John Squire’s 1989 Fender ’52 Telecaster Replica

This guitar was built in 1989 specifically for John Squire to capture the look, feel, and tone of a 1952 Telecaster. It features a classic Blonde finish on an ash body, a maple neck, and even incorporates some genuine 1950s Fender hardware—most notably, an original ’50s bridge plate. ^[1]

Essentially, it’s a high-quality replica of a ’52 Tele, relic-aged to look vintage from the start.

History and Build

After The Stone Roses’ first album, Squire expanded his guitar collection, and this Telecaster was custom-ordered for him in 1989, likely through a boutique builder or a Fender Custom Shop connection.

Since it was built to spec, the entire guitar is essentially a “mod.” It blends vintage-correct parts—such as the bridge and other hardware from the 1950s—with what was likely modern wiring tailored to Squire’s preferences. While it’s unclear what pickups were installed, they were presumably high-quality, vintage-style single coils. The finish was done in a relic style, giving it the appearance of a well-worn ’50s Tele.

Usage

Squire brought out this Tele during The Seahorses era, using it both in the studio and on stage. It was prominently featured in the music video for Blinded by the Sun (1997), where you can see him fingerpicking the song’s gentle arpeggios.

He also played the Tele on Seahorses tracks like Round the Universe, which features a cleaner, country-influenced tone in parts.

On tour, the Tele served as a contrast to his Les Pauls, offering a different tonal palette. For songs that needed more snap or a cleaner sound, he would switch to the Tele, which likely saw use in live versions of Blinded by the Sun and Happiness Is Eggshaped.