1963 Fender Telecaster – Rare Custom Colour Alder Body – Flip City / Elvis Costello History

A rare and historically fascinating 1963 Fender Telecaster with an exceptional story behind it.

This Telecaster was previously owned by Steve Hazlehurst, the guitarist of Flip City, the band in which Elvis Costello played during the period just before his breakthrough. This gives the guitar a unique connection to Costello’s early years and the British music scene of the era.

The provenance is well documented and can be substantiated with original photographs, supporting documentation and correspondence relating to the guitar and its ownership history. In addition, there is video footage of Steve Hazlehurst himself playing this exact guitar during the period of his ownership.

Copies of the relevant photographs and documentation can be provided to serious prospective buyers upon request.

The Guitar

1963 was a year in which relatively few Telecasters were produced. This particular example is even more unusual as it was originally finished in a Custom Colour. Original Custom Colour Telecasters from this period are considerably rarer than the more common finishes.

In the early 1970s, the original sunburst finish was stripped and the body was refinished in natural. This beautifully exposes the alder body, a particularly interesting and rare feature on a 1963 Telecaster. Alder was predominantly used by Fender for Custom Colour instruments during this period, making the visible alder body an important detail of this guitar.

Original body dates are present in the cavities.

The guitar remains largely original. The main exceptions are the neck pickup and pickguard. At some point in its history, the guitar had been routed for a humbucker in the neck position. This routing has since been professionally restored. The current pickguard is a late-1960s example.

Sound & Playability

Beyond its history and rarity, this is simply a fantastic-sounding and great-playing vintage Telecaster.

It has a very comfortable weight and delivers the open, dynamic and characterful tone you would expect from a good early-‘60s Fender. A real player’s instrument with an exceptional story and plenty of vintage character.

Highlights

• 1963 Fender Telecaster
• Originally finished in a rare Custom Colour
• Rare alder body
• Original body dates present in the cavities
• Original sunburst removed and body refinished natural in the early 1970s
• Historical connection to Flip City / Elvis Costello
• Previously owned by the guitarist of Flip City
• Largely original
• Neck pickup replaced; previously routed for a humbucker, routing now restored
• Late-1960s replacement pickguard
• Excellent sound and playability
• Very comfortable weight
• Exceptional history and vintage character

Partial trades involving vintage Fender instruments will be considered.