HISTORICAL:

"...the "Broadcaster", which lasted (in name only) from the October 1950 to January 1951. The majority of Broadcasters are dated November 1950. All Broadcasters have truss rods, where all 1950 Esquires have no truss rod. "...Starting in February 1951, Fender cut the word "Broadcaster" off of their headstock decals. These models (February 1951 to summer 1951) are known as "Nocasters". Starting in the summer of 1951, Fender adopted the name "Telecaster" for this model, and started using new decals after all the old clipped decals were used. "Note that the above dates *are* accurate. But be aware that Fender was a month or two ahead in making body parts. Therefore, you can find Nocasters with December 1950 neck dates, even though they didn't clip the decals and do final assembly till February 1951 (decal application was the last assembly step were always applied over the finish). Making the body and neck (and dating them) was the first assembly step, and hence these dates can be a couple months before the instrument was finalized and shipped."

FENDER Nocaster Reproduction FACTOIDS & TRIVIA

A recreation of the version of the Fender Broadcaster known as the "Nocaster." The Nocaster was nicknamed for its lack of model name on the headstock. The Broadcaster name was clipped from the decal to avoid trademark infringement with Gretsch. According to information collected by noted collector James Werner, Nocasters were made from February to August 1951 (though examples were made with parts dating as early as November 1950). The Fender Custom Shop reissued a Nocaster "Relic" model in mid-1995. This model was not an entirely accurate recreation, but it looked cool since the guitar's cosmetics were "distressed" to mimic a heavily played 50-year-old guitar, hence the "Relic" moniker. These first issue Nocasters were "distressed" by Cunetto Creative Resources of Bolivar, Missouri. By mid-1999, Fender discontinued the first series Nocasters and moved all production to its Corona facility. The specifications were revised to more accurately reflect the features of the original Nocaster (including the tweed form-fit case) and three finish options were offered: NOS (new old stock), Closet Classic (aged, but not distressed), and Relic (beat up).

TIME LINE:

Pre-summer 1950 ~ all Fender solid body Spanish guitars (basically just Esquires) were fitted with v-shaped rock-maple necks without truss-rods.

Fall 1950 ~ Broadcaster, fitted with truss-rod, was introduced. Production numbers probably did not exceed 200, but Leo Fender claims about 500. All screws, including truss-rod nut are slotted.

February 1951 ~ Broadcaster name disallowed. �Fender' only decals begin. (No-caster)

April 1951 ~ Telecaster �name' cleared for use. But �Fender' only decals remained till Aug. 51

DETAILS & SPECS (of Broadcasters, �No-casters' and Telecasters between 1950 and 1954)

October 1950 Broadcaster specs:

Ash body with Butterscotch Blond finish.

Maple one piece neck, all with truss rods. Round button string tree (1st month models don't have one).

Silver "spaghetti" peg-head decal with black trim.

Flat pole pickup in treble position.

Chrome covered pickup in neck position.

Black fiber pickguard, clear coated with lacquer.

Serial number on bridge plate.

Round Daka-Ware switch tip.

Steel bridge saddles till November 1950, then brass with flat bottoms.

Body date in neck pocket.

All screws have slot heads.

Most Broadcasters bodies do not have the diagonal wire route between the neck pickup and the control cavity. This route was added to allow easier drilling and mounting of the neck pickup's wire to the control cavity.

February 1951 "Nocaster" specs: ->same as Broadcaster but with..... Fender decal with "Broadcaster" cut off.

Summer 1951 Telecaster specs:

After all cut "Nocaster" decals used, "Telecaster" decals appear. Still a silver "spaghetti" logo with black trim.

Gradual use of phillips head screws replaces slot head screws (this change was not complete till 1953).

Late 1952 Telecaster specs:

Wiring changes on Tele. Now instead of the last knob being a "blend", it is a tone knob.

Spring 1954 Telecaster specs:

Serial number on neck plate.

Summer 1954 Telecaster specs:

White Blond finish replaces butterscotch finish. White single layer vinyl pickguard replaces black pickguard. Bridge saddles change from brass to small steel smooth saddles

NOTE: October 1950 is the earliest date for the "D' and the latest is November 1953. Pickups ~ 1950 to March 1964: all models had "black bottom" pickups and cast slug alnico magnets with rounded top edges. Pickups not dated. Pickup wire is usually a real rich copper color. Pickups are dipped in hot wax to eliminate microphonics, and this wax is evident on the entire pickup. Also the pickup screw "springs" are made out of rubber surgical tubing cut into small 3/8" long pieces.

Cases ~ Thermometer case up till 52, and then poodle case till mid 54. Tweed center pocket rectangular from mid 54 thru mid 55.

From 1950 to 1953 Fender used a guitar-shaped hard case for the Tele and P-bass nicknamed the "thermometer" case, due to it's unique thermometer shape. This case had a brown covering with a brown plush lining. The case had a bulb shape at the peg-head.

Also available from 1951 to the early 1960's, was a Fender gig bag case. These cases are soft, foldable bags, and are brown in color. If you couldn't afford a hard case, this was the alternative. From 1953 to mid-1954, this case changed to the "poodle" case. Still shaped like a guitar, the poodle case had one flat side that did not follow the contours of the guitar (this was the side of the case that rested on the ground when the case was set down by the handle). Though this case looks similar for both the Telecaster and Stratocaster, it was not (a Strat won't fit into a Tele poodle case). The interior was a bright red plush shag.

From mid-1954 to early 1956, Fender dropped the guitar shaped case in favor of a rectangle shaped case. The first generation rectangle case used in 1954 was called the "center pocket tweed" case. The interior center pocket not only allowed cord and pick storage, but also supported the neck of the guitar. These cases were covered in lacquer-coated tweed and had a bright red plush shag lining.

SPECIAL IDENTIFIERS:

Broadcaster / No-caster necks should have �slotted' truss-rod nut.

Body should be ash.

Pots should be ink-stamped Stackpoles with solid brass shafts.

Pickguard screws can be flat-headed on early Broadcasters (probably rare)

CRL switches were the triangular brown phenolic types used on Fender guitars in the 50's:

Two patent numbers for CRL switches 1951-54 and three patent numbers for 1954 - 1962