by Jef | 5,0 / 5,0 | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes
Joe Bonamassa's latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon

Joe Bonamassa's latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon  ·  Source: Joe Bonamassa Online Store

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The Fender Custom Shop The Bludgeon is the latest Joe Bonamassa signature model. The guitar, based on Bonamassa’s ’51 Nocaster, will be part of a limited run of just 100 units. And at $8500 each, it’s probably aimed at the Bonamassa super-fan.

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The Bludgeon

Fender’s Custom Shop will be making a limited run of the new Joe Bonamassa signature model ’51 Nocaster. Only 100 of The Bludgeon models will be made, all by Master Builder Greg Fessler. Pre-orders have already started, and since each one is ‘hand-made’, the entire production run is estimated to take around 36 months to complete. The price tag is pretty hefty as well. $8500 may, for some, be a lot for a simple Telecaster-style instrument, with a PAF-like humbucker in the neck and some ageing.

Joe Bonamassa's latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon

Joe Bonamassa’s latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop ’51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon

Heavy Relic

The guitar has a one-piece ash body and a large U-shape Nocaster profile maple neck, with a pretty heavy-relic natural finish. This will no doubt appeal to some people, looking for faux-authentic wear. However, I think the market for this particular instrument is pretty small, and probably consists mainly of collectors rather than players. As the specifications of this guitar aren’t anything we haven’t seen before.

You have nickel relic hardware, a Tele 51-54 bridge, and a vintage Telecaster control layout. Then there’s the Seymour Duncan PAF-style humbucker in the neck position. Joe’s original Nocaster is fitted with a humbucker from a ‘61 Gibson SG Custom, so expect a lower output vintage style recreation of that.

The Bludgeon

The Bludgeon

Blues tat?

Overall, it’s a lovely guitar for anyone that likes recreations of old beat-up instruments with plenty of play wear. I do think that for what it costs, it isn’t really a practical guitar for gigging and recording with. You could obviously get a lot more for your money elsewhere in Fender’s lineup, for a lot less. This guitar is definitely one for the Bonamassa fans.

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You can pre-order via Joe’s official online store with a $500 deposit, where you can also buy bonafide JoBo flip flops or Pave Gold Earrings, for that special someone in your life. The blues is a hard road to follow, but if you sell enough tat, the devil may let you off…

RRP – USD 8500 inc hard case 

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  • Joe Bonamassa's latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon: Joe Bonamassa Online Store
  • The Bludgeon: Joe Bonamassa Online Store
Joe Bonamassa's latest signature guitar, the Fender Custom Shop '51 Nocaster, The Bludgeon

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8 responses to “The Joe Bonamassa Fender Custom Shop ’51 Nocaster “The Bludgeon” can be yours for $8500”

    pfrf says:
    0

    Ewwww.
    Nasty.

    LR says:
    0

    Does it come with cheesy sunglasses and an inflated sense of self worth, or do I have to earn those “blues” myself?

    JP says:
    0

    Yet another example from guitar world
    of proving the old saying ‘a fool and their money are easily parted’.

    If I want a beat up US Tele, I’ll pay 1/8 of the money and beat it up myself for free.

    Mr Day says:
    0

    Blue lawyers of the world please form an orderly line and a space in your man cave.

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