Fender Esquire Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1969), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 253933, blonde finish, ash body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex original hard shell case.

This is a rare example of a *very* late Esquire, built shortly before the model's discontinuation in early 1970. The single -pickup Esquire had lagged in sales behind the more expensive Telecaster for years, and at the end of the '60's CBS finally pulled the plug on the long-lived model. This guitar's neck, dated MAY 69, is the unusual combination of a 'skunk stripe' maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard peculiar to this specific time period, when Fender revived the original style one-piece maple neck. The logo decal is the rarely seen "big letter" ESQUIRE decal used only around 1969-70. Finish and fittings are all original and although this guitar has had some alteration in the past, it is back to original and is a great playing and sounding Esquire.
 
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) deep. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This guitar is original with the exception of an unfilled humbucker rout under the pickguard, where a second pickup resided at some point. The pickguard itself appears to be the proper period Fender original so perhaps the perpatrator was prescient enough to use an alternate guard at the time! The electronics have some splicing and re-soldering but original components. The Finish is excellent with a few dings and chips and minor play wear; there is a very small repaired chip on the treble edge of the neck pocket where a piece was glued back in place. This is not only a rare Fender but a very attractive and great-sounding guitar, with a real "Bakersfield" twang! Excellent - Condition.

Item # 2783

$6,750.00