Author Archives: Philip Kubicki

The story of Roger Rossmeisl’s career in the guitar industry had its roots with his father, Wenzel. Wenzel was born around 1900, Roger in 1927 in northern Germany, near the city of Kiel, about 50 miles from Denmark. Wenzel was a professional jazz guitarist and a jazz guitarmaker. In the early 1930s, Wenzel made a [...]

The Ltd was introduced as CBS Fender’s entry into the archtop jazz guitar market. It was to be a prestigious example of Fender’s ability to produce a highly crafted, handmade, unique jazz guitar to stand up to the long-established archtops of the day, particularly the Gibson Citation. The Ltd was the most expensive guitar Fender [...]

The Ltd was introduced as CBS Fender’s entry into the archtop jazz guitar market. It was to be a prestigious example of Fender’s ability to produce a highly crafted, handmade, unique jazz guitar to stand up to the long-established archtops of the day, particularly the Gibson Citation. The Ltd was the most expensive guitar Fender [...]

Reflecting back through my years in the guitar industry, much of my time has been spent in product development, prototyping, and the making of specialty guitars. In recent years, quite a bit has been written about the prototypes of instruments that made it to the marketplace. But what about the ones that didn’t, and the [...]

Reflecting back through my years in the guitar industry, much of my time has been spent in product development, prototyping, and the making of specialty guitars. In recent years, quite a bit has been written about the prototypes of instruments that made it to the marketplace. But what about the ones that didn’t, and the [...]

One day in early June, 1963, I was sitting in the outer office of a deserted (maybe deserted isn’t the right word; it was an almost-empty building waiting to be filled) assembly plant in Fullerton, California, after being tipped off about the development of an acoustic division of Fender Guitars. I took it as a [...]

One day in early June, 1963, I was sitting in the outer office of a deserted (maybe deserted isn’t the right word; it was an almost-empty building waiting to be filled) assembly plant in Fullerton, California, after being tipped off about the development of an acoustic division of Fender Guitars. I took it as a [...]

Philip Kubicki has been active in the music industry for over 30 years. He began building acoustic guitars at age 15. At 19, he was one of the first employees to be hired by Roger Rossmeisl, of Fender Musical Instrument’s research and development department for acoustic guitars. Nine years later, he moved to Santa Barbara, [...]

Philip Kubicki has been active in the music industry for over 30 years. He began building acoustic guitars at age 15. At 19, he was one of the first employees to be hired by Roger Rossmeisl, of Fender Musical Instrument’s research and development department for acoustic guitars. Nine years later, he moved to Santa Barbara, [...]