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Photos: Fender guitars

Justin Norvell, vice president of product marketing, shows off a custom built guitar at the Fender factory in Corona.

Justin Norvell, vice president of product marketing, shows off a custom built guitar at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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From its origins in 1946, through its founder’s death, the moving of its headquarters to Arizona and through four owners, there has been one constant for Fender Musical Instruments Corp.: its best electric guitars and basses -- played by many of the biggest icons of the music industry -- have always been made in California.

Fender guitars

Fender executive Justin Norvell holds a cutout from a Fender guitar.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Romulo Ramos sands the body of a Stratocaster at the Fender guitar factory in Corona. The Fender Stratocaster guitar was designed in 1954 by Leo Fender, Bill Carson, George Fullerton and Freddie Tavares.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Maria Martinez inspects the color of Fender guitars at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Jesus Montes, headliner painter, sprays a guitar with a two-tone honey stain at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Maria Martinez inspects the color of guitars at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Freshly painted Fender Stratocaster guitars and bass guitars are hung from a rack in the ceiling to dry at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Neck samples hanging near the assembly line list some of Fender’s customers. Since 1946, the company has catered to the famous and talented, and those who want to emulate them.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Estela Penaloza hammers frets onto Fender Stratocaster guitar necks at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Holes are drilled into a guitar neck at the Fender factory in Corona. Each instrument goes through 140 hand shaping and smoothing processes.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Jose Serna, who has worked 48 years for Fender, cleans and shapes guitar necks at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Dave Wronski, tuner and tester and guitarist with the band Slaktone, inspects, tunes and makes final adjustments to a Fender Dimension five-string bass at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Fender executive Justin Norvell practices his guitar at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Eric Clapton’s signed Fender Stratocaster guitar hangs in a display case at the Fender guitars factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Fender guitars

Guitars, basses and amplifiers are molded into a piece of artwork hanging on display at the Fender factory in Corona.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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