Stratocaster

Is the "Stratocaster", Leo Fenders concept of a "working man's" instrument, the ultimate electric guitar? Just consider the roster of players: Buddy Holly, Hank Marvin, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Mark Knopfler, George Harrison, Bob Dylan and that's just a tiny number of "names". So Why nearly sixty years since it's introduction is the Fender Stratocaster still the most popular electric guitar in the world? (And the most copied!)

The Origins of the Strat are well known, it's inventor Leo Fender couldn't play guitar but had an inate understanding of the needs (and the problems) of working musicians. Leo had already introduced the Broadcaster/Telecaster in 1949/1950 and it was dismissed in some quarters as an "electric plank!" Leo was undeterred by the elitist attitudes of many and its initially poor sales.

bandung art science

Art & Science

• Bandung has been the melting point between the local Sundanese culture and the high-end technology developed at the Institute Technology Bandung. There are some interesting places to visit:

• Saung Angklung Udjo [3]. Angklung is a traditional South-East Asian musical instrument, made by bamboo. Udjo Nalagena, a famous angklung artist, created an Angklung House in the outskirt of Bandung, where angklung is made, learned and played. Location: Jl. Padasuka 118, around 7km from Bandung.

• Bosscha Observatorium [4], built in 1923 by Nederlandsch-Indische Sterrekundige Vereeniging (Assoc. of Dutch-Indies Astronomers) is the only observatorium in Indonesia. It lies in Lembang, a small suburb city in the northern part of Bandung. It is now part of the Dept. of Astronomy, Institute Technology Bandung. Location: Jl. Peneropongan Bintang, Lembang 40391. Tel: (+62) 22-2786001. To visit there, ask the department administration first for a reservation. Some visiting notes:

• Public night (17:00-19:30), between April-October, with some presentations and demos. Geological Museum, houses 250.000 rocks and mineral collection, and 60.000 fossils. JLocation: Jl. Diponegoro 57, Bandung. (near Gedung Sate complex). Tel: (+62)-22-7203205.

• Visiting time: every day 09:00-15:00 except Friday.
• Sri Baduga Maharaja Museum
• Pos dan Giro Museum
• Mandala Wangsit Siliwangi Museum