Fender 1956 Esquire Electric Guitar - Refinished Yellow with Hardshell Case - Used

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This used 7.2 lb Fender will ship insured, fully set up, and inspected from Rapid City, SD. In good condition, this guitar sports a few dents and scratches on the body, a chip on the left side, and fretwear. 

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The Fender Esquire holds a special place in electric-guitar history as the company’s first solidbody model, introduced in 1950 and built on a blueprint that would eventually define the Telecaster. Its single-pickup configuration was never a limitation; players quickly learned that the instrument’s unique wiring scheme, bright attack, and resonant body allowed for an incredible range of tones. The Esquire became known for its directness and purity, offering a raw, unfiltered voice that many players still prefer over its two-pickup sibling.

By 1956, the Esquire had settled into the form most people picture today: a one-piece maple neck, blonde finish, staggered pole bridge pickup, and simple but highly expressive electronics. Fender was hitting its stride in craftsmanship, and mid-fifties instruments are known for their lively acoustic response, medium V necks, and clean, lightweight builds. The year also marked the shift to single-line Kluson tuners and staggered pickup poles, details that help pinpoint originality and date these guitars with great accuracy.

This mid-1956 Esquire carries all the hallmark features of Fender’s golden-era craftsmanship, sitting right at the crossroads between the early fifties build style and the sleeker shapes that would follow later in the decade. Its period-correct serial number, medium-profile maple neck, single-line Kluson tuners, and staggered-pole bridge pickup all speak clearly to its mid-fifties roots, and even with a refinish, the essential character remains untouched. The feel in the hands and the way the guitar resonates acoustically come straight from the era when these instruments were still being shaped by Leo’s earliest design choices.

The yellow refinish adds a striking twist without masking the soul of the guitar, giving it a look that stands out while still letting its vintage personality shine. Beneath the newer paint is a true piece of mid-fifties Fender history, a guitar that delivers the directness, punch, and character that made early Esquires so inspiring to players. It’s a wonderfully expressive example of the simplicity and clarity that shaped the earliest days of the solidbody electric, and this unique vintage piece is available now at Haggerty’s Music.

Features / Specs

Highlights

• Series: Esquire
• Orientation: Right-Handed
• Color: Refinished Yellow

Body

• Body Material: Ash
• Body Top Material: None
• Body Finish: Gloss
• Body Shape: Esquire
• Body Style: Solid Body

Neck

• Headstock Type: Esquire
• Neck Material: Maple
• Neck Shape: Medium Soft V
• Neck Finish: Gloss
• Neck Depth: 0.880" at 1st Fret, 0.977" at 12th Fret
• Neck Construction: Bolt-On
• Fingerboard Radius: 7.25"
• Fingerboard Material: Maple
• Position Inlays: Black Dots
• Side Dots: Black
• Number of Frets: 21
• Truss Rod Style: Heel of Neck
• Nut Material: Bone
• Nut Width: 1-5/8"
• Fret Size: Small Vintage
• Scale Length: 25.5"

Hardware

• Bridge: Threaded Steel Saddles
• Bridge Cover/Tail Piece: Chrome (unattached)
• Bridge Mounting: Fixed
• Pickguard: White, 5 Screws
• Pickup Cover: Black
• Control Knobs: Dome
• Switch Tip: Black
• Hardware Finish: Chrome
• Tuning Machines: Single Line Kluson Deluxe
• String Trees: One, above logo
• Tremolo Arm: None
• Neck Plate: 4-Bolt with Serial Number
• Strap Buttons: Two Chrome
• Output Jack: 1/4"

Electronics

• Pickup Configuration: S
• Bridge Pickup: Single-Coil, staggered pole pieces
• Controls: Volume and Tone
• Switching: 3-Way Switch
• Auxiliary Switching: None

Miscellaneous

• Accessories: None
• Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
• Serial Number: 13336
• Manufacture Date: 1956