Fender Unveils New Joe Strummer Esquire, Campfire Acoustic Guitars
The Custom Shop-built Esquire is a meticulous recreation of the Clash legend's number one guitar during the band's 'London Calling' through 'Combat Rock' era.
Fender has unveiled two new Joe Strummer signature guitars, an Esquire and a Campfire acoustic guitar that the company first teased back in January.
The Esquire is a meticulous recreation of the Clash legend's number one guitar during the band's London Calling through Combat Rock era, while the acoustic is inspired by the instrument that Strummer would use during his legendary sing-along "campfires" at England's Glastonbury festival.
The Esquire – created by Fender Custom Shop Master Builder Jason Smith – features a two-piece offset seam alder body, a 1959-exclusive Telecaster bridge, and unique visual appointments such as a black racing stripe, “Bourbon Street” sticker, and a custom relic finish.
Sonically, it has a Josephina hand-wound ‘55/’56 bridge pickup wired up to a 3-way switch and ’59 Esquire wiring.
The Campfire acoustic, meanwhile, features a solid spruce top with a mahogany back, sides, and neck. The walnut fretboard boasts star inlays, while the tilt-back headstock increases the break angle over the nut, allowing for enhanced sustain.
The acoustic also sports nickel hardware, a custom sound hole label with a Campfire logo, and a matte black finish.
The Fender Joe Strummer Campfire acoustic is available now for $499, while the Joe Strummer Esquire – limited to just 70 pieces worldwide – is available for the ever-so-slightly more high-end price of $15,000.
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The Esquire comes with a certificate of authenticity and a custom pink anvil case with a “Strummer” stencil and leopard print lining, while the Campfire acoustic comes with a deluxe gig bag.
For more info on the guitars, stop by fender.com.
Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com and GuitarPlayer.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.
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