Baby Comes Home: New CS SD Esquire w/photos!

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 03:49 PM

Well, I've wanted an Esquire for a while. With the Big Four-OHG! (40) fast approaching I pulled the trigger back in November for a Custom Shop Seymour Duncan Esquire. She arrived yesterday. Gorgeous guitar! Nice grain in the single piece ash body. Tone clean on all strings and the bass is surprising deep and throaty for a bridge pup. Thin nitro finish. Technically a two-tone, but in direct sunlight there is a hint of burgundy to the edge of the black. Frankly, I couldn't be happier. I found my axe! Oh, and also of interest: every screw on it is the old standard slotted, not phillips.

jwells393 · January 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM

Looks great. How about a picture of the neck heel/neck pocket area? I''ve heard these had a deeper than normal neck pocket.

teleon · January 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM

Stunning guitar. I love the pick shaped sunburst on the back. Did you buy it in Oregon?

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleon

Stunning guitar. I love the pick shaped sunburst on the back. Did you buy it in Oregon?

Yes, at Portland Music on Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy. Great folks.

johnnytronics · January 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM

She's a beauty. Get it off that stand before it eats through the nitro! I learned the hard way.

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwells393

Looks great. How about a picture of the neck heel/neck pocket area? I''ve heard these had a deeper than normal neck pocket.

Correct, it has been lowered 1/8 of an inch. I'll try to get a shot of it (my camera can be problematic at times).

Caper · January 25th, 2008, 04:00 PM

Congrats on your new toy Ed, it has a unique looking back, I like it. I haven't seen one painted like that before. Is this a typical color pattern for an Esquire?

e-merlin · January 25th, 2008, 04:01 PM

Pretty sweet!

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Congrats on your new toy Ed, it has a unique looking back, I like it. I haven't seen one painted like that before. Is this a typical color pattern for an Esquire?

My understanding is that it is typical of the Seymour Duncan Esquire only.

Birdsnest · January 25th, 2008, 05:10 PM

That "tear-drop" burst pattern on the back is just killer. Great lookin' guitar!

boris bubbanov · January 25th, 2008, 05:18 PM

I love the 'chicken feet' or cross hatched pattern in the ash in the body. Tell us, how does that 1 + 3/4 neck at the nut play, like it so far?

Congrats, and I second a request for pix around the 'dropped' neck pocket.

Bubbanov

Grin'n'pick · January 25th, 2008, 05:26 PM

That is a real beauty. To be honest I don't see how you could ever get a nicer guitar than that. There are a lot of amazing guitars in the world, many as nice I'm sure, but could anything actually beat this? I don't think so. It has everything you could want, stunning looks, all the right ingredients, it's an Esquire made by the Custom Shop (Fender's finest!), it's as good as it gets I reckon. No wonder you're pleased, I would be too, as would anyone with a bit of taste. So congratulations, both for the guitar and the birthday, and enjoy the heck out of them and have a great time playing and celebrating!

voided3 · January 25th, 2008, 06:11 PM

Must... keep... wallet... in... pocket... If I had sold more gear at home and not just bought a 50's MIM Esquire about four months ago, I probably would have gotten that, but I feel I still got a good guitar. One of these days i'll invest in a super nice Tele and then i'll be set for life (seriously, including basses I have about 20 total!).

sculptor · January 25th, 2008, 06:15 PM

wow!Thats an absolutely stunning esquire,
many congatulations on getting one as nice as that

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 06:22 PM

Folks, thanks for all the nice replys. I'll try to get some good pictures of the neck pocket join in an hour or so. Bubbanov, funny you should mention the neck size, as that was one of my concerns too. I ordered it sight unseen because I the specs were exactly what I wanted, but was worried I'd find the slightly larger nut size too odd. On the contrary, IMHO, it is simply amazing. The spacing between the strings is just slightly increased and it makes playing by the nut just as easy as playing in the 5th or 7th position. Unfortunately, Fender only makes (I think) 1 or 2 instruments with the 1.74" nut, but if you get a chance be sure to try it.

Again, thanks all for the warm wishes and nice responses. It means a lot to me. And I'll try get you folks those additional pics.

-Ed

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voided3

Must... keep... wallet... in... pocket... If I had sold more gear at home and not just bought a 50's MIM Esquire about four months ago, I probably would have gotten that, but I feel I still got a good guitar. One of these days i'll invest in a super nice Tele and then i'll be set for life (seriously, including basses I have about 20 total!).

Hey voided, while I'm thinking about it: I totally understand. Before ordering this I actually played one of the 50's MIM Esquires just to be sure an Esquire was what I wanted. Part of me wasn't quite sure, tone wise, how much versatility an Esquire had to offer. The 50's MIM really caught my attention and lead to this. For those who haven't yet tried an Esquire, but like Teles in general, give it a go. I believe you'll be surprised how subtle but different they are from Telecasters, and how versatile they can be.

giginthesky · January 25th, 2008, 06:27 PM

wow. first time i've seen the back of these. i didn't know they had a teardrop finish.

Gr8tfulEd · January 25th, 2008, 07:22 PM

Like Clint E said in one of his movies, "A man's gots to know his limitations":
Mine is clearly photography, but here is a shot of the neck join on my 52 RI (obviously the scudder botch) and the SD Esquire. I had to I eye ball the ruler location in relation to the body, but I think it's pretty close. I'm just not prepared to remove the neck after only having the guitar for 5 hours. :-) But, clearly they are different, and Clearly they are not THAT much different. Spec should be 1/8th of an inch. The problem, from a comparative point of view, is that we are dealing with a unique pickup as well. If the pickup was a standard issue jobbie, then I might be able to suggest that the wonderful bass response in this guitar is a result of the deeper neck pocket. But with a deeper pocket AND a unique pup, I don't really know what to attribute to what. All I can say is that the amount of bass out of the 1st position will blow you away. The middle and third position are both coil tapped at 6ohms and are completely different than the all-the-way back position. It still kills me that we're talking about a SINGLE pup!

TheDev01dOne · January 25th, 2008, 07:26 PM

I watched one of these, signed by SD on the pickguard, sell for £870 on UK ebay.. I thought it would've gone over £1000 AT LEAST.. If I had the money handy I definitely would've bought it, damn me and my big long holiday and no job!

January 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 11,932 101 Photos	Looks great. How about a picture of the neck heel/neck pocket area? I''ve heard these had a deeper than normal neck pocket. __________________ 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.

January 25th, 2008, 03:58 PM	#5 (permalink)
johnnytronics Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Big Apple, NYC Age: 58 Posts: 522	She's a beauty. Get it off that stand before it eats through the nitro! I learned the hard way. __________________ Support our Troops

January 25th, 2008, 05:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Birdsnest Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 232	That "tear-drop" burst pattern on the back is just killer. Great lookin' guitar! __________________ Let Fury Have The Hour

January 25th, 2008, 06:22 PM	#15 (permalink)
Gr8tfulEd Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lake Oswego, OR Posts: 608	Thanks Folks, thanks for all the nice replys. I'll try to get some good pictures of the neck pocket join in an hour or so. Bubbanov, funny you should mention the neck size, as that was one of my concerns too. I ordered it sight unseen because I the specs were exactly what I wanted, but was worried I'd find the slightly larger nut size too odd. On the contrary, IMHO, it is simply amazing. The spacing between the strings is just slightly increased and it makes playing by the nut just as easy as playing in the 5th or 7th position. Unfortunately, Fender only makes (I think) 1 or 2 instruments with the 1.74" nut, but if you get a chance be sure to try it. Again, thanks all for the warm wishes and nice responses. It means a lot to me. And I'll try get you folks those additional pics. -Ed __________________ "Music is not a competition. The best music is cooperative."- Jerry Garcia, Las Vegas 1993 interview ---------------------- "[Expletive Deleted]"- Richard Nixon

January 25th, 2008, 07:26 PM	#19 (permalink)
TheDev01dOne Tele-Holic Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Staffordshire, England. Age: 20 Posts: 518	I watched one of these, signed by SD on the pickguard, sell for £870 on UK ebay.. I thought it would've gone over £1000 AT LEAST.. If I had the money handy I definitely would've bought it, damn me and my big long holiday and no job! __________________ '86 MIJ '54 R.I. Esquire '85 MIJ '62 R.I. Esquire Squier Standard - Heavily Modded Bastardised '80(?)s Vester Esquire

January 25th, 2008, 03:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
teleon Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: nevada Age: 41 Posts: 394 14 Photos	Stunning guitar. I love the pick shaped sunburst on the back. Did you buy it in Oregon?

January 25th, 2008, 04:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
Caper Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,168 7 Photos	Congrats on your new toy Ed, it has a unique looking back, I like it. I haven't seen one painted like that before. Is this a typical color pattern for an Esquire?

January 25th, 2008, 05:18 PM	#11 (permalink)
boris bubbanov Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA + in the past Posts: 7,720	I love the 'chicken feet' or cross hatched pattern in the ash in the body. Tell us, how does that 1 + 3/4 neck at the nut play, like it so far? Congrats, and I second a request for pix around the 'dropped' neck pocket. Bubbanov

January 25th, 2008, 05:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
Grin'n'pick Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sarf Eas' Laandon Posts: 1,929 38 Photos	That is a real beauty. To be honest I don't see how you could ever get a nicer guitar than that. There are a lot of amazing guitars in the world, many as nice I'm sure, but could anything actually beat this? I don't think so. It has everything you could want, stunning looks, all the right ingredients, it's an Esquire made by the Custom Shop (Fender's finest!), it's as good as it gets I reckon. No wonder you're pleased, I would be too, as would anyone with a bit of taste. So congratulations, both for the guitar and the birthday, and enjoy the heck out of them and have a great time playing and celebrating!

January 25th, 2008, 06:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 647	Must... keep... wallet... in... pocket... If I had sold more gear at home and not just bought a 50's MIM Esquire about four months ago, I probably would have gotten that, but I feel I still got a good guitar. One of these days i'll invest in a super nice Tele and then i'll be set for life (seriously, including basses I have about 20 total!).

January 25th, 2008, 06:15 PM	#14 (permalink)
sculptor TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: stafford Age: 44 Posts: 43	wow!Thats an absolutely stunning esquire, many congatulations on getting one as nice as that

January 25th, 2008, 06:27 PM	#17 (permalink)
giginthesky Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: south jersey Age: 36 Posts: 1,044 6 Photos	wow. first time i've seen the back of these. i didn't know they had a teardrop finish.