Fender Esquire 1960 Blond Nitrate Pickguard

I flew out to Calgary, Alberta to meet the second owner of this 1960 Fender Esquire in Blond finish with uncommon original three layer nitrate pickguard. Rodger bought the guitar used in the early 1960s in Halifax, Nova Scotia in exactly the same condition seen here. He kindly provided pictures from his old photo albums which show the nitrate guard and the extra output jack were already there. I could tell that Rodger treasured the guitar for all his life, but it was time for it to move on to another musician. 

Make and Model: Fender Esquire, Blond finish, rare original nitrate pickguard

Year: 1960. Serial number 51845, potentiometer code "137 6008" (137 = CTS, 60 = 1960, 08 = 8th week), no neck heel date (typical 1959 and early 1960).

Measurements: 7.3 lbs / 3.3kg overall weight. The pickup reads 6.39k ohms. The neck width at the nut measures 1.66" wide (standard 1 5/8" nut width), the neck profile measures 0.82" deep at the first fret and 1.00" deep at the 12th fret. 

Originality: All parts and finish are original to the guitar except an added 1/8" jack "so you can take it to the beach and play it through a transistor radio" added in the early 1960s. The bridge pickup was dead so I sent it to Jim Rolphe for a vintage correct rewind with black wax potting. 

Playability: Excellent! It's a spectacular playing example on original frets. The neck is straight and the truss rod functions as intended. All electronics function as intended. It's a very resonant example and the pickup has all the rich fullness one expects from pre-CBS Fender pickups!

Condition: Excellent! It's very clean example with light finish checking throughout. There is evidence of a set list taped to the upper bass side bout of the back of the body. There are a few dings which appear to have been touched up but are difficult to spot. 

Included: Original brown Tolex knucklebuster case, bridge cover, strap, 1/4" cable, 1/8" cable, and three pictures of the guitar from the 1960s showing both the nitrate pickguard and the extra output jack.