Yes, friends, you're seeing right: a a very, very, VERY rare early 1968 Custom Telecaster in original custom-color Candy Apple Red with rosewood fretboard. How many others have you ever seen?

The guitar plays and sings like a beauty. VERY twangy in the bridge position, and exceptionally chimey and sweet in the neck.

The guitar has been played, you can appreciate the weather checking and natural ageing from almost 50 years of use. Note the classic "scar" from the chrome bridge cover. The Candy Apple Red finish is entirely original (NO oversprays, refinishes, etc.), and blacklights perfectly as well. Check out the neck pocket stamps. No cavity re-routes, either. Pickups are original (bridge pickup dated "1-25-68", January, 25th, 1968). Everything in this guitar is original, except a refret and a new nut (probably). Volume pot was switched sometime in the '80s for a "trendy" DiMarzio (gross!), but we've put a period-correct CTS back in. Pots date to 1966, as in all 1966-1969 Fenders.

The neck has significant playwear, with the bare wood exposed in some areas. The original owner didn't like the feel and applied a partial overspray to the exposed area of the back of the neck, which was simple to remove though time-consuming, but definitely worth the effort.

Neck stamp dates to October 1967. This is a clear transitional 67/68 Telecaster example. Headstock logo is the transition-style one, so no "Custom Telecaster" designation would normally appear (in fact, I've never seen a transition logo Custom Tele with the "Custom" designation... ever).

Also, a string tree was added, which we've removed. Beautiful dark and figured rosewood board.

NO neck breaks or cracks of any kind. Includes OHSC with Fender logo and red interior, and original chromed bridge ashtray cover.

Weight is 3366 grams.

Folks, this is as rare as it gets. As you can see, the issues are minor, and you'll definitely be hard-pressed to find another one... at least in the next decade, IF you do. VERY rare and collectable guitar.

Details:

Model: Custom Telecaster
Year: 1967/68 transitional period
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, "medium C" profile, nitro finish
Weight: 7.42 lbs (3,366 gr)
Fretboard: Rounded "veneer" rosewood
Radius: 7.25" (184mm)
Frets: 21
Scale: 25.5"(648mm)
Nut width: 1.650"(42mm)
Hardware: Nickel/Chrome
Tuners: Kluson with "F" logo
Bridge: Telecaster 3-saddle bridge
Pickguard: 3-Ply White 
Pickups: Original (bridge written "1-25-68")
Switching: original 3-way switch
Controls: Volume, Tone
Color: Candy Apple Red 
Finish: Nitro
Accessories: OHSC with red interior, original chrome bridge cover