Esquire...Top Loader Vs. String-through??

My next guitar WILL BE an Esquire...But...

The new 59 Relic (which is the look I want EXACTLY) has the Top-loader bridge.
To me, I would think that some of the sound and sustain is lost because of the bridge. Am I wrong? Maybe the combination of no front pickup and top-load is a magical one??
My other option is having a Custom Shop 57 Esquire Relic built...same "whiter" blonde/white guard, but a V-Neck and strings through the body. I think this guitar in this color combination looks great all beat-up!

Any thoughts???

(I really do feel the sound variations of an Esquire are unique and fit my playing well. The strings vibrating more freely because of no front pickup makes a difference to me. maybe slight, but I dig it!!!).

I've got a CS 59 Esquire with the top load bridge and if there's any difference in sound between that and my 63 CS Tele in the bridge position, I sure can't hear it. I know that I've heard that there is a different sound without the neck pickup on the Esquire but I missed that one too. Maybe there really is and my old ears just aren't that particular. :D Of course, this is just MHO and it's a very subjective thing......

the top loaders sustain less thing is like a lot of guitar arguments i have heard in the past. maybe somewhere, somebody can hear a difference, but i ain't one of those people! :D

toploaders rock. stringbending may even be a little easier on them...

it will depend on your personal taste.

I have a 91 MIM with a top loader bridge and "Lucia" is one of my favorite axes. I also have a 2000 MIM ("Winter") with a string-through-the body bridge.
In this board, a lot of people have claimed that the string-through the body bridge sounds much better. I can't remember when I read that thread, but someone actually modified his guitar to change the top-loader to the other bridge and he reported a substantial improvement in tone.
I myself can tell the difference between "Lucia" and "Winter". But, it's just that: it's different; no one sounds better than the other one.
I enjoy playing both guitars and I'd never modify "Lucia" even if I think that the tone "would improve".

it will depend on your personal taste. I can't remember when I read that thread, but someone actually modified his guitar to change the top-loader to the other bridge and he reported a substantial improvement in tone.

Raymond, I think you're talking about me n' my 92 MIM. I didn't change the bridge, I modified the guitar and bridge for string-through loading. I made my measurements then a template and took the drill press to it. Now it can load either way. I believe the way I described it was "the guitar came alive" and I do prefer the sound and feel after the mod much more than stock. The more severe breakover angle at the bridge saddles seems to have made all the difference. It's all personal opinion really.
J.R.

That 59 Esquire really should have strings through the body. Its to bad Fender Custom Shop does'nt have a Mary Kay white blond re-issue with a 57'ish V neck. And strings through the body. I don't know how much Fender's Custom Shop would charge, but it would be a cool guitar. Let us know if you go that route and how much its costing you?
Top loader versus strings through? I don't know if I'd hear the difference or not. Remember Jim Coppologna(Spelling ?) plays a top loader and sounds pretty good to me.
Brass Saddles

I have a CS 59' Esquire that I added a neck pickup to. It already has a route in the neck so it was easy to install and wire. I do not see any difference in a top loader vs string thru the body as in a Nocaster for example. I do notice the difference in the overall construction of the guitar. The wood is very light ash which is very resonante and bright. The pickup is really strong and articulate. The SD Alnico II pro neck pickup that I added is somewhat darker so it compliments the bridge pickup to create a great in between tone. You should be more concerned with the wood and tone of the guitar vs the hardware. As Lindy Fralin had mentioned to me years ago, you can try all of the pickups in the world but if the wood is bad it will always sound bad.

JW :shock: