Tele to Esquire Conversion

I have a 2008 Squier Standard telecaster that i want to esquire.What parts and electronics would I need to convert this guitar to Esquire.Im also thinking about using a Lindy Fralin Blues Special bridge pickup,would this be a good choice?

looks like this.....

Google a schematic for this. It will show all the parts needed. Basically 3 caps and a resistor for a stock Esquire setup. Since you're thinkin' about swapping pups I recommend you take a look at the Don Mare Stangray. It has 3 taps for different ohms ratings, basically 5.5K, 6.7K and 7.8K, or variations of this. This makes your toggle sw. effective in all three postitions and gives you 3 different sounds. Also, you could probably get by with the capacitor that you already have as you only need 1 with this setup. I think they are on sale now. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm schilling for Don Mare but I just got this pup about 2 wks ago for my Esquire and am in love with it. The Fralin is a good choice as well. Oh, you'll also need a new pickguard. I think the tortoise shell guard looks great on that guitar. Go here to get one. www.acmeguitarworks.com.

Mine's got a Mexican Fender '60s pickup and traditional controls. Does the existing bridge pickup sound good? If so, I'd go with the traditional controls with the existing pickup and go from there. Esquire for less than two bucks if you can ignore the hole in the pickguard for a while.

Google a schematic for this. It will show all the parts needed. Basically 3 caps and a resistor for a stock Esquire setup. Since you're thinkin' about swapping pups I recommend you take a look at the Don Mare Stangray. It has 3 taps for different ohms ratings, basically 5.5K, 6.7K and 7.8K, or variations of this. This makes your toggle sw. effective in all three postitions and gives you 3 different sounds. Also, you could probably get by with the capacitor that you already have as you only need 1 with this setup. I think they are on sale now. I hope this doesn't sound like I'm schilling for Don Mare but I just got this pup about 2 wks ago for my Esquire and am in love with it. The Fralin is a good choice as well. Oh, you'll also need a new pickguard. I think the tortoise shell guard looks great on that guitar. Go here to get one. www.acmeguitarworks.com.

I would like to keep the cost of the whole conversion under $180,the Don Mare Stangray is a little much,at $140 just for a pickup.

I would like to keep the cost of the whole conversion under $180,the Don Mare Stangray is a little much,at $140 just for a pickup.

Well that and a pickuguard would be under $180. and you'd have an incredible pickup. I love Esquires but the stock wiring on one is not all that. Most folks don't use the fwd pos. unless you're Steve Stills. the other 2 positions are basically the same except one has a tone control and the other doesn't.

I am going to upgrade the electronics to cts pots and switchcraft jack bc the pots switch,and jack are stock squier parts.And No,the bridge pickup in it now is not right for the tone im after.Is there any way i could wire the bridge pup without using a selector switch.just volume and tone pots??

You could do that but I don't know how. I've seen schematics for that and I'm sure someone here will chime in.

You could do that but I don't know how. I've seen schematics for that and I'm sure someone here will chime in.


No need for a selector switch,so wiring it that way would get it outa the way.

If you're wanting to get rid of it altogether there are people out there that make a control that doesn't have a slot for the selector sw. just holes for the vol. & tone.

Lots of (most) players don't keep the stock wiring due to the very bassy "neck" position. I prefer the "Eldred" mod. All you need along with the 3 way switch is a .047 and a .0047 capacitor. You get wide open tone at bridge position, tone control in middle pos. and the "cocked wah" with no tone control in the neck position. This drawing shows a .050 cap between pots which is same as .047 for this purpose. Some guys like an .022, experiment.:mrgreen:

Lots of (most) players don't keep the stock wiring due to the very bassy "neck" position. I prefer the "Eldred" mod. All you need along with the 3 way switch is a .047 and a .0047 capacitor. You get wide open tone at bridge position, tone control in middle pos. and the "cocked wah" with no tone control in the neck position. This drawing shows a .050 cap between pots which is same as .047 for this purpose. Some guys like an .022, experiment.:mrgreen:


I just want the one bridge position without an selector switch.I will use the the tone control for different tones.Anyone have a esquire wiring diagram without selector switch?

I wanna good Country tone,is the Fralin Blues Special a good choice or is something else better?

I just want the one bridge position without an selector switch.I will use the the tone control for different tones.Anyone have a esquire wiring diagram without selector switch?

Take the hot lead from the pickup, and put it where the lead from the switch is currently going. Pull the switch out and you're good to go!

Im new to modding and wiring and electronics where would the caps and resitor go? I might need a diagram to look at when i get ready to wire it up.

Here's one. Also if you get a "no load" tone pot you get a true straight to jack volume only with it turned wide open. You can buy one or mod one like member Rob Di does.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/127070-no-load-mod-cts-pot.html

The unmarked capacitor in the drawing is where you put the .047 or what ever value you decide on. .047 or .022 seem to be the most common choices and you'll be fine with either one.

Here's one. Also if you get a "no load" tone pot you get a true straight to jack volume only with it turned wide open. You can buy one or mod one like member Rob Di does.http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-technical/127070-no-load-mod-cts-pot.html

Thanks for the diagram,what exactly is a no load pot & what does it do?

I use a traditional Esquire wiring harness....volume only lead position (no tone pot), volume and tone, and that "jazz" position strange, but I use it occasionally.

I use a Seymour Duncan Jerry Donahue pickup and it sounds freakin' great.

HOWEVER, my buddy has a Don Mare pickup in his Esquire and it is no slouch.

I play country, blues, and classic rock, with a Bogner Alchemist amp and a handful of "boutique" pedals.

with the Esquire, it seems I spend less time finding a tone and more time playing.

with the Esquire, it seems I spend less time finding a tone and more time playing.

EXACTLY! Thats what im goin for.The minimalist approach :wink:

All you really NEED is a new pickguard without a hole, if you want to change the pickup while you're at is a matter of taste. Btw, forum member Rob Distefano is having free trial periods for his pickups right now.
Since you don't want to keep the switch, you don't need any new electrical parts (unless you want to upgrade). The closest wiring diagram for what you want is going to be a Les Paul junior or a precision bass.

for some very useful and tasty esquire tones, simply rewire your 3-way thisaway (for less than 2 buck$, get a .022uf and a .0047uf cap from radio shack) ... volume, volume + tone, volume + "cocked wah" ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/wiring/esquire-1.jpg

fwiw, a fat bridge pup will allow for a wider range of tones, from country twang to rock city and even to jazzland. "fat" means a5 mags wrapped in a hefty 10k+ turn count of 42awg coil wire.

for some very useful and tasty esquire tones, simply rewire your 3-way thisaway (for less than 2 buck$, get a .022uf and a .0047uf cap from radio shack) ... volume, volume + tone, volume + "cocked wah" ...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v82/rfdee/wiring/esquire-1.jpg

fwiw, a fat bridge pup will allow for a wider range of tones, from country twang to rock city and even to jazzland. "fat" means a5 mags wrapped in a hefty 10k+ turn count of 42awg coil wire.

What are some pickup recomendations for that Fat Bridge pup you mentioned?

What are some pickup recomendations for that Fat Bridge pup you mentioned?

His speciality is actually making that kind of pickup. There's one in the classifieds even I think!

I wanna good Country tone,is the Fralin Blues Special a good choice or is something else better?

Depends what you mean by "country." The Fralin Blues Special will be fine for Brad Paisley type stuff. For a more traditional Bakersfield (i.e., Buck Owens) sound you may want to get something with less output.

I would also recommend the "cocked-wah" mod, usually an .0047 uF cap from the switch to the volume pot.

Depends what you mean by "country." The Fralin Blues Special will be fine for Brad Paisley type stuff. For a more traditional Bakersfield (i.e., Buck Owens) sound you may want to get something with less output.

I would also recommend the "cocked-wah" mod, usually an .0047 uF cap from the switch to the volume pot.

I want that raw vintage authentic telecaster bridge pup tone,would the the Semour Duncan Jerry Douhane pickup work?

Screw the neck pup down as far as it will go, put on an Esquire pickguard, set the switch to the bridge position - Esquire!!

Screw the neck pup down as far as it will go, put on an Esquire pickguard, set the switch to the bridge position - Esquire!!

Not the same,It has more to do with the caps,wiring and pickup which produces that signature Esquire tone,Its alot more than just the no hole pickguard

This is my Squier standard conversion. kept the stock pup, volume and tone control only, it rocks hard. Very happy with it as is. My other Esquire partscaster has an SD broadcaster pup which is also a killer pup and very affordable. By the way, I made this one a toploader.

This is my Squier standard conversion. kept the stock pup, volume and tone control only, it rocks hard. Very happy with it as is. My other Esquire partscaster has an SD broadcaster pup which is also a killer pup and very affordable. By the way, I made this one a toploader.

Nice! where did u get the esquire pickguard for your standard?

Nice! where did u get the esquire pickguard for your standard?

It's an Allparts, got it from Guitar parts resource I believe. got a really fine scotchbite type pad and buffed the shine of it under water, came out looking just like bakelite.

It's an Allparts, got it from Guitar parts resource I believe. got a really fine scotchbite type pad and buffed the shine of it under water, came out looking just like bakelite.

Did the holes line up?

Did the holes line up?


For the most part, the ones that didn't obviously are still under the guard. I think I had to tap two new holes if I remember. No big deal. Also, you will need an MIM or MIA control plate if you don't want to reshape the PG to fit around the Squier control plate.

What are some pickup recomendations for that Fat Bridge pup you mentioned?

Check out is line of pups at www.frettech.com (CAVALIER LION) he have different models. I have 1 myself they are hard to beat tone wise in my opinion.

There is no secret wiring, unless you want the original set-up that almost no one likes. The key to the Esquire sound is simplicity - it is so basic that it forces you to work harder to overcome its limitations. I have one and the only reason I sometimes use it on a gig rather than a Tele is because it makes me play in a different way.