Jimmy Page is working with Fender to recreate his Dragon Telecaster guitar

(Fender)

Jimmy Page has spent eight months working with guitar brand Fender to create new models of his iconic “Dragon” hand-painted 1959 Telecaster guitar.

Page was originally given the guitar by Jeff Beck in 1966. In February 1967, Page decorated the guitar with eight circular mirrors.

Page played the mirror guitar during his time in The Yardbirds, and then repainted it himself with a dragon design and used it during the early years of Led Zeppelin.

A friend of Page’s stripped the guitar back in 1969, removing the dragon paint job and ruining much of the Telecaster.

“It was a disaster,” Page told the Associated Press in a new interview.

Page kept the guitar, though, and has worked with a graphic designer to restore it and repaint it. He has approached Fender about releasing models of the guitar for people to buy.

“This guitar is so special and has so much history, so I approached Fender to see if they’d be interested in recreating it,” Page said in Fender’s press release. “They really got it 110 percent right, or 150 percent right. It’s so absolutely as it is, as it should be, and as it was.”

“Visiting the Fender Custom Shop to sign and paint the guitars with Paul Waller was a real thrill,” he added. “To see all those absolute gems on the wall, it’s a pretty amazing experience.”

No photographs of the restored guitar or future releases have been provided, but Fender has recorded a video interview with Page about the project:

The Associated Press also published a video interview with Page:

As well as the photo at the top of this article, Fender also released a photograph of Page with Waller:

(Fender)

The new versions of the guitar will be revealed in January, Fender has said, and will then be released throughout 2019.

The guitar will come in four different versions:

  • Fender Custom Shop “Dragon” version, built by Paul Waller, hand-signed by Jimmy Page and limited to 50 units.
  • Fender Custom Shop mirror version, built by Paul Waller, hand-signed by Jimmy Page and limited to 50 units.
  • Standard Fender “Dragon” version
  • Standard Fender mirror version
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2 Comments on "Jimmy Page is working with Fender to recreate his Dragon Telecaster guitar"

  1. Mark R. Garner | 1st December 2018 at 2:55 pm | Reply

    As a longtime devotee of Jimmy and Fender guitars, I anxiously await the release of the Dragoncaster. I MUST HAVE ONE.

  2. Mark R. Garner | 30th January 2019 at 3:45 am | Reply

    The “Dragon Tele” is now available for pre-order. I’m on the list. You’d better get one while you can.

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