Esquires for dummies/newbies

Danno · July 31st, 2008, 04:04 PM

Just like the title says. I've tried to do a bit of research and specifically what I want to know is what are the tonal options? I know that is kind of broad there but what is the huge attraction to this single pickup number?

Mark N · July 31st, 2008, 04:34 PM

check this thread out http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...c-esquire.html ...there's some great info here....The Esquire is an awesome guitar. It's got character, tone, bark, spank, twang and more!

Mark Davis · July 31st, 2008, 05:24 PM

http://www.fender.com/support/diagra...131502APg4.pdf

Thats how the switch works.

Here is the deal with an Esquire if your an experienced player and know how to get alot of different sounds just by using your hands pick attack etc then you will love it. For a beginner and not knowing how to get all the extra sounds from your hands alone it wont be as usefull as a 2 pickup Tele.

e-merlin · July 31st, 2008, 06:25 PM

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have. That doesn't make it any better or any worse, just different. In a good way.

Doug Ferguson · July 31st, 2008, 06:27 PM

I recently converted a tele to an Esquire and am having more fun playing than in years. The switch in pos. 1 runs the pickup wide open, nothing in the signal path at all, so it's bright and clear. Pos. 2 adds tone control, and even with the tone pot full on, it's a little less bright, but it does give you the flexiblity of adusting the tone. Pos. 3 is where the fun is. Not quite the vol. of 1 & 2, but great kind of muffled bassy tone. Run through an octave pedal (I use a Boss OC-3) it gets real funky. Esquires aren't the one-trick ponies I've heard them being accused of; they offer plenty tonally, but will make you work a bit harder, try new approaches, to find its possibilities.

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have. That doesn't make it any better or any worse, just different. In a good way.

Yes, that's what I took a lot of words to NOT say

. I think that's what I like about them: Their subtle difference from a tele. The tones you can't quite reach with a tele.

Telemarkman · July 31st, 2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

It's got a subtle something that a Tele doesn't have.

And the Tele's got something not so subtle that the Esquire doesn't have

Tim73 · July 31st, 2008, 06:37 PM

A tele is a simple guitar and the Esquire is even more no frills. Remember that the tone knob cuts out when in the forward / back position on the selector switch. It's my main guitar but I'd never recommend one as such - it's down to individual tastes & either you like it or you prefer something else. If I had to have one guitar though it would almost certainly be my Esquire.

jjhboots · July 31st, 2008, 07:17 PM

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

Tim73 · July 31st, 2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhboots

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

I play pretty much country / alt.country / americana stuff exclusively but it sounds good in a variety of different genres. The punky new wave rock stuff worked well. Face facts though, a lot of tone comes from your amp. When I had a cheapy modelling amp (a Vox Valvetronix AD50) I could emulate a lot of styles on the Esquire easily.

Doug Ferguson · July 31st, 2008, 07:40 PM

I'm pretty much strictly blues, but an Esquire in pos. 2 with the tone control set right gets you in to blues territory with no problem. Pos. 1 is a flat out rocker.

Tele295 · July 31st, 2008, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhboots

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

I've used my Esquire for everything - blues, rock, r&b, country, Tex-Mex, zydeco, rockabilly, surf, even jazz! No fancy modelling boxes, either - just an Esquire, Rat pedal and a Vibrolux Reverb

Mark Davis · July 31st, 2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhboots

So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

Thats what Esquires are best at check out Kid Ramos with his Esquire.

Danno · July 31st, 2008, 09:43 PM

Thanks a ton men. As always, I've been educated - a goal of mine each and every day.

mistermullens · July 31st, 2008, 10:00 PM

It took me three Esquires to "get it" and to discover THE guitar for me. Don't give up if it doesn't work out for you right away, they are amazing guitars. Some great comments here that I'll "+1" on.

Quote:

Esquires aren't the one-trick ponies I've heard them being accused of; they offer plenty tonally, but will make you work a bit harder, try new approaches, to find its possibilities.

Quote:

If I had to have one guitar though it would almost certainly be my Esquire.

Quote:

I'm pretty much strictly blues, but an Esquire in pos. 2 with the tone control set right gets you in to blues territory with no problem

Same here. I pretty much stay in pos. 2, but all three are great. Esquires excel at Blues & Rock. I love playin' slide on mine. I'm not into country, but I've heard some cool stuff being played on one.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. Playing an Esquire makes you a better player.

numeric · August 1st, 2008, 02:38 AM

I love the pup going straight to the vol and out; very Blues Rock.

jjhboots · August 1st, 2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

Thats what Esquires are best at check out Kid Ramos with his Esquire.

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

Mark Davis · August 1st, 2008, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhboots

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

Thats a vintage old one not sure of the exact year but Im sure its not a Custom Shop or MIM reissue Esquire.

Tele295 · August 1st, 2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjhboots

Anyone know more about Ramos' guitar? Vintage or re-issue? Enjoyed the clip.

It's a '59 toploader. Kid told me he had to sell it a few years back.

I believe the Custom Shop used it as a reference for their toploader Esquire

July 31st, 2008, 04:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Danno Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Age: 42 Posts: 128	Esquires for dummies/newbies Just like the title says. I've tried to do a bit of research and specifically what I want to know is what are the tonal options? I know that is kind of broad there but what is the huge attraction to this single pickup number? __________________ "I can do it quick. I can do it cheap. I can do it right. Pick any two." - Red Adair

July 31st, 2008, 05:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	http://www.fender.com/support/diagra...131502APg4.pdf Thats how the switch works. Here is the deal with an Esquire if your an experienced player and know how to get alot of different sounds just by using your hands pick attack etc then you will love it. For a beginner and not knowing how to get all the extra sounds from your hands alone it wont be as usefull as a 2 pickup Tele. __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

July 31st, 2008, 06:37 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tim73 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Berkshire, England Age: 35 Posts: 1,367 21 Photos	A tele is a simple guitar and the Esquire is even more no frills. Remember that the tone knob cuts out when in the forward / back position on the selector switch. It's my main guitar but I'd never recommend one as such - it's down to individual tastes & either you like it or you prefer something else. If I had to have one guitar though it would almost certainly be my Esquire. __________________ Born in the '70's & in my mind, still living there now...

July 31st, 2008, 07:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Doug Ferguson Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Age: 55 Posts: 1,703	I'm pretty much strictly blues, but an Esquire in pos. 2 with the tone control set right gets you in to blues territory with no problem. Pos. 1 is a flat out rocker. __________________ If you get hung up on just guitar players, you've missed something.... Don't ever get to a point where you just gotta be a guitar player. You hear something, go try to get that note and sound as much like that as you can.-Buddy Guy

July 31st, 2008, 09:43 PM	#13 (permalink)
Danno Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: NC Age: 42 Posts: 128	Thanks a ton men. As always, I've been educated - a goal of mine each and every day. __________________ "I can do it quick. I can do it cheap. I can do it right. Pick any two." - Red Adair

July 31st, 2008, 04:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mark N Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Woodstock, NB, Canada Age: 37 Posts: 591 8 Photos	check this thread out http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaste...c-esquire.html ...there's some great info here....The Esquire is an awesome guitar. It's got character, tone, bark, spank, twang and more!

July 31st, 2008, 07:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
jjhboots TDPRI Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: austin Age: 50 Posts: 17	So you Esquire cats can make them work for a range of music? i.e. blues, rock, r n' b?

August 1st, 2008, 02:38 AM	#15 (permalink)
numeric Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ames, IA Posts: 345	I love the pup going straight to the vol and out; very Blues Rock. __________________ Numeric