Fender Custom Shop '59 Esquire Journeyman Electric Guitar, British Racing Green

Another prime example of the work of art our friends at the Fender Custom Shop are capable of – feast your eyes on this lovely Fender Custom Shop '59 Esquire Jouneyman Relic finished in British Racing Green. Since its debut in April of 1950, the Esquire serves as a simple, yet incredibly powerful and versatile instrument. Everything you need, and nothing you don't is the models motto. Boasting tasteful specs, an expertly done finish treatment, and a crunchy P-90 pickup in the bridge, let's unpack this Esquire, piece by piece.

Crafted from just 2-pieces of ash and a bolt-on maple neck, the Esquire is light – clocking in at just 7 lb 3.1 oz. Its body is craved to a '59 Esquire profile and is finished with chrome/nickel hardware, dark brown tortoiseshell pickguard, and knurled control knobs. The bolt-on maple neck sports a chunky '52 style "U" shape profile and is topped with a 7.25-inch radius AAA flat lam slab rosewood fingerboard. The board is accented by white dot inlays and is crowned with 21 medium jumbo frets for modern playability. The back of the neck is unfinished for smooth and comfortable playing.

Staying true to "less is more" a Fender Custom Shop hand-wound P-90 single-coil pickup is loaded in the bridge position. Offering a fatter single-coil wide-range sound, the P-90 offers plenty of mid-range warmth and roundness, but barks when gain is thrown in the mix – it's quiet lovely. The pick is wired up to a single volume and tone knob as well as a 3-way selector switch. Position 1 route the bridge and pickup through the volume/tone controls, position 2 removes the tone circuit, and position 3 offers full throttle – directly to the output jack. Strings are loaded through the bobbed 3-barrel bridge and are tuned to pitch with the vintage-style tuning machines. The headstock displays "Esquire" under the Fender logo. The entire instrument is subject to Fender's Journeyman Relic treatment – simulating decades of a well-loved, but not abused instrument. Some dings, checking, scuffs, and cloudy hardware are to be expected and add to the vintage vibe. The guitar is complete with a Fender Custom Shop COA and hardshell case.

Everything you need, and nothing you don't. Get the job done with this Fender Custom Shop '59 Esquire.