“Only they who believeth in their guitar quest shall be granted passage”

Category: guitars

Fender Custom Shop LTD ’50s Esquire – Vintage Tone, Modern Mojo

The Fender Esquire holds a special place in electric guitar history. As Fender’s first solidbody electric guitar, the Esquire has built a cult following for its raw tone and minimalist design. Now, the Fender Custom Shop LTD ’50s Esquire brings that vintage charm back with modern craftsmanship. A True Fender Classic. If you’re into vintage guitars, Tele-style tone, or classic rock and blues, this reissue is worth a closer look. (not many free pics about this guitar out there,so please bear with me with this historical story)

Back in 1950, the Esquire was priced at $139, while the Broadcaster (which included a second pickup) cost $169. That $30 difference seems small now, but it defined the Esquire’s character. Only One Pickup is exactly The Esquire’s Secret Weapon. At first glance, the Esquire may seem limited. It’s got just one single-coil bridge pickup—no neck pickup, no frills. But that’s exactly what makes it special.

With no neck pickup magnets pulling on the strings, the Esquire offers clearer ring and longer sustain makes the Esquire Unique Also the bridge pickup is full of bite and attitude, making it perfect for country, rock, and blues that loads more punchier tone. Its simplicity forces you to rely on playing dynamics and tone control—ideal for expressive guitarists and drives out more Character.

two-tone sunburst finish Esquire

Esquire Jeff Beck replica model.

even with one pickup the 3-way switch on the Esquire gives it surprising flexibility:
Forward Position – A bassy preset tone (some say it’s muddy, others love it for rhythm work).
Middle Position – Standard bridge pickup with tone control engaged.
Rear Position – Bridge pickup with tone bypassed for maximum brightness and bite.

1st prototype of 1949 (replica).

This isn’t just a tone monster—it’s a visual stunner. The Fender Custom Shop version features hand-aged relic work that gives it the look and feel of a well-loved ‘50s road warrior. Expect vintage-style tuners, nitrocellulose finish, and authentic ‘50s specs. It’s built to feel like an original, not a replica. If you’re a fan of vintage Fender guitars, crave simplicity, and want a classic tone machine that stands out in a crowd, the ’50s Esquire is a gem. It covers many needs and interest from Tone purists to Country twangers and Blues rockers whether you are Minimalist players or Fender collectors.
July 25, 2025
Yngwie Malmsteen’s Fender Stratocaster signature series

If you’ve ever gotten hooked on neoclassical shred (like I did), then you know Yngwie Malmsteen is the king of fast, expressive guitar playing. And his weapon of choice? The Fender Yngwie Malmsteen Signature Stratocaster, a shred machine with vintage soul. I got the chance to play one, and trust me—this guitar is way more than just a flashy artist model. It’s a legit tone machine with serious personality.

First Impressions vibing out from this Strat, it looks straight out of the ’70s, with its large headstock, vintage-style body contours, and aged Olympic White finish. It’s pure rock ‘n roll nostalgia—but don’t let the retro vibe fool you. Under the hood, it’s built for modern speed and control.

Features

The most noticeable feature is that Scalloped fretboard feel. At first, it felt strange—like my fingers weren’t touching the fretboard at all. But after a few minutes, I started to appreciate how responsive it was. Bends, vibrato, and legato runs become way more expressive. It forces you to lighten your touch, which actually improves accuracy if you’re into fast melodic neoclassical metal guitar playing.

This Fender’s neck & playability went with a slim “C” neck shape and 21 super-jumbo frets. The Rosewood fretboard is mean and fast. Honestly, it’s one of the most playable necks I’ve tried. If you’re into soloing, this neck will make you feel right at home. The headstock looks cool with its big head.

big head, love it!

those tuners are great!
Some extra features that matter is that you also get a brass nut (for better sustain), vintage-style tuners, and a reliable tremolo system that stays in tune even with heavy use. It’s not just for show—it’s a serious player’s guitar.

The Real Tone factor

Under the pickguard, you’ll find a trio single-coils of Seymour Duncan YJM Fury pickups. These are specially designed to be quiet, clear, and super articulate—perfect for high-gain playing without all the noise. Whether clean or distorted, the notes come through sharp and focused. Yes that pure clarity.

looks on youtube

Conclusions

My final thoughts about Yngwie’s strat, this guitar isn’t just a tribute—it’s a custom-built instrument for players who want speed, tone, and expression in one classic package. It may not be for everyone, especially if you’re into heavy riffing or extended-range guitars, but for lead players, it’s a dream to play. It comes with gorgeous tweed hardcase by G & G.

If you’re chasing expressive solos, classic Strat tone, or just want to feel something truly different under your fingers, this guitar is absolutely worth checking out.
July 19, 2025
Taylor 614CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

Taylor 614CE acoustic electric guitar got that clean, modern Taylor vibe but with some character thanks to its maple back and sides. If you’re into acoustic guitars and looking for something that sounds bright, but still full and feels smooth, the Taylor 614CE is definitely worth checking out.

Taylor 614CE Acoustic Electric Guitar

First thing you’ll notice is how easy it plays . the neck is slim, nicely comfortable, and doesn’t fight you when you’re moving up and down the frets. All playing styles feel effortless with this guitar whether you play chords, solos, even fingerpicking.

Taylor 614CE front body

Taylor 614CE Back body
Sound-wise, it leans bright and clear. That maple gives the guitar a snappy tone with crisp highs and tight lows. It doesn’t get muddy even when you strum hard. Some people say maple sounds too sharp, but Taylor’s V-Class bracing really balances it out, adding warmth and sustain without killing that clarity.

Taylor 614CE front headstock

Taylor 614CE back headstock
It has pretty sleek looks. The one I tried had a very shaded edge burst finish and nice detailing, flashy. It feels premium. Yes I want it that way. Another one, Taylor’s ES2 Electronics system keeps things natural when you plug in, no weird boxy tone or annoying feedback.

You might feel this is a little too clean or bright if you prefer a super boomy, super warm sound (like a rosewood body or dreadnought design). But if you like precise, clear tone that cuts through in a mix — especially for modern styles or live playing — the 614ce delivers your desires.

Taylor 614CE saddle bridge

Taylor 614CE fretboard
Here some soundcheck from my youtube channel:

Overall this guitar is clean, classy, easy to play, and sounds great both unplugged and plugged in. Not cheap, but definitely a “buy once, keep forever” kind of guitar. you might live eternal life with it. You’ll get hardcase and elixir strings pre-installed.

Taylor 614CE hardcase

Taylor 614CE label body

Taylor 614CE hardcase logo
July 11, 2025
PRS SE made in Indonesia, is it worth the name Paul Reed Smith guitar?

PRS SE Custom 24, yes, before we talk about my , let’s check this stuff. This kind of questions happen all the time since USA guitars built their lineups overseas. People tend to underestimate the built quality of factories in developing countries because of poor quality control and cheap parts, even the risk of being stolen and sold illegally which would cost a big loss for company brand and products.

First doubt went to Japanese guitars compared to US made, but Japan guitars fought back with even better qualities. years after that, the doubt went move to china, Korea and Indonesia. There are so many minor details which showed that the overseas productions is just crap with muddy pickups, unfinished neck and poor fret crowning etc. and people started to think that it’s just blind brand developments with profit oriented only.

BUT, I think Paul Reed Smith guitars made a big difference here. I just got one of its series, the PRS SE custom 24 guitar Amber Fade limited edition and it’s just like Paul said:

“It looks good, it plays good, and it sounds good”

i thought it was a overly bold statement but now i get it

PRS SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade has nice finish, the glossy one, great color. The knobs work smooth and fine (although it’s too slippery for me 😀 ) the bridge, saddles and nut are great, it is set for the 0.09 – 0.46 strings gauge so it plays like butter, great precision and craftsmanship

i made the sound check:

PRS SE Custom 24 Amber Fade Ltd Edition

and it sounds great!

one positive thing after another is, the PRS SE keep their high standards since their Korean made… i fell the same vibes with the early PRS SE model made in korea

Paul Reed Smith SE custom 22 semi hollow

Paul Reed Smith SE Mark Tremonti series

and definitely it pushes away my thoughts in doubting the “made in Indonesia” guitars. this guitar is worth to collect.

Paul Reed Smith SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade

Paul Reed Smith SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade

PRS SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade

Paul Reed Smith SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade

PRS SE Ltd Edition Custom 24 Amber Fade
May 28, 2021