Iconic Blackguard Telecaster from 1953 named Eleanor after Miss Arizona 1953 (not the Shelby Mustang). A handful of numbers away from Roy Buchanan's "Nancy" and in the company of other historic 53's owned by Arlen Roth, Waylon Jennings, Danny Gatton etc.

With the finish stripped off during 1961 (when the dark tone cap was also removed), she looks a bit like Bruce Springsteen's Esquire and is otherwise in simply magical condition. Eleanor features the '53 style large rounded neck,  hand shaped from Michigan Rock Maple (depth .925" at the 1st and 1.00" at the 12th frets), which is the true "Baseball Bat" you hear about and features a lovely Birds-Eye front with Tiger Stripe Flames along the sides.

The original 'Broadcaster' style flat-pole bridge pickup is loud and rich (not brittle at all), balanced by lucsiously warm neck pickup. Beautiful lacquer-checked patina and play wear. Incredibly desirable and immensely collectable, Eleanor will challenge and reward you as she has her previous owner for the past 57 years. Exceptionally low serial number, pencil dated neck and body, paint-can lacquer ring on rear of pickguard, slot screws in tuners and 3-way, thermometer case. These Blackguards are a fast-disappearing relic of the wonderful tin-shed Fender days and are (rightly) considered by collectors to be the next 'Burst. Now, if that's right, you might even see a Blackguard go for $300k ...