“We’re thrilled to be back”: Why 2024 marked a major milestone for Fender – and saw a surprising turnaround for 2025

2024 Year in Review: March saw Fender celebrating seven decades of their best-selling model by roping a whole host of guitar talents for a rousing cover of Jimi Hendrix classic Voodoo Child (Slight Return).

Tom Morello and Nile Rodgers were joined by Ari O’Neal, Rebecca Lovell, Tash Sultana, Jimmie Vaughan, Mateus Asato, Tyler Bryant, Rei and Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil.

A month later the company announced that they would be returning to NAMM for 2025, having been absent since their last attendance in 2020.

“When NAMM closed during Covid and we were compelled to come up with a plan B, we developed this online dealer event and reallocated the money we would have spent going to the show into increased marketing,” revealed CEO Andy Mooney, while admitting he’d been waiting for the right time for the company to make their return.

“We’re thrilled to be back, we missed being there, and I’m excited to see everyone again back in Anaheim.”