Fender · Telecaster · 1954–1965
Fender swapped the Telecaster's black guard for white plastic in 1954, and the whiteguard years run until CBS took over in 1965. A lot changed along the way. The serial moved from the bridge plate to the neck plate, steel saddles replaced brass, custom colors became an extra-cost option in 1958, and a rosewood fretboard arrived in 1959, slab first and then a thinner veneer from 1962. Late in 1963 every Tele got a three-ply guard. These were working guitars. Muddy Waters shocked British audiences with his Telecaster on a 1958 tour, Clarence White and Gene Parsons built the first B-Bender into White's 1956, and Jimmy Page played the 'Stairway to Heaven' solo on his '59. The blonde, maple-neck Tele of the mid-1950s is the classic look, the rosewood-board ones from 1959 on give the same sound with a different feel, and original custom colors are the rare ones. Expect play wear and some changed parts, and buy the guitar whose serial, neck date, pot codes and finish all tell the same story.
From mid-1954 the serial moved to the neck plate, and an L prefix marks 1963–1965. Necks carry a pencil date until early 1962 and an ink stamp after, and the pickguard helps too, single-ply white until late 1963 and three-ply after.
Single-ply guards warp and lift, and rewired switching, swapped saddles and tuners and added neck humbuckers are all common. A refinish or a routed body costs the most collector value.
Buying guide
We'd buy the 1960 Tahitian Coral with a slab board and case from a US dealer at $19,950 delivered, a custom color near the bottom of the $19,325–38,850 delivered band. About 8 are listed, and on this page the two titled refinished, a 1960 at $29,709 and a 1957 at $50,734 from the same Japanese dealer, ask more than the 1965 titled original at $19,000, so the ask alone tells you little about originality. A custom color is only worth paying for if it's factory, so ask for photos under the pickguard and in the cavities (unpainted nail holes, no overspray), the neck plate serial, the neck heel date and the neck-pickup route, which shouldn't be widened for a humbucker. Skip the 1954 conversion that adds $6,169 shipping from Japan, and confirm the year on the listing titled both 69 and 1960.
$18,749.00est. delivered
The lowest delivered whiteguard with a believable year, a 1959 or 1960 slab board in Daphne Blue at $18,749 delivered from a US seller. The title doesn't say original finish, and a custom color at this price needs photos under the guard to show it isn't a refinish.
1959 - 1960 Pe-CBS Fender Telecaster Slab Board Daphne Blue
$19,949.99est. delivered
A custom-color 1960 slab board with a case at $19,950 delivered, about $9,750 under the refinished 1960 from Japan. Ask for the neck heel date and a photo under the guard to confirm the coral is factory paint.
1960 Fender Telecaster Pre-CBS Vintage Guitar Slab Board Tahitian Coral w/ Case
$19,000.00+ ship
The only listing titled original, a 1965 in blue from a US seller that takes offers. Shipping isn't stated, and CBS took over in 1965, so look for an L-prefix serial and ask which Fender blue it is.
Original Vintage Fender Telecaster 1965 Blue
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$18,749.00est. delivered
$18,499.00 + $250.00 shipping
Buy It Now$18,499.00
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.
Good buy
Titled Daphne Blue, slab board. Not titled original finish. In the US.
Seller: iwantthatguitar
100% positive
Used$19,949.99est. delivered
$19,599.99 + $350.00 shipping
Buy It Now$19,599.99
Good buy
Titled Tahitian Coral, slab board, with case. In the US.
Seller: mmguitarbar
99.5% positive
Used$19,000.00+ shipping
$19,000.00 · shipping not stated
Buy It Now$19,000.00
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.
Good buy
Titled original, 1965, blue. Shipping not stated.
Seller: davesvintagecomics
100% positive
Used$29,708.92delivered
$29,708.92 · free shipping
Buy It Now$29,708.92
Our take
Titled refinished, slab board. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
Used$31,848.56delivered
$31,848.56 · free shipping
Buy It Now$31,848.56
Our take
Titled 1963, nothing else claimed. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
Used$50,734.26delivered
$50,734.26 · free shipping
Buy It Now$50,734.26
Our take
Titled refinish, the top ask here. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
Used$15,245.62delivered
$15,245.62 · free shipping
Buy It Now$15,245.62
Check the seller
Title says both 69 and 1960. Confirm the year from the neck plate and heel. Ships from Japan.
Seller: eastislandcrew
100% positive
Used$45,840.79est. delivered
$39,671.95 + $6,168.84 shipping
Buy It Now$39,671.95
Priced high
Titled conversion, with $6,169 shipping. Ask what was converted. Ships from Japan.
Seller: hard-off-japan
99.3% positive
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