This guy couldn't even play a guitar.

So why do we even bring him up? Because if he were still with us, he'd be celebrating his 109th birthday today.

Nope, he couldn't play a guitar, but, he could design and build them. He was Leo Fender, founder of Fender guitars, basses etc.

So to help celebrate his birthday, we'll ask our guitar playing and loving friends this question….

Tele or Strat?

For our bass player friends, P-Bass or Jazz?

Happy Birthday Leo. You made it all sound so much better.

Fantastic. Miss you Leo. You and Les Paul shaped over half a century of guitar history. And I own both a Tele and a Strat. Well actually I have 3 Strats.

You have to have BOTH, because of the distinctive sound of each. then there are the hibreds...humbuckers on Strats or Tele's. One of my favorite bases is a P kind of body and neck with both the single P bass pick-up and a Jazz pick-up.

Had the pleasure of meeting with Leo before he left the company, and was close to Bill Carson, an early partner and dealer sales manager until he was in his late 80's.

Cannot believe that even a reissue of the original 52 Tele is worth thousands.

Not my "go to" instruments, but certainly some of my sentimental favorites; particularly from my "surfer music"days.

I probably own 30 or so Fenders, and now Fender owns Gretsch (UCK) and Guild, plus a bunch of other minor brands.

Any Fender playable from before CBS bought the company (1964, I think) is worth a mint!

Great American success story.


Russ