"Upon inspecting the aged coat of black, Brad Paisley discovered he wasn't dealing with an ordinary '60s refurbished guitar - hidden beneath layers of paint was a $30,000 Paisley-adorned instrument."
The Story of Brad Paisley's Groovy Guitar: The Paisley Telecaster
Country superstar Brad Paisley's penchant for his namesake electric guitar, the Paisley Telecaster, is no secret. In a recent team-up with Fender, Paisley unveiled the Limited Edition Brad Paisley 1967 "Lost Paisley" Telecaster, an homage to the rare, psychedelic finish originally debuted in the late '60s but fell out of fashion quickly.
The journey for Paisley's obsession with the Paisley Telecaster was an Indiana Jones-esque hunt to track down and refurbish as many '60s Paisley Teles as he could get his hands on.
"When people heard my name, they'd say, 'You should play a Paisley Tele.' I might've scoffed initially, thinking it was a wild and outlandish idea," he confesses in a recent interview. "In 1968, it wasn't an instant winners' game — Fender must have regretted it soon after!"
One of his prized possessions, La Brea, was unearthed at Chicago Music Exchange, with its unique finish — a rarity that would drive its value over $30,000 — hidden under layers of spray paint. However, crossing paths with an original Paisley Tele was never part of Paisley's expectations, as he was focused on recreating the Paisley finish at the time.
"Bill Crook came closer, saying, 'I can do it, I can replicate the original pink.' I jumped at the opportunity. A month or two later, I sent an old black guitar to Crook for inspection," Paisley reminisces.
But what transpired next was anything but ordinary.
"Crook sits down, looks at the guitar hanging on the wall. He notices the black finish cracking. He takes the neck off, pops off the neck plate, and — voila! A Paisley!"
But why, you ask, was the original owner compelled to hide such a rare gem? Well, the answer might surprise you.
According to sources, these original Paisley Teles, boasting a fragile, psychedelic finish, were modestly received at the time, leading to their premature discontinuation. Chances are, the original owner decided to conceal the striking finish for practical reasons or because they didn't appreciate its unique value.
As part of his commitment to reviving the Paisley Tele and his collaboration with Fender, the guitarist will personally build 19 of his signature models, with an additional 67 crafted by the Fender Custom Shop team in Corona, California.
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- Brad Paisley's deep affection for the Fender Paisley Telecaster is evident, as he recently unveiled a Limited Edition version of the 1967 "Lost Paisley" Telecaster.
- Upon hearing that he should play a Paisley Telecaster, Paisley initially dismissed the idea, not realizing its future significance.
- One of Paisley's prized possessions, La Brea, was discovered with a rare finish hidden under layers of spray paint at Chicago Music Exchange, adding significant value to the guitar.
- In his collaboration with Fender, Paisley will personally build 19 of his signature model guitars, with an additional 67 being crafted by the Fender Custom Shop team.
