
Joe Bonamassa is certainly no stranger to rare guitars. His Nerdville collection(s) are the result of a life’s work and encompass some of the most sought-after electric guitars, amps and effects in the world. However, his latest acquisition is a genuine one-off: a 1954 Blackguard Telecaster featuring a one-off pickup modification that he has dubbed “a true unicorn.”
‘Blackguard’ is a term inspired by the black pickguards found on the earliest Telecaster and Tele-like builds from Fender (Nocasters, Broadcasters et al made between 1950 and 1954) and, as such, denotes some of the most in-demand vintage models out there.