NGD: new Blackguard Tele parts build '52 mash-up

rze99

Here's my new Blackguard type parts build. Built from Fender USA, MIM and UK parts, it's a '52 mash-up.

Body: a used AVRI '52 Hot Rod from 2007. I have the rest of the Hot rod '52 and it is married to lovely Lake Placid Blue body. It's not a lightweight body so the overall weight of this is just over 8 pounds or so.

Neck: Is from a used '50s Baja with new Gotoh tuners, I polished the frets, stripped most of the poly off the back and it is now satin smooth, with a new unbleached bone nut that I cut myself. I'm really pleased with this nut cut.. My best nut yet, precise,smooth slots really low but no buzz.

Pickups: Are used Oil City "49-er" bridge with a "Honky Tonk Angel". Early Broadcaster style, A3 winds. I think they sound fantastic. The bridge is big, nutty and twangy with tight bottom. Gritty mids and smooth top end. The neck is pretty bright and open. Most like the Custom Shop '51 Nocaster set, I suppose.

Guard: bakelite guard, sprayed and aged by me.  Other hardware us a relic'd vintage Pat Pending bridge with an early 50s vintage number stamp from some bloke on eBay. Used Gotoh InTune brass compensated saddles, aged by me. The nickel 50's style screws are from www.axecaster.co.uk

Jimbro66

Nice job and a good choice of parts. If it sounds as good as it looks......

HNGD

Winny_Pooh

I can just hear in into a loud AC30. HNGD!

JDE

Bloody lovely. Some guitars just look like they sound fantastic, if that makes any sense at all. That guitar looks like it sounds fantastic.

lovestrat74

Interesting that you chose to use the Baja neck over the hot rod for this build.  Looks v. nice  

chris78

Good work. Looks brilliant

rze99

lovestrat74 said:

Interesting that you chose to use the Baja neck over the hot rod for this build.  Looks v. nice  

Actually, the whole of the 52 Hot Rod was moved to a much lighter Ash body finished in thin Lake Placid Blue, leaving this one doing nothing. The 52 is cracking guitar and neck. I had the '50s Baja neck spare so put 'em together rather then let them gather dust. A very happy accidental marriage. it's still a tad heavy for my preference but not by much.

Jack_

You never forget your best nut.

randerson

rze99 said:

Here's my new Blackguard type parts build. Built from Fender USA, MIM and UK parts, it's a '52 mash-up.

Body: a used AVRI '52 Hot Rod from 2007. I have the rest of the Hot rod '52 and it is married to lovely Lake Placid Blue body. It's not a lightweight body so the overall weight of this is just over 8 pounds or so.

Neck: Is from a used '50s Baja with new Gotoh tuners, I polished the frets, stripped most of the poly off the back and it is now satin smooth, with a new unbleached bone nut that I cut myself. I'm really pleased with this nut cut.. My best nut yet, precise,smooth slots really low but no buzz.

Pickups: Are used Oil City "49-er" bridge with a "Honky Tonk Angel". Early Broadcaster style, A3 winds. I think they sound fantastic. The bridge is big, nutty and twangy with tight bottom. Gritty mids and smooth top end. The neck is pretty bright and open. Most like the Custom Shop '51 Nocaster set, I suppose.

Guard: bakelite guard, sprayed and aged by me.  Other hardware us a relic'd vintage Pat Pending bridge with an early 50s vintage number stamp from some bloke on eBay. Used Gotoh InTune brass compensated saddles, aged by me. The nickel 50's style screws are from www.axecaster.co.uk

     

I've never come cross spray painting/aging a pickguard. How did you go about that?

rze99

Hi

The original 1950s "blackguard" Teles had bakelite pickguards sprayed with nitro and then buffed to a deep gloss.

They wear out, like all nitro finishes, and get bald /dulled patches. That's part of the authentic Blackguard look for enthusiasts so I wanted to do it the old school way, not black glossy plastic.

I did a little post on this for the Telecaster forum, attached below. To be frank, you can pay about £50 for a finished nitro relic'd one and its hard to do it better/cheaper yourself. 

http://www.tdpri.com/threads/new-diy-nitro-finished-bakelite-pickguards-day.834385/