The White amplifier was an instrument amplifier

Instrument amplifier

An instrument amplifier is an electronic amplifier that converts the often barely audible or purely electronic signal from musical instruments such as an electric guitar, an electric bass, or an electric keyboard into an electronic signal capable of driving a loudspeaker that can be heard by the...

 made by the Fender company, named for Fender's production manager Forrest White

Forrest White

Forrest Fred White was an American musical instruments industry executive, best known for his association with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation....

 and designed as a surprise by Leo Fender for his longtime associate. It was sold together with the matching steel guitar

Fender White Steel

The White Steel was a steel guitar made by the Fender company. It was released as a student model in 1956 and was sold with the matching amplifier....

 and was made only in 1956. Approximately 1500 copies were made. The amp was nearly identical to the Princeton

Fender Princeton

The Fender Princeton was a guitar amplifier made by Fender. It was introduced in 1947 and discontinued in 1979. After Fender introduced the Champ Amp in 1948, the Princeton occupied the next to the bottom spot in the Fender line...

, but was made under the White production name, probably "to get more inexpensive amps and steels into the market without offending authorized Fender dealers." The amplifier was not in fact white, but had blue-gray linen tweed, dark blue grill cloth, and blue dyed leather handles.