George William Fullerton
George Fullerton | |
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![]() George William Fullerton in 2007 shown here with the Fullerton 50th Anniversary Stratocaster guitar. | |
Born | George William Fullerton March 7, 1923 Hindsville, Arkansas, United States |
Died | July 4, 2009 Fullerton, California, United States | (aged 86)
George William Fullerton (March 7, 1923 – July 4, 2009) was a longtime associate of Leo Fender and, along with Fender and Dale Hyatt, a co-founder of G&L Musical Instruments. He is credited with design contributions that led to the manufacture of the first mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.
Biography[]
Born in Hindsville, Arkansas, George Fullerton moved to Southern California in 1940. He served in the United States Marine Corps and later worked part-time at Lockheed Aircraft as a machinist while attending night school to further his interest in electronics.[1][2]
Leo Fender invited Fullerton to join his company and Fullerton became a full-time Fender employee on February 28, 1948. He is credited with design innovations that allowed Fender to mass-produce its first solid body electric guitar, known today as the Telecaster, which the company introduced in 1949.[3] After leaving Fender in 1970, he continued to work with Leo Fender at Music Man and later co-founded G&L Musical Instruments along with Fender and longtime Fender salesman Dale Hyatt.[4][5] Fullerton returned to Fender as a consultant in the company's custom shop in 2007.[6] In November 2007, the company unveiled the limited edition George Fullerton 50th anniversary 1957 Stratocaster guitar and Pro Junior amplifier.[7][8]
Fullerton was inducted into the Fender Hall of Fame in 2010.[9][10]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "George Fullerton Answers Monday Lunch Report Q's!" Archived 2012-03-15 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-11-22.
- ^ Chiu, Melody. "George Fullerton: artist, musician and technician dies at 86" Orange County Register. July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Owens, Jeff. "George Fullerton, 1923-2009" Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Lewis, Randy. "George Fullerton dies at 86; musician helped Leo Fender create his unique guitars" Los Angeles Times. July 8, 2009. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Moseley, Willie G. "George Fullerton Guitar Icon (1923-2009)" Vintage Guitar Magazine. November 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Owens, Jeff. "George Fullerton, 1923-2009" Archived 2012-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ Moseley, Willie G. "George Fullerton Guitar Icon (1923-2009)" Archived 2010-03-09 at the Wayback Machine Vintage Guitar Magazine. November 3, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
- ^ George Fullerton 50th Anniversary 1957 Stratocaster Guitar and Pro Junior Amp Retrieved 2010-11-21.
- ^ "Fender Hall of Fame 2010" Retrieved 2010-11-20
- ^ "Jimi Hendrix and George Fullerton to be Inducted Into Fender Hall of Fame" Retrieved 2010-11-20.
External links[]
- 1923 births
- 2009 deaths
- People from Fullerton, California
- American musical instrument makers
- Fender people
- 20th-century American musicians