When the Fender Esquire rolled out in 1950, it was a simple, effective solid-body guitar with a single bridge pickup and a few controls to help manipulate the sound. While the single pickup design may seem limiting, sometimes simplicity encourages freer expression. Via the subtleties of your picking attack and Leo's original three-way switch design, you're able to access a wider variety of tones than the single pickup may suggest.
This blackguard Esquire has an interesting story. It features all the right early '50s parts, but it is a partscaster that took over a decade to get 100% there. Put together by our friends at Category 5 Amplification, the story starts with a 1951 Esquire neck. It has a very comfortable soft V carve, and the Maple shows some subtle Birdseye figure. At the time, this neck was on a different Partscaster, and it was the only authentic '50s part. Well, that began a yearlong search (and frankly, an obsession) that led to this monster Esquire!
This 1951/53 Esquire Partscaster features a '51 neck and a '53 "Eddie" body refinished by Clive Brown. The bridge and brass saddles are from '50-'52, and the serial number (#1091) may have originally been an Esquire. The pots date to the 33rd week of '53, and the tone control is outfitted with a NOS '50s Astron capacitor. It has an authentic early '50s switch, but the rhythm tone (woof tone) has been replaced with a modern 473k cap that gives you an almost out-of-phase sound for the third option. The pickup is a pre-'55 flat-pole Telecaster bridge pickup, and the resistance measures 6.99k ohms.
From there, the remaining details are impressive. This Esquire has an early '50s control plate and dome knobs, and the headstock sports an early '50s string tree. The tuning machines are reproduction relic Klusons with the period correct design, and the neck plate is a period-correct reproduction. The pickguard is also a period-correct 5-hole single-ply black guard, and it is lacquered with the appropriate "paint can" mark on the bottom. All of the screws are period-correct flat head screws.
Plugged in with the volume full throttle, this 1951/53 Esquire Partscaster absolutely rips. But it's amazing how versatile the single pickup can be—it's very touch sensitive and it cleans up nicely with the volume knob. The 473k cap on the three-way switch gives you an additional setting that is actually usable. The neck has been refinished and refretted with 6150 Vintage Jumbo Frets, and the it has a proper bone nut. Because of that, this Esquire plays smooth and easy, and the authentic '51 neck profile feels so nice in your hands. It includes a modern left-handed Fender Poodle case.