Michael Stevens Founders Design Esquire®

Michael Stevens Founders Design Esquire®, 1-Piece Maple Neck, White Blonde

More about Michael Stevens Founders Design Esquire®

The inspiration for Michael Stevens' Founders Design Esquire stems from his vintage roots at Guitar Resurrection, where he and Larry Jameson loved blonde ash Stratocasters with gold hardware; they called these instruments Mary Kayes. "Some sassafras slipped into the run of '54 Strats, early '54s, that many people, for years, have been trying to figure out what it was," he said. It is Michael's belief that it was quartersawn, one-piece sassafras. So, instead of ash, the Founders Design Esquire is one-piece sassafras.

At first glance, the front is classic Fender, with the control cavity switched backward. However, Michael insists that players will discover other custom features once they pick up the guitar and take a closer look. Under the bridge cover is a pickup in a left-handed bridge - reversing the traditional Telecaster orientation - and when the guitar is turned over, there's a cutaway for the player's wrist and thigh, adding comfort in the sitting position. "A lot of it is ergonomic," he said. "My thing, my style, pretty much is form follows function. Bauhaus. I love those guys."