievement. From Buddy Holly to Jimi Hendrix to todays' hottest players, the Fender Stratocaster defines rock'n'roll for generations of fans and players.Special features include exclusive photos from the world's greatest guitar collection, as well as a CD with musical examples of famous Strat sounds and styles - even spoken excerpts from the author's interviews with the Strat's beloved inventor, Leo Fender.This book also recognizes that the Stratocaster's deeper significance lies in the music that guitarists have created with it. You'll hear what Strat players have to say about their instrument, their music and each other. The Fender Stratocaster both reflects and influences popular culture worldwide. The Stratocaster Chronicles focuses on the people who brought it into the world, the designers and builders who refined it, and the players who have taken it from there.

About the Author

After freelancing for Rolling Stone, Tom Wheeler joined the staff of Guitar Player and became its Editor-in-Chief for 10 years. An internationally acknowledged guitar expert, Wheeler has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, MTV and CNN. He lives in the USA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 280 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634056786
• ISBN-13: 978-0634056789
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,703 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #87 in

  Books > Entertainment > Music > Instruments & Performers > Strings

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing book, the whole story in 264 pages, May 10, 2004

By	Mario G. Perez Fonseca "Gerry Blue" (Guitarland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This by far the best book I own in respect to the Stratocaster and its history. This hardcover, coffee table book is great from front cover to back cover. Carefully binded and in Matte black cover with color printings, The Stratocaster Chronicles is a must for guitar fans, strat players or not.

There is not one of the 264 pages that doesn't include a great picture, from the first strats, to rare prototypes, to newer models, custom shops and stars' models.

The book includes many excerpts with key memebers of the Fender factory in 1950's, including the man himself, Leo Fender, along with Bill Carson, Freddie Tavares and many others. The author dove into his archives to present the most accurate history of the Strat to date, from its inception, the two horns, the origin of the famous peghead and all the details of the most loved guitar.

Rare pictures from the early 50's tell the tale along with narration from the author and dozens of interviews. This book includes an Audio CD with fragments of interviews with Leo Fender, plus 50 different sounds the Strat has become famous for, in the styles from player like Eric Clapton, Hendrix, Knopfler and Malmsteen, you can even learn to make your Strat sound like a Koto, from Japan!

In all, just the pictures in this book are worth the price, the history, interviews and Cd are a great plus. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the instrument that shaped modern music with this great book.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Stratocaster Chronicles, June 4, 2004

By	Hank Cross (St.Louis, Missouri) - See all my reviews

Tom Wheeler has done it again !
This will become the "Bible" by which all others books
pertaining to Fender's most famous work of art, the Fender Stratocaster, will be judged.

A must have book for 'Strat lovers everywhere!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for all Strat geeks!!!, July 28, 2005

By	Christopher A. Richards "kohntarkosz" (Somewhere Over The Rainbow) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is one of the best books I've seen on the top of the Stratocaster ever. There's lots of great stories about the creation of the instrument, a very detailed outline of the evolution of the instrument, covering such variations as the 1980 era Strat (the one with the not quite right headstock and the gold plated knobs), the Elite and Standard models of 84-85, and so on.

There's lots of photos of various Strats (some of these may be familiar to those who read Guitar Player during the mid 90's, as at least three of them were published in the magazine during that era), detailing all sorts of variations in different instruments.

There's lots of quotes from various guitarists who've been associated with the instrument over the years from the likes of Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck to prog rock cult guitar hero Steve Hillage. These guitarists are also pictured with their treasured axes. Actually, one of my favorite photos in the book show various guitarists, including Hal Lindes (who was then the rhythm guitarist with Dire Straits), David Gilmour, Steve Howe, and Bruce Adamson (of Big Country fame) and Hank Marvin (Hank is unknown to most Americans, but he played in the band The Shadows, who were immensely popular in Englaand in the early 60's...he actually owned the very first Strat that ever got imported to England).

I mean, this is just the ultimate book on the Stratocaster. If you think these guitars are the epitome of great guitars, you HAVE to have this book! End of discussion!!!!