SOLD! - 1952 Fender Telecaster Blackguard Tadeo Gomez / Davis

This beautiful and all original 70 year old lady is a prime example of the legendary "Blackguard" Telecaster -- the guitar that put Leo Fender on the map and considered to be the Holy Grail of Fender Telecasters -- She was built at the company's original cinder block factory in Fullerton, California by the end of may 1952. 
 
In his authoritative and beautiful book "The Blackguard", author Nacho Banos calls 52's "a personal favorite" and states: "The neck feel and lead pickup sounds from these make them some of the best Fenders ever made". Early Fender Telecasters of this period are universally considered as one of the most desired of all electric guitars, and this is a very nice original example.
 
Before the introduction of the second Fender solid-body (the Stratocaster) in 1954, the Tele and Precision Bass were the company's most innovative and sensational products, and in 1952 were already causing a revolution in playing styles, shaking up the guitar world in a big way. At the time the Telecaster had a totally unique look, feel, and sound, becoming instantly popular particularly with country players. In the years since, many players and collectors have come to consider the 1952 Telecaster the finest electric guitar ever made, and one of the most historically important as well.
 
This Blackguard's serial # is 5295 and it's stamped into the bridgeplate, the unit at the heart of the Blackguard Tele. The neck is pencilled "5-21-52" on the heel alongside the initials "TG" of Tadeo Gomez, who signed most of the Fender necks made in this period, and the "D" stamp. The body is marked "5-20-52" and "Davis" in the neck cavity, his signature is found in many Tele and Precision Bass bodies from 1952, and also the "D" stamp. These parts are more closely dated than many other early Fenders: they're only 1 day apart from each other!!
 
This guitar has been played by serveral guitarists since it shipped out of Fullerton and although most parts remain original like the wiring, pot's, switch, capacitor and bridge pickup, the neck pickup has had the leads replaced, the switch tip is a repro and once it had three extra holes on the headstock - very likely for three extra G/B/E strings - which have been restored by the famous American luthier Dave Lautner. The previous holes and are absolutely almost invisible! The work David did on that guitar is a piece of art and really the best we've seen so far. Dave also restored at least parts of the finish of th headstock, neck and body but all experts that have been asked about it say that this is 100% an mostly original 1952 Telecaster. Case is an aged Tosh case that looks scary original!
 
The very comfortable neck has a nice "C" profile, with some "shoulder". The screws are mixed flat and Phillips-head types as is customary for 1952. For many, 1952 is THE classic Telecaster year, with the same look and feel of the earliest Fender Broadcaster and "No-Caster" guitars from 1950-51, but more consistent production standards. Many of the fine details of the instrument continued to gradually evolve as the decade went along, but '52 is the benchmark year for comparison to all later Fender guitars, and the year Fender has generally selected for basing its re-issues on.
 
Overall this is a super nice example of a late 1952 early 1953 "Blackguard," showing some general wear and tear and some work done. The thin lacquer finish on the body still has the color close to the original blonde and it checked and shows typical dings, dents, and worn spots, especially to the edges as usual. Parts may be oversprayed or refinished.
 
The thin clear lacquer finish on the back of the neck still is in very good condition and may be oversprayed, the fingerboard shows wear down to the wood between the first and seventh frets, again common on 1950s Telecasters. The guitar has been refretted with the correct size wire, the frets are in good shape. 
 
All hardware on the instrument remains original, showing some wear but no modifications. The pickguard has some wear into the lacquer in the typical area below the strings. The brass bridge saddles and adjustments screws have some discoloration but nothing is rusted hard, all are functional. Internally the pickups and wiring are all original except for the neck pickup; some worn and cold solder joints have been carefully touched up. 
 
Everything on this instrument other than the fretwire, neck pickup and switch tip is as it left Fullerton in late 1952, except for the work done as stated. These were unique instruments when new, often "played to death," and the majority of survivors have not only been heavily used but commonly modified and now often subject to extensive restoration and refin's. This one however escaped this fate and remains pretty original and it is a truly fantastic-sounding guitar with a super powerful bridge pickup that twangs sweetly as required. The neck pickup is warm and jazzy and as powerfull as many Les Paul from the holy years - I kid you not!