OK, it may not be what we would strictly consider a Signature Guitar, but Fender’s Jeff Beck Tribute Esquire Relic is just too cool to leave out of the discussion. Beck of course (no, not that Beck you little whippersnapper,) is one of the most prolific guitar players in history, and is virtually synonymous with the term “Guitar God.”
To celebrate his 40+ years of wowing audiences with his virtuoso guitar antics Fender has released this Custom Shop “tribute” guitar, which is only available in what we’d call an incredibly limited edition – they’re making just 150 of them…
The Jeff Beck Tribute is basically a historically accurate recreation of the single-pickup Blonde ’54 Esquire that Beck has used so famously throughout his career. As you can see, it’s been prematurely aged to match the wear & tear of the original guitar – even down to the chipped and dinged pickguard.
Being a replica, the guitar also features brass bridge saddles to match the ones that Beck had put on his Esquire shortly after buying (see inset,) a ’57 one-piece maple neck (soft “V” shape,) and even a painstakingly recreated ’51 Nocaster single-coil pickup at the bridge.
All that said, while I’m a huge fan of the look and feel of a well worn-in guitar, well, I’m not too sure I’d be willing to pay a premium for it. Being a limited run, this thing is not cheap – street price is around $10,000.
The Fender Jeff Beck Tribute Esquire Relic Features–
- Premium Ash Body
- Single-Piece ’57 Maple Neck (bolt-on)
- 25-1/2-inch Scale Length
- Bone Nut
- Maple Fingerboard With 21 Frets
- Custom Wound ’51 NoCaster Single-Coil Pickup (Bridge)
- Volume & Tone Control
- Custom-Wired 3-Way Pickup Switching
- Three Saddle Bridge In Brass
- Fender/Gotoh Vintage-Style Tuners
- Nickel/Chrome Hardware
- Aged Lacquer Finish
The price includes a vintage-style tweed hardcase – to keep your Esquire looking, umm, brand new – an interview with Jeff Beck (DVD,) 8×10 photo, official Custom Shop certificate of authenticity, and more…
- Gibson Announces Limited Run Jeff Beck 1954 Les Paul Oxblood
- Fender Announces ‘Tele-bration’, Celebrating 60 Years Of The Telecaster
- Fender Introduces Stevie Ray Vaughan “Lenny” Tribute Stratocaster
- Rare Find: Flying Tiger/Hell’s Angels Esquire with Matching Pro Junior
- Fender Producing LTD Custom Shop Broadcaster Replica
- Fender’s Limited Edition ‘Snake Head’ Telecaster Now In Stores
- Fender Unveils Limited Release ’57 Heavy Relic Stratocaster
- Comfy Old Vintage ’69 Fender Telecaster With Bigsby B5
August 24th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
(no, not that Beck you little whippersnapper,)
Good line Cary.
August 24th, 2006 at 1:51 pm
Hey! I know who the REAL Beck is :) I’m no whippersnapper, good sir!
I’d love to have this guitar, but at 10,000 (and considering I’d also like other amenities… like a car and a house other than a cardboard box) I suppose I’ll have to hold off.
Not that I have much of a say in the issue though ha.
August 24th, 2006 at 1:59 pm
Hehe… seriously cool guitar, isn’t it?
To be honest, I’m actually a bigger fan of Beck, than I am of Jeff Beck, so go figure!
; )
September 4th, 2006 at 9:06 pm
What a niche this relic thing is. Just like pre-ripped, burnt looking jeans.
I think it’s cool when it is associated with an artist and in limited production, i.e. the Jeff Beck Tele.
But when Fender takes a standard American Strat or Tele, distresses it, then marks it up another couple hundred… I don’t dig that.
Particularly when my naturally distressed ’72 Tele Thinline, on its 3rd set of frets and finish worn off 40% of the maple neck, has no “collector’s value” or resale value in general, because it isn’t in “mint condition” and wasn’t owned, played or autographed by a guitar legend.
Isn’t marketing amazing!
August 12th, 2008 at 6:45 am
I got the CD Best of Beck. I knew what I was getting into, but I had thoughts about the best of the Yardbirds’ guitarists, therefore among the best rock guitarists ever, doing “Devil’s Haircut” and “MTV Makes Me Want To Smoke Crack”.