Reverse 50s Tele attitude with Custom Shop soul
This LTD Reverse 50s Telecaster Relic takes the classic Blackguard formula, flips the controls, twists the bridge pickup, and turns it into a serious tone weapon. It still does all the chime, grit, and cut you expect from a great Tele, but with a fatter top end, tighter low strings, and a feel that makes you want to keep playing way past the encore.
2 piece ash body with a broken in relic vibe
The 2 piece off center ash body keeps things lively and resonant, with that familiar Tele snap when you dig in. The aged black relic finish is all about feel and vibe, not cartoon damage, so it looks and feels like an old friend the second you pull it from the case.
At 7.6 pounds it hits that sweet spot where it still has some meat for sustain, but will not wear you out on a three set night. The off center seam and 51 style body lines give it that early 50s cool that Tele fans obsess over.
Chunky 57 soft V neck that feels like home
The rift sawn maple neck is carved to a 57 style soft V that measures .940 inches at the first fret and 1.000 inches at the 12th. That is a serious handful in the best way, giving you something solid to lean into for big bends and vibrato without feeling like a baseball bat.
The compound 7.25 to 9.50 radius maple fingerboard keeps cowboy chords feeling vintage under your hand, then gradually flattens out so upper fret bends stay clean and effortless. The unfinished relic neck back feels dry, fast, and broken in, so there is never any sticky gloss getting between you and the next lick.
Reverse angle Blackguard pickups and flipped controls
The hand wound 50 51 Blackguard pickups are the heart of this guitar. The reverse angle bridge route shifts more bite and focus to the wound strings while smoothing some of the ice pick out of the plain strings. You still get all the Tele cut, but with a little extra meat where you need it.
The reverse 51 style control layout puts the volume knob right under your pinky, so swells, fades, and quick tweaks are effortless. Real talk, once you get used to this layout, a standard Tele can feel a little backwards.
Custom Shop build quality, from hardware to case
From the reverse Nocaster bridge and vintage Fender logo tuners to the parchment relic pickguard and vintage disk string tree, every piece of hardware is aged and dialed in to feel cohesive. Nothing looks out of place or too shiny next to that worn black finish.
This one ships in a Fender Custom Shop Strat/Tele tweed case, so it is stage ready and road worthy right out of the gate. You are getting the kind of attention to detail and hand work that makes these feel like future heirlooms, not just another Tele off the rack.
Dialed in by players and ready to ship
This exact guitar, serial CZ579303, is in our Evansville, Indiana shop right now, fully inspected and set up by techs who actually gig. Pictures are of the actual guitar, not a stock photo, so what you see is exactly what shows up at your door.
Every Custom Shop we sell gets our Player-Perfect setup, tailored to your preferred string gauge and action. Add the 72 hour Love It Guarantee and free fast shipping, and you have zero reason to settle for anything less.
Questions about this guitar or how it compares to other T style options? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to a real player on our team. No scripts, no pressure, just honest guidance from people who live and breathe this stuff.
