While the Telecaster, designed in 1949, is certainly not a 60's design, it was a design that was ahead of its time in every way, revolutionizing the guitar world with this radical design.
I am happy to feature this particular guitar, as it is very similar to the Telecaster as used by Steve Cropper on countless Stax/Volt hit records throughout the 60's. Cropper's snaky, twangy, soulful lines powered numerous hits from Otis Redding, Booker T & The MG's, Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Sam & Dave, and many others.
Images courtesy of Gryphon Stringed Instruments.
I wonder when they stopped supplying those chrome bridge cover plates "ashtrays"(?). I guess the Esquire was identical but without the, um, was it the bridge pickup? Well the pickup switch wouldn't have been needed, so there was only a volume and tone knob then. I'll have to track down a photo. If memory serves, Jeff Beck had an Esquire for a number of years, starting during the Yardbirds era.
ReplyDeleteThe ashtrays lasted until the late 70's, but they were almost always thrown away. Esquires have a bridge pickup only, but actually DO have a toggle switch; the close position has a treble rolloff capacitor, middle position is normal, with tone control, the back position bypasses the tone control for full blown twang out treble damage.
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