Brand: Fender
Instrument Categories: Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Solidbody
Here is a rare Custom Shop Fender 70 Esquire Relic with Rosewood fingerboard in translucent blonde, and sporting an added Lollar neck pickup. This model was built in a run of 20 examples during 2008.
The Fender Esquire was the first Electric Spanish style guitar to appear in a Fender catalog (all the others were Hawaiian or steel guitars), making its debut in the spring of 1950. This single pickup model didn’t have an adjustable truss rod, but by the fall of 1950, the two-pickup Broadcaster appeared and adjustable truss rods were standard for all the necks.
There were three main differences between the Esquire and Broadcaster / Telecaster models. First, the Esquire had a single pickup, second, its pickguard was not cut for the neck pickup, and the third is the wiring. The Esquire had a 3-way switch like the 2-pickup models, but the switch activated a bass circuit, much like the tone switch on later Gretsch models. Past these relatively minor differences, the two models shared the same neck and identically routed and shaped bodies. Since the Esquire was already routed for the neck pickup, many were converted to Telecaster specs.
The Esquire was produced from 1950 to 1970, with an Ash body and for the 1950’s, a Maple neck; by 1961 a Rosewood fingerboard was available.
Here we’re looking at a Fender 70 Esquire Relic, based on the last year of Esquire production, and likely built by Mark Kendrick as part of a Fender Custom Shop run of 20 instruments. This example has been converted to Tele specs with the Lollar Vintage Telecaster neck pickup. This guitar is in great condition – considering its relic treatment – and plays very well.
The original G&G hardshell case is included, and contains the Certificate of Authenticity, tags, Ashtray pickup cover other case candy and Lollar receipt.
- Model: 70 Esquire Relic
- Year: 2008
- Finish Blonde Translucent Relic
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: R38777 date 05/02/08 Corona, CA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 24/09/2020
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 6.69lbs 3.04kg
- Scale Length: 25.5in 647.7mm
- Nut Width: 1.664in 42.28mm
