Banjos began to be commercially produced in the 1850s and enjoyed huge popularity.   During the next 40 years over 80 American companies produced banjos. 19th Century banjos remained true to their African roots; they were fretless and fitted with friction-peg tuners.   In the 1880s, fretted banjos appear, offered by companies such as C. Bruno and Sons of New York.  By the 1900s only a handful of fretless models remained, catering to the older players who had cut their teeth on MORE →

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) announced the launch of its newest addition to the Artist Signature Series: the Jimi Hendrix Monterey Stratocaster; it honors the late and great rock icon, whose persona and legacy is not only synonymous with the Fender Stratocaster, but also rock ‘n’ roll at large. Jimi Hendrix took the world by storm with his incredible 1967 Monterey Pop Festival performance, which he concluded with the sacrificial burning of his now-iconic, hand-painted Stratocaster. First revealed at Summer NAMM

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Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) – born and raised near the coast of Southern California – launched of its new California Coast Series Ukuleles, celebrating the brand’s California roots. All five, diverse soprano, concert and tenor models are named after beaches along the coast of California – from Los Angeles to picturesque Santa Barbara, capturing the spirit of California beach culture and the lifestyle it has to offer year-round. Coming soon, all models from the California Coast Series Ukuleles will

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