Blackguard Body Benefits?

Hi Y'all

I'm researching the parts I need for a telecaster build this winter. I noticed that Musikraft has begun offering specific "Blackguard bodies" where the body specs are taken from specific Blackguard teles.

Features include the router hump, over sized neck pocket, diagonal wire routs, and the neck pocket to pickup cut-away

My question is what do all of these differences mean for the whole guitar in the end? To me, it seems like an oversized neck pocket means that the neck will definitely not have a snug fit with the body. Isn't that...not a good thing (tonally)?

Do any of these features ensure a "different" sounding tele than one without them?

It's hard to phrase my question. Let's discuss.

Isn't that...not a good thing (tonally)?

Bolt the neck up nice and tight and it won't make any difference at all.

Do any of these features ensure a "different" sounding tele than one without them?

Nope.

BritishBluesBoy,
So I assume that the entire Blackguard thing is simply to have an extremely accurate vintage spec tele (for aesthetic reasons)? I don't really see how a feature such as the neck pickup cavity/neck pocket rout would have any effect on tone.


Can anyone post a pic of a Blackguard with an "oversized neck pocket?"

It is a chunk of wood with coils picking up vibrations from wires... Color of pick guard only changes the tone a little bit...

It is a chunk of wood with coils picking up vibrations from wires... Color of pick guard only changes the tone a little bit...

Excellent point. Thanks.

BritishBluesBoy,
So I assume that the entire Blackguard thing is simply to have an extremely accurate vintage spec tele (for aesthetic reasons)? I don't really see how a feature such as the neck pickup cavity/neck pocket rout would have any effect on tone.

Exactly!

My question is what do all of these differences mean for the whole guitar in the end? To me, it seems like an oversized neck pocket means that the neck will definitely not have a snug fit with the body. Isn't that...not a good thing (tonally)?

If you got back less than 5-years ago, no-one produced an accurate "Blackguard" style body and it was difficult to recreate a good replica Broadcaster or pre-1954 T-style.

About 7-years ago we started a conversation on 0le Fuzzy's Board about replica or reproduction parts and a little collaborative effort we came up with the first repro "milled" jack cup. Then the Broadcaster knobs, and since then other manufacturers have followed with the hard to find bits like a control plate, different period knobs, string ferrules, etc.. (check out Marc Rutters site).

Brian Poe was the first guy to produce really accurate reproduction early 50s style bodies with all the features you describe. The larger neck pocket was infact and manufacturing fault which means that you can get a tight fit in the neck pocket but there is an overhand on the treble side. When they produced the drawings for the first templates, they didn't realise the neck is infact tapered but they produced the neck pocket with parallel sides.

There's lots documented in The Blackguard Book, etc.

Musikraft, recognising there is a market for reproduction Blackguard bodies and necks now faithfully produce these parts and you can buy suitable hardware to make a good replica of how they came out of the factory in the Blackguard era.

Parts that aren't reproduced are:

Kluson tuners. The modern day equivalents have lots of cheapo nylon parts and are quite poor quality compared to what was produced in the 50s. The nylon parts means that they require very little maintenance.

Bridges. The modern 52RI is OK but is plated very differently to the 50s. The modern version is also thinner.

Neck plates. Modern equivalents are OK but many are chromed versus the nickel coating of the originals.

Pots and caps. Once again, good modern equivalents but these use different/modern plastics.

Screws. Broadcaster screws were all slotted and nickel coated. Some size of screws are no longer made, e.g. the 1/2in x 41/2 used to secure the control cavity plate. Everyone uses pickguard screws which is inaccurate if producing a replica. Nickel-coated screws are becoming increasing hard to find, particularly in metric Europe.

I'm sure there are some others but I can't think of them right now.

But to answer your question, the Musikraft Blackguard bodies don't deliver a better tone, but they look great!

:smile: Peter