Hold - Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster Heavy Relic - Aged Nocaster Blonde

Fender changed the music world forever in October 1950 with the first dual-pickup electric Spanish guitar—the Broadcaster. The instrument vaulted Fender into the mainstream of electric guitar, with gorgeous features and smart innovations including an ash body with a translucent blonde nitrocellulose finish, sturdy maple neck with rear-installed truss rod for solid stability (with a walnut “skunk stripe”), single-ply black phenolic pickguard, two loud-and-clear pickups and versatile wiring for three distinctive tone settings. Revolutionary as it was, however, the Broadcaster was short lived—produced only for a couple months until January 1951 because of an already-existing trademark on the name held by the Fred Gretsch Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Now, for 2020 alone, the Custom Shop has resurrected this famously rare guitar in honor of its 70th anniversary. The Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster has a two-piece select ash body with off-center seam, all finished in the original “flash coat” lacquer. The one-piece rift-sawn maple neck has a 1950 Broadcaster profile, 7.25”-9.5” vintage compound-radius fingerboard and 21 medium vintage frets. Other features include hand-wound ’50-’51 Blackguard pickups with ’51 modded “Nocaster” wiring (similar to the original, with blender pot and slightly brighter rhythm setting in the neck position). The guitar comes with a “case candy” kit containing a 70th anniversary neck plate, Fat ’50s control assembly and original Broadcaster sales flyer reprint. Also includes deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity.

Other specifications include:

• Model Number: 9235001123
• Finish Package: Heavy Relic
• Body Wood: Ash
• Body Color: Nocaster Blonde
• Body Finish: Flash Coat Lacquer
• Sort for Lightweight: Yes
• Hardware Plating: Chrome/Nickel
• Bridge Assembly: Tele 51-54
• Output Assembly: Vintage Tele
• Control Assembly: 51 Modern Nocaster
• Neck Plate: 70th Anniversary Broadcaster
• Tuner Keys: Vintage w/Fender Logo
• String Guide: Vintage Disk 50-55
• String Gauge: .010-.046
• Neck Assembly: 51 Nocaster Closet Classic
• Neck Finish: Medium Tint Flash Coat Lacquer
• Neck Blank: Rift Sawn Maple w/Walnut Skunk Stripe
• Fingerboard: Rift Sawn Maple
• Truss Rod: 50s
• Head Style: Tele
• Neck Head Thickness: 0.575"
• Neck Scoop: 51
• Dot Spacing: Narrow
• Face Dot: Micarta Black .250
• Side Dot: Micarta Black 3/32"
• Fret Wire: Medium Vintage
• Number of Frets: 21
• Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"-9.50" Compound Radius
• Neck Back Shape: 1950 Blackguard
• Neck Nut Width: 1.630"
• Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .925"
• Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: 1.00"
• Neck Butt Width: 2.200"Number of Bolts: 4 Bolt
• Head Cap Decal: Broadcaster
• Pickguard: 51 Nocaster
• Pickup Neck: Hand-wound 50-51 Blackguard Neck
• Pickup Bridge: Hand-wound 50-51 Blackguard Bridge
• Switch Tip: American Vintage Tele
• Control Knobs: Nocaster Chrome
• Case: Fender Custom Shop Tweed
• 7 lbs 5 oz
• #R112217

For more information about this Fender Custom Shop instrument, please contact us.

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