Author Topic: To Esquire or not to Esquire, that be thee question (Read 2139 times)

badgermark · « **on:** March 14, 2008, 06:07:12 PM »

So many of you know I have a mexican tele with a humbucker in the bridge. Now in the neck is the stock Fender single coil, which is pants; it's muddy and wussy compared to the beasting (new word time) Holy Diver in the bridge. So out goes the stock neck, but what to replace it?

Now IF I want a neck pickup I know what to go for (Tim recommended a MQ or Mule, tasty), but I'm thinking of turning it into an Esquire, no neck baby!

Never played a guitar with a single pickup before, and I doubt I'd miss one in this guitar. I have a 'standard' tele also (Countryboys and 4 way switch, lovely), so versatility isn't a problem, all this has to do is ROCK.

If I decide to whip it out (raaar

) I'd be tempted by some Esquire switching. I dislike tone controls though, so thinking of hooking it up so that the 'bridge' position on the switch is straight to the volume then jack, and some caps to mellow out the sound in the remaining switch positions. Good idea? Or will the HD be poo in this respect?

Jeebus that's a long post.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2008, 07:59:02 PM »

I love single pickup guitars - they just ROAR due to reduced string pull (???). Also, Esquires just look cool as f*ck, I've considered doing the same thing with my own Tele.

I vote to go for it but wouldn't bother with the esquire switching - probably better to get a tapped pickup for more versatility.

fwiw, I don't try to make single p/up guitars versatile - I'm happy with one great sound. My LP does versatile as well as I'll ever need, as does my Tele Custom.

8)

badgermark · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2008, 08:01:51 PM »

Splitting is an option, got a 4 conductor pickup off Mr Tim. It easy to do with a standard three way switch?

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #3 on:** March 15, 2008, 03:28:32 AM »

Evil Esquire FTW! :twisted:

badgermark · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:26:23 PM »

It's done! And it's F'N awesome! Switch is redundant for now, I'll use it in rehearsals and stuff and see if I need some versatility. To be honest the HD is thick enough not to need anything except a volume control.

ilÿti · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2008, 01:31:56 PM »

That may be the best sounding tele on the planet. Rawkin'

FernandoDuarte · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2008, 08:04:02 PM »

Lovely!

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2008, 09:22:04 PM »

That looks great :) Turn the switch into a killswitch so you can rip off Tom Morello and Buckethead. Btw how do you like the tiny terror, mostly for low gain stuff like ACDC? Is it too fuzzy for that or does it do a plexi kinda thing allright?

AdamB · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2008, 09:26:41 PM »

DO IT!!!

Both my sg's are 1 pickup, i love them!

badgermark · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2008, 09:34:18 PM »

Quote from: _tom_

That looks great :) Turn the switch into a killswitch so you can rip off Tom Morello and Buckethead. Btw how do you like the tiny terror, mostly for low gain stuff like ACDC? Is it too fuzzy for that or does it do a plexi kinda thing allright?

I don't play any low gain AC/DC stuff (mainly cos I dislike AC/DC...), it sounds alright to my ears though, not a sound I go for often but it's there. Surprisingly enough I love the clean tone. It's super round and I have found MY sound I think.

My plan was to have the switch as a kill switch, but couldn't be bothered at the last minute. Sounds amazing going through a volume pot, so I'm leaving it as it is for now. I'd only use it to kill the output when I stop playing, again it's early days and I can always change it.

I love telecasters