Fender Custom Shop 70th Anniversary Broadcaster Heavy Relic Aged Nocaster Blonde Electric Guitar
Limited Edition Fender Custom Shop 70th Anniversary Broadcaster
Honouring History: The 70th Anniversary Fender Broadcaster
Even though it was derided by some upon its debut in the fall of 1950, the Fender Broadcaster forever changed the world of music.
The dream began in the 1940s, a time when Fender was primarily known for their lap steel guitars.
Leo Fender and his close knit team sought to create a practical electric Spanish-style guitar meant to be played upright that was both easy to manufacture and easy for the working musician to maintain.
The result was new and unusual. Although ‘electrified’ guitars had been around in various forms since the 1920s, Fender worked throughout the close of the 1940s and the earliest dawn of the new decade to perfect something that really didn’t exist before — a mass-produced solid-body electric guitar.
Upon its debut, some called it a “boat paddle” or a “snow shovel,” but once musicians got it into their hands, they soon realized the gift they had been given.
Dubbed the Broadcaster, this new guitar was well-designed, eminently playable, efficient, rugged, affordable and, above all, great-sounding.
Boasting an ash body with a translucent blonde nitrocellulose finish, a sturdy maple neck with rear-installed truss rod for solid stability (with a walnut “skunk stripe”), a single-ply black phenolic pickguard, two loud-and-clear pickups and versatile wiring for three distinctive tone settings, the Broadcaster eventually vaulted Fender into the mainstream electric guitar conversation.
It’s moniker, however, would not last long.
Soon after its introduction, a telegram from Gretsch, owner of the BroadKaster trademark, ended Fender’s use of the name. For a short time, the word “Broadcaster” was simply clipped off the headstock decal and the guitar became known as a “Nocaster.”
This persisted for a short time until the guitar was renamed the Telecaster – a name all too familiar today.
The brief run of original Broadcaster models, of which only 250 are thought to have been produced, went on to become one of the most sought after vintage Fender guitar – highly collectible and expensive.
To celebrate this groundbreaking guitar, the Fender Custom Shop have released a small number of Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster electric guitars. An incredible tribute to Fender’s original innovation, this guitar harkens back to the remarkable origins of this iconic model.
Features include an Ash body with an aged “Nocaster” Blonde lacquer finish, period-correct black phenolic pickguard, thick “U”-shaped neck, Custom Shop hand wound ’50-’51 Blackguard pickups, a special anniversary neck plate, embroidered case and a custom Certificate of Authenticity.
The controls fitted to this guitar are wired for standard Telecaster operation with a volume and tone control and 3-way pickup selector. Should you prefer the original Broadcaster electrics with the unique “blend” circuit, an original style Broadcaster wiring kit is included in the case. We can install this for you at no extra cost at the time of purchase.
This Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster features the Custom Shop Heavy Relic aging treatment which looks amazing. You would be forgiven for thinking that you were looking at a seventy year old guitar!
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. The tone and playability of this guitar are second to none.
The Broadcaster made quite an impact in its brief existence, and it continues to do so today – most of these guitars have already sold out around the world – this is your opportunity to own part of the history that is Fender.
Specifications:
• Model: Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster®, Heavy Relic®, Aged Nocaster® Blonde
• Fender SKU Code: 9235001123
• Body Material: Two Piece Off-Centre Seam Ash Body Selected for Light Weight
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Flash Coat Finish
• heavy relic’d Color:
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer Flash Coat Finish
• Body Colour: Aged Nocaster Blonde
• Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple
• Fingerboard: Rift Sawn Maple
• Neck Shape: 50 Broadcaster “U” (1st Fret: .925″ – 12th Fret: 1.00″ )
• Scale Length: 25.5″
• Radius: R7.25 – R9.5″ Compound Radius
• Frets: 21
• Fret Size: Medium Vintage 47095
• String Nut: Bone
• Nut Width: 1.630″
• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Vintage-Style
• Neck Finish: Tinted Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Fretboard Position Markers: Black Micarta Inlays
• Neck Pickup: Custom Shop Handwound ’51 Blackguard
• Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Handwound ’51 Blackguard
• Controls (fitted to the guitar): 1 x Master Volume, 1 x Tone, 3-way Blade Pickup Switch
• Controls (included in the case): 1 x Master Volume, 1 x Blend, 3-way Blade Pickup Switch
• Bridge: American Vintage ’50 Broadcaster with Three Brass Saddles
• Tuners: Vintage-Style with Fender Logo
• Pickguard: Single-Ply Black Phenolic
• Strings: Fender USA, NPS, (.010-.046 Gauges)
• Case: Deluxe Hardshell Custom Shop Case
• Accessories: Strap; Certificate of Authenticity
• Serial Number: Supplied on request
