Fender Custom Shop Paul Waller Masterbuilt 1974/51 Nocaster Heavy Relic - Black over Blonde

The Fender Custom Shop Paul Waller Masterbuilt 1974/51 Nocaster – Where Vintage Mojo Meets Custom Shop Magic

Masterbuilt by Paul Waller: Craftsmanship You Can Hear and Feel

This 1974/51 Nocaster is a full-tilt Custom Shop experience, built from the ground up by none other than Paul Waller himself. A long-standing Fender Masterbuilder, Waller is known for bringing old-school Fender vibe to life with modern precision. From the light, resonant ash body to the 1950 Blackguard-shaped neck, every detail was shaped, aged, and dialed in by hand. That Heavy Relic finish? It's not just for show—it’s got the feel of a well-loved instrument that’s seen countless stages, smoky bars, and sweaty encores.

Wide Range Humbucker Meets Josefina Mojo

This guitar sports a killer pickup combo: up front, you’ve got a Wide Range Cunife humbucker for fat, full tones that still sparkle. The bridge position is where the real magic happens—a hand-wound Blackguard single-coil from Josefina Campos, one of Fender’s most revered pickup artisans. Her pickups are known for their clarity and vintage soul, and this one delivers the kind of rich, snarling Tele tone that'll cut through any mix. 

Custom Electronics for Maximum Control

The wiring isn’t just your run-of-the-mill Tele setup. This one’s been fitted with a stacked 250k/500k volume pot, giving each pickup the impedance it needs to sound its best. You get that crisp single-coil snap from the bridge and the warm, rounded response from the humbucker, all while maintaining usable tone across the board. The Modern Tele-style controls and traditional 3-way switch make it feel familiar, but the tonal flexibility is next level.

Period-Correct Feel with Player-First Features

The neck is a dream to play—a big, 1950 Blackguard profile that measures .925" at the first fret and a full 1.00" by the 12th. Rolled edges give it a broken-in feel right out of the case, and the compound radius (7.25"–9.5") makes bending up high smooth and easy. Medium vintage frets keep things comfy under the fingers whether you're chicken pickin’ or laying into a solo. The aged maple has just the right amount of tint, adding to the overall vibe.

Custom Shop Style, Road-Worn Charm

Finished in a striking Black over Nocaster Blonde Heavy Relic, this guitar doesn’t just look the part—it feels alive in your hands. The relic work is tasteful, but convincing. The white/black/white pickguard is cut perfectly for that Wide Range humbucker, and the vintage-style hardware adds even more attitude. This is a Custom Shop piece through and through, that begs to be played, not cased.

Specifications

• Masterbuilder: Paul Waller

• Body: 2-piece ash

• Finish: Heavy Relic, nitrocellulose lacquer – Black over Nocaster Blonde

• Neck: 1-piece plain-grain maple

• Neck Shape: 1950 Blackguard (.925" @ 1st fret, 1.00" @ 12th fret)

• Fingerboard Radius: Compound 7.25"–9.5"

• Frets: 21, medium vintage

• Nut: Bone, 1.630" width

• Butt Width: 2.200"

• Pickups: Wide Range Cunife humbucker (neck), Josefina hand-wound Blackguard single-coil (bridge)

• Controls: Modern Tele wiring, stacked 250k/500k volume pot, 250k tone pot with .050 cap

• Bridge: Vintage Tele with relic’d saddles

• Tuning Keys: Vintage-style with Fender logo

• Pickguard: White/Black/White with humbucker cut

• Hardware: Chrome/Nickel

• Case: Included, Custom Shop Black

This electric guitar ships fully insured with signature required.