ChasingGuitars

This guitar is SOLD

This build was a labor of love and I hated to sell it. It ended up in the best home of all. I sold this guitar to Roy Buchanan’s biological son.

Here are some pictures of my completed Roy Buchanan “Nancy” Tribute 1953 Fender Telecaster. See the complete build process and exacting details here.

I have painstakingly copied the real Roy Buchanan Nancy Blackguard as close as possible except for a two things. No hole drilled in headstock and no “Roy Buchanan” scratched into the back of the guitar. I did not want this build to be a silly “knock-off” of Roy’s famous Tele. I wanted it to be a tribute that looked and sounded as close as possible to the road worn 1953 Fender Telecaster that has a special place in fans hearts like myself.

One of the reasons I built this guitar as I feel Fender should have had a Tribute Telecaster for Roy and I have yet to see one. After looking at a few so-called Nancy guitars a few builders have produced with high prices that looked and sounded nothing at all like Roy’s Telecaster I figured I could do a better job. This was a project of pure love.

1950s original domed knobs not repro – Fender stamped bridge plate with same serial number as Roy’s

I used all the pictures and videos I could fine of Roy’s favorite Tele he named Nancy. Like the Fender Custom Shop’s tribute guitars I recreated every scratch as close as I could. This was not my first Blackguard project, but probably the most fun I ever had doing one.

3-way switch is original 1953 part – switch tip like I have seen on some pictures of the “real Nancy

Relic done from pictures on Roy’s Buchanan’s Nancy

Roy Buchanan “Nancy”Tribute

I was lucky enough to work with a few great vendors on this project including Matt Jenny from MJT who did the body and finish and most of the aging. Matt was absolutely great to work with and he also did the finish and aging on the Musikraft neck. The waterside authentic restoration quality decal was from Croxguitar in the UK.

The pickups are from Don Mare which has spent many years cloning the sound from Roy Buchanan’s Nancy. Don Mare even had access to the real Nancy and that helped him clone the sound of Roy’s pickups that are actually quite unique.

Evan Webb (webbtecamusicalindustries on eBay) is a guitar guy and built his own stamping machine and made the iconic bridge plate. I used Rutter’s 1953 slotted bridge saddle re-issues and aged the bridge and saddles as close as I could from pictures of the real Nancy Tele.

Poodle Style Case is Re-issue from 1988

I matched parts as close as possible and aged them accordingly. The 3-way control switch and Telecaster dome knobs as actual 1953 parts. I searched for a long time for some of these parts and I am quite happy with the finished guitar. Locating the 3-way switch tip I saw on Roy’s Nancy in videos and pictures took a long time, but I found it. The one he was using at the time of the videos and pictures was not a standard Tele part, but one that was an older odd shape.

Heavily aged fingerboard

Damaged waterslide decal like Roy’s

Pickguard relic is pretty tough

The re-creation includes using the same mix of phillips and slot screw types that was common for a 1953 Telecaster. The Fender bridge plate was aged and has the same serial number.

Cloned bridge plate with famous serial number looks great

The Musikraft neck is boat sized “V” shaped and it feels great in your hands. Nice feel with the relic nitro finish.

Don Mare’s Nancy pickups make this guitar sing like the Messiah.

The dome knobs are real 1953 parts as is the 3-way switch

I picked up a “poodle” style case on eBay that was a re-issue from 1988. This was similar to the cases Fender used in 1953. Stories have been told that Roy Buchanan often carried his guitar from gig to gig without a case. Might explain the heavy relic that “Nancy” is today.

Below is a few pictures of Roy Buchanan’s actual 1953 Telecaster he named Nancy.

1953 Fender Blackguard The REAL “Nancy” 2324

Watch some video of Roy Buchanan playing Nancy

Listen to Roy make Nancy sing thru his favorite Fender Vibrolux amp

Roy Buchanan – Misty