This unique instrument made by Master Luthier Fred Stuart was the first prototype of the 1950 Fender Dual pickup Esquire (serial # 0129) as featured in Richard R. Smith Fender: The sound heard 'round The world (p.76) and also in Nacho Banos The Blackguard. A detailed history of the early Fender Telecaster years 1950-1954 (p.27). This amazing guitar was built in April 1998 as a Fender Custom Shop prototype by Master Luthier, Fred Stuart, eventually produced in a small run of 50 Custom Shop pieces. This instrument, which weighs just 6.10 lbs., is accurately based on the original Serial #0129 1950 Esquire which was loaned to the Custom Shop by a member of the Fullerton family in 1998. The neck, body, pick-ups, wiring and final assembly on this truly unique instrument were solely by Fred Stuart. The incredibly light and super resonant body was made from four pieces of 100-year-old pine. The solid maple neck (with no truss-rod) has simply the fattest round profile ever and has a really unique feel. Twenty-one frets and black dot position markers. Individual Kluson deluxe 'No-Name' style tuners with oval metal buttons and 'slot-head' screws. Fender "Spaghetti" logo decal in silver with black trim and "Esquire" beneath in black. Circular string tree. Four-bolt neck plate. Single layer white plastic pickguard with five 'slot-head' screws. Two huge sounding 'Broadcaster' style pickups specially wound by Fred Stuart from 43 gauge plain enamel wire with huge outputs of 6.39k and 9.99k. Two controls (one volume, one tone) plus three-way pickup selector switch (with slot-head screws) and black plastic "barrel-like" switch tip, all on metal plate adjoining pickguard. The potentiometers are stamped "R137 975X" and "R1379838" (CTS, December 1997 and September 1998). Shorter chrome knobs with flat tops and knurled sides. Combined steel bridge/tailpiece with a square notch cut in the back and three angled adjustable smooth steel saddles. The body neck pocket is marked in black marker "1st / Prod. / April '98". Hardware is a mix of aged (bridge and saddles) while the rest of the hardware isn't aged. Body is heavily aged with a few dings and surface marks on the edges and the black finish has been totally checked throughout (shown here) by Fred. In addition the pickguard has a small corner missing in the treble cutaway and a small crack in the guard coming from one o the screw holes. This is a 'monster' guitar with a 'monster neck' and an incredible sound. Housed in tweed thermometer case with brown plush lining, which is in sort of relic condition. Fretted Americana came across this Proto #1 in 2008, when they purchased a collection of 'unique' John English guitars from a member of the family. In that collection was this Esquire, as well as Proto #2, which was a joint project by both John English and Fred Stuart. The neck on #2 was made solely by John English, the body by both John English and Fred Stuart, and the final assembly and wiring etc., again solely by John English. This Proto #1 is Fred Stuart's sole version of the original 1950 Esquire, again ,based on the original Serial #0129. On this guitar the neck has an even thicker profile than the 'joint-venture' guitar - the neck profile goes from an unbelievable 1.06 inches behind the first fret and then gently rises to 1.10 inches behind the fifteenth fret. Quite simply the 'fattest' neck profile I have ever seen.
