Fender in Corona

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Corona is the home of the Fender Custom shop, where personal guitars were built for notable players such as Jeff Beck, Steve Miller, Mark Knopfler, and Eric Clapton to name a few. The Fender Center is located on Main street (just north of the 91 freeway) and offers a museum that is open to the public. Sharing the facility is a performing art center, where children are encouraged to learn musical instruments, including the guitar. After a tasty lunch down the street at Eduardo’s Mexican restaurant, Donna and I chose to take the long route home, which took us past Fender’s facility. We paid ten bucks each to see the Johnny Cash exhibit, which included various guitars used by the Man in Black during his career. Also on display was Johnny’s artwork, including a depiction of Christ’s face in the Shroud of Turin - created by erasing pencil lead that had completely covered a sheet of paper. My favorite was a sketch he drew on the back of a fan letter - mailed to Mr. Cash asking him to draw something on the back as a Christmas present for the fan’s brother. After Cash, we strolled through the general exhibit which included the cardboard cut out of Kurt Cobain’s Mustang / Jaguar hybrid guitar. I got a close up view of Jeff Beck’s custom “rolling string” feature which cradles each string between two tiny ball bearings at the nut. All kinds of custom guitars were on display, along with interesting exhibits. Sort of a light version of Seattle’s EMP. Donna could have blown through the place in ten minutes. I wanted to stay longer (EMP Déjà vu). She did play the electronic drums at the “hands on” station - not too bad either. Location: 365 N. Main Street, Corona, CA. www.fendermuseum.com

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Photos

Donnadrums
Donna tries the electronic drums at the Fender Museum in Corona.