Fender guitars will launch a series of Jimmy Page signature Telecaster models in January in sync with Led Zeppelin’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Page’s iconic 1959 Telecaster – known for its two “mirror” and “dragon” designs – helped launch the rocker’s career in The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin, and was used to record 1969’s “Led Zeppelin I” along with countless hit songs on world-renowned albums while he was a studio musician.
Page originally received the Telecaster in 1966 from Jeff Beck, who gifted it to Page for recommending him to The Yardbirds. Through the years, the Telecaster took on several looks and personas, as Page customized it aesthetically and sonically. When he first received it, the guitar was undecorated in its factory white blonde finish and remained that way until February 1967, when he added eight circular mirrors to the body. Page played his mirrored Telecaster only briefly in the final years of The Yardbirds, and by mid-1967 he was ready to change the look – he removed the mirrors, completely stripped and repainted the instrument himself, this time hand-painting a mystical dragon on the body.
When Led Zeppelin was formed in October 1968, the Dragon Telecaster became Page’s go-to instrument and he played it on stage and in the studio until 1969.
“This guitar is so special and has so much history, so I approached Fender to see if they’d be interested in recreating it,” says Page. “They really got it 110 percent right, or 150 percent right. It's so absolutely as it is, as it should be, and as it was.”
Fender will release four signature Page guitars throughout 2019, including “Mirror” and “Dragon” models and two custom versions that feature personal touches that are dubbed the “Limited Edition Jimmy Page Telecaster Set.”
For nearly eight months, Page worked closely with Master Builder Paul Waller at the Fender Custom Shop to advise throughout the process, assuring every detail was accurately recreated.
Only 50 units of each Fender Custom Shop model will be made available with personal touches from Page himself, including a handwritten signature on the headstock and hand-painted flourishes on the guitar body’s dragon artwork.
“Jimmy first approached us in February with the idea to recreate this Telecaster, and as we were planning, I could feel his passion throughout the process,” explains Waller. “To achieve his vision, I wanted to get every little detail replicated exactly, so you couldn’t tell the difference from the originals and these models. That’s what we’re known for in the Fender Custom Shop: quality craftsmanship and authenticity.”
“Visiting the Fender Custom Shop to sign and paint the guitars with Paul Waller was a real thrill,” adds Page. “To see all those absolute gems on the wall, it's a pretty amazing experience.”
Fender will also build both mirror and painted versions on its production lines, which will be more accessibly priced for a broader base of fans to purchase. While these will not be hand-signed and hand-painted by the artist, Page did consult with Fender throughout the design process to ensure the guitars are true-to-spec of the original Telecaster.
Fender will reveal the complete model lineup for the Page series in January 2019.
Led Zeppelin recently launched their 50th anniversary with the release of the remastered soundtrack to the concert film, “The Song Remains The Same.”
See also:
Led Zeppelin file appeal over Stairway To Heaven retrial
Led Zeppelin stream new video trailer for official 50th anniversary book
VIDEO: Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin interviewed on CBS This Morning
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page interview to air on CBS This Morning
Search Led Zeppelin at hennemusic
