1998 Fender 1950 Dual Pickup Esquire (John English).

 

This unique instrument from the personal collection of Master Luthier John English was his personal prototype of the 1950 Fender Dual pickup Esquire (serial # 0129) as featured in Richard R. Smith Fender: The sound heard 'round The world (p.76) and also in Nacho Banos The Blackguard. A detailed history of the early Fender Telecaster years 1950-1954 (p.27). This amazing guitar was built in April 1998 as a Fender Custom Shop prototype by John English and fellow Master Luthier, Fred Stuart. This instrument, which weighs just 5.60 lbs., is accurately based on the original 1950 Esquire (serial # 0129) which was loaned to the Custom Shop by a member of the Fullerton family in 1998. The neck was made solely by John English, the body by both John English and Fred Stuart, and the final assembly and wiring etc., again solely by John English.

The incredibly light and super resonant body was made from four pieces of 100-year-old pine. The solid maple neck (with no truss-rod) has simply the fattest deep 'V' profile ever and has a really unique feel. Twenty-one frets and black dot position markers. Individual Kluson deluxe 'No-Name' style tuners with oval metal buttons and 'slot-head' screws. Fender "Spaghetti" logo decal in silver with black trim and "Esquire" beneath in black. No string tree as per the original 1950 guitar. On the back of headstock is a small oval gold decal "Custom built / J.T. English / Fender U.S.A.". Four-bolt neck plate. Single layer white plastic pickguard with five 'slot-head' screws. Two huge sounding 'Broadcaster' style pickups specially wound by John English from 43 gauge plain enamel wire with huge outputs of 6.80k and 7.97k. Two controls (one volume, one tone) plus three-way pickup selector switch (with slot-head screws) and black plastic "barrel-like" switch tip, all on metal plate adjoining pickguard. Shorter chrome knobs with more pronounced domes and heavy knurled sides. The potentiometers are stamped "137 9747" (CTS November 1997). Chrome knobs with flat tops and knurled sides. Combined steel bridge/tailpiece with three angled adjustable smooth steel saddles. The neck is marked in pencil "4-98", the body neck pocket is signed "F. Stuart / 4-98" and "J. English / 4-98 / PROTO", and the body and hardware have been perfectly 'aged'. Complete with aged bridge cover 'ashtray'. Housed in tweed thermometer case with brown plush lining which in turn is housed in a custom made Holmberg White Tolex/Oxblood flight case.