1956 Fender Telecaster – Blue Metallic

Feast your eyes on this 1956 Fender Telecaster in a custom Blue Metallic finish, featuring a factory Bigsby, matching headstock, and matching painted neck. This is one of two Fender Teles we have seen with a painted neck and headstock, the other being a ’68 in Olympic White. It is rumored that this one was made as a presentation piece for the ’56 NAMM show, explaining why it received its custom color and specs. Most of Fender’s 50s custom color instruments recieved automotive paint, as it was advertised in the catalog that instruments could be ordered with color at an additional 5% cost. Due to this practice, it is hard to know the exact name of this instrument’s color. For now we are calling if Blue Metallic, and it has a very similar look to Lake Placid Blue. It also has a reddish-pink undercoat, something we have seen on a couple of other custom color instruments around this time period. Another detail we love – the name of a previous owner etched into the neckplate.⁠ This one remains original and comes in its original tweed case. The case is slightly damaged and not in the best condition, though all latches still function properly.