Fender Brad Paisley Esquire Guitar - Black Sparkle

[GearGeek01]

Just when I thought I didn't need any more Telecasters... (LOL)... I was just reading about this new model tonight. Yes, its an Esquire, but it also has a Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Brad Paisley Secret Agent neck pickup hiding under the pickguard.

MAP is going to be an ouchy $1,399.99... Fender's Mexican-made guitars are slowly crossing the line with pricing of their USA guitars. The new American Professional II Teles are $1,499.99
https://shop.fender.com/en-US/electric-guitars/telecaster/brad-paisley-esquire/0140322398.html

https://shop.fender.com/en-US/elect...an-professional-ii-telecaster/0113940761.html

There's a pretty good YouTube where Brad put the thing through it's paces...



Here's all the specs, etc...

• Model Name: Brad Paisley Esquire, Maple, Black Sparkle
• Model #: 0140322398
• Series: Artist
• Color: Black Sparkle
• Body: Spruce/Paulownia/Spruce
• Body Finish: Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Body Shape: Telecaster
• Neck Material: Maple
• Neck Finish: Road Worn Nitrocellulose Lacquer
• Neck Shape: Enhanced "V"
• Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
• Fingerboard: Maple
• Fingerboard Radius: 9.5" (241 mm)
• Number of Frets: 21
• Frets Size: Medium Jumbo
• String Nut: Synthetic Bone
• Nut Width: 1.650" (42 mm)
• Position Inlays: Black Dot
• Bridge Pickup: Custom Brad Paisley Spec Vintage-Style Telecaster
• Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Shop Brad Paisley Secret Agent
• Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone
• Pickup Switching: 3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
• Pickup Configuration: SS
• Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings Through Body Tele with Compensated Brass Barrel Saddles
• Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
• Tuning Machines: Vintage-Style
• Pickguard: Clear with Black and Silver Paisleys
• Control Knobs: Knurled Flat-Top
• Strings: Fender USA 250L Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges), PN 0730250403

Here's some pictures from the Fender site...

 

[rze99]

Brad’s tone I love.

I really don’t like his material much. Maybe one or two tracks.

But that terrible amateur wear patch looks so bad I’d avoid.

Are Fender devoting the worst relic people ever to this series? Seems so.

Please - give us an example without the bad - actually very bad - relicing and maybe I would be tempted.

 

[GearGeek01]

I have never been nor ever will be a relic fan... I like to play mine for years and wear it out for myself...

 

[arlum]

It really does look like a fantastic choice among Fender Telecasters currently available. I do love the hidden pickup to expand the possibilities of an Esquire build.

Note* I too am not a fan of relic guitars. I'd check with the Fender Custom Shop to see if they're building a non- relic version. For anyone not sharing my non-relic compulsion this is one great guitar at an extremely fair price.

 

[That Cal Webway]

Cool gtr, but too much $$

Not a fan of relic'ing in general.
It's all about how the guitar sounds and plays and constructed.

 

[RodeoTex]

I would have bought Brad's first signature were it not for that dumb wear mark.

 

[golfnut]

I bought the silver BP sig guitar. I'm glad I didn't let the arm wear deter me from buying it as its a fantastic guitar that I enjoy playing as much as my much more expensive custom shop 52. I don't much pay too much attention to the aesthetics. I focus more on playing them than I do looking at them.
And I'm not silly enough to think I'm going to take a poly finish sparkling new guitar, play it for an hour or 2 at home after work and expect after 20 years its going to look naturally worn. It won't look worn after 50 years. Even a thin nitro finish won't wear when it spends most of its time in the case or on a stand.
How many yahoos here who profess to making their own wear travel the road 7 days a week and subject their guitar to the kind of abuse it takes to naturally wear it?

 

[teletail]

How many yahoos here who profess to making their own wear travel the road 7 days a week and subject their guitar to the kind of abuse it takes to naturally wear it?

NONE.

Anyone who thinks they are going to put wear on their guitar’s finish just by playing it shows a complete lack of understanding regarding how the poly finishes work. I have a late 80’s fender Strat that was my main player for ten years. Even with another 20 years of periodic playing, from 5 feet away it looks like new. You will NEVER wear out a ploy finish just by playing it.

Having said that, the BP teles don’t look natural to me at all. A good relic job is an art and few do it well.

 

[ping-ping-clicka]

NONE.

Anyone who thinks they are going to put wear on their guitar’s finish just by playing it shows a complete lack of understanding regarding how the poly finishes work. I have a late 80’s fender Strat that was my main player for ten years. Even with another 20 years of periodic playing, from 5 feet away it looks like new. You will NEVER wear out a ploy finish just by playing it.

Having said that, the BP teles don’t look natural to me at all. A good relic job is an art and few do it well.

yes I tried to sand of the poly finish on
my tele and figured it wasn't worth the effort sanding .
I'm going to cover as the soles of all my shoes with that demon poly paint and never have to get them resoled.
faux historic matrixing , and the false history that it wishes to impart is like putting fake spinner rims on your 64' Malibu 4 door, to impress other swith your suave sophistication.

 

[LPTyler]

I would like these without the belt sander mark. I feel the same with the silver one too. Relics are hard to do right, and these don’t come close.

 

[Recce]

I would like these without the belt sander mark. I feel the same with the silver one too. Relics are hard to do right, and these don’t come close.

Agreed, it’s a good looking guitar if not for the belt sander job on it.

 

[golfnut]

NONE.

Anyone who thinks they are going to put wear on their guitar’s finish just by playing it shows a complete lack of understanding regarding how the poly finishes work. I have a late 80’s fender Strat that was my main player for ten years. Even with another 20 years of periodic playing, from 5 feet away it looks like new. You will NEVER wear out a ploy finish just by playing it.

Having said that, the BP teles don’t look natural to me at all. A good relic job is an art and few do it well.

You are correct. I wouldn't expect a great relic job on a less expensive mexican made. Of course I didn't expect that it would play so well and sound so great for the money. Personally I've grown neutral on how I feel about the arm wear that I originally didn't care for. Its a guitar not a piece of furniture.

 

[golfnut]

yes I t
faux historic matrixing , and the false history that it wishes to impart is like putting fake spinner rims on your 64' Malibu 4 door, to impress other swith your suave sophistication.
View attachment 787691

Poppycock

 

[Ess Eff]

I didn't like the relic on the first one, either.

So, I made my own.....
.

 

[fenderchamp]

I don't know why they are even calling that tele an esquire. It's got standard wiring and a neck pickup. I think that is one ugly guitar, but really only because I personally don't like the pickguard, and sandpapered looking finish wear. Of course my name isn't Paisley. If it was I might feel differently. I've played the regular silver parsley models, and I've yet to pickup up one that wasn't to my liking, ugly, but nice tele's, they've all been light, good sounding a good playing tele's with a nice fat neck. Very custom-shop nocasterish to the hands.

I don't get the point of the "stealth" tele in esquire clothing, in my opinion the Esquire wiring is more or at least very different, and in any case not less than standard telecaster wiring though so there's that.

In any case I'm guessing the new paisley models are pretty great, if, in my opinion anyway, kind of ugly and bizarre tele's.

 

[Sea tea]

I have been looking to add "V" profile neck to the rack. I tried a Vintera Road Worn 50's Strat but there were issues and it was returned. It was light but felt cheap compared to my other Fenders.

Took a flyer on the Paisley Esquire...got a very good deal and it was set up properly.

I am surprised by the playability, tones and versatility. The entire guitar shows some "wear" as it were. The hardware looks as though the previous owner lived by the sea. The pick guard is unusual and may be replaced. (The guitar looks much better in person than in photos...) Pickups sound terrific and provide a very wide range of tonal options. Takes well to pedals and really makes the Vox sing.

The light weight does not make it feel cheap. The neck has nice heft to it and is pretty quick. The nut and fretwork are very very good. Only played it a short time but am looking forward to putting through its paces. It's a bit odd and I'm not even that familiar with Brad Paisley but I can't see it while I'm playing and my neck and shoulder are already thanking me.

 

[G-52]

I have been looking to add "V" profile neck to the rack. I tried a Vintera Road Worn 50's Strat but there were issues and it was returned. It was light but felt cheap compared to my other Fenders.

Took a flyer on the Paisley Esquire...got a very good deal and it was set up properly.

I am surprised by the playability, tones and versatility. The entire guitar shows some "wear" as it were. The hardware looks as though the previous owner lived by the sea. The pick guard is unusual and may be replaced. (The guitar looks much better in person than in photos...) Pickups sound terrific and provide a very wide range of tonal options. Takes well to pedals and really makes the Vox sing.

The light weight does not make it feel cheap. The neck has nice heft to it and is pretty quick. The nut and fretwork are very very good. Only played it a short time but am looking forward to putting through its paces. It's a bit odd and I'm not even that familiar with Brad Paisley but I can't see it while I'm playing and my neck and shoulder are already thanking me.

View attachment 787710

Nice, congrats have you by chance weighed it?

 

[ChickenKiller]

So basically it’s NOT an Esquire it only looks like one?

 

[Sea tea]

Nice, congrats have you by chance weighed it?

thanks. Haven’t weighed it yet. Was advertised as 5.7 lbs.

So basically it’s NOT an Esquire it only looks like one?

I guess it’s double Esquire. Regardless it has a unique feel. Not sure if the greater distance to the neck pup makes a difference. One thing for sure it’s fun to play.

 

[Colo Springs E]

Brad’s tone I love.

I really don’t like his material much. Maybe one or two tracks.

But that terrible amateur wear patch looks so bad I’d avoid.

Are Fender devoting the worst relic people ever to this series? Seems so.

Please - give us an example without the bad - actually very bad - relicing and maybe I would be tempted.

I actually like a good relic. This "wear spot" is pointless and stupid. Would look so much better had they not done that, a shame.