Paul McCartney playing his Fender Esquire, 28 March 1967 (© Sean O'Mahony)
The Fender Esquire was the first solid-body electric guitar offered by the company in 1950 and in production until 1969. It was essentially a Telecaster, but having only a single-coil bridge pickup, with a volume and tone control and a three-way selector switch.
Paul McCartney used one on the sessions for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Originally right-handed, McCartney had it modified by not only stringing the guitar left-handed, but having the strap button moved to the cutaway horn so he could wear it with a strap. His model had a sunburst-finish with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. During the recording sessions of 28 March 1967, McCartney was photographed alternating between the Esquire and his Epiphone Casino while working on the solos for "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" and "Good Morning Good Morning".[1]
- ↑ Babiuk, Andy. Beatles Gear: All the Fab Four's Instruments from Stage to Studio, The Ultimate Edition, 2015, pp. 396-398.