By Bethany Bowman
A few years ago I learned that Fender made Telecaster guitars for Brad Paisley, especially with Paisley designs. I didn’t know that Fender made Telecaster guitars with Paisley designs long before the Superstar was born.
Those with extra cash can buy any of these vintage 1968 beauties for around $4,000. It was pinkish/red with silver clinging foil. It was played by Elvis guitar player James Burton.
Fast forward to 2022, Alan Cross found a case of ammunition covered in clingy foil from the same paisley, except it was bluish green. He quickly recognized the pattern and purchased a hand-adored case from Craigslist for $20.
Cloth brought the hair dryer into the case and carefully removed the persistent foil. He sent it to Brad Paisley. Brad Paisley wanted to restore the old Fender ’67 guitar body and neck.
Paisley said: “The day I got paper on paper and opened this box, there was this rainbow color, beautiful, beautiful, metal, space-age material. It looked like a treasure map or a scroll from the Dead Sea.
He said, “To put this together, magic has to happen. It has to be the right pickup. It has to be the right neck. And this neck, this ’67 neck I had, is just right.
The trick was to get that old clingy foil to stick to the guitar. The more they learned about it, the more they used clingy foil as guitar decorations. After Paisley and the Fender team put together a prototype for this Telecaster, Paisley considered it “the best guitar I’ve ever had.”
Today, Fender Gurent Instruments Corporation (FMIC) and Fender Custom Shop are pleased to announce the release of the Brad Paisley 1967 “Lost Paisley” telecaster, a musical instrument created in collaboration with the Global Country Music Superstar Brad Paisley.
The Paisley Telecasters from Fender have always had a cult following, so it was natural that Brad Paisley, who shares his iconic design and name, was drawn to these outstanding classics.
“The deep connection between Brad Paisley and Fender’s history and his meticulous nature helped make the Telecaster “Lost Paisley” come true,” says Chase Paul, director of product development at Fender Custom Shop. “From rediscovering the original Blue Paisley addiction in the 1960s to custom hardware and pickups, every element of the limited edition Brad Paisley 1967 “Lost Paisley” Telecaster was created with purpose. This is more than just an artist’s signature model.
The limited edition Brad Paisley 1967 “Lost Paisley” telecaster offers a unique blend of nostalgia and precise craftsmanship, making it a versatile instrument for today’s players. The Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Hand-Wound Lost Paisley Pickups offers a balance of warmth, clarity and tone. At the same time, the Glaser “G” bender system allows for liquid pedal steel-like bends that improve expressive performance. Finished with an appointment in the late ’60s, custom accessories were bundled together, including vintage-style cases, regular fender straps and certificates of reliability.
Paisley said, “If you think it looks good, wait until you hear it. Your ears will bleed with pleasure.”
Watch this video as it follows Paisley’s fateful path to “Lost Paisley” that crosses the country before Fender lands in Nashville.
Exclusive: Watch Brad Paisley perform “Lost Paisley” telecaster here at the Fender Showroom in Nashville.
Visit www.fender.com to find technical specifications, additional information about new fender products, and retail partners near you.
Follow @fender and @fendercustomshop on Instagram.
