1958 Fender Esquire Sunburst Ex Mick Ralphs ~ Bad Company ~ Mott The Hoople

1958 Fender Esquire Sunburst Ex Mick Ralphs ~ Bad Company ~ Mott The Hoople

I bought this guitar direct from Mick Ralphs some 12 years ago, Mick not only being a guitarist and writer of 2 of the most Influential bands of the 1970’s can also be credited to starting the vintage guitar business. If you own a Les Paul Junior in the Uk there is a good chance it came back with Mick from a Mott tour and sold into Denmark Street. He told me his best score was 2 juniors for $100! And i understand he probably financed himself more from this in the early days than touring. The guitar itself is an incredibly rare 2 tone 1950’s Esquire, hardly any were made in the 1950’s and you won’t find another in the UK. Mick was also famous in the vintage guitar world for tinkering with his guitars and he fitted this one with an early 1950s Fender Champion lap steel pickup just like Keith Richards did. The slightly larger pole pieces give a distinct powerful sound and Mick always attributed the Esquire as the perfect rock guitar. The wiring is still set up as the original Esquire circuit, one pot is recent and the other from 1957. The output socket has been changed to an electrosocket by Mick and ther is evidence of a previous socket with 4 screw holes. The neck and body are both dated June 1958. The sunburst finish is suffering from flaking as it sometimes does with Fender guitars probably from US climate in its early days. The guitar weighs just 7 lbs 2 oz and the pickup reads 6.3 k ohms, its never had a neck pickup installed. It comes in a 1990’s Fender reissue black guard case which is how Mick got it plus its bridge cover and a T shirt of Micks blues band that he gave me at the time when i bought it from him. I have really enjoyed owning this instrument and have used it on many recordings and those that have played it have all been blown away at how good it is, but its time for it to find a new home. Stupidly i didn’t think to get a picture of Mick with the guitar as i’m not really built that way but i do have all the email correspondence between Mick and myself discussing the sale which i will happily put with the guitar for its new owner. The video is a track i recorded with the Esquire.

Please email for all further details or to arrange an appointment to view

phil@philsvintageguitars.com