This is a very very rare Yoshino built 1987 Bill Lawrence Esquire with a Seymour Duncan STL-1 Vintage '54 pick-up and single volume control. The contoured and sculpted body is a nice surprising boost for comfort - aching ribs from a regular Tele/Esquire won't be a thing here. At 3.6kg precisely, it is a nice comfortable weight and feels very balanced hung high or low on a strap. The original black hardware is all high quality Gotoh and in fine working order. Having a tremolo on an Esquire is a very unusual prospect but a very welcome one.
This was a short-lived range of guitars only available in Japan which was the result of a feisty relationship between Moridaira and Bill Lawrence.
The tone from the Seymour Duncan is as you'd expect - powerful and capable of vintage twang and thick overdriven aggression. With such minimal controls, it really is you and your playing style; but that is what this type of guitar is about.
This one has had a busy life - it comes complete with plenty of scratches and a couple of dents in the lacquer. The little chip in the paint by the string tree was repaired and a new string tree was installed since earlier photos were taken. Nothing that detracts from its functionality. It is a good sounding, good playing and interesting guitar.
Upgrade options are available upon request.
Demo video below was filmed before the new string tree was installed.
1987 Bill Lawrence Esquire BTOR55B
Give us your upgrade/modification ideas here, and we will work out the best price and programme together.