TELECASTERS AND ESQUIRES – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

Traditionally, Fender’s Esquire, which pre-dates the Telecaster (essentially it was the Telecaster prototype), has just a bridge pickup, but it’s a surprisingly complex beast – and very much more than just a single-pickup Tele. Exhibit A: the selector switch. How can a one-pickup guitar have a three-way selector switch? The answer lies with a few under-the-hood tonal options. Typically, the bridge position sends the signal through the volume knob, with the tone control bypassed; the middle position goes through both volume and tone pots; and the neck position goes through the volume knob plus a fixed treble roll-off capacitor. Quite unlike the Telecaster then, but still surprisingly versatile. Fans of the Esquire often describe it as harmonically richer and even brighter than a standard Tele. Routed for two pickups, it’s not unusual to see Esquires retro-fitted with a pup in the neck position.

Better known for his Gibson ES-355, Rush guitarist Lifeson actually estimates he has written 80% of his songs on his favourite Tele. It’s a blonde reissue that he consistently refers to as a ’59, although numerous Tele geeks have suggested it looks like a ’52 reissue. He played it on New World Man and Kid Gloves. Like many rockers, Lifeson frequently layers the Tele with fatter humbucker guitars in the studio, often a Les Paul or PRS. Its ability to retain clarity under gain is invaluable in the studio. Live, Lifeson’s Telecaster came out for the likes of Vital Signs, Anthem and Closer To The Heart. Lifeson’s favourite Tele has six brass saddles replacing the traditional three, but is otherwise entirely stock. He’s also sometimes seen with a pink paisley model.