Several years ago, I was fortunate to borrow and live with some very early Fender Telecasters for a few weeks. Only then did I realise what exceptional instruments these very first production solid body electric guitars with black pickguards were. (Imagine if the Model T Ford was still the best car you could buy).
It became clear that a Blackguard was the only significant guitar I needed to complete my working collection. I was so impressed that I formed the idea that it could be the last serious guitar I acquired and set out to get one of my own.
2025 Dwight El Loco, full Broadcaster / Blackguard Telecaster spec
To try and summarise the magic, for me a great Blackguard is almost acoustic at the bottom of the neck and starts to behave like a good old Les Paul in the middle and upper registers. Exceptional note clarity and snap everywhere, whatever the amp settings from country to shred.
I kissed quite a few lovely frogs but my timing was awful – the rest of the world was in step with me and prices were and still are rising steeply. The ship was sailing away faster than I could swim to keep up. Nor did I want to sacrifice anything in these pages which I had.
Some creativity was needed…
Master UK luthier and refinisher Clive Brown had made me another guitar back in 2016. His Dwight Eliminator is my only modern instrument that sits confidently amongst my vintage stuff. On my introduction, he had also done an exceptional job of restoring a fine real old Blackguard Tele for a good collector friend.
I knew he made a Blackguard-like model called an El Loco so I asked if he’d make me one, which was completed late 2025.
2025 Dwight El Loco in Blackguard Esquire format
He focusses on single bridge position pickup guitars. I had become aware of Sonic Monkey pickups though the earlier restoration and was so impressed that I specified one.
Its windings and magnets are identical to those in a friend’s Fender Broadcaster which I’m very familiar with. 43 gauge original-spec enamelled wire and AlNiCo 3 magnets (which should really be called AlNi’s as they don’t contain any Cobalt).
Alongside the composition of the bobbin on which the wire is wound and the craft of winding itself, each contributes to the sound.
After several weeks of delighted playing, I decided to explore adding a second pickup to bring what was actually a reimagined Esquire model up to full Telecaster spec.
El Locos are historically-accurate so they’re routed for two pickups beneath the pickguard like all vintage Teles were (another example of Leo Fender’s thrift and process economy). Nevertheless, I trod gently, first checking carefully for any sound compromise from the magnetic pull effects of a second pickup near the neck.
No worries there. My good friend and winding guru Stuart Robson of Sunbear Pickups who knows my playing well then wound one to my specs/taste which I lashed up to audition before committing to a full install. It sounded great alone and in combination with the original one.
Meanwhile, I’d come across Radioshop Pickups in Wales, who amongst other things offer a simple and clever modified Telecaster control circuit. It allows either or both pickups through volume and tone controls (like a regular Telecaster) and the facility to blend the selected pickup with the other (like very early Teles, which were first called Broadcasters).
2025 Dwight El Loco body showing tone/blend controls (white switch tip temporary, now black!)
And finally my talented luthier friend Tony Berrington aged the control plate, modified to move the volume control slightly away from the switch. So I now have a guitar that plays and can sound like any Tele from ‘50 through ‘53 for a small fraction of the unaffordable sum a ‘real’ one would have cost me.
Definition is very tight even through amp or pedal overdrive. It’s exceptional, every bit as alive as a ‘real’ one, a breathtaking guitar. Huge thanks to all concerned for your friendship, craft, indulgence and patience. It could well meet the impossible spec of being the last guitar I play. I can offer no higher praise…
#dwightguitars
#sunbearpickups
#sonicmonkey
#radioshoppickups
#tonyberrington
#Blackguardtelecaster
#vintagetelecaster