Springsteens Esquire

[Gareth John]

Cool pics thanks, I think he had a 3 saddle bridge on a 52 reissue on the Wings For Wheels documentary too, maybe he hadn't got around to swapping it out yet. Also, in a book I have, there's a pic of Springsteen with a 52 reissue with the Fender 6 saddle that comes with it.

[allen st. john]

Okay, does anyone think this is kind of weird?
Bruce had the Esquire for years as very much his number one guitar, and played it to within an inch of its life.
He wore it out, but it pretty much took 30 years.
Now it seems like he's content to play these rather generic guitars and switches a lot during the shows.
I'm surprised he just didn't latch onto another vintage Fender--the naked lady guitar, say--and just play that to death, all night every night, and switch off when he needs a capo or a different tuning.
Like Brownie being replaced by Blackie.
Obviously he's got the best security guys guarding these things, and he's making enough that he could buy five matching Nocasters on a night's work at an arena show.
Thoughts?
allen

[Lostheart]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

Okay, does anyone think this is kind of weird?
Bruce had the Esquire for years as very much his number one guitar, and played it to within an inch of its life.
He wore it out, but it pretty much took 30 years.
Now it seems like he's content to play these rather generic guitars and switches a lot during the shows.
I'm surprised he just didn't latch onto another vintage Fender--the naked lady guitar, say--and just play that to death, all night every night, and switch off when he needs a capo or a different tuning.
Like Brownie being replaced by Blackie.
Obviously he's got the best security guys guarding these things, and he's making enough that he could buy five matching Nocasters on a night's work at an arena show.
Thoughts?
allen

I was wondering the exact same thing...he's had so many great vintage Teles as sidekicks to his old Esquire but his "new" guitars are so bland...
I was really hoping for a new cool No. 1 after the Esquire was retired...

[cRaZY Tom]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

Okay, does anyone think this is kind of weird?
Bruce had the Esquire for years as very much his number one guitar, and played it to within an inch of its life.
He wore it out, but it pretty much took 30 years.
Now it seems like he's content to play these rather generic guitars and switches a lot during the shows.
I'm surprised he just didn't latch onto another vintage Fender--the naked lady guitar, say--and just play that to death, all night every night, and switch off when he needs a capo or a different tuning.
Like Brownie being replaced by Blackie.
Obviously he's got the best security guys guarding these things, and he's making enough that he could buy five matching Nocasters on a night's work at an arena show.
Thoughts?
allen

Fender might just give him loads of guitars and Bruce wouldnt want to see any of them not get used.......or fender gave him them and said could you use as many as possible live, Fenders way of promoting there products maybe.

or maybe his original one was so great that he feels he needs like 5 other guitars just to compete with the worn out esquire.....hmmm you've got me thinking

[ReddRanger]

My theory is the 'vintage' aspect doesn't really matter to him. His number one was his favorite, so he played it a lot..and thus made it relic'd, vintage, or whatever....

But, since most of his axes get the Petillo treatment (as far as I know?) it wouldn't really matter to try and find another special vintage Tele...because it would get a good reworking anyhow. So, why not just mod out a few 52 RIs and rest easy (that they're not worth 20 or 30k) while he's splashing water around and tossing them across stage to his tech.....

[badlands]

Well i don´t know...
Strange it´is.
But maybe, even if Bruce makes truckloads of money he doesn´t want to buy an old expensive guitar and thrash it on stage?
Just like one wouldn´t put a Picasso in a welding workshop or something like that

[allen st. john]

I don't buy the Fender corporate thing. He doesn't have an endorsement deal with Fender, as I'm sure you've noticed.
As far as the money, I don't buy that either. His tours gross about $2 million a night. Even if he wanted minty collectors level 50s Teles, which I guess he wouldn't and used a new one every night, that would be a drop in the bucket.
I'm thinking one or two, with each one good for five years of road abuse.

The thing that gets me even more are those Takamine acoustics. I'm surprised that a guy who's all about the American worker doesn't get something made by Martin or Gibson in the U.S., a nice J-45 replica, for example.

best
allen

[Shelby21]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

I don't buy the Fender corporate thing. He doesn't have an endorsement deal with Fender, as I'm sure you've noticed.
As far as the money, I don't buy that either. His tours gross about $2 million a night. Even if he wanted minty collectors level 50s Teles, which I guess he wouldn't and used a new one every night, that would be a drop in the bucket.
I'm thinking one or two, with each one good for five years of road abuse.

The thing that gets me even more are those Takamine acoustics. I'm surprised that a guy who's all about the American worker doesn't get something made by Martin or Gibson in the U.S., a nice J-45 replica, for example.

best
allen

he actually does have a vintage J-45 replica its on the Girls in their summer clothes video, thats pretty beat up as well

[Telehackster]

Originally Posted by Shelby21

he actually does have a vintage J-45 replica its on the Girls in their summer clothes video, thats pretty beat up as well

I think his J-45 is a '58 or something like that. In the studio, when he's needed an acoustic he has used primarily Gibsons, the J45, a Hummingbird, SJ-200. The Takamines are for live performances, due I think to the electronics and probably that he must like them.

As for not using vintage guitars live anymore, what's the big deal? Who is really going to be able to hear a difference between a vintage Tele and a contemporary model once it's processed through that large sound system (a sound that Bruce described recently as a rock-and-roll "hurricane")?

[Teledelphia]

Just saw something interesting on Youtube. Video of Bruce during the current "Magic" Tour performing "Jackson Cage" on a Sunburst 12 string Tele. Hard to get an idea of how the Tele 12 string sounded with the poor audio. Wonder what a 12 string Tele would sound like compared to other electric 12's.

[Bruce_99]

Originally Posted by Teledelphia

Just saw something interesting on Youtube. Video of Bruce during the current "Magic" Tour performing "Jackson Cage" on a Sunburst 12 string Tele. Hard to get an idea of how the Tele 12 string sounded with the poor audio. Wonder what a 12 string Tele would sound like compared to other electric 12's.

Here´s a pic from London, UK in 2002:

springsteen 12 strings tele.jpg


It sounded great - (the whole show was great... )

and a youtube clip too:

London, Uk, Wembley, October 27th 2002

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=xrrjjUmMHYo&NR=1

[Bruce_99]

Originally Posted by Shelby21

he actually does have a vintage J-45 replica its on the Girls in their summer clothes video, thats pretty beat up as well

The Gibson looks like this:

"Spare Parts" - 7" Single (1988)

BS22.jpg

"Girls In Their Summer Clothes" - Video (2007)


Bruce Gibson ACC.jpg

[MartineckArt]

Reddranger is right. There is no reason to get a vintage Tele when he will have all the elects changed, hardware changes, and get a refret. Why do that to a vintage tele especially since the current line CS's are of better quality, are newer, and have much more life left to them. (notice I didn't mention price... not a factor)

[Mr Joad]

I think all he need is a good guitar, if it is a vintage or a new one it does not matter. Of using takamines live he has said they have the best pickups and are very tough...Once a takamine he hrew to guitartech kevin Buell landed on it´s neck and went to pieces :) He has used them since mid 80´s..

[allen st. john]

FWIW, that J-45 looks to be about a '52, one of the first reverse belly bridge J-45s. You'll notice that most of the playwear was there to start with in that 88 shot. It's also all over the Seeger sessions video.

After seeing Bruce's, I convinced myself I needed a J-45, but didn't make the same mistake that I did with the tele (buying a 66 partscaster instead of saving up a few hundred, back in the 80s, and buying a blackguard), and bought an amazing 1944 Banner.

I'm not suggesting it's about tone. It's about feel and look and I would have thought Bruce to be a kind of serial monogamist about guitars.

For example, Richard Thompson had an old Strat and since he retired it, he's played the same Ferrington pretty consistently. Same with the Martin 000-18 he retired in favor of a Lowden.

As for Kevin Buell, you'll notice on the Barcelona video that Bruce actually tosses him "The Guitar."

allen

[leafsrock]

For a good closeup of Springsteen's Esquire, just check out the cover of Born To Run.

[Gareth John]

I guess it is some kind of promotional tool. Fender must be giving them to him. Why else would he have so many Fender Tele models. I like the two tone burst and the black ones he has with the bigsby tremelo on, that's what lead me to my first 2 tone burst.

[Shelby21]

i think bruce doesnt care about his guitars like we would, what i mean because he's a performer he going to change things to suit his performing needs, do i think he needs like 5 guitars for a concert no not really the only difference is one has a bigsby that he uses for the rising, all the others just have capos on different fret slots. but i always thought wut if he keep the old esquire the way it was with the serial bridge instead of the saddle, but it was probally because of its performance, and thats really it he has so many guitars probally. i remember watching a program called Making of Magic and he said his producer has all effects and guitars for a player to have fun with and bruce said hes not into that kind of stuff

[Teledelphia]

I have my doubts that Fender is giving guitars to Bruce Springsteen. But that's just a guess on my part. He can pretty much order whatever he wants through FMIC Artists Relations. We know what he plays live, but I wonder if he has a collection of vintage guitars at home that he doesn't take on the road. He certainly has remained loyal to Fender Tele's and Takamine acoustics for his live shows. However, he has been known to have used some Gretsches in the studio (check out the old 6122 inside the River album pictures) and he played a couple of Gretsch Falcons during the "Devils and Dust" solo tour along with a Chandler solidbody electric designed for playing slide). Ironically, Gretsch guitars have been manufactured and marketed by Fender since 2003 and Fender recently acquired Kaman, which distributes Takamine in the USA.

[DavidE]

I've had many long chats with Petillo about the Esquire and Bruce is more attached to it than you might imagine. It's a faithful companion and an old friend.

Having said that, why would he subject vintage guitars to the rigors and abuse of touring when there are really good new guitars that will get the job done? He has an extensive collection of vintage Fenders already so there's no shortage of them he could be using.

Musicians who bought used guitars in 1972 (not "collectible" yet) did so because they either didn't have the money for a new one or like simply preferred the old ones and how they played. Compared to a new 1972 tele I might have gone for an old one too. So, like many others before him, Bruce had no idea he was buying or playing what would eventually be a highly collectible instrument. It was just a tool to get the job done in the same way as the new guitars he plays now.

The vintage J-45 seems to have shown up much later, perhaps after BTR. He recorded much of the early acoustic stuff on a D-35, and even borrrowed a D-28 for the first Hammond sessions because he didn't own an acoustic at the time.

cheers,
David

[wilkat1]

I simply can't believe how utterly fascinating this thread has become. I look for new posts specifically on this thread every time I open TDPRI.

Has anyone found a close-up of the BTR-era pickguard sticker?

[Shelby21]

HERES SOME PICS FROM THE MAGIC TOUR WITH BRUCE AND HIS GUITARS IF YOU WANT MORE LET ME KNOW I GOT ALOT MORE THAT I WILL BE POSTING UP
[img=http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/4994/1195803892279ldx4.th.jpg]
[img=http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5838/brucespringsteen8cg7.th.jpg]
[img=http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/4960/brucexlargerd8.th.jpg]
[img=http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/6504/img0581gy6.th.jpg]
[img=http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7866/img8692ft5.th.jpg]
[img=http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9941/img9508tu0.th.jpg]
[img=http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3186/p1090086vi2.th.jpg]

[Shelby21]

HERES SOME MORE
[img=http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4615/5copie2ae5.th.jpg]
[img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6209/14dd4.th.jpg]
[img=http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/948/dscf1398gh3.th.jpg]
[img=http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/2177/37nm4qv1.th.jpg]
[img=http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1535/dwf15445918py9.th.jpg]

[ReddRanger]

Great pics Shelby21!

Yup, this thread is great.

[cRaZY Tom]

yeah awesome pictures!

[Telehackster]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

As for Kevin Buell, you'll notice on the Barcelona video that Bruce actually tosses him "The Guitar."

Imagine the pressure of making that catch! An old article, I wish I could remember where, states that the large scar on the front of the Esquire came when a former roadie didn't manage the catch. He must have felt a little like Bill Buckner for missing that one.

[Shelby21]

i got more pics ill put them up soon i got tones of all the guitars he using

[Shelby21]

[Shelby21]

[Shelby21]

if you want me to post more let me know its no problem dont mind sharing all the stuff

[Telehackster]

Shelby, you rock! Great photos, and keep them coming!

[Shelby21]

[Shelby21]

ONE OF MY FAVORITES:

[Shelby21]

[kylef]

great pics mate!!

long live bruce! dont know anyone more respected!!!

[Shelby21]

Originally Posted by kylef

great pics mate!!

long live bruce! dont know anyone more respected!!!

have more will put them up later i think this is enough for the moment

[Gareth John]

Thanks for those pics, they're awesome. Bruce's guitars are a bit of a FAQ around here, so it'd be good to keep it all in one place, like here! I managed to find a strap thats very similar to Springsteen's in a local shop, which is cool.

[allen st. john]

Imagine the pressure of making that catch! An old article, I wish I could remember where, states that the large scar on the front of the Esquire came when a former roadie didn't manage the catch. He must have felt a little like Bill Buckner for missing that one.

It could very well have been Kevin Buell. He's been with Bruce a long time. Bruce's previous guitar tech, Mike Batlan, got into a very nasty fight turned lawsuit after he was fired. (No, not for dropping The Guitar.)

Having said that, why would he subject vintage guitars to the rigors and abuse of touring when there are really good new guitars that will get the job done? He has an extensive collection of vintage Fenders already so there's no shortage of them he could be using.

David, I'm surprised that Bruce has gone from a guy who plays one guitar all night every night to a guy who's got dozens of identical ones, which seem as disposable as BIC shavers.

Sure, a guitar is a tool to him, and I'm not expecting that he's just going to pick out the mintiest vintage Blackguard just because he can.

Whether vintage or new, whether it's Fender or something made by Petillo, I would have thought that Bruce would have latched on to one guitar, and made that his new number one.

"I've got 38 guitars and I've learned how to make them talk..."

It reminds me a bit of a story about Leo Kottke. He had a vintage J-45 12string that he loved. The guitar got lost by an airline. He was so heartbroken than since then he's played nothing but his generic signature model Taylor which can be replaced with one phone call if it's lost or stolen.

He lost the love of his life, so now it's nothing but one-night stands.

FWIW, here are pages from the rider on Bruce's concert contract from The Smoking Gun.
Note that on page one that the guitars get their own dedicated security guard.
While these may seem pretty elaborate when it's written down this way, it's really standard stuff. There isn't any "no brown M&M" clause.The most unusual thing--Clarence wants caviar in his dressing room, and a fresh roast chicken as a mid-concert snack. (page 6)

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider1.html

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider2.html

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider3.html

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider4.html

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider5.html

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/brucerider6.html

[allen st. john]

On a different note. Here's my Bruce inspired Tele. It's a '66 body with a 74 neck, just the way I bought it. I've since acquired a 66 transition logo rosewood neck which has an original nitro finish.

The body is quite a dead ringer, and there are late 70s shots of the Esquire with a three ply guard, chrome cover on the pickup, and a fender six-saddle bridge like this one.

The neck has the same kind of tuners

I've had this guitar forever, and I'm kind of torn about it. I've started regretting not putting a few hundred more into the guitar (this was 1984) and buying a real blackguard. I just didn't know any better and there weren't resources like TDPRI back then.

I go back and forth about restoring it with a period blonde finish. The irony is that a clean 66 is worth serious money, and so, for that matter, is a 74. But together, the guitar isn't worth much to anyone except me. Maybe I should part it out.

Or maybe Bruce will trade me for the naked lady guitar.

[badlands]

Great Great pics guys!!!!

I´ve been a Bruce Fanatic since i was 9 years old.... bought born in the usa in the summer of 84...

I think that "The Guitar" is the worlds coolest tele..uhhm sorry esquire/tele crossbreed