Fender · Telecaster Custom · 1959–1972 (bound-body version)
Two different Fenders share this name, and listings mix them up all the time. This page covers the first one. Fender showed it at the summer 1959 NAMM show as a dressier Telecaster, with white binding around the top and back of the body, a sunburst finish, a three-ply pickguard and a rosewood fretboard, and its decal actually reads Custom Telecaster. The electronics are the same as a standard Tele. Early bodies were ash and alder shows up later, and buyers willing to pay for binding often ordered a custom color too, so custom-color Customs are proportionally more common than custom-color Teles. Andy Summers bought a battered 1961 from a student and played it, heavily modified, through his years with the Police. The other Telecaster Custom arrived in 1972 with a Wide Range humbucker in the neck, four knobs and a three-bolt neck, and most new listings are reissues of that one. If you want the bound one, check for binding and a single-coil neck pickup in the photos first.
It dates like any pre-CBS Tele, with the neck plate serial (L prefix 1963–1965, F plates from late 1965), the neck heel date and the pot codes. The decal reads Custom Telecaster, with the thin spaghetti logo early and the gold transition logo from about late 1964.
Refinishes are the main worry on sunburst bodies, and many Customs have had pickups, wiring or necks changed, including the neck-humbucker mod Keith Richards made famous. The most common listing mistake is a 1972-style Telecaster Custom or one of its reissues described as the 1959 model.
Buying guide
Supply is thin, with about 6 bound Customs listed, so treat the $13,475–18,675 delivered band as a rough guide, with 1966–1968 sunbursts asking $13,269–29,900. We'd buy the 1968 from Japan at $13,269 delivered or the 1970 with a maple neck at $14,546, but none of these titles claims all original or a refinish, so ask for photos under the guard (unpainted nail holes, no overspray), the neck plate serial, the neck heel date and the pot backs. Check the photos for white binding top and back and a single-coil neck pickup, since the 1972 Telecaster Custom with a neck humbucker is a different guitar. Skip the 1967 titled NO BIND from a 50% seller, and ask hard questions about the 1960 one-owner at $9,514 delivered, about $3,750 under the cheapest 1968.
$13,269.00delivered
The lowest delivered Custom with a believable price for its year, a 1968 sunburst with free shipping from Japan, though you may owe import duty. The title makes no originality claim, so ask what's been replaced and whether a hard case comes with it.
Fender 1968 Custom Telecaster Sunburst
$14,546.08delivered
A 1970 with a maple neck from a 99.8% dealer, inside the band and open to offers. The title calls it a Telecaster Custom, the 1972 model's name, so check the decal reads Custom Telecaster and the neck pickup is a single-coil.
Fender Telecaster Custom Sunburst 1Piece Maple Neck 1970 Electric Guitar
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$13,269.00delivered
$13,269.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$13,269.00
Good buy
Titled 1968 sunburst, no other claims. Ships from Japan.
Seller: spp-international
99.3% positive
Used$14,546.08delivered
$14,546.08 · free shipping
Buy It Now$14,546.08
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1970 with a one-piece maple neck. Ships from Japan.
Seller: lamitie_store
99.8% positive
Used$20,031.34est. delivered
$19,995.00 + $36.34 shipping
Buy It Now$19,995.00
Our take
Titled 1967, serial 204656. Match it to the neck plate. In the US.
Seller: musicglry
100% positive
Used$9,513.72est. delivered
$9,313.72 + $200.00 shipping
Buy It Now$9,313.72
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Titled 1960 and one owner, far under the later ones. Ask for the serial, neck date and pot codes. Ships from Japan.
Seller: ocha4060
99.3% positive
Used$14,135.47est. delivered
$14,000.00 + $135.47 shipping
Buy It Now$14,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Titled NO BIND, and a Custom should be bound. Seller feedback is 50%.
Seller: jooe_64
50% positive
Used$29,900.00delivered
$29,900.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$29,900.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
Titled authentic with a hard case, the top ask here. Ships from Japan.
Seller: nana-e
100% positive
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