The fabled Fender Telecaster history can be a little confusing but Fender brought the Broadcaster out in the same year the Yankees beat the Philly's 4-0 and President Truman thought about whether to drop the Big One.
It seems that the guitar started out as the Esquire, with fewer 50 guitars being rolled out, and many were re-called because Fender couldn't get all the kinks out in the first runs of the guitar.
It also seems the Esquire was the first model, with a single pickup in the neck instead of a dual or two pickup system, which is what we know today.
Leo Fender made the bold decision to put the name Broadcaster on the two-pickup model, as I guess it added a wider tonal array to the guitar's sound :)
Then, all heck broke lose and Gretsch accused Fender of violating their copy-rights wit h the name Broadcaster. So, Fender change the name to Telecaster.
So, it gets kind of confusing but I think the order is Broadcaster, then Esquire for the single-pickup Teles around '50-52 and then Telecaster for the two-pickup system after that.
NOTE: The guitars made in-between the Broadcaster and Telecaster switch have no name on the neck, hence the given name Nocaster. Cool, huh?
In closing, getting your hands on a vintage Esquire, Telecaster or Broadcaster is not the easiest thing in the world. It seems though that investing in these types of early guitars can be more profitable than real estate, since many of these guitarists bought these guitars in the '70s for 0-0 dollars! You could get a vintage, or a relic guitar, which is a Fender electric guitar that has been stressed in the custom shop to look old and well worn. Look below for more info on how to find these guitars for less! I hope you find the EXACT one you are looking for. Play on man, play on! Turn it up. Darn those neighbors.
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