In early June a large selection of items were sold that belonged to the legendary Les Paul. Although always associated with Gibson guitars, one of the items under the hammer was a 1951 Nocaster given to him by Leo Fender. The guitar with Leo's signature on the back of the headstock carries the serial number 1751 and the nack date says 5-10-51 and had the initials TG. The guide price was $40,000 - $60,000 but it trebled the higher estimate making $180,000 and with all the other fees etc added to it it came to a whopping $216,000 according to the sales results listed on the auctioneers website. And before you ask no it wasn't me!!!!!

Heres a photo of the guitar

Picked up my 2012 FSR Antigua Telecaster yesterday and what a stunner it is. The finish is excellent with the dark to light blending nicely. The pickguard is a 1 ply guard and is finished in the same Antigua burst so that it compliments the body beautifully. The Tuning machines are vintafe style 70s F stamped tuners. My one on only small point is that the neck plate is a plain chrome one, a nice F logo plate would have complimented the tuners nicely. Not to worry I have one on order. Overall 9/10. well done...Fender!!!!!

Just read on the web that the Antigua telecasters are limited to 300 guitars worldwide, that include 180 being released to the USA. So only 120 for the rest of the world. Compare that to the Stratocasters and they are making 200 more of them with 500 being made available worldwide with 380 in the USA.

Fender has decided to do an FSR (Factory Short Run) of the very rare Antigue finish. This years models, i believe only 150 will be available in the USA, not sure of UK figures, will feature on Mexican made Telecaster. They will have vintage frets, vintage F tuners and a U shaped neck. The previous incarnations were buitl in japan in the early naughties and the US in the late seventies. The Japanese finsh was a lot greener than the US finish and these reissued models. can't wait mones on order and eposit paid.