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After the successful market launch of the Esquire equipped with one pickup in the spring of 1950, Leo Fender released his first electric guitar with two pickups and a truss rod for adjusting the neck under the name "Broadcaster" in the fall of the same year. A few months after the successful sales launch of the 2-pickup model, however, Gretsch initiated legal action against Fender's Broadcaster, as the company already held the "BroadKaster" trademark for drums. Until the new name was given, the already printed headstock decals were pragmatically shortened by the "Broadcaster" lettering, thus establishing the legendary "Nocaster" era. In the summer of 1951, the name "Telecaster" was finally chosen for the new electric guitar, which since then has established itself as one of the most legendary and established names in the guitar world.
When creating the Fender 70th Anniversary Broadcaster Heavy Relic, the Luthiers of the Fender Custom Shop naturally reflect on their own history, thus equipping this electric guitar with an ash body whose halves are glued with staggered seams , just like the vintage original. The bolt-on one-piece rift-sawn maple neck with its sturdy "'50 Broadcaster U" neck profile and compound radius from 7.25" to 9.5" offers a comfortable vintage feeling for the classic styles of country, blues and rock. The artificially aged flash coat nitrocellulose finish not only offers the look and feel of a long and hard playing original, but also supports the lively sound of the electric guitar.
The sonic conversion of the Fender Limited Edition 70th Anniversary Broadcaster Heavy Relic Aged Nocaster Blonde is handled by two Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '50 - '51 Blackguard single coils . Hand wound by the vintage specialists at Fender Custom Shop, these pickups deliver an absolutely authentic vintage tele sound that brings both clean and overdrive sounds to life with the signature twang and brilliant highs. The pickups are controlled using the original Blender circuitry . While position 1 of the 3-way switch allows the player to precisely adjust the tonal relationship between bridge and neck PU using the blend control, positions 2 and 3 connect the neck pickup to the volume control or the volume control and a fixed tone cut. An alternative control plate with the familiar modern 3-way circuitry is also included in the package.
Last but not least the Fender 70th Anniversary Broadcaster Heavy Relic Aged Nocaster Blonde features historically accurate and reliable hardware. The traditional 3-saddle bridge with string routing through the body and three brass "barrel" saddles contributes significantly to the crisp twang of the sound. The strings are guided over a bone saddle at the head plate before they are held by precise and tuning stable Fender vintage-style tuners .