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.
George Fullerton | |
|---|---|
 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 (aged 86) Fullerton, California, United States |
Biography
editBorn 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 produce its first solid body electric guitars, the Esquire and Broadcaster, which the company introduced in 1950.[3] After leaving Fender in 1970, he continued to work with Leo Fender at the CLF Research company, 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "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
edit- Los Angeles Times obituary
- George Fullerton, Guitar Icon (1923-2009)
- Guitar Player magazine biography
- G&L Musical Instruments
- George Fullerton 50th Anniversary 1957 Stratocaster Guitar and Pro Junior Amp
- George Fullerton Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2003)
- George William Fullerton at Find a Grave