A few years back, I learned that Fender made Telecaster guitars with a paisley design specifically for Brad Paisley. I did not know that Fender had been making Telecaster guitars with a paisley design long before the country superstar was even born. Those with extra cash can purchase one of these vintage 1968 beauties for around $4000. It was pinkish/red on silver cling foil. Elvis’s guitar player, James Burton, played one.

Fast-forward to 2022, when Alan Cross found an ammo case covered in the same paisley cling foil, except it was bluish-green. He recognized the pattern immediately and purchased the hand-decorated case for $20 from Craigslist.

Cross took a hair dryer to the case and carefully removed the cling foil. He sent it to Brad Paisley, who wanted to restore an old Fender '67 guitar body and neck.

Paisley stated, “The day we got the paper in the mail and opened up this box, here's this iridescent, crazy, beautiful, metallic, space-age substance, and it looked like a treasure map or the Dead Sea Scrolls. When you see how beautiful it looked, glistening in the sunlight, just like it's straight out of 1968. I needed to make this guitar.”

He explained, “To put this thing together, there's a magic that has to happen. It's got to be the right pickups. It's got to be the right neck. And this neck, this '67 neck that I had, is just right. There's a dance that happens with a guitar, where you have the right neck, right body, right electronics, and it leads to better music. I was putting together what would be the most perfect feeling telly (telecaster) I've ever felt.”

The trick was to get that old cling foil to stick to the guitar. The more they learned about it, the more baffled they were that they ever used cling foil as a guitar decoration. Once Paisley and the Fender team put this Telecaster prototype together, Paisley deemed it “the best guitar I've ever had.”

Today, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) and the Fender Custom Shop announce the release of the Limited Edition Brad Paisley 1967 "Lost Paisley" Telecaster, an instrument made in collaboration with global country music superstar Brad Paisley.

Fender’s Paisley Telecasters have always had a cult-like following, so it was only natural that Brad Paisley, who shares a name with the iconic designs, would gravitate toward these standout classics.

“Brad Paisley’s deep connection to Fender’s history and his meticulous nature were instrumental in bringing the ‘Lost Paisley’ Telecaster to life,” said Chase Paul, Director of Product Development - Fender Custom Shop. “From the rediscovery of the original 1960s Blue Paisley Cling-Foil to the custom hardware and pickups, every element of the Limited-Edition Brad Paisley 1967 ‘Lost Paisley’ Telecaster was crafted with purpose. This isn’t just an Artist Signature model; it’s a glimpse into what could have been had this concept made it to production. It is a missing link in Fender Telecaster evolution.”

The Limited-Edition Brad Paisley 1967 "Lost Paisley" Telecaster offers a one-of-a-kind 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 provide warmth, clarity, and tonal balance. At the same time, the Glaser “G” Bender system allows for fluid, pedal-steel-like bends that elevate expressive performance. Finished with late-'60s appointments bundled with custom accessories—including a vintage-style case, period-correct Fender strap, and certificate of authenticity—this Telecaster is both a collector’s dream and a stage-ready workhorse.

Paisley concluded, “If you think it looks good, wait until you hear it. Your ears will bleed with joy.”

Watch this video as Fender follows Paisley’s fated path to the “Lost Paisley” as it crosses the country before landing in Nashville. 

Exclusive: Watch Brad Paisley play the “Lost Paisley” Telecaster in Nashville’s Fender showroom HERE.

Visit www.fender.com for technical specs, additional information on new Fender products, and to find a retail partner near you.

Follow @fender and @fendercustomshop on Instagram.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.