Fender Esquire

This is a 1961 Fender Esquire that I bought used from my neighbor for $115 in 1969. I was 15 and my summer job did not pay enough to buy a new Gibson, and my friends and I were starting a band. A few weeks later, I bought a black hardshell with a plastic Fender emblem on it. Its been almost 40 years and I still have both.

The guitar is cream colored with a white-greenish pickguard, and a rosewood fingerboard. The finish has faded of course, especially where my arm crosses it and has a few scratches and chips. There is some checking on the neck side of both bouts, although nothing major. The hardware still shines, although not like new. The back of the neck looks dirty in some places, but its just because all or most of the finish has worn away in spots. The volume and especially the tone knob are scratchy when turned, but only for a few seconds. Thats it. After 40 years, no problems and everything still works.

Overall, it has aged really well and is nowhere near as rusted or beat up as some of those artificially aged so called relic guitars. It has spent a fair share of time in the closet, as for most of the past 20 years I have tended to focus on acoustic guitars. It never went unplayed for too long though, and although I've had several other electric guitars, it is still my favorite.

The main feature of this guitar is my personal history with it. I learned bar chords and scale patterns on it. My friend (who recently passed on) and I used it in the early 70s to learn songs from a record player, picking up and dropping the needle over and over again. I used it in several Battle of the Bands in the 1970s, and my band won a few, which was really exciting. I used it to impress several girlfriends, one of which eventually became my wife (now ex wife). I played it unamplified in the early mornings for hours over many, many years while the rest of the family was asleep.

Another feature I like is its simplicity. As a budget guitar, the Esquire was not a popular or desirable model. Some of my guitar playing buddies looked down on it for having only one pickup. It was like being the only one with a single shot shotgun with all of your hunting friends have autoloaders. I can't explain it, but I actually liked the feeling I got from this aspect of its character, and after 40 years, still do.

The one negative feature of this guitar is its value, which is estimated at well over $20,000. It prompted me to buy a pricy, sophisticated home security system that has a pricy monthly service charge, and I have to submit 2 appraisals a year to continue the insurance on it.

This guitar is thin, comfortable, and easy to play. To me, it sounds really good - but - it is NOT a versatile guitar. The range of tones is very limited because it has only one pickup mounted at the bridge ??? the point where the sound is the thinnest.

Position 1 (switch toward lower bout) gives you the volume knob only, and the sound is very trebley. You can mellow it a bit by strumming up past where the neck pickup would be or by using only your fingers and no pick, but the trebley character is always really noticeable.

Position 3 (switch toward front) is very bassy. It took years for me to tolerate it and a few more to like it, but only for low volume playing, and it is not useable when playing with others.

Position 2 (middle) engages the volume and tone knobs, but the most likeable tones are with the tone knob somewhere around the middle of its rotation range (like between 4 and 7 if it was numbered, which it is not). Otherwise, its either too trebely or too bassy.

If you can get past these limitations - like I did after a while - this guitar can be absolutely phenomenal, especially during those magic moments when you get into "the Zone" - where time suspends itself and you play by pure instinct and raw emotion alone, without deliberation, or perhaps when the guitar is actually playing you. Either you know exactly what I'm trying to say, or you have no idea at all. I've played and loved many guitars, but I have connected with this oversimplified Esquire like no other.

I wipe it down when I finish playing, change strings often, and check the set up 3 or 4 times a year, following the instructions in the owners manual.

This is one of the rare products that was probably intended to last a lifetime, and that most likely will. The pots are bit scratchy, and that's it - a really minor issue after 40 years. No maintenance except by me. Many, many gig without a backup guitar. There is no more to say and no more that can be said.

I've never had a problem. I have no idea about any warranty. Fender designed it right and built it right, which to me is the highest level of support.

For me, the personal history makes this guitar what it is and while its simplicity imposes many limitations, they are limitations that I grew to love back when I was a teenager (I'm 55 now).

I would not try to replace it if something happened though, and would not recommend one to anybody. At $20,000+, you'd be wiser to buy a Custom Shop reproduction (hopefully not with artificial aging)or a made-in-Mexico version. Despite all the exaggerated hoopla about vintage guitars, the magic to this one is in the history I have with it, and not in the components or their age.

This is a '67 Esquire USA that was bought for me about 5 years back by the singer of the band that I was in, and when I left the band I bought it from him at a bargain price. At the time I didn't know that it was different from a Telecaster, I'd never owned a Fender before. When we were trying out all the guitars in the shop, I was sold simply by the amazing sound it had. I literally played one chord and knew this was the guitar for me. It is a 21-fret, solid ash body with a one piece maple neck. It has a 3-way tone selector and at the time, only one Fender bridge pickup. I later found out that the Esquire was the 'budget' version of a Tele and was sent out of the factory with only one pickup, although it was routed for two. It has the one volume control and one tone control knobs as usually found on these guitars.

I'll give this an 8 because although it is a very simple guitar with only the bare minimum of features, it performs them very well in its own unique way.

My music style has actually developed around the sound of the Esquire to some extent. It has been my number one guitar for the last 5 years, which have been 5 years of steep learning curve as a guitarist and musician in general. It's just as well that I really like my sound, I wouldn't have it any other way now! My style is dark, punky rock n roll. I play rhythm and lead, and this guitar sounds great doing either. It doesn't sound much like one would typically expect a Tele to sound- although it can be very bright it is not too jangly or shrill on the top end, when playing rhythm it can roar like a monster and bark out punchy, compact chugging riffs. Playing lead it can cut through and over a LOUD rock band with real clarity, and sound sweetly melodic when you need it to.

The set up I am using at the moment is guitar>>maxon CP-101 compressor>>Diamond Fireburst distortion/fuzz>>MXR 10-Band Graphic EQ>>Boss TU-2 tuner>>Marshall JCM 2000 with Mesa Boogie 4X12 bass cab.

I have made a few modifications to the guitar, however. I had an early 70's pickup routed into the empty space by the neck, this was to allow me a bit more variation and depth in tone than the original single pickup could give. I use 11-49 strings to give a bit more oomph. In fact, although as I said before this isn't a particularly shrill sounding guitar, as Tele's can sometimes be, I have made a concerted effort to find amps/effects/parts to bring out the bottom end as much as possible. I think my only problem with the guitar before I found this set-up was that it could sound a bit thin for the style of music that I play. That said, even with all the heavy duty fuzz pedals and bass cabs etc, the character of the guitar is not swamped and I think sounds even more distinctive and original, a testament to what a kick-*** axe this is.

I give this category a 10 because, through trial and error, me and the Esquire have arrived at a sound which I am proud to call my own. The guitar can handle anything that's thrown at it (within reason!), from the most modern oddball effects to a simple clean pairing with a Twin Reverb.

I think with a vintage guitar like this, any set-up that it was sent out of the factory with is ancient history. But when I bought it, it was in incredibly good condition (and still is) with a medium action which I have kept pretty much the same in the couple of set-ups it's had with me. I think one major flaw the guitar had was that the original saddles on the bridge were razor-sharp. This resulted in many popped strings and playing live as much as I do, had to be sorted out. I had them changed for brass roller type saddles and now almost never break a string. It also keeps in tune almost supernaturally well. There was a loose machinehead which I also have had changed for a solid one.

Considering the guitar is old enough to be my father, I think it must have had a very easy life until it was bought by me. I know some vintage guitar purists would be horrified by all the modifications that I've made to such a collectable instrument... but I didn't buy the guitar as an investment, I bought it to PLAY! It has been souped up a little, yes, but this thing was obviously built to last. I don't hold back when playing, whether live or in rehearsal and the Esquire can stand up to me, no problem. I would never dream of kicking it around wantonly, or trying to break it deliberately of course. I have never had to have it repaired beyond routine maintenance. The finish is original and has only a few minor dings, I never even have to think about the strap buttons and I have done several gigs without a back up guitar. Not that I think that is a good idea, but the Esquire is the ONLY guitar I would risk it with.

Never needed to contact them...

I have been playing guitar for about 14 years, taking it seriously for 10 or 11. I own a Fender Stratocaster Pink Paisley from the late 80's, an unusual Shergold Masquerader from the late 70's/ early 80's, and a Cort semi-acoustic. I have a 70's Fender Twin Reverb and a Tech 21 Trademark 60 combo, plus various effects pedals...Cry Baby Wah, Big Muff, Small Stone Phaser... I'm a big fan of Electro-Harmonix.

If my Esquire were to be stolen or lost, I would be devastated. I have it insured for ??4000 GBP, not bad considering it only cost me ??1000 when I bought it. I don't know if I would try to replace it, maybe I would try but I have the feeling that this guitar is special and probably irreplaceable, within my budget anyway. I love it's colour, a strange orangey-red that they just don't make anymore. It's the same colour as old London postboxes and buses. I don't like the fact that Tele's are a cliched 'girl' guitar but I don't care that much, obviously!

The one thing I wish it had were all it's original components. All the things that I took off it to set it up for live shows (machinehead, bridge and saddles...) were safe in a bag that I kept in my ex-band's storage facility. When I was sick and couldn't play a few shows, the person who replaced me was lent the bag, which also contained all my FX pedals. Without my permission I might add! And somehow it was left behind after the gig, never to be seen again. Goodbye hundreds of pounds worth of pedals, goodbye 40 year old original Esquire components, goodbye around half of the total value of the guitar... man, was I pissed off!
Not that I would EVER sell it, anyway...

Original 1953 Esquire my dad bought new, 3 way with neck pickup emulation. The wood, which I was told is Virgin Alder, has always been the loudest most resonant brightest UNPLUGGED guitar I have ever heard. I learned to play on it as a kid. Stays in tune!! I mean drop dead stays in tune even with behind the nut bends with original tuners!!
My dad wore all the finish off the back of neck and it's baby butt smooth. Despite a huge neck it plays very fast. In fact the neck doesn't budge with a change of string gauge.

There was a note in Gloria's handwriting that said "Good luck Lucille" I found in the neck pickup route hole. (They were all routed for 2 pickups of tele). Gloria dated her sweet neck 8-24-53..My birthday.
Gloria's handwriting is in all the Fender books when you see that sweet 50's handwritten date. The ash tray is original that covered the bridge. In fact her 3-way knob is the only thing not original.

We play vintage rock R&B Dance music and all the stones stuff and other single coil sounds are jaw dropping..especially any Stones or of course country. It is almost Identical to Danny Gatton's '53. Being a real deal '53 I have never played any tele or esquire that even comes close. It is truly amazing to me that Leo got it right his first few years and nothing comes close including Custom Shop.
I can't possibly describe how my band buddies LOVE this real 53 Esquire especially on the vintage stuff. Roll off the tone for some very impressive jazz tones.
The neck pickup compresses with distortion Budda, Boogie, Fender, but overdrive is KILLER sounding. 15 for sound!!!

I wouldn't sell it for any amount after being offered $22,000 when I had it refretted by Joey Burrell in Brandon Mississippi, suburb of Jackson. BTW he is awesome at rebuilding vintage. He built a bone nut, and the refret is totally awesome!! The fretboard had to be taken down just a tad as my Dad has WAY HUGE hands (as big as Stevie Ray's) and there were divots all over. He played up the neck a lot which was unusual in the 50's. She's a little beat up in no way mint, but sounds and plays the same. The fit of the neck joint is stunning. I do not necessarily agree with light weight teles sounding better. This one weighs almost 8 pounds but resonates all day. The finish was never very thick so I would recommend the thin skin' thing Fender has done with certain teles and strats. In fact it's always been see through grain and resonates much more and brighter than new esquires and teles. I have heard some /'no finish Fenders that sounded great! The finish on this one is almost gone all around, so she's almost naked!!!!!

She has been dropped, beaten, and abused it's playing years. I have never had to toothpick' the strap buttons EVER in 55 years. I also have the amp bought at the same time...
Been through 2 fires and countless bar fights when I was playing her in College.
It is extremely dependable, but Fralin rewound the pickup personally to his specs. I told him as it was microphonic and unplayable to wind to what he would do if ti were his. Dad said it sounds better than new! Highly recomend Lindy Fralin on rewinds..very reasonable too. The whole refret and rewind was less than $400.

Dad paid about $187 for guitar and case (long gone) and the case was about $78 of that!
I'd say 55 years surviving 2 bad fires is Rock solid. In both cases it was by the door and the firemen tossed it outside, once onto a concrete drive! Some one broke into dad's house 15 years ago and left it thank God!!

Well I have never needed Fender on this guitar. I let Joey Burrell in Brandon Ms. do it because he is so well known in the south.

What I will do is give Joey a 10!!!!!!!

Playing since 13 and I'm 57 now still gigging and recording.
If it were stolen I would spend 20,000 for another one as it is as good as gold in terms of investment. I can imagine musical life without this guitar. When I gig I sit it down beside me..literally! I put her in a chair like the lady she truly is.

Yea I wish dad would have bought her some brothers and sisters..say 200 of them?
Yes I'd say about $128 for her was a great buy in '53 + case.

I would add if you have the money, buy a 50's Fender as they are TOP SHELF guitars, can never be duplicated after 50 years of playing neck break in and awesome investment.

Bought for me as a Present in '92. 1966 vintage, but has been modded over the years. Has an unknown second pickup added and is stripped to bare wood (kinda beaten looking!!). This is my baby and i would lose a leg rather than this guitar. Somehow the shape is just perfect and the '66 neck it the best shape i have ever played.

Had a little issue with the bridge p'up as it's needed potting a couple of times - but has that perfect original tele twang with a bit of grit thrown in.

Neck, neck & neck... neeed i say more

i think i could probably drive over it and it's keep going. it's toured with me for years and still keeps going.

When i die they will have to prize this guitar from my stiff fingers!

I got an Esquire back in Italy, buying it well used / relic'ed from a UK group on tour there, for next to nothing. I had seen one in the window of a shop in Venice in the mid-60s, but at the time it was way to expensive - you could buy more than 10 Italian Eko guitars for the price of that one Esquire proudly displayed in that shop. A Telecaster would of course had been more expensive, and the shop figured probably it'd be TOO expensive for Venetian musicians...

At first, it sounded a bit thin. I then snipped off the resistors dealing with the Tone control and the 3-way switch. Wow... that was a dramatic change! It suddenly acquired a thunderous roar more akin to a Gibson than to a Fender. In those days I used it with a Vox 30 and a Marshall 50W and a Sound City 120W - at the same time. The Vox was running flat-out, the Marshall nearly flat-out and the Sound City with a huge clean sound. I had MD 241 mikes to a 800W Montarbo PA to amplify it all a bit more.

I was well "played-in" when I got it, nicks & dents all over, and in that off-white color, scratch plate included. I then did a kind of psychedelic painting on it, using Humbrol enamel colors to make it look as if a galaxy of star clusters. While in London, I then traded it off around '72 or '73 at the Orange Music shop for a vintage Gibson ES-330, all blonde and with black P90s - that got stolen later, so all in all, it was a bad deal!

it is basically a tough guitar, just as a Telecaster is... Here's a story from L.A., about Deep Purples first US tour... At some point, Ritchie Blackmore switched over to a Tele during the show at The Bank. He managed to trash it thoroughly as if Jimi Hendrix smashing a Strat. I was backstage after the show with Ritchie & the boys in the band when a fan comes in asking "may I get that smashed guitar?" and Ritchie said "OK, here it is" giving it away. Some moments later, I spoke to the guy: he was testing & tuning the guitar and said "wow, for a smashed guitar this one is absolutely perfect!" despite of those nicks and dents...

I rate it highly - in fact, I hope to get one soon again!

i bought my esquire [copy] for $30 at he markets ,it looked and felt like gold straight away.

the sound of this guitar is to die for, through my 40watt sonatta by ace radio amp, it cries out loud. it has 2 pickups and the strings load through the bridge plate. it has a light cream finnish

it was well set before i got it, pickups are perfect ,one piece body rosewood fret board, maple neck

it looks about 50 years old, original electrics , even has original strap buttons [alloy]. 100% gig worthy

none

i wouldnt sell, lend, or part with it for anything

MIJ 1986 1954 Reissue Esquire

I have 4 of these...

Butterscotch/ threaded saddles/ white pickguard/ single pickup

On three of them:
I replaced the pickguard with black/ had Lindy Fralin rewind the pickup to emulate a warm, fat '52/ installed brass compensated saddles/ installed neck humbucker/ installed US electronics

the fourth has a Lindy Fralin rewind only.

Out of the 40+ guitars I own many of which are vintage, these are my favorite guitars. the neck shape is awesome- not big, but fits the hand very well, and a nice soft shoulder.

The rewinds are huge sounding...

Finishes are flawless...

These things are tanks... drop it- throw it- stays in tune.

Been playing since 1969... I'd buy another if I came across one but really four is probably enough...

1968 Fender USA, 21 Frets, Solid Ash, Volume, Tone, 3 Way Switch, One Bridge PU, Passive, One Piece Maple Neck, Special Order Natural Finish, Esquire/Telecaster Body,
Three Bridge Pieces, Fender Tuners "F"

Very Bright Lead Pickup, works well with my 1965 Deluxe Reverb, little use for the other
two switch positions.

Fantastic action, very well built as thought it was a pre-CBS

Built like steel. This will last me forever. Laquer is great

No need, will not part with instrument for any reason.

Playing for 35 years, own Fender Strats, Teles, Coronados, Esquires, Mosrites, Many Fender Amps, both tube and practice, Cannot be replaced in this condition for under
$7000 to $9000.

This Esquire is a 1994, and made in Japan "MIJ". I bought it secondhand but as far as I can tell it is a 1962 Esquire Custom reissue with a bound-body in a great three-colour sunburst. (Can anyone confirm that Fender made an original 60's Esquire Custom?). The body is comparitevly light (compared to my late 70's stratocater anyway which is like a ton-weigt). It has a rosewood fingerboard over a gloss-laquered maple neck. It has a black 3-ply, 8-hole scratchplate. Hardware includes a 3-saddle "ashtray" bridge, plain neck-body plate and the correct Kluson tuners. At the bridge position it has a standard looking alnico single-coil pickup. Non-standard alterations are (1) a previous owner has fitted a c.1972 Gibson mini-humbucker (which was a popular mod in the 1960's) and (2)a five way selector switch has been fitted. Centre position gives the the alnico bridge pick-up and mini-humbucker in parallel for higher output.

I play rock 'n roll, blues and some jazzy stuff. This guitar is made for the first two. As an Esquire it should only have the single bridge pick-up, but this one pick-up is very versatile. It can give bright open-sounding chords where each string can be clearly heard (not just a muddy brown blend that it is all too easy to get from Gibsons) and I think this is the sound that people mean when they refer to "twang". However... with the same pick-up, if you wind-on the gain to 4 or 5, it really screams for great lead guitar - this is the best neck pick-up I have ever had; better than my 1977 Stratocaster; better than any Gibson or Ibanez I have had. The non-standard Gibson mini-humbucker in the neck position gives a fair approximation of a Gibson mellow sound. I play it through a Roland JC-60 and only use reverb and ocassionally a little chorus for a fuller sound.

The action was little high it but took just moments to lower the action once I had found the right-sized tiny allen key. The frets are quite high off the finger board, but not particularly wide. At first I found the frets to be a little "sharp" compared to my Gibsons (which seem to have had a much more champferred feel to the frets). However, my fingers just needed to toughen up a little more and now I absolutely love these frets; they give a very positive, almost machine like, feel to the guitar. The neck profile is what I believe is called a "c-shape" and is, for me, perfect.

It is twenty years since I gigged, but I think (like all Telecasters) this guitar is rock-solid and I would have no concerns about it. Sure, the body laquer has a couple of chips in it, but these days they call this "relicing" and I CHOSE a second-hand guitar over a new guitar because I don't want to worry about it acquiring the odd-mark or feeling like I have to wrap it in closths and put it away in its case all the time.

No warranty provided. I have never had any need to call Fender. Good web-site though.

I have a number of vintage guitars and currently only own this Esquire and an early 1970's Ibanez. I am slighlty troubled that the guitar has had a humbucker fitted but then I know this was a common place mod in the 1960's and so, if anything, makes this 1962 reissue even MORE realistic. Also, it gives it more versatility and I can;t believe it reduces the sound qulity of the original bridge pick-up. However if anyone out there has the original wiring diagram for the Esqiure I would be pleased to see a copy.

My Esquire is a US made guitar, built in 1967, has 21 Frets, is solid swamp ash, has a 3
way selector switch, a tone control and volume control configured so that the volume works in 3 postion and the tone works only in the neck and middle position, which are
just settings that use resistors and capacitors that change the frequency response of the
single pickup that the guitar has. The pickup is made by Fender and is in the bridge.
The neck is one piece solid maple and this original guitar has only passive electronics.
The finish is nitro-cellulose laquer, high gloss, natural finish (no pigment), on a tele
body that was routed completely for the esquire but would require additional routing for a telecaster. The Bridge is an original Fender adjustable bridge with three bridge pieces, string through body. The tuners are the Fender "F" style. The neck is a solid one piece
maple with a "U" shape. The case is an original black case and that's all there is.

I play 60s and 70s rock and this guitar is perfect. I play it usually through a Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb and has the usual Fender Hum when played with a lot of treble. The sound is real bright and has that classic fender voice. This guitar sounds fantastic and is so rich
and deep with the switch in the bridge position. The esquire is great for both lead and
chord work and you can make her wail and wail by bending the stings. The only down side is that there is only one position that really does anything and that is in the bridge
position. Any adjustments to the tone, sustain, feedback has to be made at the amp. However, the guitar has such increadible sustain, even unplugged. I collect vintage Fenders (Strats, Coronados, Thinlines, Telecasters, Esquires, Jazzmasters, etc.) and this
is my favorite.

The guitar was setup by my guy in Hollywood and the action, pickups and intonation, were
setup and this intrument is great. The finish of the wood and metal pieces is perfect.

The guitar is a professional piece which can take any amount of use, the hardware is great,
plating is great, the strap buttons are the standard strong Fender originals and I would
depend on it for anything. You always bring a spare instrument to a performance as anything man made can bread down and this plays on Murphy's Law.

This guitar has a life time warranty although it will never need anything. Fender has always been a great company to deal with and as I only collect US made Fenders, I have
complete confidence that Fender would take care of anything that I needed.

I have been playing for about 33 years, I own 2 Fender Tube Amps, three Fender Practice
Amps, Special Effects of all kinds, Many Guitars including:
1973 Fender Stratocaster
1968 Fender Telecaster Thinline
1967 Fender Esquire
1966 Fender Coronado
1967 Fender Coronado
1991 Fender Telecoustic, custom, made in Japan for 1.5 years
1981 Gibson "V"
1966 Mosrite "Joe Maphis I" six string
1967 Mosrite "Joe Maphis I" six string
Marshall 100 watt JCM 900 SLX Head and 400 watt Cab
No Regrets on the purchase. If lost, I would do what ever it took to replace it. The feel and sound is just classic rock and roll. I don't hate anything about it and the action is
just wonderful in my hands. All the guitars in my collection play like dreams and the
action of this esquire is not a low as the mosrite's or my Strat, however it plays and bends
like a dream. I wish it had a twin sister that I could also buy. This is the last of the pre-
CBS quality instruments and although the new guitars coming out of the custom shop are
made to a very high quality and quality control, the sound of this old wood cannot be made, it has to mature. The pickup is amazing and the sound of that pickup with the old
wood is unbelieveable.

Mid-eighties Made in Japan Fender Esquire.
Maple neck 22 medium frets.
Ash body with thick yellow/butterscotch "Mary Kay" see-through translucent goop glossy finish.
Three steel "all-thread" saddles on "ashtray" type bridge.
Vintage style metal button split shaft tuners.

It doesn't need any other "features."

It's one of the most basic electric guitars ever marketed (first in the early fifties by Leo Fender as a predecessor to the Broadcaster/Telecaster, later as an econo-Tele).

Very twangy.
Good for very twangy guitar styles like Country steel parts, Rock rhythm or leads, anything you dare attempt with it really.
You WILL be heard!
Lots of "cut" and penetration.
Extremely bright and crisp unless the selector switch is in the forward position, which engages a big capacitor to null high frequencies, then it's subdued and somewhat muffled. Interesting, but not largely useful with the capacitor engaged.
In the middle position the tone pot is engaged, and in the rearward switch position the pickup is straight out with no tone pot at all, just the volume pot.
Somewhat noisey. No shielding except the brass plate under the pickup, the bridge plate, and the control plate.

I toyed with the idea of replacing the pickup with a Fender Original Vintage Tele lead pickup, but opted for an EMG instead, since the stock pu sounded ok, but I wanted more range. I added the midrange tone boost EMG tone pot too.

Now it's much quieter, more versatile, and hotter sounding. More usable as a stand alone guitar for bright rhythms and crunch, and soloing.

Somebody had set this guitar up for chicken-pickin' (low action; straight neck; light strings). Lowest action I've EVER seen and still playable. Pretty buzzy fretting, but still intelligible!

I raised the action, added some relief, and that's all!

Everything lines up and is straight.

The back ferrals are flush.

This bridge doesn't seem to break strings, though I've had others of this type (three saddle "all-thread") that were hard on string breakage.
Rare one!

Are you kidding?

Rock solid.

I gig it with no backup.

Just bring a spare nine-volt (for the EMG), fuses, solder, strings, etc.

Bought well used.

"Relic'd" by previous owner(s)!

The Japanese Fenders were generally outstandingly luthiered, but the electronic parts weren't quite as good as Switchcraft stuff.

I don't care for the thick goopy finish, but it's protective.

I happen to like this guitar very much!

It's simple, twangy, and plays and sounds great (even with the original pu and wiring scheme, though the EMG setup makes it more sophisticated sounding and a little more versatile [and quieter for hum]).

It has better sustain than any other bolt-neck guitar I've ever played.
Neck is great, and the frets are really nicely done.

I love the brightness from the ash body, maple neck/fretboard, and steel saddles.
I can set my three channel Tech 21 Trademark 120 for different tones and amounts of crunch, etc.

The Esquire lacks a lush Jazz tone, but its limitations force me to explore different volume and tone combinations.
It can get a hollow, airey tone, then turn right around and romp and stomp some crashing Rock/blues chords.

1957 Fender Esquire. Swamp ash body, maple neck and fretboard. The Esquire came out before the tele. The Broadcaster had the addded neck pickup, and the esquire had just a single coil in the bridge. I added a soapbar pickup in the neck position. (body came routed from the factory for it.)

It has a real twangy sound with the bridge pickup, a nice jazzy tone from the neck pickup and a well balanced sound with both pickups on. Lots of punch with my Fender Super Reverb tube amp. I think you really need a tube amp for this type of guitar.

Action? well it's a tele. The action is not bad, not super low. but not bad.

11 + This guitar is almost 50 years old and the neck is perfect. I have never even adjusted the truss rod. The original tone and volume pots are as smooth and quiet as anything you could buy new.
I play it almost everyday

I haven't dealt with them.

This guitar really is amazing. I really hope that the guy who posted the review before me was making up the whole bonehead story.

1950's Fender Esquire(Like Telecaster)Found it at a garage sale for 25 dollars. The seller was an older woman who said she bought it for he late husband sometime in the 1950's...he never played it and it had been collecting dust.

This guitar had the twangiest sound I have ever heard. It was really thin sounding and did not stay in tune. I put some seymore duncan humbuckers in it(it took a little routing but it fit pretty good. Sort of sounds like Angus Young now...the way a guitar should! I fixed the tuning problem with some old grovers I took off an older guitar...the holes did not line up but I managed to make it work by driling a few extra holes...stays in tune like a breeze now.

I thought the action was kind of high and the bridge was really dorkiy looking so I added a Floyd rose to it...my router really worked well on the installation...I also added a locking nut to keep it in tune when I take a dive on the whammy bar! I would have given it a 3 but with my modification it is now a ten!!!

Must be pretty reliable because it has been around for nearly 50 years.

Don't know don't care.

This guitar looked ok when I bought it...not many dings and a kind of yellow looking finish...I think it will looke better if I get it refinished. It is overall a great guitar after my modifications. I play really hard rock and mainly play my BC Rich which is a much superior guitar I might say. It is good to have a Fender even if it is just a $25 piece of junk. With a little help it has turned out to be pretty adequete for a backup axe. I would not have paid very much for this guitar but what the hell!