10 Rock Musicians Favorite Fender Guitars

Musicians, especially rock guitarists, have been known for being in love with their instruments. It is not unusual to see a garage covered with more guitar models than you can count. You might want to check the episode of MTV Cribs where we are taken to Poison singer/song writer/ guitar player Bret Michaels’ house to see an example. So this article is basically a tribute to a favorite guitar brand by many musicians, their favorite models and the players.

Fender is a stringed instruments and amplifiers manufacturer based in Arizona. The company was founded in 1946, by Leonidas Fender. Fender is best known for the first mass-produced Spanish-style electric guitar called The Telecaster (also known as Broadcaster). Fender is one of the most successful and probably the most famous electric guitar manufacturer.

You don’t need to be a musician or a guitar enthusiast to have heard of its name, as it is often referenced in pop culture. One such example is the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You, where the lead female character (played by Julia Stiles) is dreaming of starting her punk band and the guitar she is lusting after is a Fender Strat. Even the Xbox is trying to cash in of the popularity, see Fender Wooden Stratocaster Replica.

Famous Rock Musicians Favorite Fender Guitars:

1. Jimi Hendrix

Legendary American singer/songwriter/guitarist Jimi Hendrix was born in 1942. One of his most memorable performances took place at the 1969 Woodstock Festival where he was the headliner. Jimi is favorite choice of guitar is known to be a Fender Strat (also called Stratocaster). Hendrix died in 1970.

2. Mark Knopfler

British singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Knopfler was born in 1949. He is known as the frontman of the rock band Dire Straits. The band broke up in 1995. Mark’s instruments of choice are Telecaster and Stratocaster.

3. Bruce Springsteen

American singer/songwriter/guitarist, a.k.a. The Boss Bruce Sprinsteen was born in 1949. His band is the E Street Band and Bruce is one of the most famous musicians to come from New Jersey. Fellow rocker Jon Bon Jovi’s idol Springsteen is also a fan of Fender. His choices are Fender Telecaster and Fender Esquire.

4. Eric Clapton

Best known for his rock songs such as Cocaine and Layla, English blues-rock musician Eric Clapton was born in 1945. Still active on stage, Clapton loves playing Fender Stratocaster and Fender Jazzmaster.

5. George Harrison

George Harrison, was a former Beatles member (lead-guitarist), also produced hits as a solo artist following the band’s split in 1970. One of George’s most memorable solo hits is 1987’s Got My Mind Set on You. Harrison died in 2001. His Fender of choice was Telecaster.

6. Syd Barrett

English Syd Barrett (1946-2006) was one of the founding members of the psychedelic/progressive rock band Pink Floyd. One of the band’s greatest hits Wish You Were Here was written about him. Syd played Fender Esquire.

7. Jeff Beck

English rock guitarist Jeff Beck was born in 1944. He has formed and played with several other bands in addition to his solo career. One of the bands is called The Jeff Beck Group. His favorite Fender is Fender Jeff Beck Signature Model Stratocaster

8. Bob Dylan

American folk rock/rock singer Bob Dylan, born in 1941, has been one of the most influential musical figures since the release of his first records. He is one of the fans of Telecaster.

9. Pete Townshend

Although English singer/songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend has had a successful solo career, he is best known with his work as a guitarist and songwriter for the legendary rock band The Who. Born in 1945, one of Pete’s favorite guitars is the Fender Stratocaster.

10. Jimmy Page

Born in 1944, English guitarist/songwriter Jimmy Page is most famous as the lead guitarist of Led Zeppelin. He also collaborated with The Yardbirds and David Coverdale of Whitesnake. Jimmy’s preferred Fender is Telecaster.