And because the musicians frequently found their speakers blown up on their amplifiers, he presuaded people in the Lansing speaker company into making a more durable speaker. Because for Fender amplifiers to be durable, the speakers had to hold up.

Though famous as the creator of the early solid-body electric guitars, still in popular use among guitar players, Leo Fender's true interest was always the tubes and circuits. Surprisingly, though he was a musician (piano and saxophone), he couldn't play a note on a guitar.

After the war, the smaller band emerged. The "rhythm section" (guitar, drums, bass) went on the road as the whole band. While everyone in America began listening to the radio due to the rural electrification act of 1940, and with the dwindling of the dinner clubs and night spots with the increasing popularity of new clubs along the highways as new highways covered the nation, the smaller travelling band was assured.

And what would better allow the musician to be heard in the bar than by using Leo Fender's amplifier?

The time was right for the amp, and the sound was a smash hit, and a durable product. Fender created reasonably-priced guitars that didn't feedback and the key ingredient to their popularity could be said to be Leo's amplifiers.

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Traktor Topaz does web-design and online articles for Mobius Megatar Touchstyle Basses, and other online music sites.

If you're interested in the devopment of the electric guitar, this article is adapted from the article Leo Fender Guitar Amplifier.

Topaz has also authored another article with more extensive history and shopping information, about Fender Guitar Amplifiers.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/13/arts/AP-US-Obit-LesPaul.html

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