Photos taken by Louie Seven on July 11th, 2001 ~ Original one-owner Fender Broadcaster opened before your very eyes for your viewing pleasure. Like Tut's tomb, it had been raided at least once in the distant past, but most of the treasure is there! That's why it's called the KING TUT BROADCASTER
Click on this pic to see the guitar!
Click on this pic to see the headstock!
Click on this pic to see the tail of the guitar!
Click here to see the snap-on cover removed and the saddles!
Click right here to see the back of the headstock and the Kluson Deluxe tuners!
Click here to see the control-plate; missing cap and rewired jack
Click here to see the neck off for the first time since 1951
Click here to see original finish finally revealed!
Click on this to see heel of neck & strap button
Click right here to view original sales slip!
Ok..the original owner bought it in Oakland California, while he was in the Army, back in February of 1951. Somewhere along the line he got a lot older and decided to sell it. As it turned out, he lived within 2 miles of me and altho I didn't buy it, I was called in by the local vintage-guy to take some digital snapshots of it after he paid the 10 grand that the owner wanted. Soon after, the guitar was sold (at a profit) to a collector in the Northwest whose name I shant mention, out of courtesy to him. This Broadcaster was supplied with no original case....in fact, no case at all....and was strung with heavy-guage flatwound strings. The action was quite high and the strings were quite old, resulting in a somewhat less than resonant instrument that I personally did not find exceptionally inspiring to play. It was inspiring to examine, however, and to this day I wish I'd had an opportunity for a more 'detailed' series of pictures.
L7