With only 600 - 800 specimens ever produced, the Fender Custom (an initial run of the guitar had the name Maverick on the headstock) was essentially a solution to use up all the leftover parts from the failed Electric XII. Thought up by Virgilio "Babe" Simoni, it originally debuted at a higher price than the Telecaster in the 1970 catalog, but was quickly lowered in price after people realized what the guitar really was. 

Despite veneer covering the extra 12-string holes in the peghead and a filler covering a string retainer hole in the back of the instrument, the Custom still featured a high-quality wide neck and dual split-coil pickups. Today good specimens are extremely rare and can still serve as decent player's guitars or collector's items. 

Years of Production: 1969 - 1972