Fender Musical Instruments Reviews

Pros

Work with great people and an awesome product

Cons

Tends to be limited opportunity for professional development

Advice to Senior Management

Needs to be more empasis on employee development

Pros

There are some great people at Fender who are passionate about the company and want to do a good job.

Cons

Most political organization I've ever been associated with. Trust is very low. Senior leaders don't communicate, functions don't collaborate, people aren't respected unless you were in a band for 10+ years.

Advice to Senior Management

You need leadership at the top

Pros

If you have any interest whatsoever in music, instruments, and everything that goes with them ... it just doesn't get much better than this. I've worked here nearly 10 years and have acquired many lifelong memories in that time. I hope to acquire many more as I have every intention of working my entire career here.

Cons

Staffing tends to be on the light side; the hours can be long and those without passion for the subject matter typically cannot take the heat. For those who *do* have the passion over time, though, the possibilities for career advancement over time are plentiful.

Advice to Senior Management

Keep doing what you're doing. Fender is a great American company, a great American brand, and truly is a great place to work.

Pros

Great people, great products, excellent benefits - an American Icon. I can't say enough about the level and amount of talented people that keep this place running despite management's best efforts. There is a level of pride in working for an American Icon such as Fender that is unsurpassed.

Cons

Poor upper management - we've had very little turnover in upper management as a company and that is not a good thing. There is too much old school marketing and management at the top and a serious lack of interest in ideas and new school thinking. Too many VPs equals too many cooks in the kitchen. As an employee, there is a lack of upward mobility. Many "promotions" are nothing more than lateral moves with a new title or they combine two jobs into one and create a new position. Compensation is below average but good for the Music Industry.

Advice to Senior Management

My advice to Management is to stop waiting for the economy to turn around and do something. Start taking some chances or retire and get out of the way of progress as we as a company have been underachieving for far too long. This company has been the beneficiary of many years of a good economy and is now reeling under the current climate. The greatest problem at Fender is the inability of upper management to listen to employees with viable ideas, to make decisions in a timely manner and act. I disapprove of the CEO because he isolates himself from what is really going on with the company by letting the VPs and other members of Senior Management filter important information from him. This company has made great strides in the past few years in hopes to become a certified "Best Place to Work" but the changes have only made things marginally better. Finally, get back to what made this company great - innovation. For far too long, this company has been reacting to the market and following the leaders with "me too" products. Innovate don't emulate, as one company slogan goes.

Pros

Being part of a legendary company and brand is very fulfilling. People here really share a common love for our industry and products. Fender is a "good guy" company within the musical instruments industry. Over the past year there have been a lot of efforts to try to make it a better place to work. Our benefits package is very good. One of the best employers in Arizona.

Cons

Compensation is still somewhat uneven across departments. Some attempts to rectify this, but it looks like it may take some time to fully address. Stock options are not regularly given, and no real training than on the job. If you love music, this is the place to be...if you don't, there are likely better places to work.

Advice to Senior Management

Bill Mendello is doing a really good job. He goes out to meet with employees regularly, implements many of their suggestions, and is a very approachable guy.

Pros

The flagship product is hands down the best in the business sector. The quality, style, and the marketing of the core Fender Brand is untouchable. The company is fantastic at keeping the main Fender brand on task and meeting the market needs. Fender employs musicians who no doubt contribute to keeping Fender guitars in the good graces of the people who buy Fender guitars both professional and aspiring musicians alike. The history of Fender can be felt during every minute of the workday and in my experiences most of the employees love the product they are supporting.

Cons

The stellar success of Fender's flagship brand is sadly a big reason for under-performing niche brands that Fender also owns, Guild, Tacoma, Jackson as examples. There is a "rest on your laurels" attitude that sweeps through upper management every time sales are good with the Fender Brand name. But when another brand is in obvious distress and solutions are recommended often it falls on ears who would much rather hear that everything is fine and because the main brand does so well it offsets concerns. In turn, it seems the upper management doesn't really care about the lesser brands, which teaches the managers controlling those smaller brands that they shouldn't care much either. It sets up confusing and frustrating perimeters to work within and it really doesn't really seem necessary.

Advice to Senior Management

Get to know your employees, most of the obstacles that Fender deals with as a whole could easily be fixed internally if you ask the right person for suggestions and input. Create an internal think tank, nearly everyone in the company comes from within other parts of the industry, and they bring some incredible perspective.