Seventy years ago, in fall 1951, the Fender Telecaster was born. Inspired by new technology sweeping the nation, television "telecasts" were the wave of the future and, as history has proven most powerfully, Leo Fender's new Telecaster was also part of that wave. It was and remains to this day one of the most played, most iconic and most revered instruments in popular music. For 2021, the Custom Shop presents an homage to the original Telecaster model that had such a dramatic effect on music and the electric guitar world. The Limited Edition 1951 Telecaster is available in six distinct aging packages - NOS, Deluxe Closet Classic, Journeyman Relic, Relic, Heavy Relic and Super Heavy Relic - and features a two-piece select ash body, a one-piece AA flame quartersawn maple neck with a 10/'56 "V" profile, and a 7.25"-9.5" vintage compound-radius fingerboard with 21 narrow tall frets for perfect feel and playability. The hand-wound '50-'51 Blackguard pickups are connected to '51 modified "Nocaster" wiring (similar to the original, with blender pot and brighter rhythm setting in the neck position). Other features include a black phenolic pickguard, '51-'54 Tele bridge with brass saddles, vintage-style tuning machines, bone nut, and disk string tree. Also includes deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity. Specifications SERIES: Limited Edition BODY MATERIAL: 2-Piece Select Ash BODY FINISH: Nitrocellulose Lacquer NECK: AA Flame Quartersawn Maple NECK FINISH: Nitrocellulose Lacquer FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Maple NUMBER OF FRETS: 21 FRET SIZE: Narrow Tall POSITION INLAYS: Micarta Black Dot NUT MATERIAL: Bone NUT WIDTH: 1.650" (42 mm) TUNING MACHINES: Vintage-Style SCALE LENGTH: 25.5" (648 mm) BRIDGE: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Barrel Saddles PICKUPS: Neck: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '50/'51 Blackguard Bridge: Custom Shop Hand-Wound '50/'51 Blackguard PICKUP SWITCHING: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup (+ Neck Pickup with Blend control), Position 2. Neck Pickup, Position 3. Neck Pickup with No Tone Control (dark vintage circuit) CONTROLS: Master Volume, Neck Pickup Blend (Switch Position 1 Only) CONTROL KNOBS: Knurled Flat-Top HARDWARE FINISH: Nickel/Chrome STRINGS: Nickel Plated Steel (.010-.046 Gauges) PICKGUARD: 1-Ply Black Phenolic CASE/GIG BAG: Deluxe Hardshell