Fender’s first electric has a unique allure – and bags of tonal character
The Fender Esquire represents a historic turning point in guitar evolution. Essentially a single pickup variant of the Telecaster (although some very rare, early dual-pickup Esquires have been documented) it first appeared in catalogues in the spring of 1950 and preceded the autumn 1950 announcement of the Broadcaster – which was later renamed the Telecaster due to Gretsch’s cease and desist letter – by several months.
The Esquire and Broadcaster/Telecaster were the first solid body electric guitars to enter mass production, and 67 years later remarkably little has changed in terms of their core design. To this day they remain popular instruments, testament to practical but forward-thinking features that have stood the test of time incredibly well.
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