"Amazed spectators liken Brad Paisley's latest custom Telecaster to an apparition. Their exclamation: 'We must create this guitar for the public' as it mirrors a scarcely found Fender classic, leaving Fender in disbelief at the discovery."
In an unexpected turn of events, renowned country superstar, Brad Paisley, teamed up with Fender to create a one-of-a-kind guitar that revives a long-forgotten, edgy vintage design - the Limited Edition "Lost Paisley" Telecaster. This bad boy sports an iconic blue paisley finish reminiscent of the psychedelic vibes of the '60s.
Tracing back to 1968, these paisley-adorned guitars were a response to the Summer of Love counterculture movement. They came in two flavors: Paisley Red and Blue Flower, characterized by their vibrant and decorative looks with Cling-Foil paper accents. Unfortunately, their lifespan was brief, thanks in part to their susceptibility to flaking. But thanks to the impeccable taste of one artist, these guitars escaped the fate of countless failed musical experiments.
James Burton, a legendary entertainer known for playing with the likes of Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison, received a Red Paisley model in 1969. He played it with religious devotion for the next two decades on stage after stage. While he made some tweaks to keep it fresh, it became the guitar he was most associated with.
Burton's advocacy saved the paisley design from vanishing completely. fast-forward to present day, when Paisley himself approached Fender with one of these forgotten relics, the company was left slack-jawed.
"I walked through the doors, with this thing in a case, sat down with these guys, pulled it out, and said, 'Let me tell you about this,'" Paisley recalls. "Fender is run by guitar players and fans now. They get it. They were like, 'We've got to make this for people.'"
With carte blanche to explore his concept, Paisley didn't disappoint. The guitar's structure is based on his beloved 1967 Telecaster, boasting a '60s oval C-shaped neck, Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hand-Wound Lost Paisley pickups, and a Glaser "G" Bender system. Intricate details and period-correct touches send the price tag soaring to $7,000. But don't be surprised if the 19 guitars personally crafted by Paisley himself are quite the jack of all trades, with each one sporting its own unique touch.
Paisley isn't the only country icon stirring things up in the Tele world. Keith Urban has teamed up with PRS to create a Tele-like design aiming to solve all the issues of Urban's beloved Clarence Tele. "I can play anything on Clarence; I just wish it sounded a little bit better," Urban explains. "I want to see if we can create something modeled on the feel of Clarence but with a better tonal range."
For more about the "Lost Paisley" Telecaster, Paisley's Indiana Jones moment, and why he's creating 19 of these one-of-a-kind guitars himself, be sure to check out Brad Paisley's full interview.
[References]1. Link to an article about the history of the paisley pattern in guitar design.2. Link to an article about Brad Paisley's musical career and his love for guitars.3. Link to an article about Brad Paisley's influences and contributions to music.
- Brad Paisley collaborated with Fender to construct the Limited Edition "Lost Paisley" Telecaster, reviving a vintage design from the '60s.
- James Burton, a legendary musician, hung on to his Paisley Red guitar for two decades, playing it on multiple stages.
- Paisley's reheated version of the paisley guitar features a '60s oval C-shaped neck, Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hand-Wound Lost Paisley pickups, and a Glaser "G" Bender system.
- Keith Urban teamed up with PRS to produce a Tele-like design, aiming to improve the tonal range of his beloved Clarence Tele.
- The music industry today sees country icons like Paisley and Urban innovating in the electric guitar domain, pushing the boundaries of traditional Telecaster design.
- The paisley pattern in guitar design traces its roots back to the Summer of Love counterculture in 1968, when it came in Paisley Red and Blue Flower, adorned with Cling-Foil paper accents.
