Mike Campbell’s “Red Dog” Telecaster is a heavily modified 1972 Candy Apple Red Fender Telecaster, and it became one of the key guitars in the Heartbreakers’ history. Mike bought it in Gainesville, Florida from one of his guitar students for around $200.
By that point, the guitar had already been changed quite a bit, with two humbuckers in the neck and middle positions, a Telecaster bridge pickup, a Bigsby vibrato, and a built-in boost switch known as the “Destruct” circuit.
Even though it was Mike’s guitar, both he and Tom Petty used it live. Tom can be seen playing it on “Dog on the Run,” and also during the band’s appearance on Fridays, where he used it for “Shadow of a Doubt (A Complex Kid).” Visually, it was hard to miss – a red Telecaster with a Bigsby, extra pickups, and a look that matched the rougher side of the early Heartbreakers.
The guitar’s biggest moment was probably “Refugee.” Mike recorded the track with the Red Dog and also played it in the music video. According to Mike, the band had spent weeks trying to find the right guitar sound for the song. When they finally plugged in the Red Dog, the sound was there.
In 2025, Fender released official recreations of the Red Dog, including a Stories Collection model and a $20,000 Custom Shop version.
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