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The B-Bender is a mechanical device that raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone, producing bends similar to those on a pedal steel guitar. Invented in 1968 by musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White, the device was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String, later renamed the StringBender, and is now best known as the B-Bender. The B-Bender was first introduced by Fender in 2000, featuring the Custom Fender/Parsons/Green B-Bender System, but it is no longer in production. The history of the B-Bender dates back to the late 1960s and early 1970s, when Parsons and White played in bands such as Nashville West and the Byrds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Invention | 1968 |
| Inventors | Gene Parsons and Clarence White |
| Device Name | Parsons/White Pull-String, later renamed StringBender, now best known as the B-Bender |
| Device Function | Raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone (up to C#) |
| Device Functioning | Spring-loaded levers inside the guitar's body, which connect the bridge to the strap button on the upper bout |
| Related Companies | Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Bowden, Bigsby, Hipshot, Duesenberg Guitars, Fender Custom Shop |
| Guitarists Who Used the Device | Albert Lee, Jimmy Page, Bernie Leadon, Marty Stuart, James Hetfield, Pete Townshend, Rich Robinson, Mike Campbell, Peter Buck, David Gilmour, Brad Paisley, Ronnie Wood, Harold Matlin, Jimmy Olander |
| Related Devices | ISOMETER, iso685 ground-fault monitor, NGRM500, NGRM700 Neutral Grounding Resistor Monitors, RC48C ground-fault continuity monitors, PEM product line, Residual current monitors RCM, RCMA, RCMS, iso-PV, EDS, VMD423, UNIMET |
| Related Companies to ISOMETER | Bender, Schneider Electric, Bender North America, Bender Industries GmbH & Co. KG |
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What You'll Learn
The B-Bender was invented in 1968 by musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White
The B-Bender, a device used to raise the pitch of a guitar's B string, was invented in 1968 by musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White. Parsons was a multi-instrumentalist and a former machinist, while White was a guitarist. Both musicians played in the bands Nashville West and the Byrds in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The B-Bender was originally designed for the Fender Telecaster, but it can now be fitted to many solid-body electric guitars and even acoustic guitars. The device was initially called the Parsons/White Pull-String, and it was created to fit White's 1954 Telecaster. The pull-string mechanism consisted of a system of levers, fulcrums, and springs that worked together to raise the pitch of the B string by a whole step. This was achieved by pushing the guitar's neck down, which activated the lever system and increased tension on the strap.
After its invention, Parsons continued to refine the B-Bender. In the early 1970s, he licensed the Parsons/White Pull-String to another manufacturer and renamed it the StringBender. He began making and installing the device himself in 1973, producing hundreds of units over the years. Parsons supplied StringBender kits to guitar manufacturers and even made custom installations for renowned guitarists such as Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones.
In 1989, Parsons partnered with California folk musician Meridian Green to increase production and develop a network of authorized installation shops. Together, they approached the Fender Custom Shop, which led to the introduction of the signature Clarence White Telecaster model in 1995. This model featured the modified "Parsons-White B-Bend." Fender released another version of the B-Bender Telecaster in 2000, but it is no longer in production.
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The device was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String
The B-Bender was invented in 1968 by musicians and country-rock pioneers Gene Parsons and Clarence White. Both played in Nashville West and The Byrds. The device was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String, designed to fit White's 1954 Telecaster.
The B-Bender is a mechanical device that raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone (up to C#). This produces plaintive, sinuous bends similar to those produced on a pedal steel guitar. The B-Bender's mechanics can be applied to other strings besides the B string, with the G string being the most common.
The Parsons/White Pull-String was later renamed the StringBender by Parsons in 1973. He began making and installing the device himself, producing hundreds of units over the years. Parsons and White's invention has had a lasting impact on the world of music, with various artists adopting the B-Bender, including Albert Lee, Jimmy Page, Bernie Leadon, and Marty Stuart.
In 1989, Parsons partnered with Meridian Green to outsource the production of the kits, develop an authorized installation network, and create an instruction manual for installers. This partnership led to the Fender Custom Shop producing a Clarence White signature model Telecaster equipped with the Parsons/White StringBender. The success of this collaboration prompted Fender to mass-produce a similar model named the B-Bender.
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The B-Bender raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string
The B-Bender is a mechanical device that raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone (up to C#). It was invented in 1968 by musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White, who played in Nashville West and The Byrds. The device was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String, designed to fit White's 1954 Telecaster. The Pull-String was later renamed the StringBender and is now best known as the B-Bender.
The B-Bender works through a system of spring-loaded levers inside the guitar's body, connecting the bridge to the strap button on the upper bout. The strap button is attached to a lever that moves up and down about an inch. When the guitar is worn over the shoulder and the neck is pushed downward, the guitar strap pulls the strap button upward, activating the lever system and raising the pitch of the B string.
After licensing the Pull-String to another manufacturer in the early 1970s, Parsons began making and installing the device himself in 1973, producing hundreds of units. In 1989, he partnered with California folk musician Meridian Green to increase production. Together, they approached the Fender Custom Shop, resulting in the introduction of the signature Clarence White Telecaster model in 1995, featuring the modified "Parsons-White B-Bender." About 200 of these guitars were built through 2002.
Fender also introduced a production version of the B-Bender-equipped guitar in 1996, known as the American Standard B-Bender Telecaster. This model used the Custom Fender/Parsons/Green B-Bender System, which allowed for adjustments to the pitch, including no change, a half-step rise (C), or a whole-step rise (C#). The B-Bender Telecaster was discontinued in the 2000s, but its distinctive sound has been featured in popular songs by Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Metallica, and other notable artists.
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Fender released a B-Bender Telecaster in 2000
The B-Bender was invented by country-rock pioneers Clarence White and Gene Parsons in the late 1960s. Their device was called the Parsons/White Pull-String, designed to fit White's 1954 Telecaster. After licensing the Pull-String to another manufacturer in the early 1970s, Parsons renamed it the StringBender and began making and installing it himself in 1973. Over the years, he produced hundreds of units.
In 1989, Parsons partnered with California folk musician Meridian Green to outsource the production of the kits, develop a network of authorised installation shops, and write an instruction manual for installers. Together, Parsons and Green approached the Fender Custom Shop, resulting in the signature Clarence White Telecaster model, which was introduced in 1995 and featured the modified "Parsons-White B-Bend". Based on the success of this model, Fender decided to mass-produce a similar model and call it the B-Bender.
The Fender B-Bender Telecaster was released in 2000 but is no longer in production. It used what is now called the "Custom Fender/Parsons/Green B-Bender System", which was adjustable to allow no change in pitch, a half-step rise in pitch (C), or a whole-step rise in pitch (C#). The B-Bender is a mechanical device that raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone (up to C#), producing bends similar to those on a pedal steel guitar. This is achieved through spring-loaded levers inside the guitar's body, which connect the bridge to the strap button on the upper bout.
The B-Bender has been used by many notable guitarists, including James Hetfield of Metallica, Pete Townshend, Albert Lee, Rich Robinson of the Black Crowes, Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Peter Buck of R.E.M., and David Gilmour.
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The B-Bender is no longer in production
Parsons and White licensed the Pull-String to another manufacturer in the early 1970s, and Parsons began making and installing the device himself, renaming it the StringBender. Over the years, Parsons produced hundreds of units, even supplying kits to Japanese guitar manufacturer Tokai Gakki. In 1989, Parsons partnered with California folk musician Meridian Green to increase production and approached the Fender Custom Shop. This resulted in the signature Clarence White Telecaster model, introduced in 1995, which featured the modified Parsons-White B-Bend.
Based on the success of the Clarence White model, Fender decided to mass-produce a similar model and call it the B-Bender. The first Fender Nashville B-Bender Telecaster was manufactured in 1996, with major design changes in 1998 and 2000. However, the B-Bender Telecaster eventually went out of production in the early 2000s.
While the B-Bender is no longer produced by Fender, its influence can still be heard in music. The device was used by Clarence White on the Byrds' "Live at the Fillmore: February 1969", and it also features on "All My Love" by Led Zeppelin and "Peaceful Easy Feeling" by the Eagles. Other notable guitarists who have used the B-Bender include James Hetfield of Metallica, Pete Townshend, Albert Lee, and David Gilmour.
The B-Bender's unique sound and contribution to music remain significant, even if the device itself is no longer in production.
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Frequently asked questions
A B-Bender is a mechanical device that raises the pitch of a Telecaster's B string by a whole tone, producing bends similar to those on a pedal steel guitar.
The B-Bender was invented in 1968 by musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White.
The B-Bender was invented by country-rock pioneers and musicians Gene Parsons and Clarence White, who played in Nashville West and the Byrds.
The B-Bender was originally called the Parsons/White Pull-String, but it was later renamed the StringBender. Today, it is best known as the B-Bender.
