A Telecaster built for Elvis. Truly? Could you/Should you?

[stevo]

A guitar that was built for Elvis that he ultimately sent back. How cool is this? Apparently the kind of cool that $295k will get you. I mean clearly a Tele that was built for Elvis should be worthe something. But...

Postings like this make me realize that there is a whole other dimension to guitar buying that I will never care about or even aspire to and that's "pure collector".

Things are worth what people will pay. But I'm fairly certain that one can have a better playing, better sounding, higher quality build for a fraction of this price.

This being said, how certain can one be? Is it really and truly what it says? What if I get the urge to buy it? How can I assure myself that it's the real deal?

Fender Rosewood Telecaster 1968- 1st Ever Prototype Built For Elvis Presley! Includes Documentation! | Reverb

We are beyond honored to present to you this 1968 Fender Rosewood Telecaster, built for the King himself, Elvis Presley! And on top of being the first one ever made, it's the only one ever made without a skunk stripe on the back of the neck. The guitar comes with documentation, including a verifi...

reverb.com

 

[Londoner]

How can something only "built for Elvis" be worth anything?
Any photos of Elvis holding it? I can't find any.
I could make something and say it was built for Elvis.

 

[Ricochet]

Not good enough for the King, not good enough for me!

 

[Pemberton]

Why $295,000? Why not $500k? How about $750k? Let’s make it a billion dollars!

 

[6120mantis]

If Elvis came back to life and delivered it personally in a pink 56 cadillac and stayed to jam and have cheeseburgers with Scotty and Bill along for the ride it still wouldn't be worth $295,000

 

[Jelly Roll Horton]

Why would Elvis need a Tele? He had James Burton, the Master of the Telecaster. He should have gifted it to James.

 

[Danno]

Maybe I've watched too much true crime tv... Whenever I see outrageous listings I immediately think money laundering. ️

 

[Ricochet]

Too heavy at 9lbs? Was that the real reason? That’s not anywhere near a Norlin pancake LP which were often 11 and over, I think heaviest I’ve seen posted is 15Lbs!

 

[Back in Black]

A guitar that was built for Elvis that he ultimately sent back. How cool is this? Apparently the kind of cool that $295k will get you. I mean clearly a Tele that was built for Elvis should be worthe something. But...

Postings like this make me realize that there is a whole other dimension to guitar buying that I will never care about or even aspire to and that's "pure collector".

Things are worth what people will pay. But I'm fairly certain that one can have a better playing, better sounding, higher quality build for a fraction of this price.

This being said, how certain can one be? Is it really and truly what is says? What if I get the urge to buy it? How can I assure myself that it's the real deal?

Fender Rosewood Telecaster 1968- 1st Ever Prototype Built For Elvis Presley! Includes Documentation! | Reverb

We are beyond honored to present to you this 1968 Fender Rosewood Telecaster, built for the King himself, Elvis Presley! And on top of being the first one ever made, it's the only one ever made without a skunk stripe on the back of the neck. The guitar comes with documentation, including a verifi...

reverb.com

View attachment 199459

Stevo,

This guitar looks to me like the second of two Rosewood Teles that were built for George Harrison.

The second was documented as being a ''spare'', which George never received.

I'm guessing this is that same guitar.

Fender probably figured if it was good enough for George, then it was good enough for Elvis.

This looks like a Reverb ad, so it's anybody's guess.

And...I certainly think that 1/3 of a million dollars could be better spent elsewhere.

Nice story though, which does include George Harrison, just incase the George subject was brought up.

And...after all these years...why now...Lisa Marie's passing????

Sorry, not buying one word.

Just me,

BIB.

 

[Emergence]

A Telecaster is a piece of plank screwed to a stick. CS gets you a better stick and plank than MIM but it’s still a stick and a plank. Pickups are easy enough to change that they’re repeatedly “upgraded” on many Telecasters. Want one like the one Elvis sent back, it’ll make a fun DIY project.

 

[wabash slim]

Didn't George Harrison have one of these?
Robbie Robertson of The Band had a bronzed Tele (or Strat maybe).
The only person I could think of that could want this---and afford it---is Jim Irsay.

 

[Pemberton]

And...I certainly think that 1/3 of a million dollars could be better spent elsewhere.

Yes, like food and shelter. But imagine you had $295,000 and you could only spend it on vintage guitars. Would you buy 1 guitar or 30 guitars? I would get bored with 1 guitar pretty fast, doesn’t matter who owned it.

 

[Back in Black]

Yes, like food and shelter. But imagine you had $295,000 and you could only spend it on vintage guitars. Would you buy 1 guitar or 30 guitars? I would get bored with 1 guitar pretty fast, doesn’t matter who owned it.

Hey Pem,

It certainly wouldn't be this one.

Best,

BIB.

 

[juks]

I have Rickenbacker that was built for Pete Townshend. He doesn't actually know that it was built for him, but I'm sure it was. Only $400K. Any takers?

 

[radd]

If Elvis came back to life and delivered it personally in a pink 56 cadillac and stayed to jam and have cheeseburgers with Scotty and Bill along for the ride it still wouldn't be worth $295,000

Oh yes it would……Even if he took the guitar with him when he left.

 

[6120mantis]

Oh yes it would……Even if he took the guitar with him when he left.

Maybe if he and I had to defeat a mummy that was ingesting the souls of the elderly.

 

[ChloeDogsDad]

Maybe if he and I had to defeat a mummy that was ingesting the souls of the elderly.

Hahahahahaaaa! As long as JFK was with us, I'd be in on that as well. Maybe we could start a go fund me and make this happen!

 

[6120mantis]

Hahahahahaaaa! As long as JFK was with us, I'd be in on that as well. Maybe we could start a go fund me and make this happen!

I LOVE that movie

 

[thunder58]

I think a NGD thread is coming soon from @TSims1

 

[Seamus]

Yeah, well -- my grandma had a '63 Delta 88 in her front yard. She got it from a friend, and guess who gave her friend that car? (Look, she lived an hour from Memphis, so maybe.) Actually, the car is still there, 12 years after her departure, so I'm not saying anymore!

I also knew a supply sergeant who fielded requests from Elvis in the Army when he wanted a slightly more impressive green for the jeep he drove. I think it's like pieces of "the true cross." Or, to quote Mojo Nixon, "Elvis is everywhere."