Eldred Esquire wiring mod

tlsmack · May 19th, 2008, 12:24 AM

Has anyone had a chance to figure out the Eldred mod?

Sounds kinda like a strat, but I know nothing about wiring other than following a diagram.

cdhopkin · May 19th, 2008, 02:02 AM

From the vid it sounds as if they've swapped positions 2 and 3 then substituted a different cap value for position one.

Killer looking guitar - would hate to think how much it was marked up for tho!

tlsmack · May 19th, 2008, 08:07 AM

I think they list for 5K but can be had for the amazing low price of $3999.

PhatTele · May 19th, 2008, 02:35 PM

It sounds like he did something similar to a Gretsch Jet/Nashville which has a tone switch instead of a tone knob. The Jet tone switch allows you to switch between two fixed cap values. I'm guessing that in the "neck" position, he's added in a very small tone cap (look at a Jet wiring diagram). It warms up the tone with a little midrange but doesn't let the overall tone get muddy. This setup definately works great with Filtertrons, but I think it works best if you use a treble bypass "kit" also (which I think he did in the video). I use a .002uF cap plus a 220K resister (Lindy Fralin's values).

I have an Esquire where I modded the "neck" position to be like the "bridge" postion (no tone). But, I like this guy's idea better. I might try it out.

fattybrisket · May 19th, 2008, 03:16 PM

Would someone be willing to diagram the Eldred mod for us electronically-challenged folks?

Mark Davis · May 19th, 2008, 03:59 PM

All the Eldred mod is the middle and all the way back are the same as any Esquire all the way up or whats usually the neck pickup is usually a 2.5 or 3.3k resistor for a bassy sound the Eldred mod removes this resistor and replaces it with a .0047 cap.

That what gives it that half cocked wah wah sound.

Eldred didnt invent this but took credit for it.

surfoverb · May 19th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

All the Eldred mod is the middle and all the way back are the same as any Esquire all the way up or whats usually the neck pickup is usually a 2.5 or 3.3k resistor for a bassy sound the Eldred mod removes this resistor and replaces it with a .0047 cap.

That what gives it that half cocked wah wah sound.

Eldred didnt invent this but took credit for it.

Thats what I thought too, he's just using a smaller cap like a .011 instead of .047 or .022...I like the .022 for the fixed bassy its not muddy and sounds great through a bright amp like a Twin or even better with a Fuzz pedal.

tjalla · May 19th, 2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

All the Eldred mod is the middle and all the way back are the same as any Esquire all the way up or whats usually the neck pickup is usually a 2.5 or 3.3k resistor for a bassy sound the Eldred mod removes this resistor and replaces it with a .0047 cap.

That what gives it that half cocked wah wah sound.

Eldred didnt invent this but took credit for it.

Ah, he just read all the esquire posts here over the last, what, 5 years?

nasonm · May 19th, 2008, 05:04 PM

ooh a "capacitor network"

Not to sound snotty, but that sounds silly

fattybrisket · May 19th, 2008, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

All the Eldred mod is the middle and all the way back are the same as any Esquire all the way up or whats usually the neck pickup is usually a 2.5 or 3.3k resistor for a bassy sound the Eldred mod removes this resistor and replaces it with a .0047 cap.

That what gives it that half cocked wah wah sound.

Eldred didnt invent this but took credit for it.

Thanks! One last check 'cause I'm dense . . . would it be this one

With the .0047 cap instead of 3.3 resistor?

Mark Davis · May 19th, 2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fattybrisket

Thanks! One last check 'cause I'm dense . . . would it be this one

With the .0047 cap instead of 3.3 resistor?

Yes thats it. Except in this diagram setting 2 and 3 are reversed from a normal Esquire.

e-merlin · May 19th, 2008, 08:51 PM

Wow! When did Jim Belushi start playing Teles?

cdhopkin · May 20th, 2008, 02:31 AM

Hmmm.....I wonder how many Customer Shop guys are TDPRIers?

If any of them want to use my "series/split/parallel switching using a 3way esquire" mod then I'm sure we could come to a suitable licensing arrangement!

HEHE!

guitarcody · June 3rd, 2008, 04:36 PM

I would love to get one of these but mowing yards and playing small gigs won't warrat that large a buy. I anyone has any suggestions that could help me build one, I'm open to any help.

fattybrisket · June 3rd, 2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guitarcody

I would love to get one of these but mowing yards and playing small gigs won't warrat that large a buy. I anyone has any suggestions that could help me build one, I'm open to any help.

I don't know what your budget is but how about a cheap Tele like a Squier, Agile or SX, with a Guitar Fetish pickguard and pickup?

May 19th, 2008, 12:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
tlsmack Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lonk I-lant, New York Posts: 373 42 Photos	Eldred Esquire wiring mod Has anyone had a chance to figure out the Eldred mod? Sounds kinda like a strat, but I know nothing about wiring other than following a diagram.

May 19th, 2008, 03:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,876	All the Eldred mod is the middle and all the way back are the same as any Esquire all the way up or whats usually the neck pickup is usually a 2.5 or 3.3k resistor for a bassy sound the Eldred mod removes this resistor and replaces it with a .0047 cap. That what gives it that half cocked wah wah sound. Eldred didnt invent this but took credit for it. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

May 19th, 2008, 05:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
nasonm Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bangor, Maine Age: 31 Posts: 1,713 16 Photos	ooh a "capacitor network" Not to sound snotty, but that sounds silly __________________ "i have learned to just grit my teeth, change the subject, consider their deep total ignorance, fondle the thumb picks in my pocket and go on my way" - bender-freak It's been lonely in the saddle since my horse died

May 19th, 2008, 02:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 200	From the vid it sounds as if they've swapped positions 2 and 3 then substituted a different cap value for position one. Killer looking guitar - would hate to think how much it was marked up for tho!

May 19th, 2008, 08:07 AM	#3 (permalink)
tlsmack Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Lonk I-lant, New York Posts: 373 42 Photos	I think they list for 5K but can be had for the amazing low price of $3999.

May 19th, 2008, 02:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
PhatTele Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 744	It sounds like he did something similar to a Gretsch Jet/Nashville which has a tone switch instead of a tone knob. The Jet tone switch allows you to switch between two fixed cap values. I'm guessing that in the "neck" position, he's added in a very small tone cap (look at a Jet wiring diagram). It warms up the tone with a little midrange but doesn't let the overall tone get muddy. This setup definately works great with Filtertrons, but I think it works best if you use a treble bypass "kit" also (which I think he did in the video). I use a .002uF cap plus a 220K resister (Lindy Fralin's values). I have an Esquire where I modded the "neck" position to be like the "bridge" postion (no tone). But, I like this guy's idea better. I might try it out.

May 19th, 2008, 03:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
fattybrisket TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Santa Cruz Mountains, CA Age: 44 Posts: 75	Would someone be willing to diagram the Eldred mod for us electronically-challenged folks?

May 20th, 2008, 02:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
cdhopkin Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pontypridd, South Wales Age: 30 Posts: 200	Hmmm.....I wonder how many Customer Shop guys are TDPRIers? If any of them want to use my "series/split/parallel switching using a 3way esquire" mod then I'm sure we could come to a suitable licensing arrangement! HEHE!

June 3rd, 2008, 04:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
guitarcody NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Port Aransas Age: 15 Posts: 9	I would love to get one of these but mowing yards and playing small gigs won't warrat that large a buy. I anyone has any suggestions that could help me build one, I'm open to any help.