Fender 51 Nocaster Heavy Relic ANB

Fender 51 Nocaster Heavy Relic ANB review

The Fender 51 Nocaster Heavy Relic ANB is a U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar based on the 1951 Nocaster. Its specification combines a two-piece ash body, a one-piece maple neck, two hand-wound single-coil pickups, and a modified Nocaster wiring layout. The model was listed as a Summer 2021 Favorites Custom Shop design and has been available since December 2022. The item number is 553094, and the listed price is 5699, with no currency specified in the supplied information.

This review is limited to the documented specifications. No customer reviews are available, and there is no basis here for claims about actual tone, comfort, setup, or build quality in use. The details do, however, make the instrument's design priorities clear: a traditional T-style platform, vintage-inspired components, and a deliberately aged finish.

Body, neck, and playing dimensions

The body is made from two selected pieces of ash, with no separate top listed. Its Blonde color is identified more specifically as Aged Nocaster Blonde. Fender's Heavy Relic finish is part of the model designation, but the available information does not describe the aging treatment in detail. The finish label alone should not be taken as a measure of how the guitar feels or how its wear will develop over time.

The one-piece, quarter-sawn maple neck uses a 1950 Blackguard profile. That name identifies the neck shape; no measurements for its depth or width are provided. The maple fingerboard has a vintage compound radius that changes from 7.25 inches to 9.5 inches. In general terms, a compound radius is more curved near the nut and flatter toward the upper frets. Whether that suits a particular player depends on preference and setup.

The guitar has 21 medium vintage frets, identified by the size code 47095, and a bone nut. Its scale length is 648 millimeters, or about 25.5 inches. Those dimensions place it in the standard long-scale range used by many T-style guitars. The supplied specification does not state the neck's finish, fretboard edge treatment, or factory string gauge, so those details cannot be assessed from the listing.

Pickups and switching

Two hand-wound '50/'51 Blackguard single-coil pickups provide the instrument's pickup system. The configuration is listed as SS, meaning two single-coil pickups, one at the bridge and one at the neck. Fender specifies modified 1951 Nocaster wiring with a bridge-and-neck blend control and a three-way switch.

The blend feature is a notable point in the control layout because it allows the bridge and neck signals to be combined. The supplied information does not explain the exact control sequence or provide a wiring diagram, so the positions and operation should be confirmed with the seller if they matter to your decision. No pickup output measurements, magnet details, or tonal descriptions are included. The hand-wound designation identifies how the pickups are made, but it does not establish a particular sound on its own.

Hardware and included items

The bridge is a '51, '54 Tele-style design with brass barrel saddles. The guitar has vintage-style tuners and a disc string tree. No tremolo is fitted, which is consistent with the fixed-bridge configuration. The pickguard is a single-layer piece made from black phenolic resin, providing a documented contrast against the Blonde finish.

A deluxe hard-shell case, strap, and Certificate of Authenticity are included. The listing confirms a case but no gig bag. These supplied accessories make the package more complete than a guitar-only sale, although the specifications do not identify the strap's material or the case's internal construction.

Who the specification may suit

The Fender 51 Nocaster Heavy Relic ANB is aimed at players seeking a historically styled, U.S.-made T-style instrument with a specific 1951 reference point. Its ash body, maple neck and fingerboard, fixed bridge, and two single coils keep the design close to that brief. The modified wiring and bridge-and-neck blend add a stated control option beyond a basic three-way pickup selection.

Before buying, verify the current price and confirm details such as the controls, finish condition, and setup with the seller. The available data supports a clear technical description, but not a verdict on sound or playability. For a buyer who values these documented materials and period-inspired features, it is a well-defined Custom Shop specification. Any decision based on feel, tone, or the appearance of the Heavy Relic finish will require a hands-on inspection.