1968 Fender Telecaster - Pink Paisley

Serial Number 224066

To appeal to the popular late '60s youth movement, the Telecaster was picked to receive the “Flower Power” treatment with two new finishes: Paisley Red and Blue Flower. These finishes were accomplished by sticking patterned wallpaper to the bodies and spraying clear polyester over the top. The original Fender ad copy for these models was also given a hippie-esque tone: “Paisley Red Pulsates with every beat and swirls in a blinding carousel of color forms and tones.”

As groovy as these guitars were, they never caught on with the psychedelic rockers they were intended for. Ironically, the most visible guitarist to use a Paisley Tele was rockabilly/country session great James Burton. The ’69 Paisley Tele remained his main stage guitar until his signature model debuted in 1990. Those wanting to hear Burton’s Paisley Tele in action can check out Elvis as Recorded at Madison Square Garden and Gram Parson’s GP and Grievous Angel albums.