TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) – Fender is celebrating 60 years of making guitars, basses and amplifiers that have been a staple for so many musicians – from teenagers playing in their garages to legendary musicians playing arenas.

And John Mayer, who has recently been making his mark as a serious blues-rocker, is glad to be a part of it all.

“You know, I grew up lusting after it, wanting to be a part of it. I just love being embraced by this company and hope that maybe in the next 10 years I can take them to their 70th birthday,” said Mayer, a longtime Fender devotee, backstage at a recent music festival, where renowned guitarists such as Jeff Beck and Eric Johnson have already taken turns saluting the Fender Musical Instrument Corp.

Fender got its start in a small shed behind a Southern California radio repair shop, where Leo Fender built his first amplifier. The company has gone on to create many of world’s most recognizable and respected instruments and equipment.

Fender’s iconic twangy-toned Telecaster, the warmer, clean-sounding Stratocaster and deep-toned bass guitars are among the most-used and copied electric guitars in the world. They remain industry benchmarks decades after they were created.

“When you look at the cross-section of music that’s been created on these instruments – the same instruments in most cases – the interpretation is so different,” said Richard McDonald, senior vice president of marketing for Fender. “I think the instruments were a key given to musicians to unlock their creativity.”