Esprit Anyone

Zman · 01-12-2010, 01:53 PM

I am a huge Robben Ford Fan, and always coveted the guitar he plays in his instructional video. It is a Fender double cutaway solid body called The Elite.
When Squier came out with the Master series I grabbed one of the first ones I saw. It is an Antique Burst with Platinum hardware made to look aged, double bound body and single bound neck, grover tuners and Semour Duncan Design hummbuckers. It has a chambered body and set neck.
They are made in Korea by Cort and are extremely nice guitars.
I was wondering if anyone had one or has modded them. I was thinking of putting chrome hardware and a set of chrome pickup covers I really like the stock pickups.
The only problem with them is that you need a special case. They don't fit in a LP case, (14 inch bout width) and they are too small for a 335 case. Fender finally came out with a case at 179 dollars that was too expensive.
I got an accoustic case and it fits good but too deep.
Here is a picture.

adamjn · 03-15-2010, 02:46 PM

That's a beautiful guitar. I have an actual Fender Master's Series Flame Elite--same guitar, but with a more LP-sized body, instead of the 335-sized body, and it's an amazing guitar. I actually bought it new in 1985, and has been my main axe ever since. I saw one of these on ebay, and was thinking it would make a great backup. Would you mind sharing what you paid for yours?

BTW, check out a gig bag made for 335s.

Euthymia · 03-18-2010, 03:34 PM

I thought those were gorgeous guitars, and when Fender/Squier was still producing them, I went all over the place in the San Francisco Bay Area trying to find just one to try out.

No dice. No dealer had any in stock. Lots of blank stares from guitar store salespeople.

No mystery why the model didn't do well commercially, if people couldn't try them out.

clutch71 · 06-03-2010, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euthymia

I thought those were gorgeous guitars, and when Fender/Squier was still producing them, I went all over the place in the San Francisco Bay Area trying to find just one to try out.

No dice. No dealer had any in stock. Lots of blank stares from guitar store salespeople.

No mystery why the model didn't do well commercially, if people couldn't try them out.

The Guitar Center in Columbus, Oh has one. Identical to the photo. Give them a call and talk to Cam, he's one of the sales managers. See if he can pack it up and send it to you. He's a good guy. Tell him you know Dave, the guy who bought his DSL 50.

I just saw it yesterday and eyeballed it my self. I didn't plug it in (spent enough last month on new gear!) but did give it a run through unplugged. I usually do that first anyway for a couple of minutes to get a feel for the way the guitar resonates. Very nice BTW, Sustained very well and had a nice bright tone to it. Thick fat neck similar to the LP Traditional Pro...frets in excellent condition. $499 no case.

I prefer JB's but would have been curious to see how the DD sounded.

YeahDoIt · 06-03-2010, 09:12 AM

That looks like a very nice guitar. I'd like to hear it and play it.

BillStickers · 06-03-2010, 11:43 AM

Words I just uttered aloud: "Good God"

Nice find. Schwing.

[Bigsby mod? 50s LP wiring + PAF style/inspired Pickups? A humble pretty custom cut pickguard? Maybe just a nice pickguard to shake things up a little

?]

Zman · 06-19-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamjn

That's a beautiful guitar. I have an actual Fender Master's Series Flame Elite--same guitar, but with a more LP-sized body, instead of the 335-sized body, and it's an amazing guitar. I actually bought it new in 1985, and has been my main axe ever since. I saw one of these on ebay, and was thinking it would make a great backup. Would you mind sharing what you paid for yours?

BTW, check out a gig bag made for 335s.

I sort of got away from this posting. I thought I would go back and visit it again.
I purchased mine when they first came out. They are super rare up here in Canada. I paid way too much for it. It was 599 and they threw in the harshell classic guitar case that wasn't a good fit but does the job.
As far as the pickups go I really like Duncan Design pickups. I also have them in my Deluxe Squiers and really like them.
They are the DD version of SH102 set with the SH4JB, and the SH2JAZZ
Fairly high output bridge HB and really nice tone, 7.62 ohms in the neck and 15.52 bridge. I had a pro set up done on it and it plays like a dream. Funky looking headstock with the Gibby V look to it.
I am not a fan of the "Pewter Hardware" It is made to look aged. I would like to maybe get a set of nickel hardware for it. It has a chambered body BTW.
It was discontinued about a year later, and they were being blown out back then for 299. I would say they are real bang for the buck.
It is made made by Cort and the finish is really amazing. Fairly heavy for a chambered body though.