Fender LTD Blackguard Cunife Tele NBL

Fender LTD Blackguard Cunife Tele NBL review

The Fender LTD Blackguard Cunife Tele NBL is a limited-edition, U.S.-made Custom Shop guitar with a Tele-style body, a two-pickup layout, and a Bigsby B-5 vibrato. Its listed price is 5666, with no currency specified in the supplied data. The model has been available since June 2026 and is identified as a 2026 limited run. No customer reviews are available, so this assessment is based only on the guitar's stated construction and specifications. It cannot confirm playing feel, tuning stability, pickup output, or finish quality in person.

Body, neck, and finish

The body is made from two pieces of selected ash, with a spruce top. Fender specifies an aged Nocaster Blonde finish and a Heavy Relic treatment. Those descriptions establish the intended appearance, but the supplied specifications do not explain how the aging is applied or how much wear is present on an individual instrument. Buyers should inspect product photographs or ask the seller for details if the precise appearance matters.

The quartersawn maple neck has a maple fingerboard and a 1957-style soft V profile. Its 9.5-inch fingerboard radius and 21 narrow-tall 6105 frets are clearly listed, as is a bone nut. The scale length is 648 mm, approximately 25.5 inches. These details give a useful outline of the neck setup, but they do not reveal the fret condition, setup measurements, or whether the neck shape will suit a particular player.

Pickup configuration and controls

The SH pickup configuration pairs a hand-wound 1950/1951 Blackguard single-coil in the bridge position with a CuNiFe Wide Range humbucker at the neck. CuNiFe refers to a copper, nickel, and iron magnet. The model name highlights that neck pickup, while the full specification identifies both pickups and their positions.

The listed wiring is Dual Stack HS Tele wiring, with master volume and tone controls. The data does not provide a circuit diagram, switching options, or a description of how the controls interact with the two pickups. It would be unwise to infer extra switching functions or specific tonal results from the wiring label alone. The pickup types and control layout are the verifiable points here.

Bigsby and hardware

A Bigsby B-5 is fitted in place of a conventional fixed bridge arrangement, and the hardware is nickel. The specification confirms the vibrato unit but gives no bridge details, string spacing, or setup information. It also does not state how the guitar behaves during vibrato use or how well it returns to pitch. Those practical questions require a hands-on test rather than a conclusion based on the parts list.

The single-ply black pickguard provides a clear contrast with the aged blonde finish as described by the listed colors. That is a specification-based observation, not an assessment of the actual finish, since color and relic appearance can vary in photographs and between instruments.

Included items and buying checks

The package includes a case, cable, and certificate. The separate listing fields say that a case is included and a bag is not, which is consistent with a case-only storage option. The sales unit is one piece. Before ordering, confirm the exact case and included accessories with the seller, particularly if the guitar is being purchased from inventory rather than ordered directly.

• Construction: Two-piece selected ash body, spruce top, and quartersawn maple neck.
• Neck details: Soft V profile, maple fingerboard, 9.5-inch radius, and 21 narrow-tall frets.
• Electronics: Bridge single-coil, neck CuNiFe humbucker, and volume and tone controls.
• Hardware and package: Bigsby B-5, nickel hardware, case, cable, and certificate.
• Edition and finish: 2026 limited run, aged Nocaster Blonde, and Heavy Relic finish.

Verdict based on the specifications

The Fender LTD Blackguard Cunife Tele NBL has a distinctive documented combination of ash, a spruce top, a soft V maple neck, a Blackguard bridge pickup, a CuNiFe neck humbucker, and a Bigsby B-5. Its Custom Shop designation and limited-run status are stated features, not independent evidence of performance or collectability. The supplied data is detailed enough to assess the component choices, but not to judge sound, comfort, build consistency, or value against other guitars. At a listed price of 5666, shoppers should verify the currency, seller, condition, setup, and included accessories before purchase.