stupid question about Esquires

lukeness · April 1st, 2005, 05:51 PM

The Esquires with one pickup... why did they have a 3 way switch?

Joe-Bob · April 1st, 2005, 05:56 PM

They had circuitry that changed the tone.

Joe M · April 1st, 2005, 07:05 PM

I always wondered that too until I got the complete answer....the forward position gives a deep, pre-set bassy tone, the middle position gives the pu with the tone control, and the back position gives the signal straight through to the output by-passing any tone control. A lot of people say they can hear the difference between the back position and the middle position with the tone control wide open; they say that even with the tone wide open it sounds different than the back position; I sure can't, must be my old ears....

scot · April 1st, 2005, 07:15 PM

I can tell the difference actually, perhaps because I have an old one. I just put a Fralin into the neck slot and rewired to accepted Tele specs, but am considering changing the tone pot to a push pull affair to allow for that bridge, no tone control in the circuit setting, and in the process also gain a neck or both setting with no tone control in the circuit. I think VanHalen's frankenstein guitar had no tone control for the same reason.

Ringo · April 1st, 2005, 09:17 PM

Actually I read that he had it wired to just the volume control because when he installed the bridge humbucker he didn't know how to wire the tone control up!

scot · April 2nd, 2005, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

Actually I read that he had it wired to just the volume control because when he installed the bridge humbucker he didn't know how to wire the tone control up!

That may be...but it sure worked out.

Knucklehead · April 6th, 2005, 01:08 AM

I read that Leo Fender wired up the Esquire with that funky forward position on the 3 way switch so guitarists could mime Bass licks in the pre-electric Bass days.

Jakedog · April 6th, 2005, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scot

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringo

Actually I read that he had it wired to just the volume control because when he installed the bridge humbucker he didn't know how to wire the tone control up!

That may be...but it sure worked out.

It makes a HUGE difference. I have two Charvels, identical except for the electronics. One has two hums, 1 vol. and 1 tone, with three way switch. The other is just 1 hum and a volume pot. They both have Seymour Duncan JB's in the bridge position, and the difference in the two guitars when you A-B them is night and day. 1 hum and no tone control has way more of everything. Balls, cut, overtones, harmonics, it sounds more alive in every way. It is also interesting to note, that they both sound pretty much identical when played acoustically. It is my opinion, along withmost Esquire owners, that the abscence of the tone control, and the neck pick-up, both make an enormous difference in the performance of the bridge pick-up.

Jake

JerryPro · April 7th, 2005, 09:33 AM

All of my Teles are wired up to bypass the tone control for the neck pickup. It was a vast improvement for all.

I found that I was always running the bridge with the tone backed off a bit and when I would go to the nck I was having to open it up.

With that aside just the raw tone from the neck is more open, better sounding.

It's easy too. You only have to move one wire.

Primo Don · April 7th, 2005, 11:41 AM

Doesn't the newer tone pot (that orignally came with the Delta Tone system) with that notch at wide open do the same thing? Isn't it supposed to be completely out of the circuit then? Is it really out of the circuit?

I'm full of questions, huh? There I go again!

Adam

April 1st, 2005, 05:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
lukeness Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 147 18 Photos	stupid question about Esquires The Esquires with one pickup... why did they have a 3 way switch?

April 1st, 2005, 05:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Joe-Bob Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Dallas, Texas Age: 46 Posts: 3,796	They had circuitry that changed the tone. __________________ "Smart like Fox, Strong like Bull!"

April 1st, 2005, 07:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
scot Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Boston Posts: 142	I can tell the difference actually, perhaps because I have an old one. I just put a Fralin into the neck slot and rewired to accepted Tele specs, but am considering changing the tone pot to a push pull affair to allow for that bridge, no tone control in the circuit setting, and in the process also gain a neck or both setting with no tone control in the circuit. I think VanHalen's frankenstein guitar had no tone control for the same reason. __________________ If you can hear your fingers coming out of the amp, you are on the right track. My Vintage Guitars

April 1st, 2005, 09:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,910	re EVH wiring Actually I read that he had it wired to just the volume control because when he installed the bridge humbucker he didn't know how to wire the tone control up!

April 7th, 2005, 09:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
JerryPro Tele-Holic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arkansas(Razorbacks) Age: 46 Posts: 556	It does make a difference All of my Teles are wired up to bypass the tone control for the neck pickup. It was a vast improvement for all. I found that I was always running the bridge with the tone backed off a bit and when I would go to the nck I was having to open it up. With that aside just the raw tone from the neck is more open, better sounding. It's easy too. You only have to move one wire. __________________ ...it's not the load that breaks you down it's the way in which you carry it.

April 1st, 2005, 07:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Joe M Moderator Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,146	I always wondered that too until I got the complete answer....the forward position gives a deep, pre-set bassy tone, the middle position gives the pu with the tone control, and the back position gives the signal straight through to the output by-passing any tone control. A lot of people say they can hear the difference between the back position and the middle position with the tone control wide open; they say that even with the tone wide open it sounds different than the back position; I sure can't, must be my old ears....

April 6th, 2005, 01:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
Knucklehead Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tarantula Trace Trail, AZ Posts: 205	I read that Leo Fender wired up the Esquire with that funky forward position on the 3 way switch so guitarists could mime Bass licks in the pre-electric Bass days.

April 7th, 2005, 11:41 AM	#10 (permalink)
Primo Don Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 31 Posts: 381	I get the idea about bypassing the tone control... Doesn't the newer tone pot (that orignally came with the Delta Tone system) with that notch at wide open do the same thing? Isn't it supposed to be completely out of the circuit then? Is it really out of the circuit? I'm full of questions, huh? There I go again! Adam __________________ Why yes, I do have a liberal arts degree...do you want fries with that?