A beautifully executed tribute to one of the rarest Telecasters ever made—and a unique piece of Fender history.

The fourth installment in Willcutt Guitars' highly regarded Vault Series, this 2018 Masterbuilt '54 Blackguard Telecaster pays tribute to an exceptionally rare early-1954 original (serial no. 2826). Meticulously recreated in collaboration with the Fender Custom Shop, this limited edition build captures a unique transitional moment in Telecaster history—before the model underwent a number of changes later that year.

Built by Masterbuilder Dennis Galuszka, this recreation honors every nuance of the original, from its distinctive early-’54 body contours to the custom Blonde finish and lightly aged Relic treatment. The Ash body was hand-selected from Fender’s lightest available stock, and a Josefina Campos hand-wound pickup set delivers the woody snap and vocal midrange that define this era of Blackguard tone.

The neck carve—referred to as the "Original 54" profile—was painstakingly replicated from the original instrument and measures .925"–.983", with a 9.5" radius, 6105 frets, and a bone nut for a perfect balance of vintage feel and modern playability.

Additional period-correct details include:

–Vintage Tele bridge assembly with a stamped "2826" serial number
– 1-ply replica pickguard
– Vintage-style tuners with Fender logo
– Dual serialization: Custom Shop on the backplate, vintage-style on the bridge