A Tale Of Two Esquires

[54 deluxe]

A few years ago I bought a 2004 Sunburst MIM Esquire. This was my first venture back into the land of the Telecaster / Esquire since I regretfully sold my 1969 Telecaster in 1984 for $250.00 (going price at the time).
I really liked the guitar but imediately started tinkering with it. First I added compensated brass saddles and a flat pole Duncan Antiquity pup. I couldn't warm up to the Antiquity so I bought a set of Fender Nocaster pups which I really liked.
Since I had a set of pickups I decided to turn the guitar into a two pickup Esquire.
At this point I got bit by the homebrew bug and decided to build myself a Blackguard Tele. I bought a swamp ash body from Guitar Mill and finished it in blond nitro cellulouse lacquer and made a Bakelite pickguard for it. I bought all new Fender hardware for the project and used the Nocaster pups and the neck from the Esquire. In essence I had built a Blackguard two pickup Esquire.
I ended up putting the Antiquity pup back in the MIM sunburst body and put a Warmoth Fatback Strat neck (which I lying around) on the guitar. I did not like the combination of the parts and the guitar ended up sitting in the case for a couple of years.
Last month I decided to resurrect the Esquire to it's former glory. Since I really like the necks on the MIM Esquires I bought a 2012 neck from Stratosphere on Ebay. I decided to give the Duncan Antiquity on more try but decided to use the original steel saddles with it. For some reason I had never tried the combination before and viola, it sounded great! It had all the sustain and twang that an Esquire shoud have. I did a setup on the guitar and now I can't put it down.
It sounds different that the two pickup guitar and is a perfect addition to the herd!

[byljer]

Good looking geetars indeed, but you know what? The Sunburst screams for a black pickguard

[NastyMojo]

Can I has one of em?

[54 deluxe]

Good looking geetars indeed, but you know what? The Sunburst screams for a black pickguard

Thanks, but I prefer the white guard.

[Hiker]

Great photo, and story!

[Ironbird]

Cool! Thanks for sharing.

[Hiflyer]

Your SB Esquire is really nice looking !

[djphelan01]

Originally Posted by 54 deluxe

Thanks, but I prefer the white guard.

+1 on the white. 2 great looking guitars you have there.

[KevinB]

Originally Posted by 54 deluxe

Thanks, but I prefer the white guard.

2TSB, maple neck and white pickguard = simply iconic!

I might just be tempted to tone it down a bit with a Callaham parchment guard though!

[PineBomb]

Hmm, I would have gone with parchment, but there's no disputing taste. But $250? Really?

[54 deluxe]

I might just be tempted to tone it down a bit with a Callaham parchment guard though!

Actually the guard is not as white as it looks in the picture. Here's a different picture.

[Twang Tone]

Nice. I have exactly the same 2TSB '50s Esquire, with stock steel saddles and pickup. I'm keeping the saddles stock, but will probably change the MIM pickup to a SD Broadcaster or Fender OV.

These Esquires are great, aren't they?

Thanks,

[mistermullens]

Originally Posted by 54 deluxe

Actually the guard is not as white as it looks in the picture. Here's a different picture.

I couldn't see the first pic, but this one is awesome! I'll be posting a similar thread soon. Love those Esquires!

[54 deluxe]

Since my edit button is missing on my original post here is the missing picture.