Fender Factory Early Years
Fender Fullerton California Factory filmed in 1959 with 8mm by employee
Esquire Whiteguard Tribute Project
Luther Perkins with 1955 Esquire
I am building a custom “partscaster” that is based on a 1955 Fender Esquire. This is a bit of a tribute to Luther Perkins who provided Johnny Cash with his “boom-chicka-boom” sound with his iconic whiteguard Fender Esquire so many years ago.
Luther was a member of Cash’s original Tennessee Two (eventually the Tennessee Three when they added drummer W.S. “Fluke” Holland). Even though his Fender guitar only featured one pickup, he became an important figure in what would become known as rockabilly. He was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
With Johnny Cash singing in a low baritone and playing rhythm guitar Perkins and Marshall Grant on standup bass, devised a back up sound that was new and different. Luther used palm muting to deaden the three bass strings and cross picked the bass line with each chord change like Merle Travis. By playing the same notes as Marshall’s bass runs the “boom-chicka” style was born and would become synonymous with Johnny Cash’s sound. The haunting drone of Perkins’s guitar style with his signature reverb would quickly be embraced by rock-a-billy and early rock and roll guitarists.
Fender’s Mike Eldred Demos Esquire
Mike Eldred managers the Fender Customer Shop and has innovated Esquire wiring known as the Cocked Wah Mod. Been researching Esquires for my next project.
See more on the Eldred wiring scheme here.
John5: The Ulitimate Guitar Collection
John5’s Amazing Telecaster Collection
Jim Weider Shares Some Fender History
Love the 50’s Tele played through the 57 Tweed Bassman
The Hellecasters
Some of my favorite players – Will Ray, John Jorgenson and Jerry Donahue
Custom Charlie Christian Telecaster
Charlie Christian
I will be using a gorgeous Warmoth body that is chambered swamp ash with quilted high grade maple top. It is being routed for Lollar Charlie Christian Telecaster neck pickup and standard bridge that I will be using Jason Lollar’s B.S. Telecaster bridge pickup. These pickups are well matched. These pickups sound a bit like P90s with a lower output. The 4-layer pearl custom pickguard is also from Warmoth.
THE BYRDS – You Ain’t Going Nowhere (1968)
Clarence White was a true original. Not only was he an amazing acoustic guitar player, he was the co-inventer of the Parsons/White B-bender and amazed us all with his innovative playing. Clarence White’s original B-bender Telecaster is now owned and played by Marty Stuart after Clarence left us way too soon after being hit by a drunk driver. Watch Clarence White in action.
Celebrating the Fender Telecaster
Buck Owens/Don Rich Sparkle Tribute Telecaster
Don and Buck having fun with their Sparkle Telecasters
Buck Owens and Don Rich may have been the original Telemasters. Back in the 1960s they were playing some Fender custom made “sparkle” Telecasters. No Fender Custom Shop in those days. The story has it that these were created with ground mirrors in the paint according to George Gruhn. They are pretty amazing looking.