My Favorite Tele Image

[Mike Eskimo]

From the Fender big book (sorry - picture of a picture and overly complicated digital camera).

A visitor to the Fender factory plays one of Leo's first Esquires w/ his ladyfriend in the summer of 1950.

Look at the Jensen boxes, look at the amp, look at the thumbpick, look at her belt, look at his Buddy Guy shirt, AND he's wearing shoots !

But mainly, just look at that guitar...

[boris bubbanov]

That is a great one.

We tend to think of the postwar folks my dad's age as conformists.

But the musicians? Of course not.

[Rooney]

It almost looks like there's a hole in the pickguard for a neck pickup... maybe even filled with a neck pickup. Anyone else see that?

[Rumblebones]

CLASSIC! (That's so good, I'm gonna copy and paste.)

[Westerly Sunn]

Did ya' really think you had to tell me to look at her belt? I had already scoped her her out purty good...

[Telewilly]

Shoots! LOL! And they look like they're flamed!

[1charger69]

Originally Posted by Westerly Sunn

Did ya' really think you had to tell me to look at her belt? I had already scoped her her out purty good...

cause ya know.... those where the days before bikini waxin!!!!! can anyone say..70s style......

[dagenhamjim]

Great picture! It would be interesting to know what the couple in the picture are doing now!

[Tim73]

Goes to show what a timeless image the guitar is becoming

[Steve G]

More ol' fender pics please!

[Troy T. Blues]

That's the greatest! Thanks for that!

Back when life was more simple and genuine.

[viking]

No truss rod plug ? Never saw one of them before....

[Turtletwang]

The Pink Floyd

crazydiamond03.jpg

[twangcaster1]

Originally Posted by viking

No truss rod plug ? Never saw one of them before....

Some of them early esquires didn't have truss rods at all.

[viking]

I know , never seen one before...

[Old Cane]

Both cool pictures.

[Sterling Indigo]

KUH-LASSIC! Argyle socks and huge ole cuffs on those dungarees.

[Steinar G]

What a fantastic photo - thanks Mike!

[B Valley]

Even back then, guitars players were getting all the best chicks. It's the love of guitars and women that have been the source of some of the best times in my life, and a few of the worst.

[Steinar G]

Wait a minute - the guitar is black? I've always been under the impression that they were all blondes back then?
Oh well, I'm probably wrong again, another illusion crushed under the heel of photographic evidence......

[Mark Davis]

When first announced in June of 1950 (but available a bit earlier) as Fender's first electric solidbody, the Esquire was a available with either one or two pickups (actually the "single Esquire" with one pickup was available first), a black pine laminated body, a white pickguard, steel bridge saddles. Body shape was the standard "Telecaster" body shape, but only 1.5" thick (instead of the normal 1.75" thick). After the first few examples were made, the finish changed to butterscotch blond on a solid ash body and a black pickguard, and later two pickups (known as the "Double Esquire"). Most 1950 Single Esquires had no truss rod (no contrasting strip down back of maple neck). Though there are at least two 1950 single pickup butterscotch Esquires with a truss rod.



Approximately sixty 1950 Esquires were shipped, though Fender had orders for hundreds at the time. And many early examples with no truss rod were returned to Fender for neck and/or body replacements (but the parts were kept). The reason? Without a truss rod many necks warped (or the owners thought they would warp in the future). Often the body was replaced too because the original non-truss rod Esquire body did not have the truss rod adjustment route between the neck pocket and the neck pickup. Or sometimes the truss rod adjustment route was hand chiseled. If the body wasn't replaced or chiseled, the truss rod could only be adjusted if the neck was removed. This is why surviving examples of the original no-skunk-stripe (no truss rod) Esquires are difficult to find.
The Esquire only lasted in this form until the Broadcaster replaced it in October of 1950. The Esquire was re-introduced in January 1951 as a one pickup version of the Broadcaster (Telecaster), with a truss rod and brass bridge saddles (note I have seen a January 1951 Esquire that had *two* pickups, and the guitar appeared to be stock, but by February 1951, one pickup was the norm for the Esquire).