The Stratocaster Chronicles: Celebrating 50 Years of the Fender Strat

By Tom Wheeler

Book Overview

(Book). The world's most famous guitar had 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 today's 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 hilariously performed by Greg Koch 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0634056786
• ISBN13: 9780634056789
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation
• Length: 280 Pages
• Weight: 3.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 10.4" x 10.3"

Customer Reviews

A must read for all Strat geeks!!!

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!!!!

A wealth of information.

This book is well written, illustrated, and printed. An excellent tribute to a musical marvel: the Stratocaster. If you play one, this book will give you lots of insight into how and why it works and where it came from.

The Stratocaster Chronicles

Tom Wheeler has done it again !This will become the "Bible" by which all others bookspertaining to Fender's most famous work of art, the Fender Stratocaster, will be judged.A must have book for 'Strat lovers everywhere!

Amazing book, the whole story in 264 pages

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.

Worth the wait

I have been anxiously awaiting the release of this nearly as much as the 50th anniversary Stratocasters themselves. Full of beautiful photos and tidbits not present in previous stratocaster books, this is destined to be a classic in your library. The CD by Greg Koch is a fun item with Greg duplicating the sounds and styles of many classic Strat Heroes.