~The Definitive Waylon Jennings Fender Thread~

[Waylor-One]

Having long ago given up on trying to resurrect my old TDPRI account, I’ve just now created this new one and hope to use it to provide some clarity with respect to a topic that…well, most everyone seems to be confused about.

Waylon had (5) fully leather-clad Fenders over the years, which served as his main stage guitars.

Those (5) are: The No. 1 & No. 2 (both ‘53s); a 1950 Broadcaster; a ‘67; and a 1990 Custom Shop.

Where are they now?

• The No. 1 remains w/ the family.
• The No. 2 is currently available to purchase.
• The Broadcaster is owned by Keith URBAN.
• The ‘67 is owned by Keith RICHARDS.
• The ‘90 is owned by an estate in the NW USA.

More to follow…

 

[Waylor-One]

To begin the discussion, this is a copy of a post I wrote a number of years ago, in response to a question posed on a YouTube video (youtube.com/watch?v=pvtwj3KpkWY&list=PL5FD9C8D1E40D2E42). Waylon Guitars

Hope it helps...

Waylon is known to have used only FIVE wholly-covered guitars on stage throughout his career.

They are:

1) The No. 1 Tele - a gift from The Waylors on the occasion of his 27th birthday {1964}; the tattered ol '53 Tele cost 20 bux, and they paid the janitor at Wild Bill's {Howard TURNER} 40 bux to cover it; WAJ pulled this No. 1 from its retirement for the Waymore Blues Band tours; remains in the family

2) The No. 2 Tele - slightly different pattern, especially in the area below the control knobs; now owned by a collector in Cali. {J.R.} EDIT: since acquired by a retailer in the UK (2017); subsequently sold to a collector; and now available again at an auction house in Cali.

3) The 1950 Broadcaster - blackguard; standee photo; DoH theme 45 sleeve; owned now by Keith URBAN. {WAJ gave to Reggie YOUNG, Nicole purchased from him via Christie's, USD 99,500}

4) The 1967 Tele - odd-ball pattern; DoH opening; now owned by Keith RICHARDS

5) The 1990 Custom Shop Tele - modeled after the No. 1; main stage guitar from 1990 til 1997; now owned by a Circuit Court judge in the NW USA

From 1995, Waylon also used his Custom Shop Tribute Tele prototype, of which he had three. These, of course, featured a bound body w/ a leather-tooled inlay.

The black-guarded '53 of which you speak is wholly irrelevant to this discussion as it was not EVER played on stage by Waylon in its current state. In fact, it was UNcovered until long after Waylon first engaged the services of Dave KYLE to dispose of his gear in 1998. The guitar did not sell for the longest while, sold, and later came back into Dave's possession. He decided, "hey - perhaps this will sell better if it's covered!!". He hired it covered by one of the chaps who did a lotta work for Waylon over the years {the same chap who, incidentally, also did the tooling for 1978's WAYLON & WILLIE album cover. }. Dave KYLE erroneously referred to this guitar as the No. 2...but, it was not. The No. 2 had been previously sold to the aforementioned collector in Cali.

In October of 2014, a major crisis was narrowly averted when this comparatively insignificant guitar was initially advertised for sale at Guernsey's Waylon Memorabilia Auction...as the No. 2.

Throughout the years, Waylon had INNUMERABLE Teles covered and gave them away, primarily for charitable causes, but --- none of these played even a remote role in the oft-confused history of Waylon's Guitars.

Should you wish further information, I'd be pleased to answer any questions that you may have.

Cheers.

 

[dlew919]

That’s great information. Thanks.

I’m slightly curious. How much is that one for sale going for?

 

[Waylor-One]

That’s great information. Thanks.

I’m slightly curious. How much is that one for sale going for?

To be determined…it’s up for auction.

 

[Happy Enchilada]

So when will Tandy come out with a DIY Waylon guitar cover kit?
That would be a fun winter project!

 

[Esquire Bob]

Thanks, love anything to do with Waylon

 

[Crobbins]

So when will Tandy come out with a DIY Waylon guitar cover kit?
That would be a fun winter project!

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[Waylor-One]

Kruse GWS, a California auction house, has recently listed what it bills as Waylon’s No. 2 Tele.

In looking at the listing, what’s the very first thing you noticed?

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/126/item/waylon-jennings-1953-number-2-fender-telecaster-25248/

 

[d barham]

The odd tuner on the low E string?

 

[Mr. St. Paul]

Kruse GWS, a California auction house, has recently listed what it bills as Waylon’s No. 2 Tele.

In looking at the listing, what’s the very first thing you noticed?

https://bid.gwsauctions.com/auction/126/item/waylon-jennings-1953-number-2-fender-telecaster-25248/

Only one thing?

It doesn't match up with the guitar Waylon is playing in the second picture:

Different pickups

Can't see the saddles because of Waylon's right hand, but it's got the raised edges of a 1950s Fender bridge. The guitar up for auction is a modern 6-saddle bridge.

Something is seriously messed up with the string tree for the B and E strings.

The leather work on the auction guitar doesn't match up with the one Waylon is playing, especially around the control plate.

 

[Mr. St. Paul]

Also, the wear patterns on the fingerboard don't seem to match up--but lighting/angle can affect that.

 

[TeleBackelaer]

Not to mention they cleaned up that fretboard pretty nicely and made sure the pickguard sits extra tight by adding three screws!

 

[Waylor-One]

Only one thing?

It doesn't match up with the guitar Waylon is playing in the second picture:

Different pickups

Can't see the saddles because of Waylon's right hand, but it's got the raised edges of a 1950s Fender bridge. The guitar up for auction is a modern 6-saddle bridge.

Something is seriously messed up with the string tree for the B and E strings.

The leather work on the auction guitar doesn't match up with the one Waylon is playing, especially around the control plate.

While the listing is for the No. 2 Tele, they’ve included an image of him playing the No. 1

Good eye!

 

[Waylor-One]

The odd tuner on the low E string?

All (5) of Waylon’s fully covered main stage guitars had a Scruggs tuner on low E. And, so too did the various C/S Artist Tribute Series Teles he used.

These images are of the actual No. 2 Tele being offered for purchase.

 

[Waylor-One]

Not to mention they cleaned up that fretboard pretty nicely and made sure the pickguard sits extra tight by adding three screws!

The pick guard has been that way since being covered.

 

[Waylor-One]

(Deleted)

 

[Fretting out]

While the listing is for the No. 2 Tele, they’ve included an image of him playing the No. 1

Good eye!

I noticed the wear on the neck, thought “maybe it was refinished during a fret job”

I’m not familiar with Waylon though

The odd tuner on the low E string?
@d barham That’s a “Keith” banjo tuner used for accurate detuning

Go take a listen to earl scruggs flint hill special, that’s basically what they were invented to do so he and others could d tune within a song bringing it back to pitch as an effect

 

[TeleBackelaer]

While the listing is for the No. 2 Tele, they’ve included an image of him playing the No. 1

Good eye!

Ah that explains a lot

 

[RodeoTex]

Cool thread.
Why all the Waylon threads right now?

 

[Waylor-One]

As an update:

The No. 2 was offered at auction in Cali last October, and in spite of reaching a top bid of USD 55,000 — did not sell.

The 1990 Custom Shop, a close copy of his No. 1, sold at auction last May and brought USD 130,000 for the owner’s widow & orphans.

The Waylon Tele-related buzz this week is the Fender Custom Shop Relic, in a limited run of (70) units, and offered at just USD 25,000

For addt’l info on Waylon’s Fenders, please visit: www.Facebook.com/WaylonGuitars