What's Inside this 1959 Fender Esquire?

[@327ewok]

if netflix had a show about guitarchealogy like this exposing old body dates and old barn finds i would totally watch it

[@TDig.]

Dude, yes!!!

[@stratjed]

Pass on Netflix but TOTALLY AGREE about GUITARCHEALOGY ! If that's not a word it should be . Honestly would love a series about the history of a lot of instruments how bout Stradivarius violins that's a finite number and those are still in use today.

[@BeefNEggs057]

No they’re too busy making movies about twerking 11 year olds for the pedos that subscribe to netflix. Cuties - you’ve been told and are accountable for your support of evil corporations like Netflix.

[@tiralie]

I can't play a guitar or any musical instrument, don't know any thing about music but I find your videos extremely interesting. Great stuff.

[@TheAgeOfAnalog]

same

[@kingbumi3418]

I recommend trying it if you ever have the desire. It's a very rewarding experience.

[@tiralie]

@@kingbumi3418 Thanks. I am more likely (probably) to build a guitar, than I am to play one. I was kicked out of piano lessons I was so bad.

[@kingbumi3418]

@@tiralie 😂😂😂 I think guitar is much easier than piano

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Timothy, it really motivates me to know guitar nerds aren't the only ones watching. Thanks! Nothing against guitar nerds like myself😁👍🏻

[@sowiloi]

Esquire = the sound of rock. Esquire + Matthew Scott = the sound of music.

[@BPJ-02]

Seriously! Idk how he hasn’t absolutely blown up yet

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thank you! ✌🏻

[@joelcamp5445]

D W....as in, the hills are alive with?! 😀

[@eliasschmauss9843]

Switch in neck position = Sound of Silence

[@j_freed]

@@joelcamp5445 _How do you solve a problem like Matthias?_ 🎼 _How do you hold an E-Bow... in your hand...._

[@jamesthe-doctor8981]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I really like how you love and respect the vintage instruments and other gear that come into your life. I especially like the part of that respect that has to do with "doing the right thing by them." So far, for the most part that's been leaving alone every factory piece that doesn't absolutely require replacement to make it "playable," or refinishing it because the original finish is worn through in place. And even more so, *NOT* refinishing because it has a worn *AND* ugly refinish somebody else did. Not a lot of people can appreciate the "story" or "history" if you prefer, that is literally ground into the finish over the decades during which it's been loved and played. I'll never understand why anybody would want to cover it all up. Anyway, rant over. Thanks for another very cool video.

[@davidoxley6117]

Yep looks like 07/59 to me, well done Matthew.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thank you David! ✌🏻

[@MostlyTorso]

Not 11/59?

[@davepayne164]

So very early for an 8 screw scratchplate?

[@judgefegelein9980]

@@davepayne164 I noticed that too.

[@MrGixxer1300r]

@@davepayne164 ​ I agree the scratch plate, and switch plate have been changed. the pots, three way switch, and pickup are original. Body is defiantly a 07/59 (congrats). I'd love to own this guitar, repair what needs to be repaired and use it as a player. Maybe find a original scratch and switch plate, leave the old finish alone. Great guitar find Matt

[@johnulrich5572]

Excellent find. Nice that you take your time doing the work of finding date codes. Sometimes I have to take pictures of the penciled codes or even serial numbers and open them in a photo app and crank up the contrast to see them clearly. Beautiful guitar. A well played, well loved instrument.

[@aldanino]

Fascinating work you do Matthew thank you for this video, peace

[@BarryPoogy]

Matthew continues to impress with his knowledge, playing and excellent taste in his purchases. Thank you !!!! Damn those frets are low .... YIKES

[@flamencoprof]

Matthew, as a man who will take anything apart, and frequently has, I am impressed by your care and observational skills. If you get tired of guitars and having to sandpaper, I suggest a career as a museum conservator, where you would get to use X-Ray technology to non-destructively read under paint.

[@rex8958]

The new setup is great addition

[@alextheguitarist7282]

There's something about the Esquire that really speaks to me, and many others. I think it's the simplicity of just having the 1 pickup, it's like taking an already simple Telecaster and removing everything that doesn't need to be there to achieve the sound. This guitar really forces you to rely on your fingers and ear alone. No whammy, no nothin'! Can't wait to see this project take shape and be played by such an awesome player like you. 🤘

[@maddmatt55]

That’s a gorgeous guitar! I’ve realised it’s just 4 years younger than me which makes it 62 years old!! Wish it was mine!

[@bobconnell8492]

Thanks Matthew That girl has been played, plain beautiful

[@lespaul1648]

July 1959...sweet find.

[@IrishBog]

This is crazy. I just got a refin 59 Esquire today. The universe is strange. Mine is also 7 59. Serial of mine is 38487. I sent you a link to the internal shots via Reverb

[@hkguitar1984]

Very cool that you ran across this video. Probably find the dates of each are in the same handwriting. Also, Congrats on your 59 Esquire, very cool indeed.

[@briangoode2470]

Can you measure your 59 neck dimensions like Matthew did?

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Congratulations! What is your pickup reading? Is it a slab board too?

[@rfergusiii7207]

Congrats on the guitar. I also picked up a '59 Esquire recently, but mine has a maple neck and a string through body setup. (Serial #: 35797) Is your guitar essentially the same as Matt's, or is it different in any way?

[@ggilvis]

@@rfergusiii7207 never seen that combo before

[@Bigsbeee]

Another fabulous video - Thank you Matt.

[@joshuamichael4312]

About the tight neck pocket, in my experience it's not as important as many people think, so I totally agree. I did a parts-caster that has a very loose neck pocket and the thing destroys any other guitars I have with the same pickup combination and electronics.

[@chuckyz2]

Looks like you scored. The seller thought it wasn't all original so that must have brought the price way down. Whatever finish you decide, I would definitely get some lacquer sprayed on it so it will eventually check. I would do a blonde refin to get it back as close to original as it was the day it was born. Very fun video to watch.

[@tatialo37]

How could anyone give this a thumbs down???!!!

[@brandonnavarre3360]

Cool to hear some slide Matt, i love the finish on that thing

[@michaelshearer3559]

Refret and leave the finish alone. I think it looks great with the brazillian rosewood neck. Congrats!

[@TheFalcro1234]

Matt you are such a machine for saving these guitars. As always I say fix what's broke then play it until it breaks again, in this case that probably means switch and pots I have tried to open pots and switches for repairing but usually that is just a waste of time. Set up the cap the way it is supposed to be (I don't know what that means but I heard you say the cap is very unique to the tone in this model). Unfortunately that means modern parts but at least it will still give love when it is played. That is what these are meant for. A guitar locked in a vault in it's case or under glass, is a sad guitar. Then in M. Scott style, play it at a concert and show the naysayers and idiots how to give love from your beautiful guitar.

[@jcburger733]

Thanks for another great video. Love the new camera table angle. Thanks for tearing down and taking a look inside of the 1959 Fender Esquire.

[@RupesMcDGuitar]

6:26 the force is strong in this one...

[@Jester-Riddle]

Suggest that you put a mirror on the wall at your workbench, as that will assist you in reducing the shadows when you are working on guitars ... Good to see your Channel developing and becoming more popular whilst staying down to earth ... Cheers (from the UK).

[@saginawdan]

Enjoyable series!!!! Thank you Matt!

[@alanniederlitz8630]

SUWEEEET!!!! Great stuff... love the history and the hardware!!!

[@jimmyanderson7214]

Beautiful guitar

[@fredericbartos7766]

I LOVE what you do with your "rescues"! NEVER sell your old guitars, you will always regret it. I was playing a lot of semi -professional gigs...playing things that were horrible, but desired....like Oh when the Saints.... So I hated having to play stuff, that i didn't love....it turns in to work. So i sold valuable amps ( Fender Dual Shaowman) and other guitars ES 335 ....i regretted it. Over the years i came across many wonderful instruments....they don't have to be expensive.... Plus always moving to Europe and back. Never sell an old guitar!

[@Manlopsan2]

What a beauty!! Time to practice some of your chops on it. Cheers from Spain!

[@joelforsyth832]

A super cool guitar any player would be proud to own! Date looked to me as 1159 rather than 7/59 as the "11" were written so similarly by that hand. A mere re-fret to maintain its history is my bet, but your re-fin guy does superb jobs.

[@beckhalter1942]

Matthew, the quality of your videos just keep getting better

[@A.Fred_Davies]

Tbh the finish may feel nasty but the natural look suits the guitar. I’d leave it as is, it looks good sounds great, just focus on sorting the wiring 👍

[@charmandrews]

That was my thought too. Once it's had a(nother) refin, "you" never know what else has been done...

[@Sammywhat]

Thank you for the share! What a wonderful guitar!!

[@phillipbrown4635]

59 to me good score Matt!! looking forward to the next episode!!✌️

[@mar6164]

Great camera work. Very detailed

[@steverobertson7694]

My mother in law had a 61. She sold it this summer for Gruhn’s appraisal price. That thing played and sounded great!

[@amritjanardhanan]

What a coincidence, I was just looking at all your other tele videos and you uploaded this! Awesome

[@MrParkerfly1]

Esquires are so cool. You have to get a nice relic’ed refin in blonde. Great guitar.

[@jarojasn]

I love your channel and living vicariously through your finds. Keep it up, can’t wait for the next video on this beauty. Whether you keep it or not, I hope you decide to restore it.

[@bruceducker2029]

Matthew, just a suggestion, get an exacto knife with a rounded tip blade (straight ones come in handy as well) but the rounded tip will give you more control to chip away at the paint in such a tight area. Just a thought.

[@charlessherman6805]

you’re the best man, thank you

[@michaelweiss9219]

My guess about the tape under the pickup that denoted ESQUIRE is probably because the three way switch needed an extra wire to the rear pickup for the special wiring system, much like the four way switch used on two pickup models, you need the extra wire to the neck pup...

[@SeanKerns]

You are a master of uncovering the body dates.

[@markgregory52]

Nice work, finding the date. I'm another non-player (I collect vintage Ludwigs), but look forward to your new videos. Strong work, Matthew.

[@joelcamp5445]

Yes go for an appropriate blonde refin, aged nicely, the guitar deserves it!

[@alpenglow4243]

Really enjoyed the look inside your Esquire. Looking forward to seeing that Goodwill Les Paul down the line.

[@jimmyj4811]

That is a super-cool fender!

[@longjaw-1]

Seafoam green or Daphne blue refin for the win! 🎸😎🤘

[@michaelgreer4790]

Got yourself a beautiful little monster there.

[@andrewsaldivar2112]

Nice catch

[@imannonymous7707]

i love that guitar man

[@fudstanchion]

Awesome. Been looking forward to this since the last video!

[@sohosteveuk]

Fascinating update as usual! Keep up the great work dude! 😃

[@robbduggan6151]

GREAT video brother

[@bnastali]

Your video quality is looking great. Love the overhead shots, too.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

I’m a total sucker for a white guard Esquire/Tele. This is easily my favorite of your Tele-type acquisitions, hands down. Blonde all the way, though she looks pretty amazing as is, too.

[@sneifert1968]

Man those frets are low. Possible re-fret coming?

[@j_freed]

No, they will grow back if rub Fret Fertilizer on them and put them in a sunny window.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Its possible! They will be a chore to get out.

[@Jester-Riddle]

@@j_freed 😆

[@RobbieTayVaughan]

@@MatthewScottmusic don't refret it! Just get another neck and save that one away. Would refretting up the value? Or diminish it, I guess is the real question.

[@willygee8436]

I like having a pad on my work table, Yoga mats are great, you can get 3 sections from one mat

[@kevinedgeman8508]

Great find Matthew. The old fiddle sounds great (from what I can tell via video) re-fret it, play it.

[@zachcerasani3043]

Dude. Stinking killer. Thanks for sharing

[@rfergusiii7207]

Really interesting stuff Matt! Watching your videos dealing with these older guitars had actually inspired me to piece together a vintage guitar. Coincidentally, I had also picked up the husk of an '59 Esquire that was missing some hardware; one of the earlier models with a maple neck. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what you do with this!

[@timothybedwards5440]

Thnx Matt

[@robdisner]

Dipping the pickup in wax (“wax potting”) cuts down on the microphonics etc. I dipped my ‘67 Esquire’s p/u in wax and thought it sounded much better after.

[@SeaOrcRonnie]

I really enjoyed this 👍

[@b.rodclark7349]

That looks like a 7 to me! I was reminded of how you uncovered the date on the Mary Kaye Strat... cool!

[@RandySchartiger]

what a keeper that axe is! made the same year I was lol

[@millmoormichael6630]

Dude good job it’s been cool to watch the channel grow from a few thousand Can’t wait to hear this one!

[@nicbrunet4359]

Nice slide playing

[@timnewman1172]

Dayum, thats a really sweet find! After seeing the detail you went to on the Mary Kaye I know you could make a proper restoration happen, but I'd go with the re-fret and keep it as a player... normal guys like me NEVER come across anything this great!

[@georgebentley-ricardo9445]

I always enjoy your videos and this too is excellent. Love the overhead camera and close ups are really good too. Matthew you are an inspiration, keep up the good work. PEACE 🎸🤠

[@roundpatty]

Beauty guitar! 👍

[@telecasteroil]

Great video Matt, love the guitar.

[@duanewelsh5611]

Good work Matthew. I'd refin in blonde, refret, correct cap fix slector switch and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy! Congrats

[@darthsensei3838]

Unpopular opinion. I like a top loader better than the string through. Im fortunate to have a ‘59 tele that can top load AND string through. I was resistant for about 10 years to top load…but it really does sound better through a mix. Cool video

[@raoulduke8382]

Do the refinish. Its already been done once. Might as well bring it back to its original glory.

[@maddmatt55]

Agreed it’d look much better in the original blonde! Come on Matthew you know it makes sense plus put the wiring back to original Esquire!

[@michtersilverman632]

Springsteen's famous Fender is an Esquier. used it to record his greatest albums,

[@PJ-ff5jy]

Really interesting, many thanks.

[@edonmed3871]

Matt, I just wanted to say that in every one of you videos, your playing is so scrumptiously spicy.

[@angelof8586]

Keeper?! I think this one is a score and sounds awesome, some new frets and just play it as is!!!

[@sonicacoustics9176]

Great stuff, this content is really lit.

[@solarismoon3046]

I have capacitors from the 50s' and some pots from '52 that I bought off a guy that was selling them in lots of 10. If you need some let me know. I am willing to part with these for a decent price - not something obscene!! Either way, I use a screw driver help straight up and down so that I can GENTLY scrape the paint off when some shade tree luthier does something like this. I too am a vintage collector and I've seen my fair share of crap jobs that people have done to guitars. This is no different. At least MOST of the parts are there. Slow and steady wins the race when doing things of this nature. If you want to do a refin on this have someone that can SHOW you what they've done so that you know what to expect when you get it back. Maybe a light relicing job to match the neck? It's your call, brother. Well once again thank you for sharing this with the rest of us. It is great to see that this legacy is passing on to the next generation to appreciate.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

How can I get in contact with you?

[@solarismoon3046]

@@MatthewScottmusic You can email me or I can send you my phone number. I' d rather do the email since I can block anyone that I Don't know. Send me a picture of a guitar in your email so that I know it's you. You can send me a text message - [phone] if you don't trust email

[@callummcnair9761]

Love your channel and your playing Mathew . Really informative . I have a strange hybrid guitar at the moment . It’s a 61 Strat neck on what seems to me a 1970 ? Tele body which has been stripped and varnished at some point . Shame I didn’t live near you I’m in Scotland

[@rjaquin31]

Awesome video Matthew! If you refret it and end up wanting to keep it, I would definitely go for the blonde refin.

[@Hammerman48]

Cool guitar!

[@markbass354]

THATS COOL MATT !!!

[@michaelmalik5049]

I’ve heard some people put silicone on the bridge pickup mount to make it less microphonic so that might be an explanation for the material on the connections.

[@michaelmalik5049]

That’s specifically on T-type guitars because the pickup is mounted to the metal bridge plate

[@fearnpol4938]

A tight neck pocket is very important from a builders point of view!

[@velvetjones1856]

Looks to be same model guitar that Ralph Macchio used in the guitar duel in the Crossroads movie

[@thabilsterone]

Hey Matthew really enjoyed the adventure into discovery about the guitar. You could correlate the number on the neck plate with the month like you said seven/ July 59 there are books that have the neck plate numbers correlated with months of the year and it would just be a way to verify what you found in the neck pocket. If you ever wanted to have it refinished the best refinisher there is is a fellow named Marty Bell in San Diego California. He does fantastic work and does it pretty quick. Anyway enjoyed it take care bro.

[@jonnybeck6723]

It's such a pretty piece of wood... (Ash?) Great vid as always... Thanx Matthew

[@ESANANIKONE]

Man I would love to be able to buy one. Really eager to see how it ends

[@nickwebb9290]

That was fascinating Matthew, thanks. Really admire your patience, sanding down that paint to get at the date. It’s the cost but...it would be wonderful to have it restored back to the original Blonde finish. Guess that would be nitro over polyester base ?

[@tomslick2058]

Sounds great. Why fuck with it.

[@markhorton3041]

Someone spent a lot of time with that beauty!! Those frets are the lowest I’ve ever seen on a guitar.

[@PC160]

Best of luck with the fretboard!

[@hkguitar1984]

Dang, a bit of a "nail-biter" when you're wet-sanding with the pickup still wired up! Very Cool Matt.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

I probably should have removed the pickup but I am also on a time crunch with the videos.

[@j_freed]

_"That's a replica decal, it's clearly a fake. Possibly late '80s, Made in Korea."_ 😉 Appreciate you Mr. Scott, keep up the awesome channel and whatever you're doing tech-wise the sound samples are very well captured and 'present'-sounding.

[@MatthewScottmusic]

Thanks very much. Just a couple mics in the room.

[@joethompson61]

7 - 59 my birthday is in July that's a birthday guitar for me

[@wesleyAlan9179]

😅🤣

[@bigkeg9173]

Same here, the 14th 😊

[@ianbrouwer719]

@@bigkeg9173 hey same!

[@frayed3nds]

@@bigkeg9173 July 14, 1985 here!

[@ThatMattGoodMusic]

The white paint could be primer applied before applying a previous finish? Could even have gone on before the blonde? I'm not 100% on vintage Fender paint processes though!