George William Fullerton
Encyclopedia
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 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.
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. After leaving Fender in 1970, he continued to work with Leo Fender at MusicMan and later co-founded G&L Musical Instruments along with Fender and longtime Fender salesman Dale Hyatt
. Fullerton returned to Fender as a consultant in the company's custom shop
in 2007. In November 2007, the company unveiled the limited edition George Fullerton 50th anniversary 1957 Stratocaster guitar and Pro Junior amplifier.
Fullerton was inducted into the Fender Hall of Fame in 2010. His son Geoff Fullerton is a builder at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California.
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
and, along with Fender and Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt was an American salesman and marketing person who was a longtime associate of Leo Fender and George Fullerton.Hyatt began working for Leo Fender in January, 1946, upon returning from World War II. He left Fender Music when Leo Fender sold the business to CBS in 1965, and rejoined Fender...
, 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, ArkansasHindsville, Arkansas
Hindsville is a town in Madison County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 75 at the 2000 census. Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, AR-MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Hindsville is located at ....
, George Fullerton moved to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
in 1940. He served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and later worked part-time at Lockheed Aircraft
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
as a machinist while attending night school to further his interest in electronics.
Leo Fender
Leo Fender
Clarence Leonidas "Leo" Fender was an American inventor who founded Fender Electric Instrument Manufacturing Company, or "Fender" for short...
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
Solid body
A solid-body instrument is a string instrument such as a guitar, bass or violin built without its normal sound box and relying on an electric pickup system to directly receive the vibrations of the strings....
electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, known today as the Telecaster, which the company introduced in 1949. After leaving Fender in 1970, he continued to work with Leo Fender at MusicMan and later co-founded G&L Musical Instruments along with Fender and longtime Fender salesman Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt
Dale Hyatt was an American salesman and marketing person who was a longtime associate of Leo Fender and George Fullerton.Hyatt began working for Leo Fender in January, 1946, upon returning from World War II. He left Fender Music when Leo Fender sold the business to CBS in 1965, and rejoined Fender...
. Fullerton returned to Fender as a consultant in the company's custom shop
Fender Custom Shop
The Fender Custom Shop is a division of Fender Musical Instruments, housed within their headquarters complex in Corona, Riverside County, California. The Fender Custom Shop primarily exists to compete with smaller companies and independent luthiers that, in turn, build products reminiscent of those...
in 2007. In November 2007, the company unveiled the limited edition George Fullerton 50th anniversary 1957 Stratocaster guitar and Pro Junior amplifier.
Fullerton was inducted into the Fender Hall of Fame in 2010. His son Geoff Fullerton is a builder at the Fender Custom Shop in Corona, California.