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Post subject: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:08 am
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Bought the Blackguard book.

It is not your typical coffee table book but it is THE reference book on early 50 - 54 Esquire's, Broadcasters, "nocasters" and Telecasters.

The details are exhaustive. I've learned things I never knew and discovered I was wrong about a few things I thought I knew.

For example, both single and dual pickup models were originally called Esquire. I'd always thought Esquires were strictly the single pickup model. The name was then changed to Broadcaster, then the "nocasters" came along, and then Telecasters. During that time the Esquires were discontinued and then put back into production as a single pickup version of the Telecaster.

Also the earliest models were painted Black and had white pick guards but these are extremely rare. They also were made of pine like the prototypes but switched to ash at about the time they moved to the transparent 'blond' finish with black pick guards.

I had heard that the earliest production models were delivered with no truss rods. What I didn't know was that Leo himself was resistant to the idea that a truss rod was needed - one of the few errors from The Master. :P

Cheers,

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Last edited by mhowell on Wed Dec 26, 2012 4:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 1:39 pm
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Yes it is a great book. I have it since many years.


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 8:34 am
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mhowell wrote:
I had heard that the earliest production models were delivered with no truss rods. What I didn't know was that Leo himself was resistant to the idea that a truss rod was needed - one of the few errors from The Master. :P

Cheers,


Enjoy. Just be careful. I hurt my wrists holding the book while reading it. :lol: :lol: :lol:

You've never seen this photo before?

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:04 am
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Yes I see it before , You are right about truss rod.

You know very well Fender story. Thank's


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:08 am
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The Broadcaster name was shortlived as Gretsch contacted Fender in mid-February of 1951 to point out that the guitar’s name was very similar to their Broadkaster drum set.

Gretsch requested “immediate assurance” that Fender would abandon the name. Fender complied and the guitar continued to be produced without a name until September of that year, when “Telecaster” (coined by Don Randall) began appearing on the decal.

These guitars were generally known as "Nocasters".

The Telecaster name continues to be used on the Broadcaster’s contemporary descendents.


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:23 pm
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Gretsch sent Leo Fender a telegram and nicely asked Fender to change the name. Today any company would have gone to court and sued the pants off the offending company. The other company would then file a counter suit and the whole thing would be tied up in the courts for months if not years.

My, how things have changed. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Gretsch telegram:

Image

Don Randall's response:

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 6:25 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
Gretsch sent Leo Fender a telegram and nicely asked Fender to change the name. Today any company would have gone to court and sued the pants off the offending company. The other company would then file a counter suit and the whole thing would be tied up in the courts for months if not years.

My, how things have changed. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Gretsch telegram:

Image

Don Randall's response:

Image


As I get ready to turn 60 in less than 30 days, I do remember a more civil world. I miss it very much. The senseless/needless acrimony of the modern era is a weight on my spirit. It is almost totally lost, but it is ours to recover. If there were the will there would be the way.

Great post Bluesky. One of a few. :D

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:08 pm
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Now Fender owns Gretsch, how ironic is that?


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:54 pm
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modwiz wrote:
Great post Bluesky. One of a few. :D


Thanks.

Only "a few"? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:22 am
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Minnesotastrats wrote:
Now Fender owns Gretsch, how ironic is that?


Yes ? I did not know that. Since long time ?


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:59 am
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bluesky636 wrote:
modwiz wrote:
Great post Bluesky. One of a few. :D


Thanks.

Only "a few"? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


I do not wish to appear obsequious. Looks like I managed it. :lol:

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 5:10 am
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mhowell wrote:
Also the earliest models were painted Black and had white pick guards but these are extremely rare. They also were made of pine like the prototypes but switched to ash at about the time they moved to the transparent 'blond' finish with black pick guards.

I had heard that the earliest production models were delivered with no truss rods. What I didn't know was that Leo himself was resistant to the idea that a truss rod was needed - one of the few errors from The Master. :P


The first Esquire prototype was made in 1949 and - unlike the production Esquires - sported a 3+3 tuner arrangement.

This model is colloquially known as the "Snake Head Esquire" because of the headstock shape borrowed from Fender's lap-steels.

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 10:00 pm
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I have never seen the "Esquire" name applied to the prototype electric spanish solidbody guitar in any book or other reference material.

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Post subject: Re: The Blackguard Book
Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 11:41 pm
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bluesky636 wrote:
I have never seen the "Esquire" name applied to the prototype electric spanish solidbody guitar in any book or other reference material.

+1

"Esquire", "Broadcaster", and "Telecaster" were all marketing names attached to production models. Fender probably referred to the prototypes as something very workman and generic like spanish solidbody.

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