NGD: '86 Esquire/The Joy of The Fretboard!

IvisonGuitars

@Gassage @JezWynd That's what I like about you guys, a couple of StraightShooter's......

Strat54

Nice one, I saw that one on Charlies FB page. You having me wishing I'd kept the Mick Ralphs early 80's Fullerton '52 Re-issue I had for £400 back in the late 80's from Doug Chandler. They never charged any more for an artist guitar back then. I swapped it back in there for Pete Townshends Schecter Tele about six months later for another £500......alas. 
I'm thinking your Esquire would have had a white guard back then, looks better with a white now its aged a bit. 

jimmyguitar

Wonder if it’s this one with a changed guard?

rpr

Just looking at an interview with the man in question - I'll paraphase ;
'57 Esquire, bought for approx 75 USD in Hoople days. Had a humbucker fitted when he got it, removed and fitted with black Esquire guard, cos it looked cooler and Jeff Beck had one.
Cant Get Enough was originally written in open G, but changed to C to fit Paul Rogers voice. Also used on Movin' On

IvisonGuitars

rpr said:

Just looking at an interview with the man in question - I'll paraphase ;
'57 Esquire, bought for approx 75 USD in Hoople days. Had a humbucker fitted when he got it, removed and fitted with black Esquire guard, cos it looked cooler and Jeff Beck had one.
Cant Get Enough was originally written in open G, but changed to C to fit Paul Rogers voice. Also used on Movin' On

Nice one @rpr , unfortunately my new acquisition is not that guitar.

There seems to be some conjuncture over a couple of early Esquire's, I was always lead to believe the one mentioned above is this guitar (or what remains of it) but much has changed since Mick's ownership including the humbucker being removed, the route filled, new scratchplate and knobs (at least...):

https://reverb.com/item/7708721-fender-esquire-mick-ralphs-bad-company-mot-the-hoople-owned-used-1953-blonde

Crucially it's actually a '53. The first picture of Mick the seller uses (the less said about them the better...) is with his '57 Esquire (and not the guitar they are selling) which Mick is adamant was used on the the first 2 Bad Co albums although I have seen him in early Bad Co live shots and video in '74 with the '53:



(20:39 here)

He has had the '57 a LONG time though so perhaps it's his favourite and he had a couple at the same time? OR The '57 had a neck humbucker fitted as well as the '53 that had the one near the bridge?

I know for a fact that he and Mott used to buy lots of guitars in the US and then bring them back and flog them to Sid Bishop in Top Gear in Denmark Street, just to pay the rent! So there could be a crossover period for a number of 

In fact, a '54 Hardtail Strat, bought by Overend Watts for $300 and thought to be the first hardtail strat ever shipped by Fender just fetched £47,500 at auction!

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24668/lot/147/

Here's Mick with his '57 which was used from early Bad Co to now:



One guitar I would literally sell all others to purchase.

So mine, while still a verified Mick owned guitar, was obviously a cheaper 'replica' for him to take out and leave the '57 at home

JezWynd

Other guitars come close but the Esquire is the coolest guitar on the planet. Period.

IvisonGuitars

Finally got round to picking up the Esquire this afternoon....very happy!






In classic Mick style, it's not been babied, it's been well used, the electrics have all been upgraded, the pickup is a hand wound boutique unit of some kind (will try and ID it next string change) and the pick guard is hand painted black....but the pièce de résistance for me - which he obviously tried to remove before selling - is what's underneath the scratch plate...




It reads:

"Property of Mick Ralphs, Bad Company.......Piss Off!"

designerseye88

Seriously cool guitar Neil! 

fretfinder

Wow, amazing guitar!

GuyR

That Esquire has found the right owner. Enjoy.

fretfinder

GuyR said:

That Esquire has found the right owner. Enjoy.

Couldn’t agree more @miserneil ... 

Hattigol

Have I just been reading about you in the Guitar Magazine?

IvisonGuitars

Hattigol said:

Have I just been reading about you in the Guitar Magazine?

I was in the November issue, yes  

DrBob

miserneil said:

Hattigol said:

Have I just been reading about you in the Guitar Magazine?

I was in the November issue, yes  

Its getting a bit “celebrity squares” round here these days what with @miserneil and @HarrySeven having features done on them and @ThorpyFX and @Mojopickups contributing to articles !
might bust out the autograph book....

HarrySeven

I’m sure @Gassage had a feature on his pedalboard some time ago, too?

DrBob

HarrySeven said:

I’m sure @Gassage had a feature on his pedalboard some time ago, too?

You’re right he did !