Image: Garyd, Public domain — via Wikimedia Commons
Fender Marauder
| Category | Strings (electric guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | electric guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q940703 |
Overview
The Fender Marauder is the name shared by two very different Fender guitar projects. The first was a late-1960s prototype with pickups hidden beneath the pickguard, which never reached full production. The second was a production model launched in 2010 with a more conventional design, sold for a relatively short time.
Origin & History
The original 1960s Marauder was developed during the experimental years that followed Fender’s sale to CBS. The most striking feature of the prototype was a set of pickups mounted beneath an opaque pickguard, with no visible pole pieces. The design did not move into mass production, and only a small number of prototype instruments were built. Decades later, Fender revived the Marauder name for a new production guitar with humbucker-sized pickups and a more conventional layout. That model also had a short market life and was eventually discontinued.
How It’s Played
Both Marauders are played in the standard electric-guitar position. The 2010s production model used pickups designed to fit a humbucker-sized cavity but configured to give a single-coil-style brightness. It is suited to rhythm and lead playing across rock and pop styles.
Cultural Significance
The Marauder is mainly remembered for the curiosity of its first prototype and as one of several Fender attempts during the 2010s to widen the company’s electric-guitar catalogue beyond the long-dominant Stratocaster and Telecaster lines. Original 1960s prototypes are rare collector items.
Related Instruments
- – the dominant Fender solid-body
- Fender Toronado – another short-lived Fender experiment
- Fender Showmaster – a contemporary Fender variant
- Fender Bullet – a budget-tier Fender model
- Fender Coronado – a 1960s Fender hollow-body experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there really two different Fender Marauders?
Yes. A late-1960s prototype and a 2010s production model share the name but have very different designs.
Is the Fender Marauder still in production?
No. The 2010s production version was discontinued after a short run.
Image: photograph by Garyd, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).
