Serial number0390

In mid-February of 1951, the Gretsch Company contacted Fender to point out that the guitars name was very similar to its Broadkaster drum set. Gretsch requested immediate assurance that Fender would abandon the name. Fender complied, and the guitar continued to be produced without a name until September of that year, when Telecaster began appearing on the decal.

The features special to Nocasters and early Teles include closed-shell Kluson Deluxe tuners with no protruding shafts on the side (they were open-shell by 1952), a maple headstock plug (all were walnut by 52), back string ferrules that werent in a straight line (they were straightened by 51), a pickup Blend control (this became a Tone control by 52), and slot-head screws (which became Phillips screws by 54). A black pickguard was used until late 54, and an ash body with a see-through blonde finish remained standard through the 70s.