Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today announced the 2021 class of artists joining Fender Next, an artist development program designed to elevate rising musicians that are pushing guitar forward in music and culture. Each Fender Next artist will receive Fender’s industry-leading guitars, amps, and more, alongside holistic, 360-marketing support across the company’s multi-channel platform to share their story and connect them with millions of music fans worldwide.

2021 marks Fender’s 75th anniversary and another historical year of supporting artists who push guitar and music forward. The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted how artists connect with new and existing fans due to postponed tours and performances. With heightened visibility via the Fender social channels, Fender Next artists are able to reach nine million music fans around the world and showcase their unique sound to new audiences.

This year’s Fender Next group includes 25 rising artists (10 North American, 3 Australian/New Zealand, 7 European, 3 Asian, 2 Latin American artists) across genres, generations, genders and backgrounds that are elevating guitar in music and culture. A testament to the diverse and dynamic future of guitar, this year’s group is more than 50% women with 7 countries and 5 continents represented.

Benefits include:

• Access to guitars, amps, effects pedals, accessories and audio equipment serving artist needs across the signal chain.
• Products will include: American Acoustasonic series models, American Professional II guitars and basses, Mustang Micro personal guitar amplifier, effects pedals, Fender swag and other soon-to-be-announced instruments.

To see the full list of the artists that are part of Fender Next 2021, visit the Fender press release. You can click on any of the artists to find out more information about them.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) released the Ben Gibbard Mustang, marking the artist’s first collaboration with the iconic guitar brand. Designed in concert with the eight-time Grammy-nominated frontman of Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, the Ben Gibbard Mustang recreates Gibbards go-to touring model, complete with custom modifications that offer his emblematic guitar sounds to players at any level.

“Ben Gibbard’s unique guitar style helped define a genre, and we’re thrilled to have this opportunity to collaborate with him, bringing his signature sound to the masses,” said Justin Norvell EVP Fender Products. “Ben worked closely with us on the design of his signature Mustang with new pickups, simplified controls and a locked-down bridge to create a super rock-solid, roadworthy instrument.”

Hailing from outside of Seattle, Ben Gibbard is a singer-songwriter, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist that has solidified his place in music history, defining indie-rock for a generation through his bands and solo project. As the lead vocalist and guitarist of platinum-selling band Death Cab for Cutie, twenty years into its evolution, the band is still uncovering new curves in its signatures, with new sonic corners to explore. 

Undoubtedly, Gibbard and the band provided a soundtrack for early 2000s coming-of-age audiences, as seen through classics like “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark”, “Soul Meets Body” and “Transatlanticism,” which continually inspire fans to this day. He’s also amassed global admiration with The Postal Service, known for its acclaimed debut album Give Up, which featured hit song “Such Great Heights,” reached No 1 on Billboard’s Top Dance/Electronic Albums chart and went Platinum in the United States. In 2020, the band released concert LP Everything Will Change, which was recorded live at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, Calif., during their 2013 reunion tour.

“Growing up as a kid I always wanted to own a Fender but I couldn’t afford one until much later in life. It’s a dream come true to design my own signature model,” said Ben Gibbard “Over the years I’ve owned many different guitars, but my Mustang models have always been my favorites. Creating a custom version that is a replica of what I play on stage was an opportunity I could never pass up. I wanted to create something that would mimic all the augmentations I’ve made on my instruments, something you can just pick up off the rack and everything is intuitive. Maybe this player wants to sing and play guitar at the same time, or perhaps they want to play a guitar that makes navigating tone simple.”

Gibbard has been touring with Fender guitars for years. His signature model is a modified 70s Mustang that boasts a chambered ash body for a striking grain look; a short “C” shaped maple neck for ease of playing; simplified controls that replace extraneous switches with a single master volume knob and a three-position rotary pickup selector. The custom pickups have been voiced to emulate his own personal vintage Mustang guitars. All of the modifications are aimed at making the simple yet impactful guitar tone, that Gibbard popularized in Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service, achievable to players everywhere at any level.

The Ben Gibbard Mustang is priced at $1,099.99. Visit the Fender website to find out when it will be available.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) released the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster in its first ever collaboration with the singer-songwriter and guitar icon.  The Signature model is a tribute to the Ice Blue Metallic Fender Telecaster guitar that Hynde bought in a New York City shop nearly forty years ago. Since, her beloved axe has been featured on over a dozen studio albums and has accompanied Hynde in concert halls and stadiums all around the globe. The Chrissie Hynde Telecaster – the latest addition to the Fender Artist Signature Series – puts the guitar-playing prowess of the Pretenders frontwoman in the hands of players around the world, for the very first time. 

“My guitar tech, David Crubly, convinced me to launch a Fender Signature Telecaster by telling me it might encourage more people to get into bands and music. I hope that’s true and know that those who do, won’t look back,” said Chrissie Hynde, London 2021.

Hynde has played a number of Fender Telecaster guitars over the years, but the original model remains her number one and most trusted to this day. This all-new Signature Telecaster is a faithful recreation of one of the world’s most famous electric guitars, recognized for its churning Tele rhythms and the rugged sound it lent to the Pretenders and Hynde’s other various projects.

The Chrissie Hynde Telecaster boasts an alder body in Faded Ice Blue Metallic Road Worn lacquer finish, vintage-style ’50s single-coil Tele pickups voiced to match Chrissie’s original set and a 6-stainless steel barrel saddle bridge. With a custom mid-‘60s “C”-shaped maple neck, a 7.25” radius fingerboard and a chrome mirror pickguard, the guitar serves the unmistakable look and feel of Hynde’s treasured ’65 Telecaster model. An artist-requested player-friendly update on the new Chrissie Hynde Telecaster are locking tuners, which offer increased tuning stability and make string changes quicker.  

“It was a true honor to bring the Chrissie Hynde Telecaster to life,” said Justin Norvell, EVP Fender Products. “This guitar is as legendary as the artist who inspired its namesake and personalized design features. Chrissie really wanted this model to be as faithful as possible to its original, and she was right to – this Telecaster is packed full of features that punch. From its beautiful Road Worn finish to its resilient stainless-steel saddles, the musical possibilities really are endless with this Tele in your hands.”

“We were honored when Chrissie Hynde agreed to work with us on an Artist Signature Series guitar,” added Neil Whitcher, Head of Artist Relations, EMEA. “The music that Chrissie has put into the world over the last four decades has helped shape the way thousands play guitar today and has defined the sound of the Fender Telecaster forever. We can’t wait to see what players around the world do with this guitar.”

Born in Akron, Ohio, Hynde’s long and influential career as an artist and singer-songwriter started shortly after moving to London in 1973. Hynde began writing for NME and associating with the stars of the then-nascent Punk scene, such as Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, and Vivienne Westwood. After playing in several bands, she formed The Pretenders in 1978, releasing such classics as the UK #1 “Brass in Pocket,” “Talk of the Town,” “Message of Love,” and “I’ll Stand By You” to commercial and critical acclaim throughout the `70s, `80s and `90s. Uncompromising in her D.I.Y. attitude and persistent work ethic, Chrissie’s career has spanned multiple world tours, number #1-charting singles, a performance at the original Live Aid, and legendary collaborations with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Nick Cave. She released her 11th Pretenders studio album, Hate for Sale, in July of 2020.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) released the all-new Tash Sultana Stratocaster, which is Tash Sultana’s first artist signature model with the iconic guitar brand. Sultana has long played Fender to create their signature sound: layered loops that fuse indie with ambient rock and impressive guitar licks.

In the past five years, Sultana has rocketed to global fame, from open mic nights and busking in Melbourne to sold out shows around the world playing their hit songs Jungle, Notion, and more. Designed in collaboration with Sultana, the Stratocaster reflects their unique, multi-faceted playing style allowing for a wide range of tones and sounds.

“Fender is one of the first guitars I saved up for when I started playing and in fact is the first instrument I learned to play,” said Tash Sultana. “It’s surreal to have my own signature model now after walking through music stores as a kid seeing so many guitars I wish I could have owned. The guitar has truly become my third arm and I hope that my signature guitar with Fender sparks other guitar players to create music that inspires and allows self expression freely.”

Finished in vibrant Transparent Cherry and furnished with all-gold hardware, the Tash Sultana signature Stratocaster has good looks to match its upscale appointments. Featuring a matching painted headstock, custom “skull” neck plate and the clarity and sparkle of Yosemite single-coil Strat pickups combined with the powerful Double Tap humbucking bridge pickup, this guitar delivers a wide range of tonal options at your fingertips – a nod to Tash’s ability to create a diverse range of sounds.

The Deep “C” shape maple neck with 9.5” radius fingerboard and 22 medium jumbo frets provides comfortable modern playability while the vintage-style synchronized tremolo offers classic Strat vibrato action.

“Fender is thrilled to be partnering with Tash Sultana on their signature Stratocaster,” said Justin Norvell, EVP Fender Products. “We collaborated with Tash every step of the way to ensure their signature model has the capability to emulate the unique tones they create on stage. The pickup combination offers a wide tonal variety that lends itself to the vast tonal palette required for building complex loops just like Tash does. Tash’s unique style of playing is an inspiration for young artists everywhere to push their creative boundaries with the guitar and not be afraid to chase their dreams.”

The Tash Sultana Stratocaster is $1,099.99.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) today released the new Brad Paisley Signature Esquire in collaboration with the multiple-Grammy-Award-winning country music superstar. Over the course of the guitar brand’s nearly 75-year history, the Fender Esquire has been used by generations of country musicians who prized its approachability and uncompromising tone.

With his second signature guitar, Fender honors both the storied history of the beloved model and a man who has made the Esquire iconic to fans of modern country music. Brad Paisley has used the Esquire guitar’s tried-and-true sound throughout a decades-long career which includes three Grammy awards, 24 No.1 hits, and over 3.9 billion on-demand streams making him the perfect partner for Fender to celebrate this guitar anniversary with.

“The Esquire is a streamlined, working-man’s guitar,” said Paisley. “It’s really important to me that you hear an echo of the past in the stuff that I do, and in that sense, this guitar encompasses what I try to do musically. It has a retro feel, but at the same time, it’s progressive, with a new style of pickup that hasn’t been done before.”

The signature twang of the Esquire and its later iteration, the Telecaster, has been heard on countless country albums and have helped to define the sound of the genre. In this spirit, the Brad Paisley Signature Esquire takes the elements that have made the guitar a staple and provides subtle upgrades to bring this iconic model into the future.

Historically, the Esquire model is know for featuring a single pick-up; making it perfect for country artists like Brad Paisley, as well as those seeking an affordable, but professional instrument at the outset of their career. In order to maintain this upstart spirit of the Esquire while giving musicians a greater sonic range, Fender has added a Seymour Duncan Braid Paisley Signature “Secret Agent” neck pickup. This pickup is hidden under a pickguard adorned in a custom paisley pattern – keeping the image of the instrument intact while delivering a robust pattern of sounds.

The Brad Paisley Signature Esquire features a lightweight Paulowina body with Spruce top and back, finished in a stunning black sparkle and given a RoadWorn treatment for a vintage look and feel. The maple neck with 9.5” radius fingerboard improves the playability over previous Esquire guitars but features a classic V-shaped profile in a nod to the guitar’s heritage.

American Professional compensated saddles in a vintage bridge show an attention to detail and quality, while the black paisley-patterned nods to the artist’s influence. And of course, the Seymour Duncan Brad Paisley Signature “Secret Agent” neck pickup maintains the aggressive spirit of the original Esquire, while giving the players tone options never before heard in the model.

Brad Paisley Signature Esquire is priced at $1,399.99.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation released the all-new Billie Eilish Signature Ukulele. This is Billie Eilish’s first artist signature model with the iconic guitar brand and it completely embodies Eilish’s preferred specs and distinct aesthetic with her distinct “blohsh” symbol pattered across the ukulele. Designed in collaboration with Eilish herself, the ukulele embodies her uniquely bold style that fans know and love, and can now take home in ukulele form.

The Billie Eilish Signature Ukulele is a stage-ready concert body ukulele with a Sapele top, back and sides featuring black matte finish and Fishman Kula preamp for those looking to plug in. Additional specs include a walnut fingerboard, white dot inlays and Nickel hardware. Whether a player is an experienced musician or looking to pick up their first instrument, the ukulele can be enjoyed by any skill level.

Eliish’s ascent to pop stardom started with the ukulele, the first instrument she learned to play and write songs on, making this an ode to her humble beginnings in the music world.

The launch of Eilish’s signature ukulele coincides the recent addition of six of her songs (for guitar and uke only) to Fender Play, the complete online learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele. Fans around the world can start on their musical journey and play their very own Bilie Eilish ukulele while learning her songs, including &burn, my strange addiction, ocean eyes, Six Feet Under, watch, and when the party’s over.

Fender released the all-new Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster, a collaboration between The Foundation and Fender, which features fan-inspired art and classic Fender tone.

Fender is a proud supporter of The Shawn Mendes Foundation, which seeks to inspire Shawn’s audience, the youth generation of today – to learn about those causes that they are passionate about, and help empower them to use the voice they have to bring change to the world by taking action and giving back.

The Signature Musicmaster features specs including a Tex-Mex Single-Coil Strat, a Player Series humbucking pickup, medium jumbo frets and a custom neckplate adorned with his Foundation’s “Solar Burst” icon and Shawn’s signature. The Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster is a special guitar where Shawn pays homage to his followers with a fan-inspired artwork on the body. Now, fans around the world can play their very own Shawn Mendes guitar while learning songs like “Stitches” on Fender Play, the complete learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele.

“I am so excited to release this guitar collaboration between Fender and The Shawn Mendes Foundation,” says Shawn. “I hope it inspires some of my fans to pick up and learn guitar for the first time, and to give back while doing so.”

Originally introduced into Fender’s history in 1965, the solid body Musicmaster, envisioned for beginner players, has been a quintessential entry for many guitarists. Mendes himself began his musical journey at the age of 13, picking up an old classical guitar from his father and learning through YouTube tutorials, never giving up and, at times, practicing till his fingers bled. From there Mendes was inspired to pick up his first electric guitar, a black Fender Telecaster, at the age of 14 after hearing the likes of legends and still his current musical influences, such as David Bowie and Bruce Springsteen.

He wanted to bring this same inspiration to his fans and anyone ready to embark on their musical journey with his very own signature model emulating his own guitar playing specifications that have created his tone today. The Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster, adorned with striking floral design art recreated by one of his fans, is a highly personal take on the popular ‘60s short-scale model, featuring an alder body, “C”-shaped maple neck with 9.5” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, 3-position toggle, 6-saddle string through body Strat hardtail with bent steel saddles and a unique single/hum pickup configuration including Tex-Mex Single-Coil Strat (Bridge) and Player Series Humbucking (Neck) pickups, providing a wide range of Fender tones.

The Shawn Mendes Foundation Musicmaster is priced at $749.99.

To support the community during social distancing, Fender continues to offer new users three months of complimentary lessons on Fender Play , the complete online learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele.

After bringing these free lessons to everyone three weeks ago and an outpouring of support from over 150 artists like Jimmy Page, H.E.R., Brendon Urie, Ashley McBryde, Tash Sultana and Orville Peck, more than half a million people have signed up to access the app. To further share the power of music, Fender will now offer free lessons to the first 1 million users who sign up for the 3-month Fender Play giveaway.

“We’re blown away by the overwhelming response to our three months of free guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons on Fender Play,” said Fender CEO Andy Mooney. “We started by providing complementary lessons to the first 100,000, but quickly surpassed that number in just three days.”

“With this new, current reality, it’s clear we need music now more than ever,” Mooney added. “Music has the power to connect us, create a sense of community, and most importantly, lift our spirits. We hope offering Fender Play to even more aspiring players allows them to explore their creativity and make some noise while we’re spending more time inside.”

Fender Play makes it easier than ever to learn how to play with multi-genre, instructor-guided video lessons to assist those embarking on their musical journey. Designed with bite-sized learning in mind, it gives beginners everything they need to get playing songs by their favorite artists in minutes.

Research has shown that playing an instrument promotes increased creativity, helps with alleviating stress, and boosts the immune system, among other benefits. Whether people are getting back into guitar after a hiatus, interested in learning a new skill, or trying out guitar for the first time, Fender hopes this giveaway will reinforce the myriad benefits that learning to play has on the mind and body.

To sign up for a free 3 months of Fender Play, interested users can visit fender.com/playthrough to redeem a code and set up their account. Be sure to check ad blockers. Payment information is not required. There are no strings attached – just music.

Once the code is redeemed, students can download the app via Google Play or the App Store and sign into their account. Additionally, Fender Play is available via web/desktop. Post social-distancing, Fender will offer these players a special discount on the app – including 10% off select gear on Fender.com – if they decide to continue their journey on Fender Play for another year.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) celebrates the official launch of the newest model in the American Acoustasonic Series, the American Acoustasonic Stratocaster. Originally previewed at Winter NAMM 2020, this Strat is a continuation of the platform that the Telecaster started, giving players a new set of sonics and the undeniable Strat playing experience. This all-new model is inspired by its sister Telecaster platform, but also moves the series forward with creative options in new design and technology.

Building off the highly successful Acoustasonic Telecaster, released at Winter NAMM 2019, the American Acoustasonic Stratocaster ($1,999.99) features all-new tonewoods and voices with even more electric possibilities. Along with three unique electric voices on the selector switch, the Acoustasonic Stratocaster also adds all-new acoustic options, including short scale and concert body with a slotted headstock.

Designed with a fully hollow body and Fender’s patented Stringed Instrument Resonance System (SIRS), the American Acoustasonic Stratocaster offers a new sonic experience that is naturally loud and resonant both on and off stage. The hybrid guitar features an Acoustasonic Noiseless magnetic pickup that delivers a unique set of Stratocaster-inspired voicings and hum-free Fender electric tone, that can be played solo or blended with an acoustic voice to create new sounds.

The Fender and Fishman-designed Acoustic Engine powers the Acoustasonic Stratocaster and provides a new body style and tone wood combinations that enable musicians to curate an all-new collection of acoustic and electric voices. This contemporary guitar also features a mahogany Stratocater neck with an ebony fingerboard and thinline body that makes it both comfortable and easy to play.