October 2007 \ Eye Candy \ Guitar of the Month \ 1950 Fender Broadcaster #0099

1950 Fender Broadcaster #0099

 Premier Guitar October 2007


This gorgeous guitar comes compliments of Johnny Edwards at Coffin Case, and is numbered #0099.

This was found in an Alaskan attic, and had one prior owner.



     

Related Articles

1976 Fender Starcaster
1969 G&L Leo Fender Tri-Sonic Prototype
1969 Fender Thinline Telecaster
1968–69 Paisley Red & Blue Flower Fender Telecasters
1959 Fender Harvard with 1962 Fender Esquire


Comments

 (44 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Carcinogen
on 11/30/2012 		I've gotta head out to LA soon to say 'hi', Jonny. I miss my grandpa's guitar.
Coffiin
on 08/10/2012 		Link to Gruhn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkZ7FjqiY GE
Patrick Hutchins
on 04/03/2012 		I owned 1950 Fender Broadcaster #0089 (dated on the body end of the neck under the lacquer written in pencil) for several years, having found it in a music store in 1973, in Quincy, IL, hanging behind the counter. It was marked down because the bridge pickup did not work. I was able to find the end of the angel hair fine wire and repair it, so for $1k and an SG, I owned a little history and a pretty nice guitar. It was very distinctive in it's sound, squealed (microphonics) a lot until I soaked the pickups in parafin, the tone control would shut off the bridge pickup. The neck was too narrow at the top, and I had to cock the neck to be able to play the high frets on the 1st string. I replaced the tuners with Shallers and the bridge with a six saddle, and it was my prime working guitar until I became too afraid that someone would steel it. I still have the ashtray and the original bridgeplate/ saddles and the tuners. My four year old American Tele Deluxe is a much better instrument, and even the strat pack Squire I bought for my son is made better, they've learned a lot about guitar making in 60 years. But it was neat to own. It may still be in the Chicago area, I traded it in to the old Sound Post in Evanston to an ES335 and $1500 in about 1978. If you own this guitar, I'll give you the old parts if I can find them.
Andy H.
on 04/02/2012 		I would leave it.
Mikey K.
on 03/23/2012 		I own a Broadcaster. It was refinished to white color by Fender in 1954 after smoke/fire damage. The pickups were replaced as well as the pickguard. Later on, the front pickup burnt out and was replaced by a repro. The keys were replaced around 1958. Question? Should I leave the 1950 Broadcaster alone with it's 1954 paint and parts? Or should I have it refinished in Butterscotch Blond with all repro correct parts?
Reggie B.
on 02/13/2012 		Sorry we touched a raw nerve but, the history outlined by SamAroonie22 and CoffinMan is documented fact by people who worked in the Fender plant during that period, not 'watered down hearsay'. It's all available in several books that have corrected much misinformation or as the late Freddie Tavares use to call it, Fender fiction.
Mark Hammond
on 01/15/2012 		Well it seems that Dan Smith, who was on the board at Fender in 1949, is a filthy liar and SamAroonie22 and CoffinMan, who werent on the board at Fender in 1949 are absolutely correct, even though their facts are based on watered down hearsay. As you are both in the States, visit the Fender museum in Fullerton and see for yourselves. Yours sincerely, snide
Bassman254
on 11/28/2011 		Sorry to disagree but it's proven, documented fact that Broadcasters were only made during 1950 before the model was renamed Telecaster. Unfortunately, some statements made by Leo Fender concerning early Fender history with regards to the Esquires and Broadcasters have been found to be in error with written documentation provided by Fender employees (I'm a former employee though I did not work there during their heyday in the 1950's) and Fender historians. Prototypes that were to become the single pickup Esquire, the first model produced by Fender, were made during 1949. The one-pickup Esquire was introduced in early 1950. A two-pickup model, named the Broadcaster, was produced during the fall of 1950. Fender had to change "Broadcaster" to "Telecaster" in early 1951 after a telegram from Gretsch indicated their prior usage of the "Broadkaster" name on a line of drum kits.
Aaron
on 11/22/2011 		Until 4 years ago I owned broadcaster #9. My grandfather was a person friend of Leo Fender. Approx 350 broadcasters were made and the first ones were made in 1948. Fact from the man himself!
Snowcaster
on 12/13/2010 		I own 0284 and 0489.
Nothing compares to a Broadcaster.



Your Comment:  

All comments are subject to editing or deletion by the Premier Guitar staff.

Your Name:  


Please enter the text you see in the image:  
10

F1966E70-324A-4D42-A975-AC1B423D5BCD