Making my Version of Springsteen's Esquire

Shelby21 · May 13th, 2008, 03:08 PM

I had a body sitting around so i decided to make a bruce guitar. I t wont be reliced but it will resemble the 75 era of the guitar. I have the book Born to Run the UNseen Photos and it has amazing pics of the guitar Im making. It will have the esquire logo, leather pickguard if i can a pic of the jazzplayer then it will be on it, the extra jack hole cut out with 2 jack plates on it like the original, 3 saddle bridge with no serial number or fender name, in the book its plane. Also i will have the pickups neck with no cover, I always liked that look and im starting it today if theres any other info I could use please help out.

The biggest thing is if anyone knows where I can get a Plane Black Tele pickguard no ingraving like Bruce's Please, thanks and if anyone has a pick of the jazz player because I will add that on and relic it
Thanks, Ryan

Seanycaster · May 13th, 2008, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelby21

The biggest thing is if anyone knows where I can get a Plane Black Tele pickguard no ingraving like Bruce's Please,

One like this?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/19stsiplytep.html

Shelby21 · May 13th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanycaster

One like this?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/19stsiplytep.html

yea that style but made out of leather like bruces was in 75

ReddRanger · May 13th, 2008, 03:33 PM

I can't offer any help on that pickguard, you might have to have a leather place make a custom one for you from a template.

Either way, I'm looking foward to seeing your finished project.

riolux · May 13th, 2008, 05:22 PM

Is that a leather guard he's got on Born To Run? Is that picture embossed on the leather?

(edit: no pun intended)

Shelby21 · May 13th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riolux

Is that a leather guard he's got on Born To Run? Is that picture embossed on the leather?

(edit: no pun intended)

its a leather pickgurad with a painting of a jazz player in the streets, but if i could get both i wont paint it even though i could, i would rather transfer the image to the pickguard because it will look worn with cracks in the leather

Gareth John · May 14th, 2008, 06:47 AM

I've never seen a good close up picture of that image that you could copy. The best shots are in the Born to Run book. See the previous topics about Bruce's guitars, there's some really great reproductions of the guitar that people on here have done. I was lead to believe that it was a sticker on the leather pickguard. Best of luck finding it, if you find it please let us know, I'll keep my eye out for you.

Ps. you could always stick the picture of Clarence from the Born To Run cover on there, or a picture or the Born To Run Cover, that'd be cool.

Mr Joad · May 14th, 2008, 06:54 AM

I have many books about springsteen and I remember one pic only that shows the picguard properly. If I find it I can scan it for you and send it.
I´ll come back to you..

Dennis68 · May 14th, 2008, 09:26 AM

I wasn't aware his guard was leather...

allen st. john · May 14th, 2008, 09:39 AM

The point of course is that The Esquire is very much a moving target, and really the only thing that stayed the same is the wood.
The pickguard's going to be tough, but for most of it's life the guitar has worn a plain black guard, either three ply or one ply.
Good luck, whatever you decide.
best
allen

Shelby21 · May 14th, 2008, 11:18 AM

i decided since if I pull this off right, i want the guitar to relic over time i dont want to do it myself i want it to look like it would in 1975 which was good condition, i have books with some good resources, I spent alot of time looking at other guitars to know how im going to approach this one, and i think i got it nailed down and cant wait, althought the body i have is not that god its from a cheap guitar i stipped apart so i may get a new body which type was used on his? ash? i want to get an awesome grain on it to spray

Gareth John · May 14th, 2008, 02:00 PM

Ash body yep! remember which of his screws are slot head and which are cross heads. Also check the look of the control plate from that era, looks like it's been drilled.

Shelby21 · May 14th, 2008, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gareth John

Ash body yep! remember which of his screws are slot head and which are cross heads. Also check the look of the control plate from that era, looks like it's been drilled.

all that stuff i saw he used 2 types of screw on the guitar some for the guard and different for the control plate also the control plate did have a large who;e drilled into the slot where the switch was interesting to see. mine may not be exactly like others looking old but im adding all these little setails to make it stand out cant wait

Shelby21 · May 14th, 2008, 02:52 PM

Would this be a good replica body for the projsct, this body seems not as yellow. i think this would be a good body although the price is kinda high anyone know where i could get an ash body cheaper? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

hekawi · May 14th, 2008, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shelby21

its a leather pickgurad with a painting of a jazz player in the streets, but if i could get both i wont paint it even though i could, i would rather transfer the image to the pickguard because it will look worn with cracks in the leather

here's a close up of the pickguard:

Shelby21 · May 14th, 2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hekawi

here's a close up of the pickguard:

yea thats it, notice the leather pickguard and the jazz player, also see the additional hole cut on the control plate near the switch great pic, how could i transfer this or get it on a pickguard i may have t draw my own version as close to the original and have it transfered to a pickguard

allen st. john · May 14th, 2008, 06:21 PM

Shelby
I'm a stone Bruce fan, and I've got my own "Esquirish" vintage tele (a 66. I shoulda bought a real blackguard, but I was young and stupid)
I must say, when I think of "The Guitar" I don't really think of that leather pickguard. It was only on the guitar for a few months, albeit for the Born to Run photo shoot.
I think you may end up spending a decent chunk of money and driving yourself crazy for not much payback.

I'd start with with a nice ash body with really good grain, and a do-it-yourself transparent/amber finish. Find someone who cuts ash tele blanks and send them a pic of the Guitar and they can probably find you a piece that's really close. You might try Tommy at USA Custom Guitars. His unfinished swamp ash bodies are only $180 and they're very nice.
www.usacustomguitars.com

You might also try brian poe.
http://www.hightechtool.com/guitar/
The key is not the color it's the right grain. You need a two piece body with an offset join.

That and a nice maple neck should be your starting point. The rest of the hardware is relatively standard Fender stuff. I'd start with with a 52 Reissue pickguard for $25 and after you've played it awhile think about the leather guard.

David Eichelbaum built the best "Esquire" clone I've ever seen. He's also a very talented guitar builder and he may have some hints on wood and finish and other things.

Use the search function for Springsteen and Esquire and you'll find a thread from about six weeks ago.

best
Allen

May 13th, 2008, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Shelby21 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: hazlet,Nj Age: 21 Posts: 153	Making my Version of Springsteen's Esquire I had a body sitting around so i decided to make a bruce guitar. I t wont be reliced but it will resemble the 75 era of the guitar. I have the book Born to Run the UNseen Photos and it has amazing pics of the guitar Im making. It will have the esquire logo, leather pickguard if i can a pic of the jazzplayer then it will be on it, the extra jack hole cut out with 2 jack plates on it like the original, 3 saddle bridge with no serial number or fender name, in the book its plane. Also i will have the pickups neck with no cover, I always liked that look and im starting it today if theres any other info I could use please help out. The biggest thing is if anyone knows where I can get a Plane Black Tele pickguard no ingraving like Bruce's Please, thanks and if anyone has a pick of the jazz player because I will add that on and relic it Thanks, Ryan

May 14th, 2008, 09:26 AM	#9 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	I wasn't aware his guard was leather... __________________ -Dennis

May 13th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
ReddRanger Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California Posts: 277	I can't offer any help on that pickguard, you might have to have a leather place make a custom one for you from a template. Either way, I'm looking foward to seeing your finished project.

May 13th, 2008, 05:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
riolux Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Age: 30 Posts: 255 6 Photos	Is that a leather guard he's got on Born To Run? Is that picture embossed on the leather? (edit: no pun intended)

May 14th, 2008, 06:47 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gareth John Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: England Age: 23 Posts: 626 8 Photos	I've never seen a good close up picture of that image that you could copy. The best shots are in the Born to Run book. See the previous topics about Bruce's guitars, there's some really great reproductions of the guitar that people on here have done. I was lead to believe that it was a sticker on the leather pickguard. Best of luck finding it, if you find it please let us know, I'll keep my eye out for you. Ps. you could always stick the picture of Clarence from the Born To Run cover on there, or a picture or the Born To Run Cover, that'd be cool.

May 14th, 2008, 06:54 AM	#8 (permalink)
Mr Joad TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Turku Posts: 96	I have many books about springsteen and I remember one pic only that shows the picguard properly. If I find it I can scan it for you and send it. I´ll come back to you..

May 14th, 2008, 09:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 722	The point of course is that The Esquire is very much a moving target, and really the only thing that stayed the same is the wood. The pickguard's going to be tough, but for most of it's life the guitar has worn a plain black guard, either three ply or one ply. Good luck, whatever you decide. best allen

May 14th, 2008, 11:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
Shelby21 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: hazlet,Nj Age: 21 Posts: 153	i decided since if I pull this off right, i want the guitar to relic over time i dont want to do it myself i want it to look like it would in 1975 which was good condition, i have books with some good resources, I spent alot of time looking at other guitars to know how im going to approach this one, and i think i got it nailed down and cant wait, althought the body i have is not that god its from a cheap guitar i stipped apart so i may get a new body which type was used on his? ash? i want to get an awesome grain on it to spray

May 14th, 2008, 02:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
Gareth John Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: England Age: 23 Posts: 626 8 Photos	Ash body yep! remember which of his screws are slot head and which are cross heads. Also check the look of the control plate from that era, looks like it's been drilled.

May 14th, 2008, 02:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
Shelby21 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: hazlet,Nj Age: 21 Posts: 153	Would this be a good replica body for the projsct, this body seems not as yellow. i think this would be a good body although the price is kinda high anyone know where i could get an ash body cheaper? http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

May 14th, 2008, 06:21 PM	#17 (permalink)
allen st. john Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 722	Shelby I'm a stone Bruce fan, and I've got my own "Esquirish" vintage tele (a 66. I shoulda bought a real blackguard, but I was young and stupid) I must say, when I think of "The Guitar" I don't really think of that leather pickguard. It was only on the guitar for a few months, albeit for the Born to Run photo shoot. I think you may end up spending a decent chunk of money and driving yourself crazy for not much payback. I'd start with with a nice ash body with really good grain, and a do-it-yourself transparent/amber finish. Find someone who cuts ash tele blanks and send them a pic of the Guitar and they can probably find you a piece that's really close. You might try Tommy at USA Custom Guitars. His unfinished swamp ash bodies are only $180 and they're very nice. www.usacustomguitars.com You might also try brian poe. http://www.hightechtool.com/guitar/ The key is not the color it's the right grain. You need a two piece body with an offset join. That and a nice maple neck should be your starting point. The rest of the hardware is relatively standard Fender stuff. I'd start with with a 52 Reissue pickguard for $25 and after you've played it awhile think about the leather guard. David Eichelbaum built the best "Esquire" clone I've ever seen. He's also a very talented guitar builder and he may have some hints on wood and finish and other things. Use the search function for Springsteen and Esquire and you'll find a thread from about six weeks ago. best Allen