Fender Classic 50s Esquire

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:40 am

Tried one of these yesterday while mooching around the guitar shop trying to get a box in which to ship my MM/Duo up to Scotchland.

I think this is the closest I've ever come to buying a brand new guitar on a whim. It's really fantastic quality, and the sound is great- a lower output bridge pickup that isn't icepicky or harsh at all- in fact it's perfect for the sort of music I'm playing at the moment: single note, fiddly, no chords kinda thing. The volume drop on the cap'n'resistor setting reduces the usefulness of this, but it still sounds good. The neck is a generous piece of wood, but not too fat. The 2 tone sunburst looks really classy too.

In fact the only things that stopped me buying it on the spot are the fact that I'm building an Esquire at home (that and a Tele thinline that a nice chap from OSG is painting in return for a lend of me Jag and a percolator) and the price tag- Â£399 doesn't seem too much, and you can feel the quality, but for a few bob more I'd probably have to get a Baja tele... which has a neck pickup, and fancy new-fangled wiring.

Anyways:

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:48 am

They look really nice, and Â£399 is a great price. I think you're right to consider the Baja if you're talking Telecaster at that price point, it really is a stunning guitar for the money (although I don't know if they've been bumped by the price increases now? - I got mine for Â£389).

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:52 am

I was really impressed with the 50's Esquire as well, when I saw it in a local shop. However after getting my mustang I think I would really miss a neck pickup, and the 50s tele is only Â£20 more or so. I would probably get the Tele.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:36 am

I'd like to have a play on one and see what the neck's like - heard nothing but good things about them.

aen · Post by **aen** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:57 pm

The neck is a fucking dream, its the same as the 50's calssic tele, obviously. I cant say enoguh good things about it. I definetly liekd the feel of the esquiers I played, but I NEED a neck pickup more than I need weird birdge pickup switching. I'd liek to get a black one someday and use it as the "computer direct/processing" guitar.

Jazzmasterfan · Post by **Jazzmasterfan** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:25 pm

I bought a Baja at the old prices (Â£340 - I don't pay VAT) almost two months ago and haven't looked back...in fact it started off a GAS attack. I sold my Fender Telecaster Deluxe (neck too thick), am getting rid of my Rickenbacker 360 (can't see me playing it again) and I also purchased a Fender Custom Shop 51 Nocaster NOS at a rock bottom/ clearance price (I like to have one expensive guitar). I'm playing the Baja alot (just put it down as a matter of fact) and it is very good value for money...great neck, great pups and I like playing with the switching system. In fact, if I had the cash and could still find one at the old price...I'd pick another up!

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:27 pm

Yeah! Okay, if the Esquire I build turns out to be shit I'll buy a real one.

unrelated: my jag spotted on rival website

shae · Post by **shae** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:16 am

The neck on those things are what wins me over! I just love the 50's classic series. So much more class than Baja in terms of specs. I prefer vintagez because that's what I was brought up on ey. But if you're looking for a similar guitar, I'm pretty sure 50's Classic Teles are the SAME as the 50's Classic Esquires. Simply just without the pup, different wiring and of course the decal.

Personally, I went with the 50's classic and then got bored of the colour, so I kept the neck, sold it, and made a parts guitar based around the 50's Classic neck.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:54 am

shae wrote:So much more class than Baja in terms of specs

What.

Post by **Mike** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:55 am

Jazzmasterfan wrote:I sold my Fender Telecaster Deluxe (neck too thick)

Blasphemy!

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:59 am

timhulio wrote:... in return for a lend of a percolator

I read this and thought "what an odd thing to change hands on a guitar forum." It took me a second to realise you were talking about the harmonic type.

I can't give enough praise for the Baja.

LimpDickCheney · Post by **LimpDickCheney** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:27 am

I came up with a wiring diagram for the Esquire that is bypass/volume/volume tone if anyone is interested.

Jazzmasterfan · Post by **Jazzmasterfan** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 12:27 pm

Mike wrote:
Jazzmasterfan wrote:I sold my Fender Telecaster Deluxe (neck too thick)
Blasphemy!

Ha ha! I liked it but the neck was just a little too thick for me. It was always a toss up between a Baja or Deluxe...so bought a Baja and I'm now a big fan of Telecasters.

shae · Post by **shae** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 12:05 am

Mike wrote:
shae wrote:So much more class than Baja in terms of specs
What.

Baja - 9.5" radius, V shaped neck with medium jumbo frets.
Classic 50's - 7.25" radius, C shaped with vintage frets.

Not to mention the fact that the Baja colours are bordering on atrocious. And the S1 switching is pretty wank too. Rarely would you find a proper use for it. The addition of the 4-way switch is essential IMO tho and given that the S1 doesn't exactly take any extra room it's okay. But I can't get past the neck! And body weight. And I'm twice yer size. So yeah, I have my opinions on the guit. I don't care if Jesus himself uses it, it's one of the less appealing guitars Fenders dishing out at the moment IMHO. Classic 50's Teles and Strats, not to mention the 60's reissues, as well as the usual contingent of well-priced Squier guitars (CV, et al) I think there's better options out thurr.

But hell, it's all horses for courses. Just that, yes, the Classic 50's has a lot more class than a Baja.
I'd be inclined to rip them god damn frets off within the first hour.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 7:55 am

You're an idiot.

The s1 switching is not "wank". It gives you in-between sounds on a Telecaster. That's what it's for. Just because you're too close-minded and uninspired to see a use for it does not make it extraneous. I use it in about 4 songs already.

The 4th position Series option is also a fantastic sound.

Specs are not "classy" or "unclassy". They are specs, if you're getting hung up on radius and frets you're doing it wrong. Learn to play the fucking thing. Atrocious colours? Since when is translucent Blonde and a Black 5-screw pickguard atrocious? Last I heard that was pretty much the quintessential Telecaster colour combination, you dolt. Doesn't that make it the "classiest" colour combination of all? Vintage frets aren't for everyone you know, and neither are 7.25" radii. Some people like to bend strings.

Less appealing Fender guitars? You're on fucking crack. Prior to the price hikes it was still a fucking steal for the build quality, neck (yes, it's superb), pickups and hardware. Even now it's still a great guitar for the money and spanks an American Standard.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:07 am

haha one of mikes guitars got picked on.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:19 am

I'm all fine with people having different points of view, but "classy". Do me a fucking favour.

Plus it's rip-off Merchant Shae, the cunt. It's not like I particularly care, it's nice to maintain exclusivity from Muppets.

Fibus · Post by **Fibus** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:22 am

When i was buying a telecaster i tried a baja, in fact i was all set to buy one after watching Mike's video countless times. But when i got there i tried it, although i loved the switching i didn't like the neck (and to a lesser extent the ashtray bridge). I tried a MIM standard which to me just felt better, i would have preferred it to have series switching (which i tried to put in myself with less than spectacular results) but overall i can see why someone may not like the baja. So much about a guitar is personal preference, hence why there are so many kinds, i don't think its fair to chastise someone for expressing that preference.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:26 am

Right, you're on the fucking list too. Once again, not chastising for differing tastes, but the concept of "classiness" in specs.

Fibus · Post by **Fibus** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:39 am

That must be a huge list! I am not saying anything about the classiness since i have no idea what that even means. I would like it if my MIM tele had the same specs electronics wise as the baja and the same colour (since the MIM sunburst ain't great) but its about the feel of the guitar. It just seems that when someone says they don't like the baja tele they are automatically an idiot and i can understand why you want to endorse and defend it since you love it so but its a difference in preference not mental capacity.

And essentially its not even that huge a difference in taste, its like the difference between crunchy and smooth peanut butter. Can we all just agree we love teles not matter what flavour them come in?

Fender Classic 50s Esquire

Fender Classic 50s Esquire

Re: Fender Classic 50s Esquire