From Planet Rock.
When the world was first introduced to Led Zeppelin with two echoing chords in ‘Good Times Bad Times’ back in 1969 few people, let alone Jimmy Page himself. would have been able to predict the effect the band would have on rock music.
And the sound of that album was all largely down to one guitar, as Jimmy explains in a new video shared by Fender, who have recreated the mirrored / dragon Tele (one guitar, two incarnations, in case you’re confused) as an extremely limited edition, available only in runs of 50.
Jimmy Page’s custom mirrored & dragon guitar ⓒ Fender
The film tells of how Jimmy was gifted the plain white Telecaster by Jeff Beck after Page had recommended him for the position of lead guitarist in The Yardbirds.
The extravagant animations, partnered with Jimmy Page’s narration, go on to recount how Jimmy began customising the Tele, first with mirrors to catch stage lights, and then later by stripping it and putting his art school skills to good use, painting the vibrant dragon design, and adding a reflective pick guard.
Fancy snaring yourself one? Well, you’ll have to do some hunting to find the dragon issue for sale, listed as it currently is with no price. But the mirrored version is yours for a snip at $2,500.
And whatever happened to the original dragon Tele? Well, that’s actually a bit of a sad story, as Jimmy told Guitar World in 1998: “I still have it, but it’s a tragic story. I went on tour with (a) ’59 Les Paul that I bought from Joe Walsh, and when I got back, a friend of mine had kindly painted over my paint job. He said, ‘I’ve got a present for you.’ He thought he had done me a real favour.
As you can guess, I wasn’t real happy about that. His paint job totally screwed up the sound and the wiring, so only the neck pickup worked. I salvaged the neck and put it on my brown Tele string bender that I used in the Firm (in 1985 and 1986). As for the body, it will never be seen again!”
Lucky for Jimmy, and for us, there are now faithful replicas ready to take its place for generations to come.
Watch the behind-the-scenes making of the custom guitars below:
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- Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II - 70s - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $18.75, €17.55 (New Item) (arrived 25-Apr-2024 12:17)on April 27, 2024 at 2:04 am
LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin II (70s UK issue of the 1969 9-track stereo vinyl LP, glossy non-barcoded gatefold sleeve with the label printed 'K40037'. Gatefold sleeve. The sleeve shows minor foxing and shelfwear, whilst the vinyl displays a couple of faint superficial hairlines and light signs of play - a great play copy offered at an advantageous price K40037) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Led Zeppelin - The Complete Studio Recordings - US - cd album box set - £95.00, $118.75, €111.15 (New Item) (arrived 17-Apr-2024 17:35)on April 27, 2024 at 2:04 am
LED ZEPPELIN The Complete Studio Recordings (1993 US limited edition TEN CD box set featuring all nine studio albums as originally sequenced and digitally remastered by Jimmy Page & George Marino at Sterling Studio in New York, with four bonus tracks. The ten discs are paired up in five hardback book style digipak picture sleeves featuring the original album artwork inside together within an extensive booklet featuring details about the band with lots of great black and white and colour images, housed together in the 6" x 5.5" x 4.5" square picture box. The box displays just a little light general wear and the content remains in a really nice condition)
- Led Zeppelin - Remasters - EX - UK - 3-LP vinyl set - £95.00, $118.75, €111.15 (New Item) (arrived 09-Apr-2024 09:42)on April 27, 2024 at 2:04 am
LED ZEPPELIN Remasters (1990 UK 24-track triple vinyl LP compilation set manufactured in Germany, digitally remastered by Jimmy Page and George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York, in May 1990, tri-fold glossy picture sleeve. The sleeve on thisexample has only minor edgewear and corner scuffs, whilst the vinyl is in near as new condition. An excellent example of this pressing over thirty-years on ZEP1)
- Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV - 6th - Top - UK - vinyl LP - £40.00, $50.00, €46.80 (New Item) (arrived 09-Apr-2024 12:34)on April 27, 2024 at 2:04 am
LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin IV (Mid 1970s UK sixth issue of the classic 1971 8-track vinyl LP, the first issue on the green & orange Atlantic label with the 'Misty Mountain Top' label error. This is probably one of the most recognisable albums in history, with the classic Stairway To Heaven, Rock N Roll & When The Levee Breaks, gatefold picture sleeve complete with album credits/Stairway lyric inner. The cover shows minimal wear, the inner is free of splits and aside from two very fainthairline scuffs, the vinyl appears barely played K50008) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
- Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV - Remastered 180 Gram - Sealed - UK - vinyl LP - £26.99, $33.74, €31.58 (New Item) (arrived 09-Apr-2024 14:37)on April 27, 2024 at 2:04 am
LED ZEPPELIN Led Zeppelin IV (2014 UK/EU 8-track LP, their classic 4th album from 1971 Remastered & Produced by Jimmy Page. Pressed on audiophile quality 180-gram heavyweight vinyl, including Stairway To Heaven, Black Dog and Rock And Roll. Housed inside the iconic gatefold picture sleeve replicating the original cover artwork, hype sticker on the front and Swan Song hologram sticker on the reverse. Factory sealed. Essential) #Top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
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