Steve had one of these in about ten years ago and that is the only other one he's ever seen. You do see a small few Tele's of this era in Candy Apple Red, though, not Customs. It is therefore quite a breathtaking find. It's in such great condition.
The Candy Apple Red has faded to a beautiful tangerine, there is the factory black coming through with the Gold Metalic showing in the slightly worn area, where the player's arm rubs on the top bout.
There are a few other small marks that you don't see unless you look closely and the neck plate is worn back to the metal around the edges. However, the whole back of the guitar has all its paint and has minimal belt buckle, certainly not anything to break the surface.
The pickups, while original, have both been rewound by Martin Kell, and they therefore sound even better than with the original wiring. The has been an enlargement of the rear cavity as though the rear pickup was angled at one stage? The headstock is in great condition with its original transfer logo totally intact. The back of the neck has the lacquer worn down a few layers but not quite down to the wood.
In short, a guitar that deserves to be, and would not look out of place, in any museum collection but can still be played and enjoyed.
