1957 Fender Esquire RESTORATION - Ask Zac 58

The story of the restoration process, and the wonderful participants who helped out. Much thanks to Dan "Danocaster" Strain, Ron Ellis, Nick at Glaser's, and the lovely Val "Valocaster" Strain. I had no idea the joy that would come from the restoration of a vintage, Pre-CBS, Fender guitar
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Here are the before shots, so you can see what we started with.
www.askzac.com/post/my-1957-f...
More restoration info including videos of the refinishing process by Danocaster.
www.askzac.com/post/the-resto...
Gear for this video
1957 Fender Esquire
Strings:
D'Addario 10-46
Pick:
Blue Chip TPR 35 RB
Amp:
1959 Fender Harvard with original Jensen P10R #askzac #guitartech #telecaster

[@fivewattworld]

Love this story. And three pieces of gear for one guitar of a lifetime? Good exchange in my book (no surprise.)

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Keith. “Getting the most from the least amount of gear.”

[@acmercker5941]

Thrilled for you Zac. Was looking forward to this episode all week. Nicely done, as is your way sir.

[@jbert7289]

Zac and Keith....both of you tell and explain your stories of whatever your telling us so well. I love listening to you two. Blessings...

[@John-cw4no]

That guitar was Lucky to find YOU, with friends like Joe Glaser, Dan Strain & Ron Ellis

[@briannacery9939]

That Esquire and Harvard amp are magickal! Wish I could afford Ron Ellis pickups!

[@valentino3191]

I don't play a Telecaster, but I really enjoy your content and appreciate your channel. Thanks.

[@AskZac]

I appreciate that!

[@stratocaster1greg]

That was you with the sandals! That guitar is sweet heck I want one now. I just got my 36 National Duolian back from Jack at Square Deal Guitars. She got new frets and we left divots in fretboard. Neck is straight. He put in another vintage cone as mine had collapsed. Plays and sound great now. Super cool video Zac! Im glad you still have one Deluxe Reverb left.

[@tomasjones3755]

"Sacrifices were made...' Congrats! I have a small studio. I made a, small & dedicated, guitar wall. Holds 5 guitars and room for 3 amps. If something comes home, something needs to go. It's the only way, I've found, to keep me in check. LOL

[@miketaylor7057]

Zac. Great video. Really like the sparkle of the neck pickup! Well worth the sacrifice IMHO! Congrats

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@gunshow86de]

That neck is incredible, I want to touch it! Also that neck pickup through the Harvard sounds gorgeous.

[@AskZac]

The Harvard is all I have plugged into for a month.

[@mauricioveiranoguitar6141]

So happy for you Zac. Congrats!!!!

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@robbyblack2699]

That thing sounds fabulous!!!

[@gilsanderson3275]

Another great video Zac.....and an awesome sounding guitar. (and your own playing has a lot to do with that) I love vintage instruments, and feel that the "mojo" acquired over decades is inspirational. That said, I'm of two minds as to just how important age is to a guitar. Steve Hackett once said in an interview that he held no more reverence for a '59 Les Paul than he did a '66 fuzz box. (I'm paraphrasing) His point was, that an instrument is a tool, and he wants tools to suit the requirement he has, regardless of its heritage. I've come to realize that a guitar that "feels" right to me, with the right pickups, is FAR more important than the age or pedigree of the guitar. I honestly envy your Esquire, but I also wonder, in a blind playing and listening test, how much difference many of us could tell between the Esquire and, say, your Crook or Danocaster. (pickups being equal.) Maybe I'm just rationalizing the fact that I'll never own a '57 Esquire, and I want to be happy with my own Telecaster and my self-built partscaster. Anyway.....LOVE the videos and PLEASE keep 'em coming.

[@AskZac]

A good player will make good music with any tool. Yet there is something special about 63 year old wood.

[@a.m.phaneuf6164]

Good for you, glad you like that instrument. It sounds great.

[@AskZac]

Yes! Thank you!

[@Sasketchejuana_man]

On the morning of my day off! couldn't of timed this upload any better. Can't wait. I was almost excited as i'm sure you were just watching this come together.

[@AskZac]

Morning!

[@orsanbel3668]

Sometimes a man has to sacrifice a thing to achieve a long term goal :-) I totally understand you my man. Just a couple of weeks ago I sold my ultralight (3,4 kg telecaster from 1977- very vare like you know-cause most of them weight a ton :-) ) I sold it together with a Rivera era Fender Concert and couple of pedals and now I got a 68 factory bigsby maple cap tele. It’s not all original ( so it was affordable). The preowner added a third PU in the middle position and stripped the finish) Sounds and plays unreal and I love it. And I really like your content buddy. Thanks and keep up the good work . Much love from germany

[@swamification]

Congrats Zac!

[@jbert7289]

That guitar is what dreams are made of!!! 🎸

[@martywilkinson6722]

It turned out beautiful!

[@MattStricklandBand]

Soooo good. The 57, the story, the episode, and the show!

[@hongseoryoo3486]

I love the acoustic character of the sound; reminds me of Jim Campilongo’s top-loader.

[@AskZac]

Very similar look. Love his playing

[@TN-D18]

Two of your best episodes. Congrats!

[@PacoPascualmusic]

Awesome, thanks for sharing Zac !

[@AskZac]

Thanks for watching!

[@mrmoa]

Man, that Esquire sounds great!

[@harryklippton]

Congrats on the guitar and what a story to go with it!

[@chrisspencer5042]

It’s a real beauty

[@watchshowandtell7138]

Congratulations, what a great history! Thank you for sharing.

[@AskZac]

Thanks for watching!

[@huskiesguitarsrockandrolla5881]

Love it. Glaser's shop does some great work!

[@foxyjazzbopper]

Brilliant Zac... one piece swamp ash!!!!!! 6.5lbs .. oh boy, you lucky devil!!!

[@MrRandyrugar19]

I'm way too excited for this Zac! 🤣

[@MichaelDeFillippo8889]

Waking up to a brand new video from Zac..you know it's gunna be a good day.

[@AndyH2O]

Love this, what a great looking guitar and that neck wear really adds colour to the history.

[@guymansfield-smith1135]

It’s great to see that you’re so clearly happy with it. You deserve it!

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@jimlupino6923]

Thanks for sharing that. I just love hearing about the process, and all the community you have with the folks that helped you pull it together. It was a great decision, and the story is as cool as the guitar. Cheers!

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Jim!

[@hybridnoisebloom]

I wasn't going to miss this one. Such an outstanding guitar. So happy to hear it have new life.

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@cletussea-ray944]

Goodness gracious Zac! Completely awesome..congrats and thank you..fantastic!

[@AskZac]

My pleasure!!

[@williamenwright7095]

Thanks!

[@AskZac]

Thank you so much!!!

[@galactictravels224]

Awesome Zakk !!!!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!!

[@the-LeoKnightus]

Very Nice. I can tell you're proud...and rightly so.

[@AskZac]

Enjoying it mightily

[@carlrudd1858]

fantastic

[@AskZac]

Thanks

[@captainzeb1969]

Beautiful instrument! Well done.

[@AskZac]

Many thanks!

[@tybowles9317]

Thanks for sharing this awesome story. Great story to go with an awesome guitar.

[@AskZac]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stefanvos1578]

This guitar is amazing! So happy for you to experience this instrument with all the enriching backstory involved in bringing it back to life. Congrats Zac, enjoy!

[@AskZac]

Thanks so much!

[@yngveskarphedinssons]

excellent story and l am very happy for you. enjoy your shows very much really inspiring to buy a telecaster.

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@michaelbuchanan3212]

awesome... Zac you are fantastic. Love the rehab story.

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@boco1951]

Sounds great really makes you sound good! Big congrats!

[@AskZac]

Thanks a lot!

[@nickl2883]

Congratulations Zac!! Dan is an artist with the aging . I’ve had my danocaster white guard next to a few real white guards and he matches the look amazingly well. Enjoy it in good health, I’m really happy for you.

[@pcau]

Thank you for sharing the story of this guitar! It sounds great and I am so happy for you Sir. :)

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@sammyrabon7736]

Great guitar with a great story

[@adrianonast3599]

Really enjoy your channel. Soothing to watch

[@AskZac]

I appreciate that!

[@Wildman9]

As the song said ,"Oooh what a lucky man he was". Great find Zac .I saw that guitar online somewhere .Great decision on the finish .I like the grain to show thru ,classic .👍🎻

[@sweethands4328]

Nice to save a piece of history, give it new life, and play some beautiful music with it. Great TONES, story, and playing!

[@AskZac]

Many thanks!

[@DaleBoyle]

Love your videos Zac! Happy Holidays! :)

[@AskZac]

Happy holidays!

[@johnulrich5572]

Fantastic guitar, great story. It's very special to have a great guitar with a cool back story. Always enjoy your videos.

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@two-tone6934]

Thank you for your story, Zac love your insights. You helped me to understand the telecaster history and now I am a big Fan of your channel and Telly’s.

[@AskZac]

Rock on!

[@DennisJPolson]

I completely agree with Keith Williams; a good exchange for the guitar of a lifetime. What a great story of rescuing a long neglected instrument. Awesome stuff, Zac!!

[@paulromani7374]

I like this guitar electric!!

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

Awesome as heck. You can really hear the aged woody tone. It's very lovely.

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@bartnettle]

!Excellent Job. It looks and sounds great! Well Done Zac

[@AskZac]

Thanks a lot!

[@brownmonkeybananayellow]

Congrats! What a cool piece. Enjoyed following the restoration and looking at the gut shots.

[@AskZac]

Thank you very much!

[@scottpeterson9609]

The process of aging the body to match the neck must be really interesting, they did a great job. Thanks for your story Zac, enjoy your "new" guitar.....

[@spacejamgoliath]

Really can't get over how good that thing looks, and that neck pickup sounds glorious

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@saltwatersaddletramp7229]

Cool story and one very sweet guitar. You are very lucky to have the friends and connections that helped you with the restoration. Very well done!

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@bastardsonofretkillr]

Zac...! It has that sound....lucky man ❤️

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Dale!

[@JEFFHUDSONSONGS]

man...it looks almost exactly like my Danocaster that I bought about the same time he did this....cool...Mine is also a one piece white guard...weight's 6.3 lbs....mine also has the "Ron Ellis" pick up "up grade"....it's like my guitar and you're are cousins....lol

[@AskZac]

More like grandson!

[@335gc]

Great story about the guitar. It looks and sounds awesome, Zac!

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Yes I agree about super big frets, they put out your intonation with the big gap! Beautiful restore job Zac, you are a lucky man. Merry Christmas from Perth West Australia.

[@AskZac]

Merry Christmas from TN.

[@Slovy_]

Really cool story. Love the Harvard also. Stoked for you.

[@AskZac]

Thanks so much!

[@jaymichaels5187]

No..not the JV Custom ! oh well it is gone for a good cause as that 57 Esquire is the cat's meow...that Ron Ellis front pickup sounds phenomenal ...very articulate sounding pickup.

[@periloustemple8290]

It is a great story and a great find. Good for you. Love it with that Harvard, too. Happy Christmas to you and yours, Zac.

[@AskZac]

Feliz Navidad!!!!

[@matthunting1162]

Congratulations Zac on the Esquire, sorry to hear of the sacrifices but you have a real keeper there ! I'm also a sucker for the old whiteguards with the glazed donut finish. I have a late 50s reissue whiteguard, I put a baritone neck on it along with a couple other mods and I don't plan on parting with it. Thanks for giving us the story !

[@timothythompson6549]

Congratulations on getting your dream Tele, Zac. Can't wait to hear you play it through your Deluxe.

[@AskZac]

I will do that in January

[@James_RC]

Awesome Esquire. Glad you kept your Crook Paisley Tele and your maple cap

[@AskZac]

Me too!

[@Bob-ir2bj]

Thanks for sharing this story with us Zac. You did the right thing, the guitars beautiful, it's your dream guitar. And it's a good thing that neck is almost petrified cause I'm sure your hands are gonna be on it forever. Well done.

[@AskZac]

Thank you, Bob!

[@bigmikeyz0071]

Zac I'm happy you found your dream guitar. You certainly helped me find mine in the Mason tele. Its a very versatile guitar and the bender is a tremendous amount of fun.

[@AskZac]

The Mason Tele's are very special!

[@johncox2552]

Sweet Guitar!!! sounds great,.... oh wait,... that's you!

[@AskZac]

Very kind

[@samhatman6536]

The word love is in the two comments below mine. To say it one more time, I love your saving of this Tele. Thank you. I play my 64 Gibson, I have my Daddy's 58 Washburn, and Grandpa's pre 1900's Lyon's, and his fiddle. I really get it. Awesome Zac! Worth all the sacrifices. It lives again because of you and those you know!

[@AskZac]

Thanks, Sam!

[@davedekay9620]

I don't ever think I've seen you smile so much. haha. Great looking and playing guitar!

[@AskZac]

Thanks! 😃

[@scottreynolds6317]

Gorgeous gorgeous guitar!!! Can't believe that you ended up with a one-piece body! Awesome vid!

[@AskZac]

Thanks so much!

[@LucasHaneman]

Sweet sweet Guitar, and happy to hear that you made it your own. If you bond with a great instrument there is no reason not to, Especially if you know it’s a lifetime companion! :-)

[@AskZac]

Well said!

[@matekerek1039]

This is currently my favorite yt channel!

[@AskZac]

Thank you!

[@TeleDan]

Thanks as always, Zac. I bought my old Tele in early 90. 55 body with a 66 neck. The old pickups finally crapped out on it, so now I have OC Duff Guardsman pickups and running through a Standel 25L15. Tone from heaven! Thanks for so much inspiration!

[@AskZac]

Killer rig!!!!

[@bobbaumeister5243]

Zac, you're now a lucky Guy! This '57 is a gorgeous and killersounding Esquire/Telly! Congratulations :-)

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@bobk7118]

That sounds great...looks killer....can feel that V neck from here....love love love a V neck on a Tele..........

[@AskZac]

Me too!

[@WillyMcCoy50]

That's a real High Stepper!

[@jerrymorganjr]

That whiteguard blonde is so hard to replicate. I’ve tried numerous times, and only really nailed it twice. Dan does it better than anyone I’ve seen! Even Fender can’t get it right.

[@ZacCostilla]

I lost it at “Valocaster”, lol. Awesome story! So glad you got this wonderful guitar.

[@AskZac]

Thanks!

[@engelsjn]

Awesome story Zac! So glad to finally hear it! Funny this was the same exact look I wanted for me Telecaster. I bought a limited edition Fender American Pro with a white transparent finish, white pickguard, and a roasted neck. Has the 51 nocaster pickups in it. Mine is a two piece ash body though! Best Tele I've ever had. Love your channel!

[@AskZac]

Sounds like an awesome Tele!

[@WillyPDX94]

I love what you did with this marvelous guitar. For me, the only thing better than landing a perfect collector grade vintage guitar (which you can never modify) is to find one that's has great bones but has been refinished and has a few issues. Then you can restore it to your liking and make it a dream guitar. I love that you added a second pickup. Happy for you.

[@AskZac]

Thank you, William.

[@Sellarmusic]

The guitar just looks amazing. Your knowledge of guitars, choice of the right pros, and a just a little luck (one piece body & non twisted neck) resulted in once in a lifetime guitar. Congratulations! By the way, that neck pickup really sounds great.

[@AskZac]

Wow, thanks!

[@andrewmichaelwilliams]

Even plugged in it has a nice acoustic quality to it too. I have an avri 58 tele with the OC Duff 55' white guard pickups in it and love it. The white guard sound is perfect in my opinion.

[@AskZac]

AGREED.

[@davegallagher7428]

Great part 2. Thoroughly enjoyed both parts. It seemed to me that some of that was a leap of faith but you ended up with a rare find.

[@AskZac]

Very true!

[@mikepascarella3669]

That Esquire and the Harvard together sound absolutely beautiful - OMG that neck pickup doesn't get any better! Visually my favorite era of Esq/Tele - white blonde with a white pickguard. Needless to say I'm not sorry to see the rattle-can blue go! lol Kudos to you and the others who worked on it!

[@AskZac]

Thank you kindly!

[@robertgandy1519]

What an incredible guitar. I know it stung to part ways with the other gear but how often does a guitar like this come along. Thanks for sharing the story of this amazing guitar.

[@AskZac]

So welcome

[@telecasterbear]

Sometimes we have to let things go. I sold my 59 slab board white blonde telecaster with case, and a 1959 vibrolux to help buy our first house. That was back in 1996. Congrats on such a great piece, Zac.

[@AskZac]

That is a killer rig! But a house is more important.

[@duanewelsh5611]

Turned out great. Sounds awesome, looks beautiful,, what more could you ask for!

[@AskZac]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@arthurnawrath6701]

Much work, but congrats! Good deal for this masterpiece! My 69 Esquire is the greatest guitar I have ever played! Old Fender Esquires are amazing!

[@AskZac]

Very nice!

[@NickRatnieks]

Anyway, it is great you are so thrilled with the guitar now it has been transformed. It is also great to have a happy good news story as 2020 has been pretty much a disaster in so many ways for so many.

[@AskZac]

I am grateful for the good things in 2020

[@myeyesarewaiting]

Stunning restoration. Shudder to think of the cost if three guitars and an amp had to be sold! But just did something similar myself, sold my original Nobels ODR-1 to fund a new Tele body from warmoth. We all have the same illness!

[@simon_wilkins]

I'm with Keith (Five Watt World) on this... vintage is special.. nice job, both on the guitar and the video updates.. sounding really nice, cheers

[@AskZac]

Thank you

[@andybeisel8205]

Omg I can’t believe I hadn’t subscribed to your channel yet. Thank you for playing clean and making the guitar sound natural. Not close miked and sterile like most KZbin channels.

[@AskZac]

Welcome!

[@rustynutzgarage5496]

Great story! I've had two vintage teles and I love the mystery of a vintage guitar. Who knows where is been?

[@AskZac]

Right on!

[@rustynutzgarage5496]

@@AskZac how are you liking such a light tele? I had one built for me by Curtis Novak that's around 6 pounds and I've noticed some love em that light and some hate it. I love it. Makes 4 hour gigs more bearable