The Snakehead Esquire.

Dazed and Confused · December 3rd, 2005, 09:50 AM

Hi, after seeing some pics of the Snakehead Esquire, and after falling in love with it, was wondering if anybody has attempted to recreate it. The look, at least.

I thought it would be cool, but the lack of a truss rod would be a worry.

If anybody has some pictures of this guitar, but recreated, please.

And yes, im talking about this guitar-

jwells393 · December 3rd, 2005, 10:03 AM

Check back in a couple of weeks.............. maybe less.

Dave Yeats · December 3rd, 2005, 10:20 AM

There are some good pictures of the Custom Shop recreation at this link:

CS prototype

JohnnyAtomic · December 3rd, 2005, 12:19 PM

I played that guitar one day.

I picked it up and played a lick on it, and a guy ran over and snatched it from my hands and said "man you can't touch that, we just turned down $400,000 for that".

That was a fun day, i got to play Jeff Beck's original Esquire, Jaco's Jazz, Dave Davies Flying V, and that one all the same day at a guitar show.

teleman77 · December 3rd, 2005, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyAtomic

I played that guitar one day.

I picked it up and played a lick on it, and a guy ran over and snatched it from my hands and said "man you can't touch that, we just turned down $400,000 for that".

That was a fun day, i got to play Jeff Beck's original Esquire, Jaco's Jazz, Dave Davies Flying V, and that one all the same day at a guitar show.

Jaco's Jazz?? I was under the impression that both the fretless and the fretted were lost.

moonshiner · December 3rd, 2005, 03:30 PM

I believe Fred Stuart will make you one, or continues to make them...

teleman77 · December 3rd, 2005, 03:40 PM

No, Fred can't. There gone. He can reproduce imitations.

moonshiner · December 3rd, 2005, 04:32 PM

http://www.virtualvintageguitars.com/fender0001_01.html

They're all reporductions...

teleman77 · December 3rd, 2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonshiner

http://www.virtualvintageguitars.com/fender0001_01.html

They're all reporductions...

Not the ones Jaco actually played! I'm not talking about copies.

David Barnett · December 3rd, 2005, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyAtomic

I played that guitar one day.

I picked it up and played a lick on it, and a guy ran over and snatched it from my hands and said "man you can't touch that, we just turned down $400,000 for that".

That was a fun day, i got to play Jeff Beck's original Esquire, Jaco's Jazz, Dave Davies Flying V, and that one all the same day at a guitar show.

That reminds me of the time I walked into Strings & Things when they were on Union Ave., and on that big round display carousel between the front door and the counter, there was a cool black '50s Strat. I picked it up, and the whole store suddenly went quiet and someone came running from the back room screaming "PUT THAT DOWN!!!!"

I had picked up and started playing Clapton's "Blackie", they had just gotten it in on loan and were in the process of printing the "DO NOT TOUCH" sign.

Dazed and Confused · December 3rd, 2005, 07:58 PM

Wow, how did Blackie play?

Rick B · December 3rd, 2005, 09:13 PM

(I edited this out, because I was waaay off topic...)

teleman77 · December 3rd, 2005, 10:07 PM

Very nice.

JohnnyAtomic · December 4th, 2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleman77

Quote:

Originally Posted by moonshiner

http://www.virtualvintageguitars.com/fender0001_01.html

They're all reporductions...

Not the ones Jaco actually played! I'm not talking about copies.

No it was the real one (fretless) that I played.

David Barnett · December 4th, 2005, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dazed and Confused

Wow, how did Blackie play?

Hard to tell in five seconds. Seemed like "a nice old Strat".

showman(tx) · December 4th, 2005, 06:01 PM

Rick Kelly at Carmine Street Guitars makes something close to the snakehead esquire (not exact but similar) ...

http://www.carminestreetguitars.com/#

ntasca · December 4th, 2005, 06:32 PM

A Snakehead Esquire has been in my future projects box for a long time.

I figured a paddle-head warmoth or similar neck (re-shaped to snakehead looks) and an unfinished tele body (warmoth etc) with the correct placing of the pots etc wouldn't be all that hard (or expensive!) to re-create!

Unfortunately, postage to Australia adds on another 50% of costs, and makes it cost prohibitive, so its a matter of finding good and cheap (there's the joke!) parts.

Anyhow, i've thought it thru in my head, it can be done!.

Nathan.

Dacious · December 4th, 2005, 07:31 PM

Did people know the original Snakehead Proto is painted in acrylic lacquer?

That's why it's still white today and not 'blonde' or yellow.

Dazed and Confused · December 5th, 2005, 03:47 AM

Its coated in white anamel or something.

WickedGTR · December 5th, 2005, 07:44 PM

Did they have acrylic lacquer in '48?

Dacious · December 5th, 2005, 09:50 PM

Read all about old Fender paint here:

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html

Here's an old Strat in Olympic White, which is a Lucite colour. It has not yellowed because it got no nitro clear coat. Acryllic and nitro both use acetone as a thinner - what classified them as lacquer, and why you can use them together.

I found a Fender article describing the Snakehead as being finished in enamel. Either way, it's not nitro!

Sunburst Island · December 6th, 2005, 12:00 AM

Man I love that picture Dacious!

Everytime I see it I'm reminded that it's one of my all time favourite Strats that I've never played...hands down.

One day, I'll have an Olympic White Green Guard Strat with no clear topcoat, and a sunburst undercoat, One Day.

SFK · December 7th, 2005, 11:43 AM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

December 3rd, 2005, 09:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dazed and Confused Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 113 6 Photos	The Snakehead Esquire. Hi, after seeing some pics of the Snakehead Esquire, and after falling in love with it, was wondering if anybody has attempted to recreate it. The look, at least. I thought it would be cool, but the lack of a truss rod would be a worry. If anybody has some pictures of this guitar, but recreated, please. And yes, im talking about this guitar- __________________ Everyone knows Muddy Waters invented electricity!

December 3rd, 2005, 10:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,253 101 Photos	Check back in a couple of weeks.............. maybe less. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

December 3rd, 2005, 12:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
JohnnyAtomic Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Little Rock, AR Posts: 1,338	I played that guitar one day. I picked it up and played a lick on it, and a guy ran over and snatched it from my hands and said "man you can't touch that, we just turned down $400,000 for that". That was a fun day, i got to play Jeff Beck's original Esquire, Jaco's Jazz, Dave Davies Flying V, and that one all the same day at a guitar show. __________________ flaming hamper of rock! www.myspace.com/johnnyatomicmusic

December 3rd, 2005, 03:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	I believe Fred Stuart will make you one, or continues to make them... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

December 3rd, 2005, 04:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
moonshiner Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Milyucky, Whiskonsin Posts: 2,171	http://www.virtualvintageguitars.com/fender0001_01.html They're all reporductions... __________________ "Everyone's got to be something... Me? I'm stupid... It's all I ever wanted to be... Shock me again!"

December 3rd, 2005, 10:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Dave Yeats Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Austin, Texas, USA Age: 33 Posts: 767 50 Photos	There are some good pictures of the Custom Shop recreation at this link: CS prototype

December 3rd, 2005, 03:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
teleman77 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Age: 48 Posts: 318	No, Fred can't. There gone. He can reproduce imitations.

December 3rd, 2005, 07:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dazed and Confused Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 113 6 Photos	Wow, how did Blackie play? __________________ Everyone knows Muddy Waters invented electricity!

December 3rd, 2005, 09:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
Rick B TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 66	(I edited this out, because I was waaay off topic...)

December 3rd, 2005, 10:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
teleman77 Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Age: 48 Posts: 318	Very nice.

December 4th, 2005, 06:01 PM	#16 (permalink)
showman(tx) TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 81	Rick Kelly ... Rick Kelly at Carmine Street Guitars makes something close to the snakehead esquire (not exact but similar) ... http://www.carminestreetguitars.com/#

December 4th, 2005, 06:32 PM	#17 (permalink)
ntasca Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Victoria, Australia Posts: 114	A Snakehead Esquire has been in my future projects box for a long time. I figured a paddle-head warmoth or similar neck (re-shaped to snakehead looks) and an unfinished tele body (warmoth etc) with the correct placing of the pots etc wouldn't be all that hard (or expensive!) to re-create! Unfortunately, postage to Australia adds on another 50% of costs, and makes it cost prohibitive, so its a matter of finding good and cheap (there's the joke!) parts. Anyhow, i've thought it thru in my head, it can be done!. Nathan.

December 4th, 2005, 07:31 PM	#18 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	Did people know the original Snakehead Proto is painted in acrylic lacquer? That's why it's still white today and not 'blonde' or yellow. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

December 5th, 2005, 03:47 AM	#19 (permalink)
Dazed and Confused Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 113 6 Photos	Its coated in white anamel or something. __________________ Everyone knows Muddy Waters invented electricity!

December 5th, 2005, 07:44 PM	#20 (permalink)
WickedGTR Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Hillbilly Hollywood Posts: 2,127 4 Photos	Did they have acrylic lacquer in '48? __________________ http://www.myspace.com/jameswilsey

December 5th, 2005, 09:50 PM	#21 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	Read all about old Fender paint here: http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fenderc.html Here's an old Strat in Olympic White, which is a Lucite colour. It has not yellowed because it got no nitro clear coat. Acryllic and nitro both use acetone as a thinner - what classified them as lacquer, and why you can use them together. I found a Fender article describing the Snakehead as being finished in enamel. Either way, it's not nitro! __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

December 6th, 2005, 12:00 AM	#22 (permalink)
Sunburst Island Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: States Posts: 538	Man I love that picture Dacious! Everytime I see it I'm reminded that it's one of my all time favourite Strats that I've never played...hands down. One day, I'll have an Olympic White Green Guard Strat with no clear topcoat, and a sunburst undercoat, One Day.

December 7th, 2005, 11:43 AM	#23 (permalink)
SFK TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Toledo, Ohio Posts: 64	I assume everyone has already seen this but.... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1