Jon Scherff
A True Classic
1959 Fender “Esquire Custom”
The Fender “Esquire” is truly the essence of simplicity and minimalism. It was the first solid-body electric guitar design sold to the public in 1950 and was almost immediately followed by the two-pickup “Telecaster”. (Leo Fender would introduce his legendary “Stratocaster” in 1954.)
This is the bound-edge Esquire and was marketed as the “Esquire Custom”. This version was introduced in 1959 and ran through 1969. The Esquire Custom was Fender’s only standard production model (aside from the Telecaster) to offer a bound edge. The earliest builds (like the one shown here) had a three-ply pick-guard held on with five mounting screws (soon to be changed to eight screws shortly thereafter).
Interestingly, an Esquire was not simply a Telecaster minus a rhythm pickup. Its tone variations were driven by electronics. The large bridge cover plate also complimented this sound by completely encompassing the pickup in hard steel. Unfortunately, many people used these cover plates as ashtrays and eventually lost them.
A True Classic
1959 Fender “Esquire Custom”
The Fender “Esquire” is truly the essence of simplicity and minimalism. It was the first solid-body electric guitar design sold to the public in 1950 and was almost immediately followed by the two-pickup “Telecaster”. (Leo Fender would introduce his legendary “Stratocaster” in 1954.)
This is the bound-edge Esquire and was marketed as the “Esquire Custom”. This version was introduced in 1959 and ran through 1969. The Esquire Custom was Fender’s only standard production model (aside from the Telecaster) to offer a bound edge. The earliest builds (like the one shown here) had a three-ply pick-guard held on with five mounting screws (soon to be changed to eight screws shortly thereafter).
Interestingly, an Esquire was not simply a Telecaster minus a rhythm pickup. Its tone variations were driven by electronics. The large bridge cover plate also complimented this sound by completely encompassing the pickup in hard steel. Unfortunately, many people used these cover plates as ashtrays and eventually lost them.