Fender Custom Shop 1968 Telecaster “Chicago Special” Deluxe Closet Classic Faded Surf Green over Pink Paisley Fender

Since the inception of the Fender Custom Shop in 1987, the veteran band of guitar builders in the Custom Shop today has grown to over 50 artisans, each a specialist in their own right, dedicated to their own area of expertise and working together to build Fender guitars to exact specifications—from neck shaping and fretwork to finishing and aging. Each craftsperson brings years of hard-earned skill and dedication to helping create an instrument and playing experience that can only come from the Fender Custom Shop.

1968 Telecaster Color Over Floral “Chicago Special”
Inspired by a refinished ‘68 Fender Telecaster that was purchased from our shop a few years back—only for the new owner to find that stripping off the solid black lacquer revealed one of the rarest Fender finishes from the era—these new Fender “Chicago Special” Color Over Flower CME Exclusive Telecasters feature a solid-color, extra-thin nitrocellulose lacquer in Fender’s Deluxe Closet Classic relic package. So, as you play this guitar, the finish will naturally wear down over time, to reveal a Pink Paisley or Blue Flower wallpaper finish beneath—just like the guitar that inspired these recreations!

• †Alder body
• Solid, sully opaque color over Pink Paisley or Blue Flower
• Fender CS Deluxe Closet Classic (DCC) treatment 
• 9.5-inch fingerboard radius
• *Rift-sawn maple neck
• Separate Maple Cap fingerboard
• 1960-style Oval “C”-shape neck profile (.790-.930)

Fender Custom Shop “Chicago Special” Series
When it comes to the sound of a Fender “Chicago Special” guitar, we here at CME, would all have to say that the “Chicago sound” all starts with the pickups. So, when you see “Chicago Special” you know that you’re getting a range of tones that we, here at CME, think epitomizes the broad-ranging appeal of each instrument, wherever Fender instruments are played!

Deluxe Closet Classic (DCC)
Instruments featuring Fender Custom Shop’s Deluxe Closet Classic (DCC) treatment replicate instruments that have been played, yet well taken care of and religiously polished throughout the years—as if the owner took pride in keeping it clean and shiny—and, while the finish started showing age over time, like a fine wine it evolved into something complex and refined, with moderate finish checking, oxidation of hardware, and mild discoloration of parts—all of which give the instrument a distinct look and feel. 

“Chicago Special” Pickups
With the “Chicago Special” series of instruments, we aimed to achieve what we think of as the quintessence of Fender tones by setting our sights on our preferred pickup sets for each model. 

All of the pickups in Fender “Chicago Special” models were designed by Chicago Music Exchange in collaboration with Mike Lewis, Vice President of Product Development at Fender Custom Shop, and are only available on “Chicago Special” Fender models at CME, or on Custom Shop orders from Chicago Music Exchange—i.e., these pickups cannot be obtained from any other retailers, or directly from Fender (nor are they currently available on the aftermarket).

Each pickup set is precisely calibrated for balanced output—using our preferred enamel wire gauges and alnico magnets in each pickup—then potted in shellac for an open, wide-range frequency response, which tends to preserve more high-frequencies than potting in wax or lacquer.

Fender “Chicago Special” Telecaster Pickups
Bridge: Wide-diameter Alnico III magnets, using 43-gauge enamel wire for hot, juicy tone, with additional winds added, based on the windings of the first blackguard Teles made from 1950-51
Neck: Wide-diameter Alnico V magnets, using 43-gauge enamel wire for high output, clarity, and punch (or Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbucker for HS configurations)

Model Number: 9237101628
Serial Number: R117081
Finish Package: Deluxe Closet Classic
Case: Fender Custom Shop Black
Weight: 7lbs 9oz

Body Wood: 2-Piece Alder
Body Color: Faded Surf Green over Pink Paisley
Body Finish: Lacquer
Sort for Lightweight: Yes

Body Notes: Extra Thin Top Coating

Hardware Plating: Chrome/Nickel
Bridge Assembly: Tele 67
Output Assembly: Vintage Tele
Control Assembly: Modern Tele with Greasebucket
Neck Plate: Reissue Fender Logo
Tuner Keys: Schaller F Keys
String Guide: American Vintage 65 with Nylon Spacer
String Gauge: 10-46

Neck Assembly: ’67 Tele Closet Classic Relic
Neck Finish: Light Tint Nitro Lacquer
Neck Blank: Rift Sawn Maple
Fingerboard: Rift Sawn Maple
Truss Rod: Late 60’s
Head Style: Telecaster
Neck Head Thickness: .575″
Neck Scoop: 60
Dot Spacing: Narrow
Face Dot: Micarta Black 7mm
Side Dot: Micarta Black 3/32″
Fret Wire: Vintage Upgrade
Number of Frets: 21
Fingerboard Radius: 7.25″
Neck Back Shape: 60 Style Oval “C”
Neck Nut Width: 1.650″
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .850″
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .920″
Neck Butt Width: 2.200″
Nut Material: Standard Blank
Number of Bolts: 4 Bolt
Head Cap Decal: 67-76 Tele

Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
Pickup Neck: Handwound “Chicago Special”
Pickup Bridge: Handwound “Chicago Special”
Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome