Which pickup for home-brew Esquire?

[el_extranjero]

After reading all about the new Fender Esquire I decided to build an Esquire control set for my MIM Std. Anyone have recommendations on a pickup? I have the pickup off my MIM std (2002), my Vintage Noiseless that is currently in my Tele and sounds great, or a 52RI I just purchased off eBay.

I had also considered the SD52 or Quarter Pounder. Since it is the ONLY pickup, it is very important! Plus, since one of the primary positions is wide open, it has to be well balanced (hence the SD52).

Any recommendations and experience to share?

Thanks

[tjalla]

Fender 52RI
Antiquity Flatpole
Rio Muy Grande
Harmonic Design S90
Lollar Special
Peter Florance Voodoo
Fralin Vintage wind
Fender Texas Special

I'd definitely lean toward something with more output and mids (esp once you hit that "wide open" position).
From the above, the Lollar would be my pick. The antiquity would be good for a more traditional sound, and the S90 the best choice for a rockin' esquire.

That said, I've a sneaking suspicion that the Duncan Donahue would make a great esquire pup. As might a Hamel...

[Captain Simian]

What about a DiMarzio Twang King? I love that pickup.

[Raymond]

You'll need a pickup with a lot of output as tjalla says. My personal preference would be a BL L-290TL-E. For $48 bucks you just can't loose and it's a great pickup specially designed for Esquires.

Another great option is the Duncan Broadcaster ($60). Our own genius luthier (he he… he'll hate me for this) Kevin uses it in his personal Esquire and he can't be happier. You can't go wrong using what Kevin uses.LINK

[BB]

Originally Posted by tjalla

Fender 52RI
Antiquity Flatpole
Rio Muy Grande
Harmonic Design S90
Lollar Special
Peter Florance Voodoo
Fralin Vintage wind
Fender Texas Special

I'd definitely lean toward something with more output and mids (esp once you hit that "wide open" position).
From the above, the Lollar would be my pick. The antiquity would be good for a more traditional sound, and the S90 the best choice for a rockin' esquire.

What Trevor said. I'd also add the wonderful SK-T-90 to the list. If it came down to one though, the Lollar would also be my #1 pick.

That said, I've a sneaking suspicion that the Duncan Donahue would make a great esquire pup. As might a Hamel...

[fezz parka]

I put a Duncan STL-2T in mine. Wired it ala the '53 tele. Position 1 is hot, 2 is tapped, 3 is tapped going through a PIO .015 Gudeman cap. Extremely versatile for a 1 pickup guitar...

[Poppatwang]

SD Jerry Donahue makes a great Esquire pup.
Use a B'caster in my Tele. Wanted something
more aggressive for the Esquire. The JD did it.

[Bill Ashton]

in mine and its quiet but great.

Actually you would be amazed at how good the MIM Standard Tele p'up sounds in there all by itself. When I was building mine and had a lead...uh...malfunction...I put one in just to get the ax usable again...didn't take it out until I got (with new leads) my SD back from SD...and I almost didn't take it out!

[johnnylipps]

When I got my MIM in 2002, I found I was using the bridge pickup more than the neck and decided to convert the Tele to an Esquire, using the wiring diagrams off Seymour Duncan's site. After a lot of shopping around and reading I settled on the Twang King and have been very happy. I find that I can get a nice range of sounds just by riding the tone pot and keeping the volume back a bit for rhythm then opening it up for leads.

Everything has been changed on this guitar (now it has a HW1 body, Warmoth boatneck with graptech nut, Wilkinson bridge and compensated saddles, Hipshot b and g benders, reversed the control plate early on, and of course an Esquire pickgaurd), but the Twang King has remained and I'm still happy with it.