We all know the old cliché—"it's what's inside that counts"—and sure enough, this week's Find of the Week is plenty proof: it's a rare 1968 "Smugglers" Fender Telecaster.
A little backstory: in 1967, the Fender team received a shipment of heavy ash wood. In an effort to remain economical and use what they had, they began experimenting with methods of making their guitars lighter. One strategy was to rout out the chambers underneath the pickguard to shed some of the weight, long before that evolved into the standard practice for building Thinlines and semi-hollowbodies.
When these guitars were introduced right around the Summer of Love and the peak of psychedelia, users naturally believed these cavities served a different purpose: to smuggle certain substances. Thus, the "Smuggler's Telecaster" as gearheads know it was born.
Boasting a blonde re-finish and retaining its original body and neck, this particular Smuggler's Tele comes with its original case and is equipped with new custom wound pickups, pots, and hardware. Not only is the original lacquer finish present on the neck, but it also appears in its pocket as well as areas within the smuggler's rout.
One can only hope that whoever buys this rare beauty doesn't wind up in trouble with the TSA. Check out the full listing for more pictures and details, and to make an offer on this classic vintage showpiece.