Guitar collaboration honors Rock and Roll Hall of Famer
Fender has announced the launch of the Nile Rodgers “Hitmaker” Stratocaster guitar, a collaboration with the three-time Grammy winner, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and a living legend of modern music with unfathomable cultural impact. This Fender Artist Signature Series release honors both Rodgers and the iconic guitar he used to write, produce and/or perform on countless hits for David Bowie, Diana Ross, Madonna, Daft Punk, Duran Duran, The B-52’s, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Daddy Yankee, Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, Lady Gaga, Sister Sledge, INXS, Sam Smith and many more.
The Hitmaker features a 1960 alder body that is uniquely smaller and more contoured than a typical vintage Strat guitar. The beautiful Olympic White lacquer matches the finish Rodgers sprayed on the guitar himself just after he acquired it in the early days of Chic. The custom ’59-profile one-piece maple neck has a 9.5″ radius fingerboard, medium jumbo frets and a satin finish. A “Nile Rodgers & Chic” logo adorns the back of the headstock and a custom Hitmaker logo is stamped into the neck plate. The Nile Rodgers Hitmaker single-coil Strat pickups are voiced to accurately replicate the quack, chime and bell-like clarity of the original Hitmaker. Other features include a hardtail string through bridge with period-correct bent-steel saddles, an eye-catching mirrored chrome-plated brass pickguard, locking Sperzel tuners and a set of white speed knobs. The guitar also comes with a vintage-style case with Hitmaker-embroidered interior and a custom certificate of authenticity.
Later this spring, fans around the world can also learn to play the culture-defining songs Rodgers produced, wrote or played guitar on via Fender Play, Fender’s complete online learning app for guitar, bass and ukulele. The Nile Rodgers collection will include words of advice from Rodgers himself, insight into his collaborative, creative process and individual video lessons for hits like “Good Times” and “Le Freak” (Chic); “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down” (Diana Ross); “Like A Virgin” and “Material Girl” (Madonna) when selecting the pop path.
Throughout his incredible career there has been one essential element: his white 1960 Fender Stratocaster guitar. This Strat guitar became known as the “Hitmaker” after Rodgers used his guitar’s bright, energetic sound to write countless chart-toppers. For decades, Rodgers has maintained that the Hitmaker has a unique sound all its own. After working closely with Fender to ensure a faithful recreation, the Nile Rodgers “Hitmaker” Stratocaster guitar will enable players everywhere to experience one of the most ubiquitous guitars in recorded music. This Stratocaster is a true vintage rarity, a unique instrument and became an essential ingredient in Rodgers’ extraordinary rhythm tones.
“I’ve heard people say the Hitmaker is a $2 billion dollar guitar,” Rodgers shares. “When playing it, I’ve been a part of making some of the biggest-selling records of all time: David Bowie, Chic, Diana Ross, Daft Punk, Madonna and so many others. All I know is that it’s been my constant companion for almost fifty years. I can’t stop myself from playing it for hours each and every day. I’m therefore thrilled that now almost anyone can buy their own Hitmaker. Fender really got it right and focused on every little detail that made the original special. It’s going to be surreal to hear that unique sound on a record I didn’t make.”
Rodgers has written, produced and performed on recordings that have sold more than 500 million albums globally. Every hit record he’s produced has shared one essential element: the used 1960 Fender hardtail Stratocaster guitar Rodgers bought in a Miami music shop nearly 50 years ago. Rarely is a single guitar so inseparably identified with its owner as the Hitmaker.
In true tradition, the Fender Artist Signature Series honors iconic musicians through product progression and storytelling, creating instruments inspired by the unique specifications of the world’s greatest guitarists and bassists.
