50's Esquire necks

Volitan · February 26th, 2008, 03:44 AM

Are they bigger/thicker than a Standard MIM neck. Profilewise? I figure since they're "50's" they'd have a 50's like profile (like a '52), but I'm not sure.

TG · February 26th, 2008, 04:02 AM

Yes, they are similar to the '52.

voided3 · February 26th, 2008, 04:48 AM

Yeah, I have a MIM 50's Esquire and a friend of mine has a MIM Standard Tele and my Esquire definitely has a larger neck. The radii are different, too; mine's 7.25" and I think the standards are 9.5"

teleyouk · February 26th, 2008, 07:12 AM

From http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html#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.

Tarnisher · June 9th, 2008, 09:49 PM

I remember reading that Leo was very resistant to putting truss rods in, since he felt that the maple neck was much stronger than a traditional guitar neck and wouldn't warp. He even demonstrated its integrity by suspending one between two chairs and standing on it. Nonetheless, he caved to the market's demand.

So now, half a century on, who was right? How do those early Esquires hold up? Have they warped, or are they still just as good as they were when they left the factory?

mistermullens · June 9th, 2008, 10:08 PM

Hmmm. I never thought my current 50s Classic Esquire had a thick neck. Same with my recent Partscaster (50s Classic Telecaster neck). The necks were actually pretty close. I did have another 50s Classic Esquire neck on another Partscaster, and the neck was considerably thicker than the previously mentioned.

February 26th, 2008, 03:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Volitan Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa Bay Age: 19 Posts: 271	50's Esquire necks Are they bigger/thicker than a Standard MIM neck. Profilewise? I figure since they're "50's" they'd have a 50's like profile (like a '52), but I'm not sure. __________________ Gear: Ash Tele, Alder Tele, Boss CE-2, Mesa Boogie DC-3

June 9th, 2008, 09:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Tarnisher Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brooklyn Age: 30 Posts: 225	I remember reading that Leo was very resistant to putting truss rods in, since he felt that the maple neck was much stronger than a traditional guitar neck and wouldn't warp. He even demonstrated its integrity by suspending one between two chairs and standing on it. Nonetheless, he caved to the market's demand. So now, half a century on, who was right? How do those early Esquires hold up? Have they warped, or are they still just as good as they were when they left the factory? __________________ http://profile.myspace.com/thetarnishers

June 9th, 2008, 10:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 31 Posts: 2,388 51 Photos	Hmmm. I never thought my current 50s Classic Esquire had a thick neck. Same with my recent Partscaster (50s Classic Telecaster neck). The necks were actually pretty close. I did have another 50s Classic Esquire neck on another Partscaster, and the neck was considerably thicker than the previously mentioned. __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

February 26th, 2008, 04:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
TG Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Beside a bog in the west of Ireland Age: 47 Posts: 4,500 7 Photos	Yes, they are similar to the '52.

February 26th, 2008, 04:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 693	Yeah, I have a MIM 50's Esquire and a friend of mine has a MIM Standard Tele and my Esquire definitely has a larger neck. The radii are different, too; mine's 7.25" and I think the standards are 9.5"

February 26th, 2008, 07:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
teleyouk Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Paris; FRANCE Age: 49 Posts: 161	From http://www.provide.net/~cfh/fender2.html#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.