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

Provenance - Why is one Esquire $50,000 and another $10,000

Dan Fogelbergs Gretch White Falcone $80,000. Comes with a letter and pictures from Dan Fogleberg establishing ownership and provenance. I did own a Fogelberg album, I was on a college campus in the late '70s, Fogelberg had an inflated image then thus an inflated price tag now.

This is Billy Wooten's 1969 Telecaster being sold by Gruhn Guitars in Nashville for $20,000. The letter states how Mr. Wooten was given the guitar by Fender, this establishes the history i.e. giving the guitar provenance i.e. justifying a $20K price. Imagine the stories this guitar could tell.

This mid 50's Esquire is being sold for $10K or so.

This mid 50's Esquire is unique. Being sold by Gruhn Guitars of Nashville Tn for Approximately 50K. This Esquire was used by Bruce Springsteen during the recording of "The River". The gutar has a pickup from Springsteen's '53 Telecaster i.e. I believe it was custom wound by Syemour Duncan. It is owned by Gary W. Tallent, bass player of the E Street band. The key things are a) Being sold by a reputable dealer b) the owner is supplying a letter of authenticity. These two facts alone make this a unique instrument with provenance or history that's documented. Some times a less than reputable seller will use the name of an artist to create an idea that an instrument was used by or owned by that artist. The goal to get more money for that instrument. Your only protection is to know and trust the seller and have proof of the instruments lineage. Photos, letters from the artist, letters from the manufacturer all help support the provenance.

These things are important because vintage instruments are being viewed as legimate ways to invest. Today new instruments being sold as closet classics, aged or relic'ed. Instruments used by famous artists are being bought and exact replicas being made and sold to recoup the original purchase price. Today you can purchase exact replica of Page's Les Paul and double neck as well as Clapton's Blackie. These copies sell for $10,000 to $30,000. Imagine what you could sell an exact copy of Willie Nelson's Guitar for.