I gigged with a REAL '53 Esquire!!!

JTM45blues · June 9th, 2008, 11:44 PM

So this past Saturday my traditional blues band did a gig for charity, and I was planning on using my Heritage 535, my homemade blackguard Tele, and a Danelectro U2 for slide. Then I had my reverb tank and was running through my Vicky Double Deluxe. Then MUCH TO MY SURPRISE... A friend of mine came up and said, "hey you wanna use my 53 Esquire for a couple songs?" From the first couple notes, played acoustically I was in heaven. I looked at it and it was like looking at history, this guitar had seen some time... Lots worn off finish, some chips and nicks, and a well played neck, with lots of finish wear, OH IT WAS GORGEOUS!!! I then plugged it in, and from the first notes, it was just fabulous. It was smokey sounding, but detailed, no icepick to it at all, a good cutting pickup, but no icepick at all. It wasn't as loud as the Duncan Broadcaster in my homemade job, and the Broadcaster is a little brighter with slightly more bass too. The Esquire was usable in all 3 positions, but my favorite was actually in the middle, for some reason it had a stronger output on that setting than the straight back position. It wasn't as bright as Albert Collins, or Buchanan, it was a smoother sound. I thought it was actually oddly reminiscent of Jimmie Vaughan's early T-Birds tone, and also Gatemouth Brown's Peacock sound, which could've had something to do with the Tweed amp and the reverb tank. It was very inspiring playing for a crowd of over 2,500 with a great band and playing a GREAT vintage guitar. This was TRULY a dream come true for me. I may get some pics later, but I'm not certain that the owner wants me to share them. He's very protective of that guitar, and actually doesn't play it much unfortunately. He said it had never been gigged in almost 10 years that he's had it. I don't know why he thought I was worthy of it, but it certainly inspired me and my playing that day.

Wardpike · June 9th, 2008, 11:52 PM

Sounds awesome!! And from what you're describing, you could be describing my Esquire! Mine's no '53, no, it's a custom shop remake of the classic Esquire... which I've bragged about many times, a '59 relic Esquire built just last year. Not quite the same sense of history tho!

jedi · June 9th, 2008, 11:54 PM

did anyone take any photos?

JTM45blues · June 9th, 2008, 11:56 PM

Yes the band manager took photos, and some of the organizers of the event. BUT, I haven't seen them yet, and I don't know if the owner wants me to put his guitar out on the net... So I will have to ask him first.

IPLAYLOUD · June 10th, 2008, 12:36 AM

I am envious of you.

ajgus · June 10th, 2008, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedi

did anyone take any photos?

+1. We don't believe you!

. Seriously though, Awesome! I bet it was a great experience.

ROADMAN · June 10th, 2008, 01:50 AM

your obvious excitement comes across like your sitting
in this room with a big stupid grin on your face...well done
old boy...sounds like a memory for the scrap book...

JTM45blues · June 10th, 2008, 10:25 AM

So, I figure since I'm only 26, that maybe, just maybe, I'll have the opportunity to play this thing a time or two more, before I go off to the great gig in the sky. It was truly a great experience to be recognized as worthy enough to play such a fine instrument. Makes me want one really bad.

I have to say that while the old Esquire was truly a special instrument, I honestly felt that my homemade blackguard is about 90% of the real deal. The differences were:

53 Esquire Homemade Copy

-Extraordinarily light -Light also, but not THAT light
-warmer bridge pickup -brighter, more raw sound
-cuts, but doesn't overpower -this one is a cutting torch
-soft V shape neck -Huge "U" Allparts maple neck
-harder to play, 7.25 radius -Much easier to play 9.5 radius

There truly is a similarity to the tones, but in general the old Esquire had more warmth than my copy that I built from an USA Custom featherweight swamp ash body and Allparts Fat maple neck, with a Duncan Broadcaster. The funny part for me was the playability of the old one, it was a little hard to play, it was strung with 9's and had a 7.25 radius, with a soft V neck. It was just a touch "stiff", but I attribute that to not being played much by the owner. On my copy, I string it up with 11's on a 9.5" radius with a huge U shaped boat neck.

Maybe for guys used to the vintage specs, it would've played a little better, but it felt just a little stiff to me. All in all it was a GREAT GUITAR, and truly an experience I'll cherish forever. I'm working on getting pics as we speak.

Oh yeah, and I DO have a "big, stupid grin" still... Don't know if that's from getting engaged last week to an amazing woman or if its from playing the blackguard.

TelZilla · June 10th, 2008, 10:41 AM

Dig the guy make you sign a release?

JTM45blues · June 10th, 2008, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TelZilla

Dig the guy make you sign a release?

Nope, just handed it to me and asked if I'd like to play it, he also has an old strat too (its ok), and an old hollowbody that is WONDERFUL!!!

June 9th, 2008, 11:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
JTM45blues Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 411	I gigged with a REAL '53 Esquire!!! So this past Saturday my traditional blues band did a gig for charity, and I was planning on using my Heritage 535, my homemade blackguard Tele, and a Danelectro U2 for slide. Then I had my reverb tank and was running through my Vicky Double Deluxe. Then MUCH TO MY SURPRISE... A friend of mine came up and said, "hey you wanna use my 53 Esquire for a couple songs?" From the first couple notes, played acoustically I was in heaven. I looked at it and it was like looking at history, this guitar had seen some time... Lots worn off finish, some chips and nicks, and a well played neck, with lots of finish wear, OH IT WAS GORGEOUS!!! I then plugged it in, and from the first notes, it was just fabulous. It was smokey sounding, but detailed, no icepick to it at all, a good cutting pickup, but no icepick at all. It wasn't as loud as the Duncan Broadcaster in my homemade job, and the Broadcaster is a little brighter with slightly more bass too. The Esquire was usable in all 3 positions, but my favorite was actually in the middle, for some reason it had a stronger output on that setting than the straight back position. It wasn't as bright as Albert Collins, or Buchanan, it was a smoother sound. I thought it was actually oddly reminiscent of Jimmie Vaughan's early T-Birds tone, and also Gatemouth Brown's Peacock sound, which could've had something to do with the Tweed amp and the reverb tank. It was very inspiring playing for a crowd of over 2,500 with a great band and playing a GREAT vintage guitar. This was TRULY a dream come true for me. I may get some pics later, but I'm not certain that the owner wants me to share them. He's very protective of that guitar, and actually doesn't play it much unfortunately. He said it had never been gigged in almost 10 years that he's had it. I don't know why he thought I was worthy of it, but it certainly inspired me and my playing that day.

June 10th, 2008, 12:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
IPLAYLOUD Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Posts: 482 1 Photos	I am envious of you. __________________ I play an Esquire because I can only afford ONE pickup.

June 10th, 2008, 10:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
TelZilla Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cleveburg, USA Age: 38 Posts: 1,972 6 Photos	Dig the guy make you sign a release? __________________ Thanks,Nick Nec Aspera Terrent

June 9th, 2008, 11:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 657	Sounds awesome!! And from what you're describing, you could be describing my Esquire! Mine's no '53, no, it's a custom shop remake of the classic Esquire... which I've bragged about many times, a '59 relic Esquire built just last year. Not quite the same sense of history tho!

June 9th, 2008, 11:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
jedi Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: on the bridge pickup Posts: 108	did anyone take any photos?

June 9th, 2008, 11:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
JTM45blues Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 411	Yes the band manager took photos, and some of the organizers of the event. BUT, I haven't seen them yet, and I don't know if the owner wants me to put his guitar out on the net... So I will have to ask him first.

June 10th, 2008, 01:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
ROADMAN Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: delta b.c. canada Age: 53 Posts: 1,142	your obvious excitement comes across like your sitting in this room with a big stupid grin on your face...well done old boy...sounds like a memory for the scrap book...

June 10th, 2008, 10:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
JTM45blues Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 411	So, I figure since I'm only 26, that maybe, just maybe, I'll have the opportunity to play this thing a time or two more, before I go off to the great gig in the sky. It was truly a great experience to be recognized as worthy enough to play such a fine instrument. Makes me want one really bad. I have to say that while the old Esquire was truly a special instrument, I honestly felt that my homemade blackguard is about 90% of the real deal. The differences were: 53 Esquire Homemade Copy -Extraordinarily light -Light also, but not THAT light -warmer bridge pickup -brighter, more raw sound -cuts, but doesn't overpower -this one is a cutting torch -soft V shape neck -Huge "U" Allparts maple neck -harder to play, 7.25 radius -Much easier to play 9.5 radius There truly is a similarity to the tones, but in general the old Esquire had more warmth than my copy that I built from an USA Custom featherweight swamp ash body and Allparts Fat maple neck, with a Duncan Broadcaster. The funny part for me was the playability of the old one, it was a little hard to play, it was strung with 9's and had a 7.25 radius, with a soft V neck. It was just a touch "stiff", but I attribute that to not being played much by the owner. On my copy, I string it up with 11's on a 9.5" radius with a huge U shaped boat neck. Maybe for guys used to the vintage specs, it would've played a little better, but it felt just a little stiff to me. All in all it was a GREAT GUITAR, and truly an experience I'll cherish forever. I'm working on getting pics as we speak. Oh yeah, and I DO have a "big, stupid grin" still... Don't know if that's from getting engaged last week to an amazing woman or if its from playing the blackguard.