Fender '51 NoCaster Relic

I got one of the first issues when each store got maybe 2 .It'sMedium
weight not too light, not too heavey the neck is a true 50's neck
not the baseball bat that they are putting out now. I already had a 53 Tele and relic neck was just touch beefer. frets are decent height
for gigging and covered all material well never had to change guitars.
mine looked like they left it out in the rain, the brass barrels were green and the adustments rusted, but i'm the type of guy that if I nick my guitar I feel like I want to throw up so I loved the whole relic thing.

this guitar screams and in the right hands you can virtually play anything,a blues players dream axe. I don't play through any crap
I feel every time you use a stomp box you sell your soul, and gives the guitar a far away sound. I use a Fender Hot rod deluxe for bar gigs and a blues jr. for small rooms, coffee houses I use a fender passport 150 P.A. and run the guitar right through that.

Like discribed this is a recreation of a heavily played axe,so
either you like the relic scheme or you don't. Me I don't like to be a slave to perfection so I love relics. all things considered fit and finish is flawless.

I play only Tele's, wouldn't know what to do with all those Strat settings. I own a 53'and 67' with a maple cap neck both a feather light, the 67' is probably best Tele's fender ever made at least for blues anyway. but these guitars feel fragile compared to the no-caster. And I'm sure that they will be prying this from hands when I kick the bucket. And yes I gig without a back up all the time.

no problems ever so can't say.

Been playing 30 years, I was sold after three notes,I would try to find another old one if I could the new ones are alot different.
Love it to death, never let me down. For my needs no other guitar
cuts it. No it's a Tele all the way simple straight foward.
This isn't your dads Les Paul where you can cover your mistakes in
a wall of Humbuck. This is a guitar slingers guitar if you can't really play don't pick it up, like all Tele's it's unforgiving, and will make you look like a fool.

51 No-Caster. Bought brand new from Guitar Center in Boston for $1800. and change maybe $1900. with tax etc. Guitar resonates like nothing else. Main beef is the neck. The neck is HUGE, solid maple neck, thats difficult to get used to, and the frets need to be larger. I may change over to gibson style frets if I can deal with the neck.

Pickups sound great, bridge and neck pickups with the tone backed off sounds great. Played through a Fender Reverb Tank and a Fender Pro Jr tweed amp all nis well with life.

Guitar was flawless, played great out of the box, again it resonates like an acoustic guitar. How the heck do they do that?? And the nitro finish looks great, my re-lic had checking and some rusted parts that look cool I guess.

Its a great Maple neck Black Guard Tele you can take out and play without worrying if it will get stolen. Thin finish will probably look older as time goes on.

Been playing 25+ years, Tele Junky the past 10 years,. Have owned re-finished 50's Teles. I've had a 58 and a 54 before. This relic stands up pretty darn close to the real deal. My main complaint is the size of the neck (F'n big), and the vintage style frets. Fender should put medium Jumbos on these. Over all its quite the Telecaster.

I bought this guitar to replace the fine sounding, poor playing Japanese tele I had been playing for the past ten years. This is a Custom Shop model made in 2000, designed to look like an old beat up instrument. This was a turn off for me at first, but I quickly grew to like it. The body is very light and the neck quite chunky compared to more modern teles. The fat neck suits my hands fine, although it probably won't be to everyone's liking. Frets are the thin, low vintage type, comfortable to play, but bending can be tough on the fingers. Came with a nice thermometer shaped case with the 'poodle' lining; a nice vintage looking touch. Not a lot of features, but this isn't what you expect on a Telecaster.

Overall, the sound is great. I play this guitar exclusively through my Vox AC30 and I find this setup extremely responsive. I can go from clean to crunchy, all by varying my pick attack, without having to touch the volume knob. Lead pickup tone is meaty, with nice clear highs that cut through the band mix without being harsh. The neck pickup is dark, but in a good way. The pickups combine well giving a warm mid-tone.

The guitar was well setup when I bought it. The relic finish consists of manufactured wear which was tastefully done. Metal parts are oxidized, pickguard and neck finish are worn and there are dings all over the body, none on the back of the neck however, which would have been annoying. The bridge, while historically accurate, has just three saddles, making intonation adjustments a nightmare. I have had to compromise by setting my high E string slight sharp while the B string is flat.

This has become the guitar I play live 75% of the time. I don't have to feel guilty if I put a new scratch on the pickguard as the beast is already worn! The guitar seems to be built like a work horse, however I do wish to state, after owning the guitar just one year, the neck pickup shorted out. See section below for this sad story.

Since I bought the guitar used, I had no warranty and the Fender Custom Shop flat out refused to sell me a replacement. My local dealer pleaded with them (they wouldn't speak to me) on several occassions, to no avail. I was told this policy may change in the future. I ended up paying a small fortune for a replacement on Ebay. Needless to say, this left a bad taste in my mouth and Fender really needs to shape up in the customer service department.

I've been playing 20 years and this has become my most often used guitar because of its sound. It doesn't play nearly as well as a good Gibson, but I am very much partial to the Fender/single coil sound. I am currently considering refretting with larger fret wire and possibly making a switch to a 6 saddle bridge to address the guitars shortcomings. Price used was high, but the Custom Shop model is truly much better than any other 'standard' Fender models I've played. Would I pay $2200 for a new one? No.

This guitar was one of the early Relics with the parts age and nitro finish applied by Vince Cunnetto in his Missouri shop. The body is light as a feather. Otherwise, it's typical relic, as already described at lenght by others. Vince told me that Fender located an elderly woman that had wound pickups for Leo at Fullerton, and arranged for her to come in a couple afternoons a week and wind a few. They are potted in wax, and then 'aged' so that a lot of the wax drools out, as happens with the original guitars. Impedance measures in the range of the original pickups. The primary features to me are not the aging, which I don't care about, but the light weight body, the outstanding neck and the pickups. Having owned the originals, I can say this guitar is better than most of them were/are. Kudos to Vince and Fender.

The tone is that nice ringing Tele sound, with none of the glassy brittleness and thin sound of the later Teles. Chunky chord work, solos, even jazz are all possible, and all sound great. These were among the workhorse pro guitars of the 50's, and the recreation is the same.

The action kills on this guitar. Setup from the Custom Shop was excellant, and I couldn't improve on it. I have downgraded the fit and finish to an 8, because though I love the vintage sound and feel (light weight, great action/neck) the whole relic thing is a bit contrived for me.

These guitars are workhorses, and the basic instrument will be solid as a rock. Reliability is rock solid. Again though, the aging that is done with the Relic process will effect the long term durability of the metal parts and finish. If well played original 51's that haven't been beat look as worn as they do, pre-aging on the Relics will only exaggerate that. I have to downgrade for this.

Fender's current management knows how to spell CUSTOMER, and it shows all the way down the line in how the employees deal with the customers. I have had nothing but positive dealings with Fender, and for me that goes back over 40yrs, and spans multiple management teams.

I was around to play the originals, and have owned them over the years. This guitar shows imagination, and it does indeed capture the playing experience of the original instruments. The features here that matter are the playability and the tone. I'd play a canoe paddle if it sounded like this and played as well. If I had it stolen I would find another to buy. I don't keep as many guitars around as I once did, and part of that is that I've found that quality and not qunatity are what it's all about.

I just purchased my 2nd Nocaster. The 1st was a 96 ,blond relic, which sounds and plays amazing.I had seen a picture of a 2 tone sunburst in a fender telecaster book and I always liked the way they looked. I saw one on ebay coming from Englund about a year ago. So I started watching to see if there were any more of these. I found out they made a limited run of these for a German dealer.To make a long story short one popped up on ebay and I purchased it.This one is better than my 96. This one is a 97.Similar necks not as big as the new ones. But all tone top to bottom. And sweet to look at.

Fat hollow tone , which doesnt get that thin 70's tele sound.I can get a killer blues to rock tone out of it. I play through a Demeter or a BF vibrolux.These pickups combined with the light ash body and chunky neck make a great combo.

I bought both used from different people and had to do very munor adjustment to string height.it plays like butter.

Ionly bring 1 ax I could live with this. And I always bring 3.

NA

All my gear is vintage, Gibson 335,LP special , 62 strat.If it was stolen I'd use my other one and buy another.

This is a '51 Nocaster NOS version, not the relic. Made July 2002. It has a 3 way pickup selector switch, with one volume one tone control.

I owned a '52 reissue Tele and this one is much better. Especially the neck. The neck is fatter than the '52, but the nitro cellulous is no where near as think. And it is not sticky like the '52.

The finish on the '52 neck reminds of the finish on some bar, where the owner imbeds quarters into it to make people think someone left money behind ... 'know what I mean?

The 3-way pickup selector works differently than other Tele's:

In the lead position, the tone control is actually a pan control between the bridge and neck pickups. Go from Twang to Surf sounding.

In middle position, the neck pickup is on with no tone control

In the forware position, the neck position is on with no tone control and highs rolled off (worthless position).

Comes with 2 cases: Molded plastic (but top otvh) and a dinky tweed (like the original '51 case)

I use this guitar at home, but I play all kinds of music. I mostly use a Marshall DSL-401 all tube combo.

The sound is just splendid. It is bright and accuentates the steel sound of the strings. Although the bridge pickup produces that signature Tele "twang", it is smooth and buttery, not that cheap sounding twang of a low cost Teles.

Like I said, the neck is thick and fat. I thought I woul dnot like it. But a 1/2 hour and wow, what a difference. I like it! I can find notes and chords easy now.

The finish on the neck is surpurb. Beautiful custom shop finish. It is not as dark tint like a '52 Tele, a little whiter.

The body is beautiful. Like the neck, a little lighter.

Even though this is a reissue, based 51 Tele specs, you can tell it has Fender custom shop workmanship.

Never had a problem, never had to call.

I have been playing for 40 years now. I own a PRS Custom 24, PRS Custom 22 and have a Player Strat on order. I have owned a 1970 Gibson SG, a Fender Amer Deluxe Strat and a Fender '52 reissue Tele.

This is one find instrument. I plugged it into a Line6 Flextone II and it actually made that amp sound good. And I think Line6 products suck. It sounds really good thru a Marshall tube or FEnder Twin Reverb.

I would not hesitate to recommend this Fender Custom Shop to anyone.

The cases would not be my first chioces - the dinky looking tweed and the molded case. I would prefer the larger rectangular tweed case like the one that comes with the '52 tele. But, they work for me.

I would buy another one if it was stolen. Hands down.

21 Frets, fat semi worn in curley maple neck, two pickups, semi-beatup body, one tone, one volume, 3 way switch. Weighs 7 lbs

Made in 2001.

Really pretty low on features but it has all of the features I want so it gets a 10.

Sounds like the perfect telecaster. Twangy, but not high and piercing on the back pickup. Very evenly balanced with both pickups on. You can play jazz or whatever you want on the neck pickup.

I bought mine sight unseen over the internet and it arrived perfectly set up with .009s which is what I normally use.
I think I really lucked out because I had played two other Nocasters, (1 relic and 1 NOS) at both MARs and Guitar Ctr and they both didn't play anywhere near as well as mine.
The setups at both stores were horrible and as the guitars both had .010s, I had a hard time doing any bends. Normally 10s don't make that much difference but mine is really easy to do country steel type bends.

As for the finish, it's purposely beat up which is kind of whacky but that's the way it comes. I wish they would put the relic neck on a NOS because that's what really feels so great on these relics.

This is the simplest design of a guitar that there is and you can really abuse these guitars. They take a lickin and keep on tickin.

Never dealt with them.

I've been playing for almost 40 years and have had both a real 52 and 53 tele that I sold very cheaply in the 70s. This guitar is really exactly like those guitars. I'm telling you that this guitar is every bit as good as those guitars. The curley maple neck is probably better and the pickups on this guitar may be better. Obviously it's not worth as much as those guitars are today but I probably wouldn't feel comfortable out gigging with those guitars either.

If you find the right reissue nocaster you will really have a guitar identical to one made in the early 50's.

A short comment about these compared to the 60's relics teles and strats: First of all I really like the 60's relics but they'll never be as authentic as the relic nocaster because real 60's strats and teles used brazilian rosewood which fender doesn't use anymore, at least on the run of the meal time machine guitars.

This is a black one with lots of lacquer checking but little actual wear, the certificate says Relic but I think it's actually a Closet Classic since it has a CC serial number. Lovely birdseye maple neck with minimal wear, big neck and medium to lightweight body that balances just right.

Sounds beautiful with that bloom to the sustain that only a really good Tele has. The controls are excellent, the whole tone is very responsive and the volume and tone controls interact gorgeously.

Bought used but (to my certain knowledge) had only a few hours' play on it. Excellent action, fine piece of work. Quite why the "relic" process means they have to fit horrible, little, low frets is beyond me. I've played 50s originals with their original frets and, yes, they had narrow frets but not as low as this! This is a serious problem that makes string-bending a chore. I'd like to have it refretted it but as it stands I'll sell it on rather than spend out more money.

Tough old guitar. They've overdone the lacquer-checking and with a bit of serious playing the finish will start to fall off this guitar. The low frets make it a no-no for me as a stage instrument. It's ideal for chord work or for a lounge jazz player.....just not for me. I wouldn't gig it.

No experience.

I've been playing for 30 years and have hundreds of guitars. This is one of the best-sounding and sweetest looking Teles I've found. Unfortunately, even my original 1960 Tele with "well-played" frets is easier as a string-bender than this. If it were to be stolen I'd count myself unlucky as I'll be selling this guitar as fast as I can find a buyer! Definitely a bedroom instrument, fun to own but unsatisfying as a gigging tool.

This is the "Relic Version of the Fender "Nocaster", purchased "almost mint" and completely unmodified as finished at the Fender Factory.

I own three Telecasters, and borrowed a 1955 model from a friend. This is every bit as wonderful to play as the 1955 Model. The vibe and feel are virtually identical. I have a new (2001) American Tele, whic is somewhat heavier and certainly pleasant, but the Nocaster, out of all of my guitars, is the one I reach for first. The classic "twang" that I grew to love about the Teles of old is here!

It's like putting on your favorite jeans. This is a beautifully made guitar with just enough "distressing" to look the part of a 50-year-old, but tight enough to be played with confidence. Every detail was attended to. I can play for hours and it just feels right.

Despite looking like it was made in 1951, there is a solid "feel" that instills confidence. I would never play the "real" 1955 Tele the way I do this one, and perhaps it's because I know that the Nocaster is not one of a kind and valued at "car money" prices. I would not hesitate to play the Nocaster anywhere.

All my dealings with Fender are great. I have never needed service, but they are there and a friend to a "collector".

I have been playing off and on for 30 years. I own 4 Les Pauls and a Ric 330 also. I would replace this Nocaster with another just like it. If you are thinking about buying any Telecaster, you owe it to yourself to try one of these pups!

Got this guitar new. Not entirely sure of the year - maybe 1996.
This guitar has the great early 50's blond finish - everything is distressed, right down to the rusty bridge. The neck is a very nice flamed maple with a yellowed nitro lacquer finish. It came with the tweed case and a handful of other things - strap, cord, etc.

It has what I would call the classic Tele sound. It is everything I expected. The bridge pickup has all the high end you need to shatter the glassware, but growls nicely when you turn things up. The neck pickup has a guttural boom to it that I love.

The action felt different from any guitar I'd ever played - like I had owned it forever and it was dialed in perfectly. A friend of mine who owns a Broadcaster played it and said it felt just like his. I thought he was being polite until I played the Broadcaster myself. The 'feel' between the two guitars was incredibly similar. The Custom Shop did a fine job recreating this guitar.

Very durable. No complaints.

N?A

This is the best electric guitar I have ever owned.