Terry Kath CHICAGO Fender Baja Telecaster Tribute / Relic Tele

THE PAINTED PLAYER Guitar Co.®

THE TERRY KATH "CHICAGO" TRIBUTE TELECASTER
Supreme Edition

A too often unsung guitar hero, Terry Kath, one of the founding members and original lead guitarist of the iconic rock band “Chicago” is revered and respected for his incredible skill and the ‘Ray Charles’ inspired vocal tones that gave the band something so unique that it set them apart in a see of traditional rock bands of the period.  Kath himself was an explorer, he dabbled with various guitars and effects units over the years and had a strong relationship with the Gibson Les Paul “Professional” in the late 60’s but it was his love-affair with a heavily modified Butterscotch Blonde Fender Telecaster that would become his best loved and most celebrated guitar.  As Telecasters all featured traditional 3-saddle bridges at the time he acquired it, Kath took it upon himself to cut the ashtray unit in half and fit a Fender Stratocaster bridge in place of the original 3-saddle section – removing the tremolo block and Hardtail mounting the bridge to give him 6-saddles for full intonation and versatility.  After drilling and separately mounting the ashtray pickup ‘surround’, the original scratchplate was discarded and a Humbucker routed for and fitted in the neck position, combining the best of both Fender and Gibson in the one guitar – an approach later adopted by Keith Richards in his “Micawber” Telecaster. 

With the Telecaster’s modifications complete, Kath (who actually founded the Pignose Amplifier company along with the other members of “Chicago”) then adorned the guitar with everything that had a special place in his heart, including a Maico motorcycle sticker, Chicago Blackhawks sticker and 25 Pignose Amplifier stickers along with the ‘press-outs’ for each one!  It gave the guitar not only a striking visual dynamic but injected his personality into and instrument that would come to define tracks such as “25 or 6 to 4” – arguably Kath’s finest hour and featuring some of the most potent musicianship ever committed to a record since Clapton’s solo from “Deserted Cities of the Heart”.

This TPP Supreme Edition Terry Kath "Chicago" Tribute Telecaster has been crafted using a beautiful Fender Custom Shop "Baja" Telecaster, featuring all the classic touches that made the original guitar so fabulous, custom made Strat / Tele bridge, Seymour Duncan Humbucker in the neck position and reproduction stickers and presented in a stunning VOS Light Relic finish based upon archive images of the original instrument and comes complete with Vintage Fender USA Tweed Hardcase FREE with 'Buy it now' - this is a true collector's item and one for the dedicated player that demands more than just the 'run of the mill' from their Telecaster.

- Hardcase supplied may vary subject to availability -

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Please note: International buyers are responsible for any and all import duties / custom tax that may be applicable (if any)

If you purchase this instrument with a best offer the case is not included, but you may contact us to order this special hard case as an extra.

We are The Painted Player Guitar Co., a UK-based team of dedicated luthiers and artists that specialise in producing some of the most sought after and stunning tribute guitars and custom made one-offs in the world.