Before the Telecaster, there was the Nocaster. In early 1951, Fender was forced to remove the “Broadcaster” name from the headstock of their revolutionary solidbody electric guitar, resulting in a brief run of nameless instruments—now revered by collectors as “Nocasters.” The Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster Deluxe Closet Classic revisits this transitional model with period-correct styling and modern build precision, combining hand-wound pickups, traditional tonewoods, and custom shop craftsmanship to deliver a deeply faithful playing experience.

The body is built from hand-selected, lightweight ash, prized for its balanced tone and crisp attack. Its tonal clarity and midrange character pair perfectly with the instrument’s bolt-on maple neck and one-piece maple fingerboard, staying true to the earliest Nocaster specs. A thick 1951 "U" profile provides a substantial, palm-filling grip, while the 9.5" radius and 21 medium jumbo (6150) frets offer a more contemporary playability under the fingers.

Under the hood, the '51 Nocaster Deluxe Closet Classic is loaded with a hand-wound Crushed Blackguard bridge pickup and a hand-wound '51 Nocaster neck pickup, delivering a punchy, articulate response with plenty of Tele snap and nuance. The electronics are routed through a standard three-way selector with master volume and tone controls.

The bridge is a classic Tele 51–54 style with compensated brass saddles, ensuring intonation and sustain are handled the old-fashioned way. Vintage-style tuners, a bone nut, and a single-ply black pickguard round out the period-accurate hardware.

Finished in Aged Butterscotch Blonde and lightly relic’d in Fender’s Deluxe Closet Classic styling, this guitar evokes the feel of a well-preserved instrument that’s been cherished, not abused. Delivered in a Custom Shop tweed case.

• Lightweight Ash Body Sorted for Resonance
• Thick 1951 “U” Maple Neck Profile
• Maple Fingerboard with 9.5" Radius
• 21 Medium Jumbo 6150 Frets for Smooth Playability
• Hand-Wound '51 Nocaster and Crushed Blackguard Pickups
• Vintage-Style Tele 51–54 Bridge with Brass Saddles
• Deluxe Closet Classic Aged Butterscotch Blonde Finish
• Includes Fender Custom Shop Tweed Case