Country music icon Brad Paisley, renowned for his virtuosic guitar skills and deep appreciation for vintage instruments, has revealed an astonishing discovery that sent shockwaves through the guitar community. What began as a search for a ’60s refinished Telecaster to serve as a canvas for a custom project, unexpectedly led him to uncover a rare and highly sought-after original Paisley Telecaster, valued at an estimated $30,000, hidden beneath layers of black spray paint.
From Black to $30,000 – La Brea
This remarkable find, dubbed “La Brea,” adds another layer of intrigue to Paisley’s well-documented “Indiana Jones”-style quest to collect and restore as many ’60s Paisley Teles as possible.
It also perfectly precedes the recent launch of his collaboration with Fender: the Limited Edition Brad Paisley 1967 “Lost Paisley” Telecaster, a signature model celebrating the iconic, yet short-lived, Summer of Love-inspired finish.
Chicago Music Exchange
Paisley’s affinity for Paisley Telecasters is no secret. Before the recent Fender partnership, his focus was on meticulously recreating the unique finish.
He shared with Rick Beato that his friend and guitar builder, Bill Crook, was getting “closer” to replicating the original pink Paisley. This led Paisley to seek out a suitable ’68 refin Telecaster to experiment with.
“I walk into Chicago Music Exchange and I say, ‘Hey, do you have a ’68 refin Tele that I could buy that’s a good guitar?’” Paisley recounted. “They said, ‘Yeah, we have a black one, not a good paint job.’ But I said, ‘Well, I don’t care. I’ll pick it up if it’s a good guitar.’”
Lost Paisley
The unassuming black Telecaster was subsequently sent to Crook for inspection. Neither expected the hidden treasure that lay beneath.
Crook, observing the cracking black finish, made a crucial discovery. “He takes the neck off, pops off the neck plate, and there’s a Paisley staring at him,” Paisley explained. “Takes the finish off, and that’s 100% paper. I had accidentally bought a Paisley Tele, thinking I would turn it into a Paisley!”
The revelation of an original Paisley finish, a rarity that significantly escalates the guitar’s value, naturally raises the question of why its original owner would conceal such a unique and collectible instrument. Paisley, echoing Beato’s curiosity, explained the story of the guitar’s previous owner, a man from Texas.
“He said that he basically went out in the backyard, got a good deal on it because nobody was buying them, went out, hung it in a tree, took the electronics off of it, and sprayed it with a can of black paint, and it was probably acrylic paint from an art store, and then put everything back together and put a white pickguard on it,” Paisley revealed.
This sheds light on a period when the vibrant Paisley finish had fallen out of fashion, leading some owners to drastically alter their instruments.
Fender Custom Shop “Lost Paisley”
Paisley’s dedication to the Paisley Telecaster legacy extends beyond his personal collection.
Limited Run
As part of his collaboration with Fender, he will personally build 19 of his signature “Lost Paisley” models, with an additional 67 meticulously crafted by the Fender Custom Shop team in Corona, California.
This initiative not only honors a forgotten piece of guitar history but also allows fans to own a piece of the magic that Brad Paisley himself cherishes.
More Brad Paisley Fender models
Fender Brad Paisley Road Worn Telecaster in Black Sparkle at Andertons
Fender Brad Paisley Road Worn Esquire in Black Sparkle at Sweetwater
Fender Brad Paisley Road Worn Telecaster in Black Sparkle at Sweetwater
Fender Brad Paisley Road Worn Telecaster in Black Sparkle at Thomann
More Information
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