Anodized Tele pickguards history question

[SealerDan]

Please can someone tell me the history of anodized pickguards on Teles?

For example, what years they were stock issue?

On what basis were they supplied - special order like a custom color job or fitted to, say, one out of every 10 Teles?

When did they change from five holes to eight holes?

Were Tele guards oversprayed with laquer like the original black "bakelite" guards and, later, Jazzmaster anodized guards?

Apologies if this information has already been covered on the forum but I'm a newbie.

This is my first post and my search of forum threads has not so far supplied the answers I'd be interested to know.

Thanks y'all

[Sarge]

That's a good question. Frankly, I didn't know that they were used on any stock guitars, but I've added them to several of my tele and strat sunbursts.

[SealerDan]

Thanks, Sarge...

From memory it's an information gap in mainline source materials.

But I must stress, that's from memory.

I don't have my books to hand at the moment, so I could be wrong.

I am aware however, that anodized pickguards were standard issue on Jazzmasters around 1958/59.

After that, JMs went over to faux tortoiseshell and w/b/w guards.

I can't recall any part of the story on Stratocaster anodized guards.

No matter, it's the Telecaster I'm interested in.

...it's an age thing.

[all_identaties_taken]

Strat # 00001 which isn't the first one but has that number and is owned by Dave Gilmore has an Anodized guard on it. There is some speculation that it was the first prototype of a anodized issue that never happend hence the number. As for Teles the person who would know is Fuzzy.

[GTO]

I don't think any Tele has been released with an anodized guard has it? I don't think they were even an 'option' like on the odd Strat.

[SealerDan]

And "Fuzzy" can be found at...?

I'd forgotten about Mr Gilmore's #0001 - it was a bitsa wasn't it, some bits as late as 1957 according to Seymour Duncan?

But that's an interesting point about anodized guards never having been stock so to speak.

Thanks, you may well be right. But I'd still like to chase this one down if anyone on the forum knows for certain.

Otherwise, we would have to assume that Fender just simply decided to make the odd anodized Tele guard and bung it on one or two instruments during the period 1954 (end of blackguards) to 1959 (introduction of rosewood fretboards along with tortoiseshell guards and w/b/w guards).

At least that would have been in keeping with the spirit at Pomona Avenue in the early years when Leo's obsessive tinkering led to all sorts of spec and production changes apparently at random.

Anodized guards make a lot of shielding as well as aesthetic sense.

Did Leo maybe just order a run of 100 to be put on Teles just to test the theory?

How many Teles are there from that period with anodized guards?

And why spray the guards with clear lacquer?

The plot thickens...

[GTO]

Otherwise, we would have to assume that Fender just simply decided to make the odd anodized Tele guard and bung it on one or two instruments during the period 1954 (end of blackguards) to 1959 (introduction of rosewood fretboards along with tortoiseshell guards and w/b/w guards).

You have to base your 'assumption' on something, and clearly you think there is some case for it, so it would be good if you can share your source? Where have you seen one?

I'll reiterate in clearer terms, there were none, and the none that there were weren't sprayed in clear lacquer either.

[SealerDan]

Apologies for not quoting my source sooner.

Vintage Guitars Info at www.guitarHQ.com takes you through a 1958 Jazzmaster in words and pictures, as you're probably well aware.

On the subject of anodized guards it has this to say:

"Here is the front view of the metal anodized pickguard. Note the wear spots. This happened because the front (only) of the original pickguard was clear coated with lacquer, to help prevent oxidation and to increase smoothness, gloss and buffability (a similar thing was done on 1950 to 1954 Fender Broadcaster/Telecaster black pickguards). Reissue anodized metal pickguards aren't clearcoated, so they are easy to spot.

Given that FenderCS is producing a 57 Tele Relic with an anodized pickguard, I am trying to research a historical production precedent for this.

I'm also interested to know why the lacquer process has apparently been dropped on RI anodized guards but not on RI blackguards.

[GTO]

Sorry I'm not aware of the Custom Shop producing a 57 Tele Relic with an anodized pickguard, but I do know they make a 57 Strat Relic with an anodized guard. That said, the CS are stretching the bounds of 'accuracy' on some of its models at the moment, and do create fantasy subjects from time to time. Do you have a link for it?

But I think you are fundamentally misundertsanding the quote you have given above. Firstly, it is talking about a Jazzmaster, not a Tele, so when it says

This happened because the front (only) of the original pickguard was clear coated with lacquer, to help prevent oxidation and to increase smoothness, gloss and buffability (a similar thing was done on 1950 to 1954 Fender Broadcaster/Telecaster black pickguards).

it simply means Fender had used lacquer to protect and make the pickguard glossy before, not that it had used lacquered anodized pickguards before. In this case they lacquered the Tele black Bakelite guards to make them glossy.

The second thing is that the '52 Reissue pickguard that Fender produce does not have any historical precidence, it simply 'fits' an AV'52 Reissue guitar because of the hole pattern. If you trawl though Fender pickguards you will find many that have no historical connection, but are just customer options to brighten up their guitar.

As regards lacquering the currently available anodized pickguards, well, they don't lacquer the black AV'52 pickguard either, that is sold as matt black. So one has to assume it is cost saving, and only the Custom Shop actually finish the job properly. The other consideration Fender may have is that the lacquer wears off very quickly, and guitar shops may not appreciate scratches on display models, nor customers on their new guitars. Not many people would appreciate the fragility of historically accurate details, but want something that holds up to heavy use.

[chickenpicker]

Originally Posted by SealerDan

And "Fuzzy" can be found at...?...

Hi SealerDan.

You're new around here, aren't you...

[SealerDan]

GTO... thanks for that.

I do take your point about "misreading" the quote but I was actually aware of the fact that the site was talking about JMs in particular.

I went there because I seemed to recall having seen a similar photo "tour" of a Nocaster but that was some years ago and maybe they've taken that down - maybe my memory really is as shot as it appears to be...

I made the leap of faith that if they were producing anodized guards for Teles and Esquires back in the mid-50s then they would more than likely have been using the same production methods.

As I say, that's my assumption, I have no sources to hand to confirm it and that is precisely why I'm asking the question.

I do recall having seen pictures of vintage Esquires and Teles with anodized guards don't I? (I used to have a veritable library of guitar books but they have been lost in transit )

If my memory serves me correctly, then who made those guards or were they custom appointments even back then?

I've had several Teles since I first played one in 1958.

More recently, I've become an aficionado of CS Nocasters and my latest acquisition is a superb variation on that theme - a CS '57 Telecaster in Celadon Green with yes, you've guessed it, an anodized guard.

I think it's beautiful (it's certainly a magnificent sounding and playing beast.)

Wanna see a pic? If anyone's interested, I'll try to post one.

Thanks for taking such an interest in my questions, people.

And yes, I am new around here and I'd like to ask "Fuzzy" about this topic.

[GTO]

If it is the John English built '57 Tele that is a nice guitar, well done, I'm jealous.

Yes, it does have an anodized guard, but like the colour, it wasn't a period feature for Tele's. Many people customized their guitars, just like they did cars, and some of the CS builds do take inspiration from various sources and base them around a period 'platform'. Like the recent run of 60s Strats with racing stripes, 'Lake Placid Blue' and 'Dakota Red' Nocasters (LPB and DR weren't invented until well after 1951), 'Blackguard' Strats, and so forth.