To commemorate the retirement of one of Fender's Master Technician Abigail Ybarra, who has been in the Fender Family for over 50 years, Fender has created this special plaque and hosted a retirement party for her. Fender also arranged for multiple Grammy Award-winning band Los Lobos to play at her private event.
Ybarra came to Fender in 1956 and in 1958 began hand-winding and hand-building guitar pickups for the fledgling Southern California musical instrument company (pickups convert string vibrations into electric signals, creating the “voice” of an electric guitar). Ybarra’s hand-wound pickups have been included in Fender’s most popular instruments from the late-’50s to today, and were most likely found on instruments played by legends such as Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, Stevie Ray Vaughan and countless others. Her pickups have become highly desirable and sought after by artists and collectors alike.
“Abby is one of the many individuals, like George Fullerton, Freddie Tavares and Forrest White, who have set our course as a company and leader in our industry,” said Mike Eldred, Fender Custom Shop Marketing Director.
“She has literally ‘set the tone’ for Fender,
and we will continue to carry on her legacy
in the Fender Custom Shop.”
L.A. Music would like to thank Abigail Ybarra for her contribution to the music-making industry and offer our most sincere congrats on the lengendary career.
