The Esquire attraction ??

robt57 · June 1st, 2008, 11:33 AM

OK, the simplicity with one pickup looks wise is obvious enough to appreciate [to me] Solid black or white guard, just nice, no doubt.

I read someone had said the following

Quote:

"Esquire". Some people think it's got more of an open and resonant sound because there's only one magnetic field pulling on the strings

Never thought about that being an aspect, but I can buy it. I do keep my PUPs down low in all my guitars. Opinions on this?? One PUP v/s having them low in the guard, well in the neck PUP anyway.

Which of course brings me to the hidden neck PUP concept. Effect on the string with a hotter PUP hidden under the guard etc... ?

Discuss?

mistermullens · June 1st, 2008, 12:55 PM

Hmmm.... Having been a two pickup Tele player for a couple of years, I can definitely tell a difference between a Tele and an Esquire. I guess it has something to do with the magnetic pull the neck pup has, but when I play my Esquire, or any other for that matter, the strings feel different. Almost lighter. I also hear sounds that I haven't heard with a Telecaster.

One thing that I do know for sure is if I had to choose one or the other solely based on looks, the Esquire would win hands down. I also think Esquires are "nastier". I like nasty.

64Strat · June 1st, 2008, 01:08 PM

the other difference is, the Esquire in the bridge position switch setting does not go through the tone control..... a Tele does. An Esquire is about as raw as it gets.

surfoverb · June 1st, 2008, 01:34 PM

What's weird about esquires for me at least, after playing one for a little bit it made me appreciate a neck pickup more...I was never a big neck pickup fan but I am more so now than ever ironically.

If you really want to get nasty try wiring the bridge pickup straight to the jack and bypass both the tone and volume pots.

I agree that not having the neck pickup changes things, especially when you strum where the neck pickup should be, it's totally different.

Big Steve · June 1st, 2008, 01:34 PM

This is highly debated on this forum all the time. I say just go out and play one. It will only become aparent when you start playing one. I have an Esquire that I don't play that much. Everytime I do play it, it immediately strikes me as to how different it acutally is than a telecaster. My whole playing style is effected by these differences.

jedi · June 1st, 2008, 02:21 PM

To me an Esquire is the definition of an electric guitar. It is so alive and present. I also love a good tele with a neck pickup but when it comes to just letting it fly there is nothing IMHO more powerful and present in the mix especially live like an Esquire.

JamonHamon · June 1st, 2008, 03:36 PM

I have a 50s classic Esquire that I love I've had a Joe Barden pickup in it that I loved
I didn't like Kinman Avn60 in it to thin sounding
At first I believed that the pull of the neck pickup made much of a difference, but now I don't
Now I have a Don Mare "The Tweed Monster" Bridge Pickup and S-tele Neck Pickup and a 50s Stratotone Pickup in the middle
Don wired it up with a push pull pot that takes out the volume and tone and the bridge sounds better and more vibrant then it did with just one pickup

Mark Davis · June 1st, 2008, 05:05 PM

Here was my 1st experience with an Esquire.

I had a 2 pickup 50's Classic that I had tried several pickups in.

5 different ones in the bridge 4 different pickups in th neck.

Then I got the idea to take all the pickups out replace the bridge with the pickup from my 1953 Fender Champion lap steel and make it into an Esquire.

As soon as I strung it up I could tell the difference even before I plugged it in.

When I plugged it in the whole guitar seemed like it was easier for the sound to come out. Harmonics were everywhere on the big E string. Before I made eit into an Esquire I could do chimes at the normal places 5-7-12 etc after it was an Esquire I could do harmonics in places Ive never been able to do them seemed like every 1/4" I moved my hand it found harmonics Id never even heard.

It was sorta like I was running for a touchdown before and someone was on my back piggyback as an Esquire it was like the person that was on my back keeping me from running as fast jumped off.

The whole guitar becane way more responsive.

dusty tolex · June 1st, 2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by surfoverb

What's weird about esquires for me at least, after playing one for a little bit it made me appreciate a neck pickup more...I was never a big neck pickup fan but I am more so now than ever ironically.

If you really want to get nasty try wiring the bridge pickup straight to the jack and bypass both the tone and volume pots.

I agree that not having the neck pickup changes things, especially when you strum where the neck pickup should be, it's totally different.

Could wiring the bridge pup straight to the jack be done as the 4th position on a 4-way switch (edit - in a telecaster rather than esquire guitar)? If so how would it be done?

I would totally be into that if it were possible...

dt

e-merlin · June 1st, 2008, 08:18 PM

Guess I think Teles are "alive" compared to other guitars. When I got my Esquire, it seemed "more alive" if that's possible. Gotta plug 'em into an amp that's turned up. You can feel it in the neck. The way the amp responds to the guitar and the way the guitar responds to the amp. It's a feel thing.

Dan R · June 1st, 2008, 08:27 PM

All I know is I want one. I don't need one, but I want one. I'm mainly a bridge pickup guy anyway.

Dan R

Wardpike · June 1st, 2008, 08:47 PM

I have to agree with other posters here. My Esquire lets through harmonics and nuances that get sucked dry in a Tele. The Esquire rings and sustains more too. The Esquire is more raw sounding, even less forgiving then a tele... and it's WAY more rock'n'roll.

Wardpike · June 1st, 2008, 08:49 PM

Also, see here...
9 Topics down...

Ed Bickert · June 1st, 2008, 10:05 PM

I don't think I would ever use an Esquire as the definition of an electric guitar. But they are different. Though, from a physics standpoint, I highly doubt that the magnetic pull on the strings from the neck pup is the reason. I personally think this is a lot of hullabaloo. But I know there's a lot of people here who would disagree.

Wardpike · June 1st, 2008, 10:12 PM

You see? Democracy works. Opinions vary.

surfoverb · June 1st, 2008, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dusty tolex

Could wiring the bridge pup straight to the jack be done as the 4th position on a 4-way switch (edit - in a telecaster rather than esquire guitar)? If so how would it be done?

I would totally be into that if it were possible...

dt

Good question, I'd like to try that too...Or maybe have the bridge go through the volume only with a no-load pot...Or maybe use 2 no-loads 1 for volume and 1 for tone then you could have both the neck and bridge hot...I'm not sure a no-load is the same as direct though.

June 1st, 2008, 12:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
mistermullens Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Age: 31 Posts: 2,379 51 Photos	Hmmm.... Having been a two pickup Tele player for a couple of years, I can definitely tell a difference between a Tele and an Esquire. I guess it has something to do with the magnetic pull the neck pup has, but when I play my Esquire, or any other for that matter, the strings feel different. Almost lighter. I also hear sounds that I haven't heard with a Telecaster. One thing that I do know for sure is if I had to choose one or the other solely based on looks, the Esquire would win hands down. I also think Esquires are "nastier". I like nasty. __________________ When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace. - Jimi Hendrix

June 1st, 2008, 05:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,846	Here was my 1st experience with an Esquire. I had a 2 pickup 50's Classic that I had tried several pickups in. 5 different ones in the bridge 4 different pickups in th neck. Then I got the idea to take all the pickups out replace the bridge with the pickup from my 1953 Fender Champion lap steel and make it into an Esquire. As soon as I strung it up I could tell the difference even before I plugged it in. When I plugged it in the whole guitar seemed like it was easier for the sound to come out. Harmonics were everywhere on the big E string. Before I made eit into an Esquire I could do chimes at the normal places 5-7-12 etc after it was an Esquire I could do harmonics in places Ive never been able to do them seemed like every 1/4" I moved my hand it found harmonics Id never even heard. It was sorta like I was running for a touchdown before and someone was on my back piggyback as an Esquire it was like the person that was on my back keeping me from running as fast jumped off. The whole guitar becane way more responsive. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

June 1st, 2008, 10:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
Ed Bickert Tele-Holic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cape Cod, MA Age: 40 Posts: 946	I don't think I would ever use an Esquire as the definition of an electric guitar. But they are different. Though, from a physics standpoint, I highly doubt that the magnetic pull on the strings from the neck pup is the reason. I personally think this is a lot of hullabaloo. But I know there's a lot of people here who would disagree. __________________ Sorry, not the real Ed Bickert. Just a fan.

June 1st, 2008, 01:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
64Strat Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 654 43 Photos	the other difference is, the Esquire in the bridge position switch setting does not go through the tone control..... a Tele does. An Esquire is about as raw as it gets.

June 1st, 2008, 01:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
surfoverb Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,889	What's weird about esquires for me at least, after playing one for a little bit it made me appreciate a neck pickup more...I was never a big neck pickup fan but I am more so now than ever ironically. If you really want to get nasty try wiring the bridge pickup straight to the jack and bypass both the tone and volume pots. I agree that not having the neck pickup changes things, especially when you strum where the neck pickup should be, it's totally different.

June 1st, 2008, 01:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Big Steve Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 456	This is highly debated on this forum all the time. I say just go out and play one. It will only become aparent when you start playing one. I have an Esquire that I don't play that much. Everytime I do play it, it immediately strikes me as to how different it acutally is than a telecaster. My whole playing style is effected by these differences.

June 1st, 2008, 02:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
jedi Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: on the bridge pickup Posts: 108	To me an Esquire is the definition of an electric guitar. It is so alive and present. I also love a good tele with a neck pickup but when it comes to just letting it fly there is nothing IMHO more powerful and present in the mix especially live like an Esquire.

June 1st, 2008, 03:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
JamonHamon Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 1,334	I have a 50s classic Esquire that I love I've had a Joe Barden pickup in it that I loved I didn't like Kinman Avn60 in it to thin sounding At first I believed that the pull of the neck pickup made much of a difference, but now I don't Now I have a Don Mare "The Tweed Monster" Bridge Pickup and S-tele Neck Pickup and a 50s Stratotone Pickup in the middle Don wired it up with a push pull pot that takes out the volume and tone and the bridge sounds better and more vibrant then it did with just one pickup

June 1st, 2008, 08:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
Dan R Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Charleston, SC Age: 50 Posts: 892	All I know is I want one. I don't need one, but I want one. I'm mainly a bridge pickup guy anyway. Dan R

June 1st, 2008, 08:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 656	I have to agree with other posters here. My Esquire lets through harmonics and nuances that get sucked dry in a Tele. The Esquire rings and sustains more too. The Esquire is more raw sounding, even less forgiving then a tele... and it's WAY more rock'n'roll.

June 1st, 2008, 08:49 PM	#13 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 656	Also, see here... 9 Topics down...

June 1st, 2008, 10:12 PM	#15 (permalink)
Wardpike Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: St. John's, Newfoundland Age: 43 Posts: 656	You see? Democracy works. Opinions vary.