FENDER ELECTRIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY

A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CUSTOM MADE FOR BILL CARSON, STRATOCASTER, FULLERTON, CIRCA 1959

Details

FENDER ELECTRIC INSTRUMENT COMPANY
A SOLID-BODY ELECTRIC GUITAR, CUSTOM MADE FOR BILL CARSON, STRATOCASTER, FULLERTON, CIRCA 1959
The headstock bearing the decals Fender STRATOCASTER/WITH SYNCHRONIZED TREMOLO and ORIGINAL/Contour/Body, the neck plate stamped 45813, length of body 15 5/8 in (398 mm) with case (4)

Provenance

As an accomplished guitarist in the style of Western Swing, Bill Carson began his employment with Leo Fender as a part-time assembly person and a field-tester for new products being developed by The Fender Electric Instrument Company. His career with Fender spanned over forty years and included many job titles including Supervisor for Guitar Production, Director of Artist Relations, National Sales Manager (Southeast Region). This instrument, partially made by Carson, was for his own personal use. Carson states that the guitar was later passed to the guitarist Neil LeVang for product placement purposes.

Literature

Y. Iwanade, Galaxy of Strats, Tokyo, 1997, pp. 62-63
B. Carson and W. Moseley, Bill Carson, My Life and Times With Fender Musical Instruments, Bismarck, 1998, pp. 108-109

Sale room notice

The lot number should be marked with two asterisks (**), indicating the property is incorporating materials from endangered species. Please refer to page 57 in the catalogue.

Lot Essay

Sold with two letters from Bill Carson, Arrington, Tennessee, dated February 9, 1996 and February 15, 1996, both relating to Carson's ownership of the guitar and its production while he was employed at Fender.

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