Fender Custom Shop SR25 CuNiFe Blackguard Telecaster Heavy Relic - Faded Aged 2 Color Sunburst/NAMM Event Instrument #R143654

The Fender Custom Shop SR25 CuNiFe Blackguard Telecaster Heavy Relic – Faded Aged 2 Color Sunburst (NAMM Instrument) is a bold, showpiece-level take on one of Leo Fender’s most influential creations. Built by the elite luthiers at the Fender Custom Shop, this SR25 model merges early-’50s Blackguard DNA with innovative pickup pairing and expressive hardware, resulting in a Telecaster® that feels historic yet unmistakably unique.

Crafted with a resonant 2-piece ash body, this Telecaster delivers the unmistakable snap, clarity, and dynamic punch that made the original Blackguards legendary. The body is finished in nitrocellulose lacquer and treated to a Heavy Relic aging process, giving the Faded Aged 2 Color Sunburst finish the look and feel of a road-worn classic. The lacquer checking, worn edges, and naturally aged patina create an instrument that feels decades old, while still performing at the highest modern standard. A ’51 Nocaster-style pickguard completes the authentic early-era aesthetic.

The quarter sawn maple neck is carved into a comfortable ’57 Style Soft “V” profile—substantial yet ergonomically refined. Measuring with a 1.650" bone nut width and a 25.5" scale length, it provides the articulate string tension and snap players expect from a traditional Tele platform. The 9.5" fingerboard radius offers a modern playing feel, perfectly paired with 21 Narrow Tall 6105 frets for effortless bends and articulate note definition. Micarta black dot inlays and a vintage-style slotted truss rod nut preserve the period-correct vibe, while the nitrocellulose lacquer neck finish enhances resonance and provides a smooth, broken-in feel. A 4-bolt vintage neck plate anchors the design with classic Fender construction.

Where this NAMM instrument truly sets itself apart is its versatile SH pickup configuration. In the bridge position, a Custom Shop Hand-Wound ’50-’51 Blackguard Telecaster pickup delivers the iconic bite, twang, and harmonic richness that define early Tele tone. In the neck, a Wide-Range CuNiFe humbucking pickup adds warmth, depth, and powerful articulation. CuNiFe magnets—famed for their clarity and unique response—produce a humbucker voice that retains top-end detail and note separation. Controlled by master Volume and Tone knobs with a 3-position toggle switch (Bridge / Bridge + Neck / Neck), the tonal palette ranges from cutting country snap to thick blues and rock textures, all with remarkable balance and clarity.

Adding to its expressive capability is a Bigsby B5 vibrato system, offering smooth, vintage-style shimmer and subtle pitch modulation without sacrificing tuning stability. Vintage-style tuning machines provide reliable performance and classic aesthetics, while nickel/chrome hardware, knurled chrome control knobs, and a barrel-style switch tip complete the authentically aged look. The guitar comes strung with nickel plated steel strings in .010–.046 gauges, delivering a balanced feel and tone right out of the case.

With its model number 9231016747 and distinctive Heavy Relic treatment, the Fender Custom Shop SR25 CuNiFe Blackguard Telecaster is more than a tribute—it’s a thoughtfully evolved instrument designed for players who appreciate heritage craftsmanship with expanded sonic flexibility. Delivered in a premium hard case, this right-handed Telecaster stands as both a collector-worthy NAMM showcase piece and a stage-ready tone machine built to inspire for decades to come.

Other specifications include:

• Model Name: CuNiFe Black Guard Telecaster Heavy Relic - Faded Aged 2 Color Sunburst
• Model Number: 9231016747
• Color: Faded Aged 2 Color Sunburst
• Body Shape: Telecaster®
• Body Material: 2-Piece Ash
• Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Neck Material: Quarter Sawn Maple
• Neck Shape: 57 Style Soft "V"
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21
• Fret Size: Narrow Tall 6105
• String Nut: Bone
• Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
• Truss Rod Nut: Vintage-Style Slotted
• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt Vintage
• Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Position Inlays: Micarta Black Dot
• Bridge Pickup: Custom Shop Hand-Wound 50-51 Blackguard Telecaster
• Neck Pickup: Wide-Range CuNiFe Humbucking
• Controls: Volume, Tone
• Pickup Switching: 3-Position Toggle: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
• Pickup Configuration: SH
• Bridge: Bigsby B5
• Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
• Orientation: Right-Hand
• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
• Pickguard: 51 Nocaster
• Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
• Switch Tips: Barrel Style
• Strings: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges)
• Hard Case
• 8 lbs 0 oz
• #R143654

For more information about this Fender Custom Shop Instrument, please contact us.