1963 Fender Telecaster custom

The 1963 (or 1961) Fender Telecaster custom sunburst is an electric guitar Andy Summers is probably best known for and most commonly associated with.

The Telecaster was his go-to guitar throughout The Police's years, playing it extensively both live and on several studio recordings, and it was a key instrument in sculpting the band’s sound. In his own words: “it wasn’t just any Telecaster, it was an exceptional one. Just one of those guitars that had the magic, with the incredible electric tone".

The Fender Telecaster was purchased in 1972 by Andy from a Californian guitar student of his, for a sum of $200. It had some modifications done to it already, including: a 1959 Gibson PAF Humbucker pickup at the front (replacing the original Fender neck pickup), a built-in preamp/overdrive unit in the back (controlled by a knob in the front) and a mini-toggle phase switch. Further modifications include replacing the tuning machines with Schaller ones, an additional string tree (added circa. August 1979) and a few more.

Best examples of the Telecaster would be the songs "Roxanne", "Message In A Bottle" and "Walking On The Moon". While recording the later two Police albums, however, Andy felt the Telecaster ‘lacked a few highs’ in the studio and wasn't as dynamic as other guitars like the 1961 Fender Stratocaster.

The custom Telecaster was later replicated as the Andy Summers Tribute Telecaster model in 2007. Summers himself later used the Tribute Telecaster on The Police's Reunion tour from 2007 to 2008, while the original remained safe in storage as Andy's most cherished guitar for obvious reasons.

Andy Summers quotes on the Telecaster
"'My main guitar is the Telecaster I use onstage. It's a '63 I think. It's just a great guitar - it's lively to play, very responsive. Because it's been messed around with it's come out sounding great... it's a very versatile guitar - I've been able to use it so much." "'I don't use [the Telecaster] so much now in the studio, I tend to use a [Gibson ES-335] and a Stratocaster a lot more. I've found my Telecaster to be a little lacking in highs sometimes in the studio - not quite brilliant and clean enough for some of the things you want to do, but it's great for solos' (International Musician & Recording World, September 1982)"

Story behind how Andy got the Telecaster: "'I bought it off a kid in Los Angeles prior to the Police for like, 200 bucks. He wanted the money and I needed a guitar. I was very fortunate; I realized later that night, “This is a really great guitar. It’s magical.” And I offered to give it back, but he didn’t want it. For me, it was a life-changing instrument. I still have it, obviously – I can’t get rid of a guitar that changed everything for me and I used to record almost every single Police track. It’s a hybrid instrument, whoever had it put a Gibson humbucker in the front and an overdrive switch powered by a nine-volt battery. There was an out-of-phase switch on it, as well. So, somebody really played around, and it was an absolutely kick-ass guitar. I barely play it anymore, though.' (Andy Summers interview with Vintage Guitar)"