This Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt ’53 Telecaster by Austin McNutt is an exceptional example of Fender’s most iconic model. Built to exacting specs, it captures the spirit of an early-’50s blackguard Tele with period-correct features, including a two-piece ash body finished in a beautifully aged Butterscotch Blonde lacquer, and a one-piece tinted maple neck carved to a comfortable Nocaster “U” profile. The Heavy Relic treatment gives it an authentically played-in look and feel, with finish checking, hardware aging, and wear patterns that make it look like it’s seen decades of stage use.

Hand-wound ’50–’51 Blackguard pickups deliver that classic Tele twang and bite with sweet, open mids and just the right amount of growl. The Greasebucket tone circuit and modern wiring layout give you flexible, usable tones across all three switch positions without getting muddy when rolling off the tone.

This Masterbuilt instrument combines vintage authenticity with Custom Shop playability, making it the perfect Tele for serious players and collectors alike.

Body Wood: GTR & Bass Ash
Body Spread: 2-Piece
Body Style: 52 Tele
Body Finish: Lacquer
Color Option: Butterscotch Blonde
Neck Wood: Maple Plain Grain
Neck Finish: Medium Tint Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Shape: Nocaster "U"
Neck Construction: 4-Bolt
Fingerboard Radius: 9.50"
Number of Frets: 21
Fret Wire: Sanko 6105
Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 1.650"
Butt Width: 2.200"
Tuners: Vintage with Fender Logo
Decal: 52–60 Tele
Pickups: Hand-Wound '50–'51 Blackguard Single-Coil Tele (Neck & Bridge)
Controls: Modern Tele (Greasebucket Tone Circuit)
Switching: 3-Position Blade – Position 1: Bridge, Position 2: Bridge + Neck, Position 3: Neck
Bridge: Tele 51–64 Without Pickup Routing, Chrome/Nickel Hardware
Pickguard: 51 Nocaster Relic
Strings: 010–013–017–026–036–046
Strap Locks: No Strap Locks
Trem Arm: None