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Guitars > Electric Guitars > Solidbody Guitars > Fender '50s Esquire (Black)

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Fender '50s Esquire (Black) (No Longer Available)

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Ash Body, Maple Neck and Fingerboard, and One Single-coil Pickup - Black

Sorry, the Fender '50s Esquire (Black) is no longer available. We've left this page up for reference only. Check out the great alternatives on this page or call toll-free (800) 222-4700 to speak with a Sweetwater Sales Engineer about similar products.

From Our Research Team:

Here's Your Chance to Play a Fender Legend!

The FENDER® '50s Esquire solidbody electric guitar takes you back to the dawn of the Fender legend! This classic guitar represents the early 1950s introduction to what would become the Telecaster® line. The '50s Esquire features a distinctive single-pickup design, with a vintage-style 3-saddle string-through-body bridge. Despite its one-pickup configuration, this Esquire gives you 3-way switching — you can bypass the tone controls, use them, or cut them again and engage a "dark" tone circuit for mellow tones. This guitar's comfortable C-shaped maple neck also makes the Fender '50s Esquire a joy to play.

Fender '50s Esquire Solidbody Electric Guitar at a Glance:
  • The looks and sound of a legendary early Fender
  • You don't just play it — you play through it
  • Three-way switching from a single pickup

The looks and sound of a legendary early Fender
A true Fender classic returns! Introduced in 1950, the Esquire's unique circuitry and biting bridge pickup created a tonal sensation. It later became the weapon of choice for greats, including Jeff Beck and Bruce Springsteen, and has re-emerged time and time again in the hands of many other great players. The forerunner of the stunningly successful Telecaster®, the '50s Esquire packs a ton of tone into its austere setup.

You don't just play it — you play through it
This '50s Esquire is all business in both looks and playability; plug it in and you're instantly in direct touch with your tone. The '50s Esquire features an ash body, a C-shaped maple neck, a vintage-style 3-saddle string-through-body Telecaster bridge, and a vintage-style single-coil Telecaster pickup with custom-wired three-way switching.

Three-way switching from a single pickup
So, how do you get 3-way switching from a single-pickup guitar? Fender built three preset tones into the '50s Esquire's circuitry. In the bridge position, the pickup is connected only to the volume control (the tone control is disconnected); this minimal circuitry produces more top-end sparkle than is possible with a Telecaster®. In the middle position, the standard tone control circuit is activated. In the neck position, the tone control is again disengaged, but a tone-shaping capacitor rolls off much of the top end and some bottom, producing a darker tone and slight volume loss.

Fender '50s Esquire Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
  • Color: Black (polyester finish)
  • Body: Ash
  • Neck: One-piece maple, C shape (gloss urethane finish)
  • Fingerboard: Maple, 7.25" radius
  • No. of frets: 21 vintage style
  • Pickups: One vintage-style single-coil Tele® with alnico magnets (bridge)
  • Controls: Master volume, master tone
  • Pickup switching: custom-wired 3-position blade
  • Bridge: Vintage-style 3-saddle strings-through-body Tele bridge
  • Tuning machines: Fender/Ping vintage-style tuning machines
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Pickguard: 1-ply white
  • Scale length: 25.5"
  • Width at Nut: 1.625"
  • Unique Features
  • "C" Shape Maple Neck,
  • Knurled Chrome Knobs,
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Strings: Fender Super 250R, nickel plated steel, gauges .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
  • Deluxe gig bag included

The Fender '50s Esquire still rocks more than half a century after its introduction!
Specification Detail
Manufacturer Part Number 0131502306

'50s Esquire (Black) Image Gallery

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See Also: Solidbodies , Fender , Fender Solidbody Guitars

Fender '50s Esquire (Black)

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