In early 1951, Fender renamed its only production solid-body guitar the Telecaster, replacing the short-lived Broadcaster moniker used in late 1950. The Telecaster quickly became the guitar of its age, propelling the status of the solid-body electric guitar from novelty to the defining instrument of popular music. The Custom Telecaster of the '60s (not to be confused with the later Telecaster Custom of the '70s), was essentially the same as the regular Telecaster but with some cosmetic changes. The Custom Telecaster came standard with a Rosewood fingerboard, white binding on its front and back, and with a sunburst finish. Examples do exist using other custom finishes.  

Body Style: Single cutaway solid-body

Wood Composition: Ash, Maple neck, slab Rosewood fingerboard

Design Elements:  Two single-coil pickups, white plastic pickguard,  volume and tone controls, 25 1/2-inch scale length, string thur-body, white body binding

Finish Specifications: Sunburst was a standard finish for the Custom Telecaster.

Notable Tele Players: Keith Richards, Merle Haggard, Johnny Greenwood, James Burton