NGD build ‘50s aged White Blonde nitro, flamed maple neck, Bakelite

rze99 · July 2018

My new build, just finished. Been digging early ‘50s white Blonde over ash style Teles. I recently built one with rosewood fingerboard, and now is the turn of maple.

The body was a commission to SC Relics (Dublin, Ireland) from a selected light ash body. First time I've used them. They took longer than they said at the time, but they did a bang-up job I reckon. They are very busy and going from strength to strength. https://screlics.co.uk. The finish has fine checking and light wearing in parts. I did my own ageing of some of the parts such as pickups, bridge, saddles.

It is super easy to play. Sounds very like my '50s Road Worn with Nocasters in it, sweet-mid guts and a snappy top end.

Parts were a combination of Fender USA, new and used. Total cost was about £610

I used a pre-owned flamed Musikraft neck. This is finished in tinted shellac, boiled linseed oil, rubbed to a thin satin finish, with some wear patches with a hand-finished bone nut. Dimensions are very similar to Baja ‘50s with a generous soft V, a 10” radius. Gotoh vintage tuners (used). It is extremely smooth with a worn feel.

Nitro hand-finished and aged Bakelite pickguard (new, Guitars Electric https://www.guitarselectric.co.uk ) I also sprayed my own but this is a higher quality finish.

Fender USA Custom Shop ’51 Nocasters (used)

Fender USA Vintage Pat Pending Plate (used)

Rutters Steel compensated saddles, USA (used)

Axecaster UK aged nickel control plate, nickel Slotted screws, ‘50s style knobs, aged jack socket and strap pins. (new).

CTS Pots (250) Oak Grigsby switch, NOS 1951Y John E. Fast PIO Audio Tone capacitor .029uf (from Only Quality https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/only-quality-shop). All Parts vintage style numbered neck plate (new).

Just need to sell another factory guitar now… currently on a one in, one out rule.

Full pics here https://imgur.com/a/pxsr1pt
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