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* Nachocaster Blackguard Telecaster by Nacho Banos (Pic Heavy) *

sgt_steiner

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2007
Messages
145
Hey All -- Wanted to share some eye candy of my Nachocaster "Abigail", which I don't think I've shared before on LPF.


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For those unfamiliar with Nacho Banos, he's considered one of the foremost experts on/students of Blackguard Teles in the world and his The Blackguard Book is considered the bible on the subject. Beyond all that, he's one hell of a Blackguard builder and simply one of the nicest human beings you'll ever talk to.


http://jklutherie.com/blackguard-telesfrom1950-54book.aspx


http://www.theblackguardbook.com/


So... here's Abigail. The aging detail is simply MIND-BLOWINGLY gorgeous. She has Ron Ellis Blackguard pickups and a crazy comfortable, heavily aged "D" profile neck, just to push this baby that much further over the top. She sounds AMAZING through my '62 Brown Fender Super.


Here are some pics my photographer buddy took --


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Nacho builds these beauties in Spain and only does them in small batches once or twice a year. He tries to keep his guitars as close to original Leo Fender spec as humanly possible and bases them on real-life examples of Blackguards he's owned, handled and/or studied. This is his life's passion.


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Nacho was personally allowed to go through Leo's original handwritten papers for the '50's Blackguard Teles and Esquires and his builds reflect that research and deep understanding of these guitars. Check out the level of detail in The Blackguard Book -- it's astonishing, beyond a Ph.D. dissertation on the subject.


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Nacho sometimes uses Musikraft necks and bodies, and Dan Strain/Danocaster told me he even worked with Ken at Musikraft to make the "Blackguard" line of necks they do.


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Hard to verbalize how beautiful these babies are, how much gravitas they have, how RIGHT they feel and sound -- basically, shy of a $20K to $50K original, I believe Nacho's work (and Clive Brown's as well) replicate the Blackguard experience as close as possible today.


By the way, Nacho's customer service, kindness and accessibility is second to none. He's known Net wide as a great guy and a real-deal old school gentleman. Many, many veteran players can vouch for this, including myself.


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But hey, like many expensive, hand-crafted specialty guitars, a Nachocaster may not be for everybody. There are plenty of great Teles out there for far less money -- I've owned two Danocasters myself and LOVE them. End of the day, I'm a huge BG fan and felt the level of detail, sound and craftsmanship made the purchase totally worthwhile for me personally. Of course, this being TGP, YMMV.


*** For all those interested, here's the TONE QUEST REPORT from 2015 on Nachocasters!


https://www.mediafire.com/?d21dzo0wai9cjpe


Nacho also just posted a brand new batch on his site. Make sure to check 'em out. He's even doing Sunbursts now! -- http://www.nachoguitars.com/guitars/.


Hope you enjoyed a little Blackguard heavy-relic eye-candy, fellas. Thanks for looking. And thanks to you Nacho for such a killer guitar! Simply brilliant.
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Killer

I've wanted a nachocaster ever since I heard of em

did you get the blackguard book with it as well?
 

fakejake

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 3, 2010
Messages
1,274
Amazing guitar, congrats!
I just looked at his site, but there was no indication of a new batch just released...
The one that are shown have been up there for the past months ...
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Well, it's pretty beat up! Hope you got it at a player price...
 

Michael Minnis

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
1,597
Amazing guitar, congrats!
I just looked at his site, but there was no indication of a new batch just released...
The one that are shown have been up there for the past months ...

I'm pretty sure a new batch is coming out in the next couple weeks. You can always get on Nacho's email list so you get a heads-up when the new group of guitars is being released.
 

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
I'm pretty sure a new batch is coming out in the next couple weeks. You can always get on Nacho's email list so you get a heads-up when the new group of guitars is being released.

How?

i think I emailed Him once and got no response
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Nacho is a friend of my friend, local luthier Lynn Wheelwright, who works on all of my guitars. Lynn has encyclopedic knowledge of the evolution of the electric guitar. Recently Nacho was in town working on a project with Lynn. I can't discuss the details, but it's sure going to be cool if it comes together. Lynn told me Nacho is a cool dude!
 

troyad

Active member
Joined
Dec 26, 2007
Messages
370
New batch "early november" was the last comminication. I think there are a couple "used" ones for sale out there at the moment also.
 

F-Hole

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Messages
2,171
New batch "early november" was the last comminication. I think there are a couple "used" ones for sale out there at the moment also.

Indeed, I have one for sale.

As purchased, I'm just not a maple board guy.
 

slammintone

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2001
Messages
2,003
Gorgeous. Love how the body lines look very close to an original vintage Telecaster/Nocaster yet for whatever reasons Fenders own current Tele's and vintage reissue types all have a slightly different body shaping. I really love my CS Telecasters but it wouldn't take but a second to tell them apart from a vintage one side by side just on body shape alone. I got one of Nacho's amazing Blackguard books from him earlier this year. Ahh, the pictures, the details! It's one of my most treasured possessions.:salude
 

El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
Super fabulous .I have known about these wonderful instruments for sometime from Buzzy @ Lark Street Music .
 

Michael Minnis

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
1,597
FYI, I received an email today that a new batch of Nachocasters are available at the nachoguitars website.
 

tonyj

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
384
FYI, I received an email today that a new batch of Nachocasters are available at the nachoguitars website.

I have it on good authority that one of the Nacho Blackguards shown on his latest website update, will shortly be coming to Canada.
 
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tonyj

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
384
I have it on good authority that one of the Nacho Blackguards shown on his latest website update, will shortly be coming to Canada.[/QUOTE

......... meanwhile we are just as happy to await our own turn as we drool over Sgt. Steiner's Abigail. A stunningly beautiful lady indeed. Congratulations Sir, you have excellent taste.

Excellent photos too. Hope my wait is similarly rewarded. In Nacho we trust!
 

tonyj

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
384
I have it on good authority that one of the Nacho Blackguards shown on his latest website update, will shortly be coming to Canada.

The guitar has now arrived. An absolutely sublime piece of a luthier's craftsmanship and talent. I am delighted. This is art and technology at it's very best and all in one package. Thank you Nacho!
 

tonyj

Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2010
Messages
384
The guitar has now arrived. An absolutely sublime piece of a luthier's craftsmanship and talent. I am delighted. This is art and technology at it's very best and all in one package. Thank you Nacho!

I am still over the moon with my Nachocaster, and don't see anything changing there. However, in my haste to tell the forum members of my good fortune I didn't post any photos of the guitar after a minor hiccup with the photos I received from Spain. No biggie; all was quickly sorted out, except that I was now spending too much time moving snow and such throughout the winter and certain things were left on the back burner - including posting follow-up photos on this forum. Sorry!

Btw, it took only four or five days from Nacho receiving my official order in Valencia, Spain, to me receiving the guitar along with a copy of "The Blackguard" book at my front door here in Alberta, Canada. Amazing service and follow-up.

Anyway to make amends, here are a few photos to ensure the Les Paul forum membership that this actually did happen, and that I did get the guitar on time and intact. Believe me, I am still overjoyed and would redo the whole thing again given the chance. Not likely perhaps as I am long retired and these opportunities don't come around too often.

OK, the guitar. An early 1952 rendition, with some light wear and aging. Overall it is exactly what I had wanted, and I am more than pleased with the guitar, which I have named "Consuela".... (a long story).

It carries serial number 2678; weighs exactly 7lbs, and it performs beautifully.

Thank you once again Nacho!

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