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Average Price: $710
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$400
$1001+
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Description
Step back into the golden era of rock 'n' roll with the Fender Esquire, a guitar that embodies the pioneering spirit of the early 1950s. This legendary instrument is more than just a piece of history; it's a dynamic tool for modern musicians seeking that unmistakable vintage sound. With its distinctive single-pickup design, the Esquire offers a unique tonal palette through a custom-wired 3-way switching system. This setup allows you to explore everything from bright, shimmering highs to rich, mellow lows by simply flicking a switch.
The Esquire is crafted with a solid ash body, providing a resonant and balanced tone. Its comfortable C-shaped maple neck and 21 vintage-style frets make it a joy to play, whether you're strumming open chords or bending notes in a soaring solo. The vintage-style 3-saddle string-through-body bridge ensures stable tuning and a clear, bell-like sustain that has made this guitar a favorite among iconic players over the decades.
Whether you're drawn to its historical significance or its raw, unfiltered sound, the Fender Esquire is a formidable choice for any guitarist looking to capture the essence of the early electric guitar era. Its timeless design and versatile capabilities ensure that it's not just a relic of the past, but a continuing legend in the world of music.
Key Features:
- Solid ash body for resonant tone
- C-shaped maple neck with 21 vintage-style frets
- Vintage-style single-coil Telecaster pickup with alnico magnets
- Custom-wired 3-position blade switching
- Vintage-style 3-saddle string-through-body bridge
- Maple fingerboard with 7.25" radius
- Fender/Ping vintage-style tuning machines
- Includes deluxe gig bag
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Classic Series '50s Esquire |
| Finish | 2-Color Sunburst, Black, White Blonde |
| Year | 2005 - 2016 |
| Made In | Mexico |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Ash |
| Body Shape | T-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | String-Through |
| Color Family | Black, Brown, White |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Maple |
| Fretboard Radius | 7.25" |
| Model Family | Fender Esquire |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Nut Width | 1.625" |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | S |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Fender Classic Series |
FAQs
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What makes the Fender Esquire different from a Telecaster?
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The Fender Esquire is unique due to its single pickup design, whereas the Telecaster typically has two pickups. This configuration gives the Esquire a distinct, raw tone and relies on a 3-way switch to modify the single pickup's output.
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Can the Fender Esquire handle a variety of music genres?
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Yes, the Fender Esquire's versatile single-coil pickup and tone control options make it suitable for genres like rock, blues, and country, offering a bright, punchy sound.
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What is the neck profile like on the Fender Esquire?
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The Fender Esquire features a classic '50s "U" shape neck profile, providing a comfortable grip suitable for both rhythm and lead playing styles.
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Is the Fender Esquire suitable for beginners?
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While the Fender Esquire's single-pickup setup is straightforward, its vintage-style features and unique tone control may be more appealing to players with some experience looking for a specific sound.
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How does the 3-way switch on the Fender Esquire work?
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The 3-way switch on the Fender Esquire modifies the tone of the single bridge pickup, offering different tonal options by routing the pickup's output through various circuit paths.
Videos
Normans Rare Guitars
1955 Fender Esquire White Guard | Guitar of the Day
Reviews
PROS
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Unique single-coil sound distinct from Telecaster bridge pickups
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Excellent build quality and playability, praised even by Custom Shop users
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Lightweight design, often under 7 lbs, enhances playability
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Classic 50s aesthetic with vintage finishes and features
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Versatile tonal options with modifiable wiring schemes
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Comfortable neck profiles, praised for rhythm playing and overall comfort
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Reduced string pull from single pickup adds distinctive tonal character
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Offers customization potential for enthusiasts looking to tweak their instrument
CONS
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Stock wiring scheme may not appeal to everyone
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Finish can be too glossy for some, affecting comfort
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Smaller frets may not suit players used to larger ones
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Esquire.
Features and functionality
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A 4-way switch on the Esquire offers "Volume only," "Volume & Tone," and "1/2 and 1/4 cocked wah" options for varied tonal versatility.
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Variations in Esquire wiring and pot configurations can impact sound, indicating not all models produce identical tones.
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The 3-position switch includes different capacitors for varied tones, allowing users to switch between bright and darker presets.
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One popular Esquire circuit includes a dark circuit, standard tone, and the bridge pickup wired directly to the output jack for clarity.
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Mods and upgrades
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Some owners convert their Esquires by adding pickups with coil taps, allowing for multiple coil options and unique tone settings.
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Owners suggest using a Seymour Duncan Secret Weapon pickup under the guard to enhance tonal options while maintaining the Esquire's aesthetic.
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Some owners use an EMG Tele bridge pickup for low tunings, suggesting versatility for baritone Esquire setups.
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Some owners explore adding humbuckers with coil-splitting to expand tonal options while maintaining the Esquire's minimalist setup.
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Use cases and applications
Comparisons
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An Esquire configured with a Seymour Duncan Broadcaster pickup and minimal settings is favored for jazz and practice, highlighting its simplicity in tone exploration.
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The lack of a neck pickup route in MIJ Art Canvas Esquires contrasts with traditional Telecasters, influencing tone options.
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Critic Reviews
5.0 out of 5
Based on 4 Reviews and 35 Ratings
41029
Pretty solid stock guitar fr the buck.
This is a Mexi-made Esquire. Swamp-ash body, maple neck, etc. Pretty much a classic 50s telecaster with 1 pickup and the esquire's wonky wiring. But the wiring scheme is part of the charm of an esquire as is the reduced string pull from just 1 pickup that makes these guitars just a touch meaner than their big brothers. This guitar has a well-applied Polyurethane white-blonde finish that is too glossy for my taste. Feels weird under my forearm. The neck is finished in vintage tinted poly and is fairly glossy, but in a good way. I never seem to stick to it even when I get sweaty.
My 3 star review is based on how I got this esquire stock. Its really a 4.5 star after some tweaking. An Angeltone 1950B pickup went in the bridge and I switched the stock steel barrels for a set of Hipshot compensated brass saddles. That seemed to bring the guitar to life plugged in. I didn't feel that the stock parts put forward its midrangey voice unplugged.
She doesn't have an official name but I often refer to her as Mary (as in Mary Kaye cosmetics, even though she is not truly Mary Kaye) or the Deathsquire (mine has a black bakelite pickguard installed by the previous owner) because she wears more black than any of my other guitars. Tré funereal, Baron Samedi!
75
I had one of these and of course I regret selling it now - like half the gear I have had.
5339
Are all your teles maple necked?
41029
no, 2 maple, 1 rosewood I think... at one point I had like 3 or 4 maples and 2 rosewoods? I forget.
5339
113
Custom Esquire. No knobs. Rio Grande P90 wired straight to output jack.
Go-to guitar. Beautiful simplicity. Comfortable chunky neck. Flat wounds.
113
Syd Barrett influence
Artist usage
Add artist
In this photo, taken by Jason Merritt, Petty is visible with the Fender Esquire, which is possibly the blond '67 model.
He said this is part of his collection and is one of his favorites
This article by Gibson, talks about Bruce Springsteen's Fender Esquire. The article reads, "One of the most deserving of Legendary Guitar status of any electric on the planet, Bruce Springsteen’s ’50s Fender Esquire is both a cover star and a lifelong “No. 1” pick for this rock and roller. Springsteen has played other guitars, and naturally takes plenty of spares on the road with him, but the image of The Boss will forever be linked with that blackguard maple-neck Esquire, a guitar that he has consistently stated is the best he has ever played."
"This is a '56 Esquire and this guitar for me is the best Telecaster I've ever played in my life. Not only can you feel the way it's been carved you can feel the way that men's hands have sanded it down with their bare skin. And it sounds like nothing you've ever heard before in your life." - Rob at 2:15 of this #product-demo.
According to this Music Radar article "Rory used the National resonator (left) for some thrilling slide work on his cover of Tony Joe White’s As The Crow Flies on the much-loved Irish Tour ’74 album. Likewise, the Esquire (right) also began to find favour around that time, again for slide work." It mentions that this guitar was used on Rory's 1974 Irish tour.
As said on his website : "A new favourite of Ron’s is his 1953 FENDER ESQUIRE, he acquired this guitar about 4 years ago... Ronnie’s always picks this guitar as an alternative to his beloved ‘55 STRAT. During the recent Faces gigs he was using it more and more at every show! No matter how minimal Ronnie plays, weather it’s Rhythm or Lead, it cuts right thru and fills the guitar parts As only Woody can!"
This picture, found on this fan site, shows Syd Barrett holding his Fender Esquire.
This guitar had mirrored discs taped on it, which was all the rage back in the 60's. According to Feel Numb website, even Jimmy Page made a hommage to Syd Barrett with the mirrored discs thingy.
It’s mostly that top-loader ’58 Esquire straight into a silverface Fender Princeton Reverb. It’s not a drip-edge model, but I don’t know the specific year. I used an AEA N22 ribbon mic, for the most part. I know that amp really well, and where it drives in a way that’s pleasant to my ear, and I’ll sit on the couch and play and hear it through the studio monitors. For certain songs, I’ll adjust settings on the amp to get what I want out of it. It really is super straightforward.
Joe Strummer's back up guitar during touring with The Clash was a 1959 Fender Esquire. The guitar had a rosewood fret board and was Arctic white with a black gaffer tape stripe over the body. Later adding a second strip that ran over the pickguard and under the bridge and control plate. Sticker varied over the years.
For a better look at the guitar watch this clip of Strummer perfomring with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gp6lYQrqSE
Album Usage
The Fender Esquire has been featured on the following albums:
Can't Get Enough: A Tribute To Bad Company
Bad Company (2025)
Saviors (édition de luxe)
Green Day (2025)
Saviors
Green Day (2024)
Santa Cruz
Pedro the Lion (2024)
Noviembre
Los Bunkers (2023)
The Legendary B.B. King
B.B. King (2021)
Live At Red Rocks
Bad Company (2018)
Barrett
Syd Barrett (2016)
The Madcap Laughs
Syd Barrett (2016)
Going Back Home
Roger Daltrey & Wilko Johnson (2014)
Irish Tour '74 (Live / 40th Anniversary Edition)
Rory Gallagher (2014)
21st Century Breakdown
Green Day (2009)
American Idiot (Deluxe)
Green Day (2004)
The Extremist
Joe Satriani (1992)
Hot Space
Queen (1982)
It's Hard
The Who (1982)
The Wall
Pink Floyd (1979)
Open Fire
Ronnie Montrose (1978)
Seasons In The Sun (Expanded Edition)
Terry Jacks (1974)
Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (1968)
A Saucerful of Secrets
Pink Floyd (1968)
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn
Pink Floyd (1967)
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Super Deluxe Edition)
The Beatles (1967)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Esquire, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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