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Post subject: Fender University - Class of 2008 Alumni
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:41 pm
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With school getting back in session nationwide, Fender re-wrote the three Rs as “rehearsing, riffing and rocking” as it presented its inaugural weekend-long “Fender University” educational program, Aug. 21-24 in Corona, Calif.

And what a curriculum. Twenty students from around the nation and around the world—including Romania, Singapore, Canada and the U.K.—enrolled for four days of intensive hands-on guitar and bass instruction and total Fender immersion, all amid the Southern California environs where Fender was founded more than 60 years ago.

Arriving students registered for Fender University that Thursday evening at their hotel, the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside, Calif., and received their new American Standard instruments (Telecaster®, Stratocaster®, Precision Bass® or Jazz Bass® guitars; specified by each student before arrival). A reception and Fender presentation there also included a performance by folk-rockers Raining Jane, after which the students returned to their rooms to find Fender swag bags packed with gifts.

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Gary Hammitt is blown away as he receives his new American Standard Stratocaster® guitar.

Friday’s schedule began with a tour of the Fender factory and Custom Shop in Corona, Calif., followed by lunch there with Custom Shop master builders. Afternoon activities consisted of a tour of the nearby Fender Center, with its historical “The Fender Story” exhibit and fully equipped modern recording studio, and a lecture/playing demonstration by guitarist Dweezil Zappa. That night, students were treated to a concert at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in nearby Irvine by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and Steve Winwood, with VIP area access (Winwood stopped by for a personal pre-show visit).

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Dweezil Zappa gives some one-on-one tips to Fender University student Gordon Logan.

Instruction began in earnest on Saturday at the Fender Center with a morning instrument setup class and a presentation by Anthrax bassist and Fender signature artist Frank Bello. Students then met with instructors including guitar monsters Greg Koch and Jeff Kollman and bass aces Reggie Hamilton and Tony Franklin before breaking into small groups with them for more involved musical instruction. That afternoon, students attended presentation and performances by Fender signature artist guitar mavericks John 5 and Yngwie Malmsteen. In the evening, students toured local sites important in Fender history and were given a tour of the Fender-filled Fullerton Museum by curator and noted guitar author Richard Smith.

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Yngwie Malmsteen puts on a clinic for the Fender University students.

Sunday was another non-stop day, with morning study hall back at the Fender Center and a home-recording instruction session. Students then listened to a presentation by famous rock photographer Robert Knight, who photographed students and joined them for lunch. Afterward, guitarist/teacher Wolf Marshall gave a presentation and students prepared further with their instructors for a late-afternoon jam session. The graduation dinner and ceremony that night featured an address by guest speaker Phyllis Fender, wife of late Fender Founder Clarence “Leo” Fender, and a special guest performance by acoustic guitar master Willy Porter.

Image
Graduate Sean Shreder at the diploma ceremony.


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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:46 pm
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Looks awesome. Will definitely check it out if I settle down with a decent job after college.


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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:49 pm
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Very COOL!!!!!

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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 3:59 pm
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Ditto on the VERY COOL!!

Hope they keep that up for a few years, I gotta go to one of those.

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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:33 pm
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Quote:
Graduate Sean Shreder at the diploma ceremony.


He could call himself Sean "Shredder" Shreder. :wink:


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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:08 pm
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Looks like fun, and wish I could attend, but the only way I'll get in is if they offer scholarships or financial aid :)

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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:02 pm
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Tickets for 2 to L.A. ...$840
Day at the Spa for my wife... $500
Fender University... Priceless!!

There is a reason the price is set as such....First Class, Quality Experiences to last a lifetime. You would pay $150 for front row seats at a great show, right? So why not pay $6500 for up close, in your face interaction with some of the Greatest guitar players of all time!!!Just hanging out having a meal with Rock Legends like Tony Franklin, Frank Bello, Steve Winwood, Come On Man?? This program is intended for those few who truly appreciate the immense level of mastery and skill involved with guitar playing... It takes you to another place. Fender University has ignited a flame within my soul that can not be put out and for that I would have paid double!!


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Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 7:15 pm
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^Great to hear that. Will definitely look into it if they keep it going for a while (I get first dibs being a forum member :lol: :lol: ) :roll:


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:05 am
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gman-hammitt wrote:
Tickets for 2 to L.A. ...$840
Day at the Spa for my wife... $500
Fender University... Priceless!!

There is a reason the price is set as such....First Class, Quality Experiences to last a lifetime. You would pay $150 for front row seats at a great show, right? So why not pay $6500 for up close, in your face interaction with some of the Greatest guitar players of all time!!!Just hanging out having a meal with Rock Legends like Tony Franklin, Frank Bello, Steve Winwood, Come On Man?? This program is intended for those few who truly appreciate the immense level of mastery and skill involved with guitar playing... It takes you to another place. Fender University has ignited a flame within my soul that can not be put out and for that I would have paid double!!


Dude, you are so right! My penny jar is getting fuller every day! :) It would definitely be worth it to hang with Steve Winwood, Frank and Tony! Steve is one of my favorites. That alone would justify the cost in my book! I think it is great that it was such a success!

Congrats on those that attended and congrats to Fender for making their fans part of the family!

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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:01 am
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I agree that it's pretty cool, but the price is way out of line for us normal "middle of the road" income guys with families.

I would love to do something like that on a smaller scale, include the tours of Fender locales, cut the A-list celebs and instead have the instruction done by competent instructors who aren't famous, for a total of $3k, than it would be a reachable goal, if still unlikely, for someone like me.

Would like to see Greg Koch now and shake his hand in congrats for his position in Fender and his accomplishments. I attended UWSP during the same time as he did, so I've seen him play many times around the college and town. That was long ago, before he was famous, no reason for him to remember me. Great guy and awesome musician, very cool to see someone I used to "know" around school make it doing what he loves.


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:15 pm
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The Fender University was one of those "once in a lifetime" experiences that I hope I can do again. The Fender staff were friendly and helpful, and seemed to be having a really good time along with us. Most of the artists hung around with us, went out for food and drinks, and were more like friends than celebrities. I'm sure we all made many new long-term friends.

Fender surely lost money on the deal, but what great good will and advertising it generated. The factory and museum tours were excellent. Cesar Rojas of Los Lobos was in the custom shop while we toured, then joined us for lunch. Another nice regular guy. It was very enlightening to see the quality of the work done in the factory and custom shop. The sense of family there at Fender is obvious, and as Fender fans and "students" we felt welcomed into that family.

The 20 of us had up close and personal concerts by Tony Franklin, Frank Bello, Reggie Hamilton, Jeff Kohlman, Greg Koch, Wolf Marshall, Dweezil Zappa, John 5 (what an incredible guitarist!). Yngvie Malmstein, Willie Porter, and Raining Jane.

fender surprised us with a great swag bag, other gifts, and the Tom Petty/ Stevie Winwood concert in addition to all the things we expected like the guitar (I got a new Strat with a maple neck and fretboard in the new pearl silver paint). There was a Pocket Rock-it, a tuner, a Fender strap, and strap locks to go along with it. Also a new 80 giig iPod, shirts, hat, books, etc.

One real highlight for me was meeting Phyllis Fender, Leo's widow. She was with us for dinner and drinks on two occasions. A truely delightful and gracious woman.

Another unforgetable highlight was getting on stage and playing Red House with Greg Koch while Willie Porter did the vocals.

When you add up what it cost to give us a guitar, other goodies, 3 great meals a day, tours, transportation, 4 nights at the Mission Inn Hotel, entertainment by the artists, a photo with our guitars by Robert Knight, VIP tickets to Petty and Winwood, and so forth, not to mention the time and trouble of dozens of Fender staff that devoted 4 days to us, Fender must have lost thousands of dollars per student.

I can't speak for the others (although based on what they saik, I'm sure they'd agree) the experience was awsome, inspiring, and an experience that I'd love to repeat. It was truely priceless.


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:24 pm
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That's more awesome than the awesome awesomeness. I wish I could go one day. :shock:


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:07 pm
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I'm stoked just reading about it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:46 pm
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WI KISSfan wrote:
I agree that it's pretty cool, but the price is way out of line for us normal "middle of the road" income guys with families.

I would love to do something like that on a smaller scale, include the tours of Fender locales, cut the A-list celebs and instead have the instruction done by competent instructors who aren't famous, for a total of $3k, than it would be a reachable goal, if still unlikely, for someone like me.

Would like to see Greg Koch now and shake his hand in congrats for his position in Fender and his accomplishments. I attended UWSP during the same time as he did, so I've seen him play many times around the college and town. That was long ago, before he was famous, no reason for him to remember me. Great guy and awesome musician, very cool to see someone I used to "know" around school make it doing what he loves.



I completely understand where you are coming from... I myself, as many of the 20 Alumni, where middle of the road family guys ( I have three kids 9,7,5). Some dudes spent their savings to go. It was not a total "Baller Event" w/ a bunch of really rich guys, in fact there was 2 contest winners, regular joes... the A list celebs, well if you cut them out, you cut the spirit of Fender out. Half the employees are in sucessful bands that Rock! Tony Franklin is not just a Celeb, but a father and a regular guy w/ J.O.B. It would be great to have a Fender based program w/ just tours and general instruction...But here's the thing, you can google up "instruction done by competent instructors who aren't famous" for free. The cost expense was not spent on the A listers, muscians are cheap! Half the guys, like your buddy Gregg Koch(who probably would remember you :) ) did it for free, basicly just cause he/they love Fender, its a family.
The cost went to the "all-inclusive" extras like 5star hotels, awesome food and drink 24/7, buses, rental cars to/from airports for 20students and 15+staff and the factory tours, well, that's top secret stuff, we saw things that the general public will never see. If you want to see a great exhibit, check out the FenderMuseum.com site, hosted in Riverside at the Fender Center( a Non profit org.), there Fender has awesome exhibits as well as sponsors a program called "Kids Rock!!" a free music education program for kids ages 8-18 before/after school and on weekends. They are definetly doing their part to help local communities.
The great thing about Fender is even though they are a huge corporation, they embody a "Small Business", down to earth attitude. They love and are loyal to their employees, clients and friends. Fender embodies the spirit of what makes this Country great... Fender truly is an American Icon!!


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Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:06 pm
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Thanks for sharing all the stories everyone! It REALLY makes me want to go.


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