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This Fender Ltd 70th Anniversary Nocaster Relic is a 2020 Masterbuilt example from the Fender Custom Shop, built by Kyle McMillin. Produced as part of Fender’s celebration of the earliest days of the solidbody electric guitar, this instrument captures the brief but hugely significant moment between the Broadcaster and Telecaster eras, executed here at the very highest Custom Shop level.

The Nocaster name refers to Fender’s transitional guitars produced in early 1951, after the Broadcaster name was dropped and before the Telecaster name was officially adopted. These guitars are widely regarded as some of the most desirable early Fenders, combining the raw simplicity of Leo Fender’s original design with a feel and tone that defined electric guitar music for decades to come. This 70th Anniversary Masterbuilt model pays direct homage to that period, blending historical accuracy with the consistency and refinement of modern Custom Shop craftsmanship.

Finished in Honey Blonde over an ash body, the relic work is tasteful and convincing, evoking a genuinely played early ’50s Fender rather than an overdone recreation. The finish shows natural-looking checking, edge wear and gentle ageing throughout, giving the guitar an immediately familiar, broken-in feel straight out of the case.

The neck is shaped to a substantial early-style “U” profile, true to period Nocaster specs. It fills the hand in a reassuring way without feeling cumbersome, encouraging confident fretting and relaxed technique. The lightly tinted nitro finish, 7.25" radius and narrow tall frets all contribute to a playing experience that feels authentically vintage while remaining extremely usable.

Tonally, this guitar delivers everything you’d expect from a great Nocaster. The hand-wound Custom Shop Nocaster pickups are bold, dynamic and highly responsive, with strong fundamentals and rich harmonic content. The bridge pickup has classic early Fender bite and snap, perfect for cutting rhythm work and expressive lead lines, while the neck pickup offers warmth and clarity without becoming muddy. It’s a guitar that reacts beautifully to picking dynamics and volume changes, rewarding nuance and touch.

As a Masterbuilt instrument, the overall execution is exceptional. Wood selection, finish work, ageing and setup all feel deliberate and cohesive, resulting in an instrument that is as inspiring to play as it is historically significant. This is not simply a commemorative model, but a serious player’s guitar that captures the essence of Fender’s earliest designs.

Supplied with its original Fender Custom Shop tweed case and documentation, this Kyle McMillin Masterbuilt Nocaster represents a rare opportunity to own a faithful, high-level recreation of one of the most important guitars in Fender history.

Features:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.5mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 24.22mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 25.39mm

Nut Width: 41.83mm

Width at 12th Fret: 51.69mm

Weight: 3150 g

Brand - Fender Custom Shop

Model - MB Ltd 70th Anniversary Nocaster Relic

Masterbuilder - Kyle McMillin

Year - 2020

Origin - USA

Body - Ash

Finish - Nitrocellulose lacquer, Honey Blonde Relic

Neck - Maple, early ’51 Nocaster “U” profile

Fingerboard - Maple

Radius - 7.25"

Frets - Narrow Tall

Scale length - 25.5"

Pickups - Fender Custom Shop hand-wound Nocaster set

Controls - Volume, tone, 3-way selector

Bridge - Vintage-style Tele bridge with brass saddles

Tuners - Vintage-style Fender

Case - Original Fender Custom Shop tweed hard shell case