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1966 Fender Telecaster: Custom Candy Apple Red

1966 Fender Telecaster: Custom Candy Apple Red

This ''66 Tele features a maple cap fingerboard and Candy Apple Red finish


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By the mid-sixties, the Fender Telecaster had become one of the most visible and audible guitars in pop music. It was an especially important ingredient in the sound of Bakersfield Country (Buck Owens, Don Rich, Roy Nichols, James Burton), and Memphis Soul (Steve Cropper, Jimmy King). The Telecaster was also a strong presence on blues and rock ‘n’ roll records (Muddy Waters, Michael Bloomfield, Jimmy Page). The Tele’s affordability, simplicity, durability, and clear sound made it the choice of many working pros.


This month’s featured Telecaster Custom has details common to most Teles of 1966: “double line” Kluson Tuners, “F” stamped neck plate, three-ply white pickguard, “Pat. No” bridge with threaded steel saddles and gold “Transition” Fender logo. Just being a 1966 Telecaster Custom makes this a rare guitar, but adding the maple cap fingerboard (rosewood was standard) and the Candy Apple Red finish (Sunburst was standard) makes it ultra-desirable. The heavy fingerboard wear showcases the shortcomings of the Nitrocellulose lacquer finish used by Fender until 1968. The body wear allows the undercoat of metallic gold (silver was used from 1963 to 1965) to show through. Finally, science fiction fans may be interested to know that the stamped neck date of September 1966 coincides with Star Trek’s television debut.

More detailed information on Telecasters can be found in The Fender Telecaster by A.R. Duchossoir



Dave's Guitar Shop
Daves Roger’s Collection Is tended to by Laun Braithwaite & Tim Mullally
All photos credit Tim Mullally
Dave’s Collection is on dispay at:
Dave's Guitar Shop
1227 Third Street South
La Crosse, WI 54601
608-785-7704
davesguitar.com