Yngwie Malmsteen: How I SAVED Fender Guitars From Losing EVERYTHING!

During a conversation with Guitar Magazine, Yngwie Malmsteen said that his 1984 debut album "Rising Force" played a pivotal role in keeping Fender in business during the company's '80s struggle.

The guitarist reached the topic while discussing his Fender signature model, explaining how he's very proud of it.

"In the late '70s, two things happened. Fender almost went out of business, and by '81, they were bought out by two other guys.

"They started over, basically, and they were trying to put all these people with all these hard-rock guitars and stuff - everyone else wanted one because of Van Halen, right?

"They had been struggling a bit, then my 'Rising Force' album came out and not only did the album turn everything upside but what's on the cover? A Fender Stratocaster.

"That fucking album saved their company! They said that when that album came out, they couldn't build guitars fast enough; before that, they were selling nothing. So they came to me.

"Before that happened, I was being offered guitars from every guitar company and every amp company in the world. You name it. Gibson, even! 'Whatever you want, we will give it to you.' I said: 'No thanks, Fender Strats, that's it.' Every amp company, too - I said: ‘No thanks, Marshalls for me.'"

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