Fender · Telecaster · 1950–1954
Leo Fender's two-pickup solidbody went out as the Broadcaster in late 1950. Gretsch objected because it sold Broadkaster drums, so for much of 1951 the factory simply clipped the name off its decals, and collectors call those guitars Nocasters (estimates put them under 500). The Telecaster name arrived in late summer 1951. Western swing players like Jimmy Bryant took to it first, Roy Buchanan later made his name on a 1953 he called Nancy, and Keith Richards' Micawber is a 1953 he rebuilt with a neck humbucker. A blackguard has an ash body under blonde lacquer that has aged to butterscotch, a one-piece maple neck and a black guard, which turned white in 1954. The early wiring had no true tone control and a dark preset on the neck pickup, and plenty of owners rewired them long ago. Expect a fragile guard and decades of wear. Buy the one whose bridge-plate serial, neck date and pot codes agree, and treat a rewire as a small fix and a refinish as a big one.
Until mid-1954 the serial is stamped into the bridge plate, not a neck plate, and the neck heel carries a pencil date, often with the builder's initials. The body date sits in the neck pocket on these early guitars, and the pot codes should agree with both.
The black fiber-and-Bakelite guards are brittle and often cracked or replaced. Rewired switching, replaced pots and swapped necks turn up, and a refinish costs far more collector value than a rewire.
Buying guide
With about 4 listed, the $59,500–110,300 delivered band isn't a market read, and only two look like real blackguards, both 1954s from Japanese dealers at $98,122 and $146,761 delivered. We'd start with the $98,122 one titled excellent condition, but no title here claims all original or a refinish, so ask for the serial, the pencil date on the neck heel, the pot backs and photos under the guard and control plate, since a refinish costs far more than a rewire. At these prices, insist on a hard case in a box, full insurance and signature on delivery, and check the returns policy and the import duty you may owe. Skip the 1952 at $12,799 delivered from Germany, far too cheap for an all-original blackguard, and the 1952 at $75,000 from a zero-feedback seller.
$98,121.73delivered
The lowest delivered guitar here that looks like a real blackguard, a 1954 titled excellent condition with free shipping from Japan. It takes offers, and you may owe import duty on top.
Fender 1954 Telecaster Blackguard Electric Guitar Excellent Condition
$98,121.73delivered
The only blackguard under the band top from a seller above 99%, about $48,600 under the other 1954. Ask whether the serial is on the bridge plate or the neck plate, since Fender moved it in mid-1954, and for a heel photo with the neck off.
Fender 1954 Telecaster Blackguard Electric Guitar Excellent Condition
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$98,121.73delivered
$98,121.73 · free shipping
Buy It Now$98,121.73
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled blackguard, excellent condition. Ships from Japan.
Seller: lamitie_store
99.8% positive
Used$146,760.93delivered
$146,760.93 · free shipping
Buy It Now$146,760.93
Our take
Titled blackguard, the top ask here. Ships from Japan.
Seller: dimeback-516
99.5% positive
Used$12,799.00est. delivered
$12,500.00 + $299.00 shipping
Buy It Now$12,500.00
Check the seller
Far too cheap for an all-original 1952. Ask what's been replaced. Ships from Germany.
Seller: music-outlet-shop
100% positive
Used$75,079.58est. delivered
$75,000.00 + $79.58 shipping
Buy It Now$75,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
Zero-feedback seller asking $75,000. Pay only through eBay checkout.
Seller: landfillpark
No feedback yet
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