Merle Haggard was an inmate at San Quentin state prison when Johnny Cash played there. It inspired him to start his own career that has so far has resulted in thirty-eight No. 1 singles in the US country music chart. Fender’s Merle Haggard Signature Telecaster guitar, a modified Telecaster Thinline, pays tribute to the original Stranger with a laminated figured maple top, a maple set-neck with deep-carved heel, mother-of-pearl pickguard and binding, and gold hardware. We love the look of this Tele, especially the back of the instrument.