Elvis Presley's Fender guitar is for sale. It was built in California
Skip to content
Advertisement

Elvis Presley's Fender guitar is for sale: Own a piece of Rock & Roll history that was built in California

It's an all-rosewood guitar built by Fender for the King himself

a prototype rosewood telecaster built for elvis
SS Vintage/Reverb.com
a prototype rosewood telecaster built for elvis
SOURCE: SS Vintage/Reverb.com
Advertisement
Elvis Presley's Fender guitar is for sale: Own a piece of Rock & Roll history that was built in California

It's an all-rosewood guitar built by Fender for the King himself

In 1968 the Fender Musical Instrument Company, based in California, built a series of six guitars that they were positioning for some famous musicians.One of those six, a Fender Telecaster made entirely out of rosewood from body to neck, is up for sale on Reverb.com.But before you balk and wonder what makes this such a find...the instrument was built and sent to rock and roll's King himself — Elvis Presley.Presley did use the guitar intermittently. According to the seller, SS Vintage out of Chicago, Illinois, it "plays like butter" and notes sustain for a very long time when played. Yet, according to a letter from then-Fender representative Eddie Miller, Elvis sent the guitar back to Fender saying it was too heavy.You, however, can judge for yourself if you have the money. The "Buy It Now" tab will set you back $295,000 on the site. It has the provenance to prove its background including Elvis' name scratched into the back of the pickguard of the guitar.Still, this is one of six. Two of the others — which are not for sale as far as we know right now — were in similarly famous hands.One went to Steve Cropper, guitarist and writer for the famed Stax records crew. Cropper played with Booker T and the MG's, along with writing or co-writing some of the label's most famous songs, including Otis Redding's posthumously released "Dock of the Bay."The other Telecaster made a splash in a documentary released earlier this year. George Harrison was the recipient of the Fender Rosewood Tele and used it during the famous rooftop concert that now closes the Beatles' Get Back documentary. The site says Elvis' Telecaster is predicted to sell soon.

In 1968 the Fender Musical Instrument Company, based in California, built a series of six guitars that they were positioning for some famous musicians.

One of those six, a Fender Telecaster made entirely out of rosewood from body to neck, is up for sale on Reverb.com.

Advertisement

But before you balk and wonder what makes this such a find...the instrument was built and sent to rock and roll's King himself — Elvis Presley.

Rosewood telecaster
Fender

Presley did use the guitar intermittently. According to the seller, SS Vintage out of Chicago, Illinois, it "plays like butter" and notes sustain for a very long time when played. Yet, according to a letter from then-Fender representative Eddie Miller, Elvis sent the guitar back to Fender saying it was too heavy.

You, however, can judge for yourself if you have the money. The "Buy It Now" tab will set you back $295,000 on the site. It has the provenance to prove its background including Elvis' name scratched into the back of the pickguard of the guitar.

Still, this is one of six. Two of the others — which are not for sale as far as we know right now — were in similarly famous hands.

One went to Steve Cropper, guitarist and writer for the famed Stax records crew. Cropper played with Booker T and the MG's, along with writing or co-writing some of the label's most famous songs, including Otis Redding's posthumously released "Dock of the Bay."

The other Telecaster made a splash in a documentary released earlier this year. George Harrison was the recipient of the Fender Rosewood Tele and used it during the famous rooftop concert that now closes the Beatles' Get Back documentary.

The site says Elvis' Telecaster is predicted to sell soon.