Original Paisley & Blue Flower Tele Appreciation Thread

[Highnumbers]

Out of the many Telecaster variations, the original Paisley and Blue Flower models of 1968-1969 are some of my favorite.

On top of being spectacular players (like most late 60s Teles), I love the quirky story of these guitars - how Fender decided to capitalize on the psychedelic "Summer of Love" by putting the wildest possible finish on their most conservative model. No wonder they weren't popular at the time!

Consequently, these were only offered for about one year so they are sort of rare in the world of vintage Fenders.

I'm fortunate enough to own an example of each color, both '68 maple cap necks with plenty of wear.

If you have one of these guitars, share it here!

 

[ChicknPickn]

Out of the many Telecaster variations, the original Paisley and Blue Flower models of 1968-1969 are some of my favorite.

On top of being spectacular players (like most late 60s Teles), I love the quirky story of these guitars - how Fender decided to capitalize on the psychedelic "Summer of Love" by putting the wildest possible finish on their most conservative model. No wonder they weren't popular at the time!

Consequently, these were only offered for about one year so they are sort of rare in the world of vintage Fenders.

I'm fortunate enough to own an example of each color, both '68 maple cap necks with plenty of wear.

If you have one of these guitars, share it here!
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Looks like a comfy rig.

 

[Highnumbers]

The pink paisley above is pretty straightforward, just some fading of the pink to gold on front/back.

The blue flower is another story. This came from the original owner's son in the UK, apparently his dad owned it since the late 60s, and gigged it extensively in numerous Manchester-area bands. The neck is super worn (fretboard wear and the board edges were heavily rolled), yet surprisingly still on tired original frets.

The finish was lifting all over the front and back of the body, as these guitars are known to do. I could post a totally separate thread on this, but basically the adhesive between the Borden Cling-Foil and the body starts to give up and the finish lifts up from the wood. I remedied this by carefully injecting strong glue under all lifting areas of the finish and clamping the body between thick plexiglas. Works like a charm and the finish is securely on there now.

Hogy (Holger Notzel) refretted the neck perfectly and it plays great now.

Like most exported guitars to the UK, it was sold new with a Selmer case.

Here's the guitar not long after it was purchased.

Anyway, enough of my stuff. Please share if you have one of these guitars (or basses!)

 

[Lefty McGuffin]

In 1974 I went with some friends to Ziegler’s music in Aurora IL. I was 17, my friends a little older. We bought some small items, stings and picks likely and a friend bought an import violin bass. The owner told of a paisley Tele he had upstairs. I was aware of them because of James Burton and was intrigued. He mentioned a price that I no longer recall but while I didn’t have cash with me I knew I could get it. He refused to even show us the guitar. I suppose he figured a high school kid wasn’t worthy. I no longer have any of the cool guitars of my youth except for my ‘73 D35 but I would still have that one if only….

I did pickup a MIJ blue flower a few years ago but still not the same.

 

[daves561]

My '69 seems to have escaped being played at all for the past 53 years.

 

[Highnumbers]

@daves561 wow, that is in spectacular shape! Really nice Paisley.

I’m not sure how far into 1969 they made these guitars, but it does seem like you see less in ‘69 (with the one-piece neck). Pretty cool.

 

[slack]

If one is researching these, or searching this forum for posts by those of us who've owned them and discussed them in the past... I might politely point out that the model is technically called "Blue Floral." Even well-known vintage shops market them wrong.

 

[Fretting out]

Cool! You don’t see too many original florals

I have a late 80’s reissue

Don’t have an original yet

 

[Highnumbers]

If one is researching these, or searching this forum for posts by those of us who've owned them and discussed them in the past... I might politely point out that the model is technically called "Blue Floral." Even well-known vintage shops market them wrong.

Technically speaking, "Blue Floral" is not correct.

 

[Highnumbers]

While we're reveling in our pedantry, I should note that the pink paisley guitars were technically called "Paisley Red" for reasons unknown.

Then again, around this same time period Fender introduced "Competition Burgundy" Mustang that was actually..... dark Blue.

 

[slack]

Btw, can you tell if either of yours have a diagonal channel rout?

 

[BlueGillGreg]

I'm not into the "relic"ing of new guitars, but I love that those two have clearly earned their looks. I was wondering about the difference in board wear, thanks for the bit about the trans Atlantic history of the blue one. As soon as I saw the red one my mind went straight to the transition between first position playing behind vocals and jumping to an anchor on the 12th fret with lots of bends on frets 12 to 15 in the solo... or at least that's what that fingerboard evokes for me. I can smell the beer, sweat, and cigarette smoke and feel the elbows in my side by looking at that guitar. Excellent.

 

[Galen1960]

My '69 seems to have escaped being played at all for the past 53 years.

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Nice! Nice doggie too.

 

[Sax-son]

While we're reveling in our pedantry, I should note that the pink paisley guitars were technically called "Paisley Red" for reasons unknown.

Then again, around this same time period Fender introduced "Competition Burgundy" Mustang that was actually..... dark Blue.


View attachment 1028684

I remember testing these out back when they were brand new at Wallichs Music City in Hollywood in the summer of 1968 (I think?) or possible early 1969, and although I thought they played pretty well, I wasn't sure about paisley color job. Contrary to popular belief, most players I knew were apprehensive about these. Time has its rewards though, and I was close to pulling the trigger on one, but I ended up buying a nice Gibson SG for less money from a guy who needed to sell it.

I later purchased a Japanese version witch I am pretty happy with, and the quality is good.

 

[Highnumbers]

I'm not into the "relic"ing of new guitars, but I love that those two have clearly earned their looks. I was wondering about the difference in board wear, thanks for the bit about the trans Atlantic history of the blue one. As soon as I saw the red one my mind went straight to the transition between first position playing behind vocals and jumping to an anchor on the 12th fret with lots of bends on frets 12 to 15 in the solo... or at least that's what that fingerboard evokes for me. I can smell the beer, sweat, and cigarette smoke and feel the elbows in my side by looking at that guitar. Excellent.

That's a very astute observation. On many maple neck 50s-60s Fenders, you can sometimes tell if the previous owner was the rhythm player (with wear at the first couple positions) or the band's lead guitarist, or sometimes both.

Both of these Teles have wear all over the board, but the Blue Flower is far more pronounced. In fact, the edges of the board were naturally rolled quite extremely. It's pretty comfortable, now that it's been refretted.

 

[Highnumbers]

although I thought they played pretty well, I wasn't sure about paisley color job. Contrary to popular belief, most players I knew were apprehensive about these.

It seems like people generally understand that these guitars weren't overwhelmingly popular in 1968-1969, hence why they are fairly rare today. They've grown a following over the years though, and like I mentioned in my first post above, their failure from a product mktg perspective is one of the intriguing aspects to me.

 

[Rusty]

@daves561I’m not sure how far into 1969 they made these guitars, but it does seem like you see less in ‘69 (with the one-piece neck). Pretty cool.

Mine and James Burton's are both from August '69...Vince Gill's is a '69, but I don't know which month. George Gruhn told me 20 years ago that he had hardly ever seen '69s, and a search on Reverb ads only shows '68s atm...crazy!

I bought mine from Wanda Jackson's lead picker, Tex Wilburn, and had Glaser's shop do the frets back when Floyd Cassista was still there.

 

[Highnumbers]

Nice one @Rusty ! I never knew that Burton's was a '69 or that the factory made them that far into the year.

It does seem like the '69s are a bit rarer. Some folks prefer the earlier maple cap necks, but it's just a matter of preference (I think the profiles are pretty similar between the two).

I know of a couple other '69 models on the market that aren't on Reverb (including one Blue Flower).

 

[4Teles]

I’ve owned two. This one is from Jan ‘69 but the neck is November ‘68. The Paisley in the case was a ‘68 and my first one. It’s tone didn’t suit me and it weighed more than I like to hold. I sold it to a friend who’s a member here and it eventually ended up with Tom Petty

 

[thesjkexperienc]

That’s one guitar I’m going to copy. Maybe not exactly but a cool pattern. They definitely shock you in a world of sonic blue or white guitars.