The history of solid body electric guitars is rich with innovation, but one design stands out as the original: the Fender Esquire Guitar. Emerging in 1950, this mass-produced instrument, featuring a single-cutaway pine body, a bolt-on maple neck, and a repurposed lap-steel pickup at the bridge, revolutionized the world of guitar playing forever.
However, the Esquire guitar is more than just a historical artifact. It has remained a vital and influential instrument throughout guitar history. It was the driving force behind Luther Perkins’ iconic “boom-chicka-boom” rhythm for Johnny Cash, and Syd Barrett’s sonic explorations with Pink Floyd. Paul McCartney wielded an Esquire on the Beatles’ groundbreaking track “Helter Skelter,” and Steve Cropper used his to craft the soulful sounds of Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ on) the Dock of the Bay.” Its sound echoes in Steppenwolf’s anthem “Born to Be Wild” and its image graces the cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run.” The term “iconic” is often casually thrown around, but in the case of the Fender Esquire guitar, it is undeniably accurate.
A Classic, Reimagined for Today’s Player
To commemorate seven decades of this legendary status, the original single-pickup marvel has been reintroduced, blending vintage charm with contemporary enhancements. The 70th Anniversary Esquire guitar retains the classic aesthetics, feel, and sonic character while incorporating modern features. It starts with a roasted pine body, offering the same lightweight comfort and punchy, complex tone that defined the early Esquires. However, this updated model benefits from Fender’s roasting process, enhancing resonance and is finished with a gloss nitrocellulose lacquer for smooth playability and a beautiful sheen.
The nitro finish extends to the comfortable, thick “U” shaped maple neck, which is topped with a maple fingerboard. This fingerboard features 21 vintage tall frets and classic black dot inlays, catering to players who appreciate a vintage feel with enhanced playability. The hardware appointments are equally high-quality, including a three-saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele bridge equipped with solid barrel steel saddles, a bone nut for optimal tone transfer, and vintage-style tuners that maintain the guitar’s classic look and tuning stability.
The Bridge Pickup: The Soul of the Esquire
If one element defines the Esquire guitar, it’s undoubtedly its singular, potent bridge pickup. Working in harmony with a distinctive wiring configuration, this pickup gives the instrument its signature sound – percussive, articulate, and remarkably rich. The 70th Anniversary Esquire guitar captures this essential voice with a Tim Shaw Designed single-coil pickup. This pickup is inspired by an original 1950 Esquire pickup from the renowned Songbirds Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, ensuring authentic vintage tone. The Tim Shaw pickup is controlled by master volume and tone knobs, and in true Esquire tradition, a three-position blade switch. This switch provides a spectrum of tonal options, including a preset treble roll-off for darker tones and the ability to engage or bypass the tone control altogether, offering a wide range of sonic textures from bright and biting to warm and mellow.
Adding to its visual appeal, the 70th Anniversary Esquire is available in four captivating finishes. Players can choose from timeless classics like White Blonde and 2-Color Sunburst, or opt for more contemporary and cool finishes such as Lake Placid Blue and Surf Green. Regardless of the chosen finish, the 70th Anniversary Esquire stands as an exceptional tribute to the original single-cutaway, single-pickup masterpiece. The legacy of rock ‘n’ roll began here, and with the Esquire guitar, it continues to thrive.
