Fender Esquire Blackguard 1951

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

I absolutely love bringing listings like this piece that has been in hiding for decades.

A 1951 Fender Esquire Blackguard - a cornerstone of solidbody electric guitar history and one of the purest expressions of Leo Fender’s original vision. As Fender’s first production solidbody, the Esquire distills everything down to the essentials: a slab body, a single bridge pickup, and a voice that helped shape the sound of modern music. Early Blackguard examples like this are revered for their feel, tone, and historical importance, and they remain among the most sought-after vintage Fenders in existence.

The neck is sublime - the shape and the natural wear just can't be replicated, and the tone is similarly outrageous.  Like the Les Paul Junior, the layout of the Esquire somehow brings more out of the pickup.  You can test it yourself - we have - taking the neck pickup out of a Tele and putting it back.  You'll see what I mean!

This example has seen a couple of changes that take the edge off the price versus a 100% original piece.  I'll follow with the good stuff - and there's plenty of it, but let's get the changes out of the way.   

One change is visible at first glance - a small screw hole on the headstock from an added string tree.  The tuning machines are changed, they are reproduction machines.  At some point before the guitar's arrival here, a different set was applied, adding screw holes to the headstock behind the tuners.  The post holes were not changed and the bushings look original, as do the tuner mounting screws.  There is a small repair on the edge of the headstock near the low E tuner.  The person who added the tuner screw holes must've lost their minds - this repair was undoubtedly caused by adding a screw without drilling a pilot hole.  There is no risk to the headstock's integrity and there is no finish overspray.  

The neck pickup route was widened a touch at some point in the guitar's history.  Someone must have tried to add a Strat pickup or something.  I've seen far worse work for sure.  Luckily, they didn't alter the pickguard.  There are two pickup mounting screw holes in the neck pickup route.  The last change is a spliced wire in the electronics, perhaps related to the one-time neck pickup install.

OK - so, the good stuff!  The finish is original throughout.  The pickup, bridge, pots, switch, saddles, pickguard, strap buttons, string tree, tone caps, - everything else is original - all the screws too.  

The guitar shows beautifully - just look at it!  It is an amazing piece.

A reissue "thermometer" tweed case is included.

As with all instruments at Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, it has been fully inspected, photographed accurately, and professionally evaluated to ensure it plays its absolute best. 

We buy, sell, and take trades.

Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
“The Esquire is the purest Fender experience.” – The Gear Page
“Blackguard Fenders have a magic you can’t fake.” – TDPRI
“One pickup, infinite tones.” – Harmony Central
“Early ’50s Fenders are the gold standard.” – Reddit r/Guitar
“History, tone, and feel in one guitar.” – Ultimate Guitar

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
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SPECS:

• Color: Blonde
• Weight: 7lbs 10oz
• Body: Ash
• Body Date/Code: See Pics
• Neck: Maple
• Neck Profile: U
• Neck Date/Code: See Pics
• Fretboard: Maple
• Inlays: Black Dot
• Frets: Professional refret
• Fret Count: 21
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1-9/16"
• Radius: 7.25"
• Scale: 25.5"
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .885"
• Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.01"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall length: 38-3/8"
• Lower bout: 12-5/8"
• Waist: 9"
• Upper bout: 11"
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-3/4"
• String gauge: 10-46
• Hardware Color: Nickel
• Pickguard: Original black phenolic
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Fender Single Coil
• Pickup Reading: 6.59k
• Original?: Yes
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Repro
• Knobs: Original
• Switch: 3 Way, repro tip. Original in case
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: Repro Tweed
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.