As it approaches its 75th anniversary, the Telecaster stands apart as an unrivaled achievement. It is, without a doubt, one of the most consequential inventions in the history of mankind, a symbol of simple dedication to craft—the perfect combination of form and function.

The original Fender color chart, released in 1960, included fourteen chromatic offerings that played directly off the colors being used in the automotive industry, which made for a lot of beautiful photos of a Tele riding shotgun in a Bel-Air. It included nine DuPont Duco nitrocellulose finishes and five DuPont Lucite acrylic finishes

Maybe we’re just guitar geeks (ok, we 100% are), but understanding what makes a Tele, a Tele (or a Strat, a Strat) gives you a more intimate relationship with the music you consume; will help you make more informed decisions about purchasing a guitar; and honestly, is just plain interesting!

Since becoming an official part of Fender’s Custom Color chart in 1963, the super-sweet red tones of this finish have become nearly synonymous with Fender’s name; hell, we get excited every time we get a new Candy Apple Red on the wall!