【The Miraculous Survival】Serial “0019”
The Strange Fate of the Very First "Fender Broadcaster"
From its birth in 1950 to the present in 2026, there is one guitar that has truly lived through more than 76 years.
Its name is Fender Broadcaster. The serial number is, incredibly, “0019.”
From the Esquire to the No-caster and then to the legendary Telecaster, it is a single instrument that embodies the history of the dawn of the solid-body electric guitar. This time, we’ll introduce the astonishing journey this mythical guitar took and the remarkable details behind it, in a story said to be “impossible” for an instrument to still be on the market.
A legendary guitar that musicians coveted so much they’d strip a concert for it
The one person indispensable when talking about the history of this guitar is Mac Yasuda, a world-renowned vintage guitar collector. At the time, he obtained it for $1,500, but the “0019,” carefully preserved in Japan, would have its fate set in motion by a certain phone call.
Years later, David Bloomberg, known in the folk-rock world as a legendary collector, came calling. When he learned that this “0019” was in Japan, he reportedly followed Mac Yasuda all the way to his home, even abandoning his own concert.
“No matter what, I want this broadcaster.”
Moved by Bloomberg’s unusual passion, Yasuda ultimately agreed to trade for the Martin instrument he owned, the “F-9 Flat Top.”
A 10-year reunion with his “precious daughter”
However, the story does not end there. Ten years later, another miraculous turn of events occurs.
It turns out that the old “0019” was, for some reason, put back on the market. When Yasuda was shocked and contacted Bloomberg, he says that Bloomberg was then in desperate financial straits and had no choice but to let it go.
In truth, Yasuda had never stopped regretting selling it. “So that my precious daughter could come home again,” he bought back the broadcaster from him in exchange for two other instruments. Crossing the sea and time, it miraculously returned to the hands of an owner who loved it as if it were family.
And now, the baton of this extraordinary fate has been firmly passed from Mac Yasuda to usTCGAKKI.
Overwhelming historical value that even overwhelms reference books
Vintage guitar fans will surely understand just how extraordinary this serial number “0019” is.
In reference works for Blackguard research such as The Blackguard Book and The Pinecaster Book, the serial most often featured is “0039.” This particular instrument is even older than that, from the earliest of the earliest early period. It is truly the very first master piece carved into history, and a substitute of a level that is simply impossible to encounter in today’s market.
A 1950 real that speaks for itself through the instrument
The “0019,” which has carried more than 76 years of history within it, is living proof that every part and detail tells a story.
1. Steel-made bridge saddle
Fender saddles generally used brass saddles from November 1950 through the summer of 1954, but this particular instrument uses steel saddles. That alone is proof that the instrument was made in the “very earliest” days. Compared with later No-casters, the difference in aging is obvious at a glance.
2. Winterbottom-made bone nut
The bone nut on the Fender company’s Winterbottom-sourced materials remained from the time. Normally it leaves traces because it is attached before the neck lacquer, but none are visible here. Including the possibility that it may have been replaced later, there is also a chance it was the final adjustment done in the workshop by craftsmen of the time, or that the lacquer naturally wore away over more than 70 years; as with vintage pieces, the romance and mystery are part of the appeal.
3. Astonishing original condition
Because it is vintage, absolute guarantees are impossible, but when it comes to the wood, finish, and hardware, there are no visible signs of major repairs or parts replacement. What’s astonishing is that although the saddle height-adjustment screws are missing several pieces, under the philosophy of prioritizing the current excellent playing condition and originality, it has intentionally been preserved as-is.
4. Spaghetti logo and early hardware
The headstock bears the familiar spaghetti logo, and the round tension guide, along with the black pickguard, are in place.
5. Small fret
The small fret from that era remains intact, showing a real reduction that tells the story of the history this guitar has actually played.
6. Cruzeon-made “early single-line” peg
The peg is a Cruson single-line peg. In fact, the pegs first installed on Cruzeon guitars were single-line. They later became no-line, but quickly reverted to single-line. The definitive way to distinguish them from later single-line versions is that the shaft is “not through” on the early one and “through” on the later one. This instrument is an early version with a shaft that does not go through.
7. An exquisite V-shape neck with a superb grip
The neck is V-shaped, but it’s not just a simple V; it has a firm, substantial grip, and the edges also retain a fair amount of thickness. Compared with the “sharp V-shape” seen on later reissue models, this is the craftsmanship of the period, where you can feel a clear difference.
8. Truss rod cap with flat screw head
For the truss rod cap, a very short-lived early-style flat-head screw, used only from the guitar’s debut in 1950 until around 1952, is employed.
9. Neck pocket sign
On the joint section (body side) after removing the neck, the inscription “Fred 35 Minutes” can be confirmed, giving a vivid sense of the breath and atmosphere of the production process. Perhaps Fred finished it in 35 minutes?
10. Body without extra cavity
This is another decisive feature that marks it as an early Broadcaster. The hole from the front pickup route to the control cavity is opened with a long drill.
11. Nail holes
All of Fender’s finishes at the time were lacquer finishes, from undercoat to topcoat. These nail holes are made by driving three or four pin-shaped nails into the body when finishing it: first the top of the body is painted, then that top surface with the nails driven in is turned downward and the back is painted, so the top surface doesn’t touch the stand thanks to the nails.
12. Control knobs
For Telecasters, the round chrome knobs were used. The earliest knobs from 1950-1951 are rounder at the top, while later ones from around 1953 gradually become dome-shaped. By the end of the 1950s, flat-top knobs were used, making this one of the parts that changed the most throughout the 1950s.
・CRL switch
・Clothespin knob
The clothespin knobs used from 1950 to around 1954 are dated on the body with black or blue ink. As a result, many surviving examples have become hard to see as the markings have faded.
・Capacitor
Since the Broadcaster has no tone control, a 0.05 MFD capacitor from Cornell-Dubilier is used for the front-pickup preset high-cut.
・String ferrule
The Telecaster’s string ferrules are embedded from the back of the body to pass the strings through. Their official name is string ferrule. Up until around 1959, they were embedded to match the body’s front side.
・Pickups and resistance values
The neck pickup has a resistance of 7.65 kΩ, and the bridge pickup has a resistance of 9.99 kΩ. The large difference in resistance between the neck and bridge pickups is also characteristic. Even Custom Shop’s '50/'51 Blackguard Tele Pickups Set follows the original, with the neck at 7.33 kΩ and the bridge at 9.73 kΩ.
See its one-and-only presence with your own eyes
Not just old, but “0019,” which has absorbed the passion, regret, and love of the people connected to it. Its thickness and depth alone give it a presence so overwhelming that a single glance can change the atmosphere around you.
Please experience the breath of the craftsmen of the dawn of the electric guitar and this 76-year miracle for yourself at TCGAKKI.
Writer of this article: Matsui（TCGAKKI Store Manager)
Joined TCGAKKI after serving as the store manager of Kyoritsu Gakki Shinjuku. As a store manager, he has handled genres such as vintage guitar floors, Eleki Bass, amps, and parts. He also has strong trust from famous musicians and is the top salesperson for electric guitar sales in the industry. His favorite musician is B’z. His hobbies are horse racing and golf.
Qualifications and achievements held: 20 years as a guitar appraiser, writing and supervising for guitar magazines, etc.
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