The Fender '50s Esquire Electric Guitar is the electric guitar that started it all.

Originally released in 1950, it was Leo Fender's first marketed design.

The single-pickup precursor to the Telecaster, the Esquire features an ash body, maple neck, vintage-style bridge with steel saddles, volume, tone, and a 3-way quick tone-change switch.

3-way switchingThe 3-way toggle switch gives you 3 preset tones.

In the bridge position the pickup is only connected to the volume control (the tone control is disconnected). This minimal circuitry provides more top-end sparkle than a Telecaster.

In the middle position the standard tone control circuit is activated and it functions just like any other tone control.

In the neck position the tone control is disengaged, but a tone-shaping capacitor is added that rolls off a lot of the top end and some of the bottom.

This setting produces darker tone along with slightly less volume.