Fender Musical Instruments Corporation of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and Telecaster. The company, previously named the Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, was founded in Fullerton, California, by Clarence Leonidas Fender ("Leo" Fender) in 1946. "Leo" Fender also designed one of the first, and most commercially successful solid-body electric bass, the Precision Bass, which has become known in rock, jazz, country, funk and other types of music.
The company is a privately held corporation, with the controlling majority of its stock owned by a group of its own company officers and managers. William (Bill) Mendello is Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Janopaul is President and Chief Operating Officer, and Richard Curley is Chief Financial Officer.
Fender's headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona with manufacturing facilities in Corona, California (United States of America) and Ensenada, Baja California (Mexico).
