The Esquire is among the most sought-after instruments in the entire Fender family of Telecaster guitars. Introduced in 1950, its 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 again in the hands of many other great players.

Fender's ’50s Esquire features an ash body, a C-shaped maple neck, a vintage-style three-saddle string-through-body Telecaster bridge, and a vintage-style single-coil Telecaster pickup with custom-wired three-way switching.

Basically, three-way switching on a single-pickup Guitar gives you three preset tones. 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.

 

Specification:

Model Name	‘50s Esquire®
Model Number	013-1502-(Color#)
Series	Classic Series
Colors	(306) Black,
Body	Ash
Neck	1-Piece Maple, “C” Shape, (Gloss Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard	Maple, 7.25” Radius (184mm)
No. of Frets	21 Vintage Style Frets
Pickups	1 Vintage Style Single-Coil Tele Pickup with Alnico Magnets (Bridge)
Controls	Master Volume, Master Tone
Pickup Switching	Custom-Wired 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Volume Control, (Dark Vintage Circuit), No Tone Control Position 2. Volume Control with Cap. and Tone Control with Cap. Position 3. Volume Control Only No Cap. , No Tone Control
Bridge	Vintage Style 3-Saddle Strings-Thru-Body Tele Bridge
Machine Heads	Fender®/Ping® Vintage Style Tuning Machines
Hardware	Chrome
Pickguard	1-Ply White
Scale Length	25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut	1.625” (41.2 mm)
Unique Features	“C” Shape Maple Neck, Knurled Chrome Knobs,
Strings	Fender Super 250R, Nickel Plated Steel, Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046), p/n 073-0250-006
Accessories	Deluxe Gig Bag
Case	Deluxe Gig Bag