Build your own 1953 Telecaster or Esquire.

To the left are the major components of a early 50's Esquire. The neck, body and electronics are purportedly vintage 50's parts.

The body is being represented as a vintage 50's body. The rear pick cavity has a penciled date of 1950 something. I always thought Fender did their date markings in the neck pocket. You have to be skeptical when it comes to dating the parts. Fender marked dates of production with stamps and pencils, Fender production records are sketchy at best.

The neck show signs of wear and the dated from the 50's. Skepticisim is just because of the ease these parts can be replicated.

The electronics can also be replicated. I've been able to source new old stock (N.O.S) electronic parts. Seems the goverment stock piled resistors, capacitors, etc. to maintain their electronic components and then sold the unused components and parts at auction. I was able to use 1963 date coded resistors in my 1966 amp in 2006.

The lesson here is you can assemble Fender components from the 50's today. Granted it'll cost you about $8000 in parts and some time sourcing the parts on ebay and the net, but you can get it done. Then get an artist like Springsteen or Keith Richards (carefull I heard he tends to keep gear) to take a picture holding or playing the guitar and voila a $50,000 Esquire