Esquires for dummies/newbies

Just like the title says. I've tried to do a bit of research and specifically what I want to know is what are the tonal options? I know that is kind of broad there but what is the huge attraction to this single pickup number?

check this thread out http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/108169-magic-esquire.html ...there's some great info here....The Esquire is an awesome guitar. It's got character, tone, bark, spank, twang and more!

http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdf_temp1/telecaster/0131502A/SD0131502APg4.pdf

Thats how the switch works.

Here is the deal with an Esquire if your an experienced player and know how to get alot of different sounds just by using your hands pick attack etc then you will love it. For a beginner and not knowing how to get all the extra sounds from your hands alone it wont be as usefull as a 2 pickup Tele.

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have. That doesn't make it any better or any worse, just different. In a good way.

I recently converted a tele to an Esquire and am having more fun playing than in years. The switch in pos. 1 runs the pickup wide open, nothing in the signal path at all, so it's bright and clear. Pos. 2 adds tone control, and even with the tone pot full on, it's a little less bright, but it does give you the flexiblity of adusting the tone. Pos. 3 is where the fun is. Not quite the vol. of 1 & 2, but great kind of muffled bassy tone. Run through an octave pedal (I use a Boss OC-3) it gets real funky. Esquires aren't the one-trick ponies I've heard them being accused of; they offer plenty tonally, but will make you work a bit harder, try new approaches, to find its possibilities.

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have. That doesn't make it any better or any worse, just different. In a good way.

Yes, that's what I took a lot of words to NOT say :grin:. I think that's what I like about them: Their subtle difference from a tele. The tones you can't quite reach with a tele.

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have.

And the Tele's got something not so subtle that the Esquire doesn't have :wink:

A tele is a simple guitar and the Esquire is even more no frills. Remember that the tone knob cuts out when in the forward / back position on the selector switch. It's my main guitar but I'd never recommend one as such - it's down to individual tastes & either you like it or you prefer something else. If I had to have one guitar though it would almost certainly be my Esquire.

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

I play pretty much country / alt.country / americana stuff exclusively but it sounds good in a variety of different genres. The punky new wave rock stuff worked well. Face facts though, a lot of tone comes from your amp. When I had a cheapy modelling amp (a Vox Valvetronix AD50) I could emulate a lot of styles on the Esquire easily.

I'm pretty much strictly blues, but an Esquire in pos. 2 with the tone control set right gets you in to blues territory with no problem. Pos. 1 is a flat out rocker.

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

I've used my Esquire for everything - blues, rock, r&b, country, Tex-Mex, zydeco, rockabilly, surf, even jazz! No fancy modelling boxes, either - just an Esquire, Rat pedal and a Vibrolux Reverb

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

Thats what Esquires are best at check out Kid Ramos with his Esquire.

ntfdmMgLa3k

Thanks a ton men. As always, I've been educated - a goal of mine each and every day.

It took me three Esquires to "get it" and to discover THE guitar for me. Don't give up if it doesn't work out for you right away, they are amazing guitars. Some great comments here that I'll "+1" on.

Esquires aren't the one-trick ponies I've heard them being accused of; they offer plenty tonally, but will make you work a bit harder, try new approaches, to find its possibilities.

If I had to have one guitar though it would almost certainly be my Esquire.

I'm pretty much strictly blues, but an Esquire in pos. 2 with the tone control set right gets you in to blues territory with no problem
Same here. I pretty much stay in pos. 2, but all three are great. Esquires excel at Blues & Rock. I love playin' slide on mine. I'm not into country, but I've heard some cool stuff being played on one.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Playing an Esquire makes you a better player.

I love the pup going straight to the vol and out; very Blues Rock.

Thats what Esquires are best at check out Kid Ramos with his Esquire.

ntfdmMgLa3k

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

Thats a vintage old one not sure of the exact year but Im sure its not a Custom Shop or MIM reissue Esquire.

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

It's a '59 toploader. Kid told me he had to sell it a few years back.

I believe the Custom Shop used it as a reference for their toploader Esquire