On January 31, 1969, Led Zeppelin played New York's Fillmore East for the first time. Their debut album had just been released, and the Big Apple was abuzz with the promise of this hot new British group. But they were as yet untested before an American audience, so Fillmore impresario Bill Graham booked them as the opening act for Iron Butterfly. Their first set that evening killed, tearing up the house so thoroughly that Iron Butterfly refused to go on after them again. So Led Zeppelin headlined the 11:30 show — never again to be an opening act. Jimmy Page played his Tele that night — the one he famously used on the first album, and quite frequently thereafter — sending shock waves into the audience with every strike of his pick and violin bow. Now Music Experience is thrilled to present to you the Fender Jimmy Page Telecaster, a superb, American-crafted re-creation of this legendary instrument in all its glory.

Fender Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster at a Glance:

• White Blonde lacquer finish
• Two custom-wound Jimmy Page '59 Tele single-coil pickups
• Custom "Oval C"-shaped maple neck; 7.25"-radius slab rosewood fingerboard
• Dual "top loader" bridge with threaded steel saddles
• Includes vintage-style tweed case with eight round mirrors

Jimmy's trusty Telecaster

Although Jimmy Page is commonly associated with another classic single-cut solidbody electric guitar, it was a Telecaster that powered the Yardbirds' final years, Led Zeppelin's debut, and one of rock music's most iconic solos. Page did tons of London session work in the mid-'60s. (Fun fact: Jimmy played acoustic on the main title theme for Goldfinger, the third James Bond movie.) In 1966 he joined the Yardbirds, initially playing bass alongside his childhood friend Jeff Beck on lead guitar. When Jeff (who had replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds) left the group shortly thereafter, Page assumed the lead guitar spot, playing a Telecaster (thought to be a '59) gifted him by Jeff. In May of '66, Jimmy collaborated with Jeff on a single, "Beck's Bolero," contributing electric 12-string rhythm guitar. John Paul Jones played bass, and Keith Moon (of the Who) played drums on the session. They were all enthused by the results, and the concept for a new supergroup germinated — which eventually led to the formation of Led Zeppelin (the name was suggested by Keith). Fun fact: Zep was originally called the New Yardbirds!

Classic Thin D neck with a vintage fingerboard radius

If you're a guitarist who prefers a thin '60s neck profile with a little more meat, the Jimmy Page Tele's Thin D shape is your cup of tea. In 1959, Fender started doing rosewood fingerboards on Telecasters, and that's what this one has, along with a comfortable vintage-spec 7.25" radius. Fingerboard designs have flattened out over the decades, the theory being that flatter radii are better for soloing in the high register. The fact remains that Mr. Page was a prodigious soloist on his Tele (after all, he played the epic "Stairway to Heaven" solo on it). And that's all we have to say about that.

Jimmy Page Custom '59 single-coil pickups

These Jimmy Page Custom '59 single-coils are designed to Jimmy's exact specifications to deliver the searing Tele bite and visceral crunch we all know and love from early Zeppelin records. And trust us: these pups pack a punch. After all, the originals had the power to cut through one of the heaviest rock rhythm sections of the '70s: John Paul Jones and John Bonham.

Ash body with a vintage nitro finish

The Jimmy Page Telecaster gets an extra dash of authenticity with its 2-piece ash body and nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Nitro finishes — standard back in the day — are significantly thinner than today's polyurethane finishes, allowing the guitar to "breathe" and age gracefully. Nitro finishes not only look amazing; they also enhance the instrument's tonal qualities. This guitar has the look and feel of a lovingly cared-for classic — one that will only improve in the decades to come.

Round mirrors and other cool case candy

Inside the vintage tweed case, Fender included eight round mirrors (a tribute to the customization Jimmy Page later applied to his Tele), a black coiled cable, a vintage-style "stained glass" strap, and a custom Certificate of Authenticity. This case candy further cements this as a collector's must-have, along with being an incredibly cool Telecaster steeped in history.

What Fender Says...

When the opening riff of "Good Times Bad Times" came through the radio in 1969, everything changed. In that moment Jimmy Page cemented his legacy and altered the course of popular music with a single guitar: his Fender® Telecaster. The Fender Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster is an homage to that guitar, which began life in its factory White Blonde lacquer finish, then became the "mirror guitar" before transforming into a one-of-a-kind hand-painted instrument. At each stage in its evolution, this legendary guitar produced some of the most iconic riffs of the 20th Century. The Jimmy Page Mirror Telecaster features an ash body, lacquer finish and a pair of Jimmy Page Custom '59 Tele® single-coil pickups that deliver the incendiary, full-bodied tone that inspired all the unforgettable licks on Led Zeppelin's first album. The custom "Oval C"-shaped maple neck has a 7.25"-radius slab rosewood fingerboard with 21 vintage-style frets, giving it a smooth playing feel. The "top-loader" bridge allows for through-body or top-load stringing, which produces a rounder, warmer tone and less tension so you can bend the strings with ease. Other features include a bone nut vintage-style round string tree and Pure Vintage Single Line "Fender Deluxe" tuning machines for authentic style and performance. Created alongside Page himself, the Jimmy Page Telecaster also boasts some personalized touches like a Jimmy Page signature on the headstock and on the custom chrome neck plate. Included in the vintage tweed case are eight round mirrors (a tribute to the custom treatment Page later applied to the guitar), a black coiled cable, vintage-style white seatbelt strap and a custom Certificate of Authenticity. About his beloved Telecaster, Jimmy said it best: "I really made it my own – it’s quite a magical guitar."

'50s Tele Two-Piece Body

Just like Page's original '59 Telecaster, the body is crafted from ash. Extremely resonant, with well-defined mids, it also features an attractive grain.

Lacquer Finish

Not only is a lacquer finish an original-era design element, it lets the wood "breathe" with natural resonance while wearing in a distinctly personal way.

Custom Jimmy Page Neck

We duplicated the exact neck profile from Page's Telecaster-the one that's been worn by decades of playing, and capped it with a period-correct slab fingerboard.

Custom Jimmy Page Pickups

Designed for authentic Fender tone, the custom pickups are constructed with materials as close to the originals as we can get.

Dual "Top-Loader" Bridge

Whichever way you prefer to string your guitar, string-through-body or top load, this reproduction of a rare 1959 bridge has you covered.

Vintage-Style Tuning Machines

These vintage-style tuning machines offer vintage cool aesthetics, combined with rock-solid stability.