Here we have a beautiful Blackguard Telecaster from 1953, considered by many to be the best of the 76 years that the guitar has been produced.

This piece is in killer condition with just the right amount of authentic wear to let you play it without freaking out, but clean enough to stand out in a quality collection. This one is a premier player too, thanks to a very professional refret on the perfect neck. 

The neck finish is original - the body sports an old refin.  The pickups, electronics, and pickguard are all original.  This rare example has not had work done in the control cavity.  It weighs in at 7 pounds, 9.5 ounces.

Three of the tuning machines are later than the guitar - the only other change from original.  The changed machines are single-line Klusons.  Note how the body of three of the tuners are closed on the treble side - the tuner button shaft doesn't go all the way through the back housing.  Those are the changed parts.  The other three machines are "no line" tuners (no Kluson Deluxe embossed in the back), and they are marked PAT APPLD on the under side that faces the headstock.

No changes were made to the headstock when tuners were swapped.  The tuner screws all look to be original, as is the case with every other hardware part on the instrument.  Even the original bridge cover is included.

The neck is a chunky D shape with a neck heel date of 2-53.  The neck cavity is dated 9-29-52 and is signed "Eddie", by Eddie Mendoza, a Fender employee who worked in the factory during the early 1950s. You will notice the neck heel isn't signed by Tadeo Gomez.  By 1953, the popularity of the Telecaster required Fender to scale up production.  Some necks bear "TG" or other marks, may times written by others, and others don't show his name at all.

Overall, this one is a winner that set up perfectly and sounds amazing, as you might imagine.  

The case is a Fender reproduction of the "poodle" case.  

As with all instruments at Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, it has been fully inspected, photographed accurately, and professionally evaluated to ensure it plays its absolute best.

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
“Blackguard Teles are the gold standard.” – The Gear Page
“There’s nothing like an early ’50s Tele.” – TDPRI
“Incredible snap, clarity, and feel.” – Harmony Central
“Pure vintage Fender magic.” – Reddit r/Guitar
“The benchmark for electric guitar tone.” – Ultimate Guitar

Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.

No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.

SPECS:

• Color: Blonde
• Weight: 7lbs 9.5oz
• Body: Ash
• Body Date/Code: See Pics
• Neck: Maple w/ Walnut Skunk Stripe
• Neck Profile: D
• Neck Date/Code: See Pics
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black Dot
• Frets: Refret
• Fret Count: 21
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1-5/8"
• Radius: 7.25"
• Scale: 25.5"
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .937"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .995"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall length: 38-3/8"
• Lower bout: 12-5/8"
• Waist: 9"
• Upper bout: 11"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-3/4"
• String gauge: 10-46
• Hardware Color: Nickel
• Pickguard: Original black phenolic
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Fender Single Coil
• Pickup Reading: 5.55k
• Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Fender Single Coil
• Pickup Reading: 7.16k
• Original?: Yes
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Non original mixed set. See pics.
• Knobs: Original
• Switch: 3 Way
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: Repro Poodle Case
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to .  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.