Which Cavalier Lion for Esquire?

[Southpaw Tele]

I built a Telemaster/Jazzcaster guitar a while back and have a GFS Lil Puncher in it that quite frankly...sucks. It's harsh and shrill (after numerous adjustments). The smaller E string is barely audible (after numerous adjustments). I like the reviews on Rob's pickups, but I don't know what would be best for an Esquire platform. I like clarity, with scoopished mids and smooth highs. I play mostly at church through a Mustang III...usually clean to mid-level crunch with a Deluxe Reverb model I stole from Shane (InTheBlues) and delay. I'm thinking Fat Lion, but the Nocaster Lion looks good, too. Thanks!

 

[Southpaw Tele]

I hate to shamelessly bump this...buuut, I'm going to do it anyway!

 

[charlie chitlin]

Ask Rob!

 

[VWAmTele]

I put a Fat Lion in an Esquire and I'm very happy with it. I had Rob give it a few more winds (9.4k) and it certainly growls, but it cleans up nicely with the volume knob. Complex sound with lots of overtones. Rob can build it to fit whatever sound you're after. Great service and great price.

 

[Southpaw Tele]

I put a Fat Lion in an Esquire and I'm very happy with it. I had Rob give it a few more winds (9.4k) and it certainly growls, but it cleans up nicely with the volume knob. Complex sound with lots of overtones. Rob can build it to fit whatever sound you're after. Great service and great price.

I may contact Rob. I'm leaning towards the Fat over the Nocaster Lion. The Nashville and Bakersfield are out if they are too trebly.

 

[AJBaker]

Just call him on the phone and talk it out with him.
You mention you like mostly clean and scooped, but Rob's specialty is making pickups with quite pronounced mids. I'm sure he can make something for you though, and a tapped pickup may even be a fun option.
Also look up fezzterpickups, he makes some nice handmade pickups that are more on the bright scooped side.

 

[bigben55]

I may contact Rob. I'm leaning towards the Fat over the Nocaster Lion. The Nashville and Bakersfield are out if they are too trebly.

I would not say my Nashville is too trebly. I love it, think its perfect, MY definition of perfect Tele bridge tone.

Is there any difference in an Esquires wiring(other than no neck pup)? Honestly don't know

 

[bigben55]

I put a Fat Lion in an Esquire and I'm very happy with it. I had Rob give it a few more winds (9.4k) and it certainly growls, but it cleans up nicely with the volume knob. Complex sound with lots of overtones. Rob can build it to fit whatever sound you're after. Great service and great price.

How hard does that hot Fat Lion rock? And how noisy is it? Thinking about pairing one with a full size neck humbucker for my next Tele.

 

[AJBaker]

I would not say my Nashville is too trebly. I love it, think its perfect, MY definition of perfect Tele bridge tone.

Is there any difference in an Esquires wiring(other than no neck pup)? Honestly don't know

Usually on an Esquire, the switch does:

1. Permanent bassy sound
2. Normal with tone control
3. Bright setting without tone control

There are plenty of variations though. Most common is making the bassy setting less bassy (Eldred mod).

 

[Rod Parsons]

I would not say my Nashville is too trebly. I love it, think its perfect, MY definition of perfect Tele bridge tone.

Is there any difference in an Esquires wiring(other than no neck pup)? Honestly don't know

With this I totally agree... The Nashville is NOT too trebley, imo. I love mine. and it measures at about 8.3 K Ohms. I think it is perfect.. I just bought my very first EQ box, [a Boss], and it works like a charm to get as much treble or bass, or whatever eq I need. But the Nashville sounds absolutely perfect going straight into my '63 Vibroverb Reissue with NO EQ box.... The Bakersfield might be too bright for some, so Rob suggested the Nashville.. He also reverse wound it so it would hum-cancel in the mid-switch position with my CS Texas Special neck pup.... free of charge.. Two day delivery... custom wound 60 bucks.. Amazing!!! Rob also has pickups that are like two or three pickups in one, [descriptions of all his offerings on his 'Fret Tech' web sight.... Now that would be spectacular, imo, in an Esquire... YES!!! Please get in touch with Rob..!!

 

[Southpaw Tele]

I would not say my Nashville is too trebly. I love it, think its perfect, MY definition of perfect Tele bridge tone.

Is there any difference in an Esquires wiring(other than no neck pup)? Honestly don't know

I've done the Esquire thing in two different ways. I had a MIM Tele I converted using a 3 way switch with these settings: tone and volume/no tone/cocked wah. The Jazzcaster referenced in this thread was no switch and volume and tone (I bought a blank plate and drilled the two holes). I'm going back to the cocked wah switching. Lots of versatility for a one pickup guitar. I use my other tele (MIM neck/SX thinline body/Keystone pickups) for the cleaner stuff.

 

[Southpaw Tele]

PS thanks for the head's up on the Nashville. One time, we did church in the local park and during the lunch, we played Folsom Prison Blues and that Nashville would have been great!

 

[VWAmTele]

How hard does that hot Fat Lion rock? And how noisy is it? Thinking about pairing one with a full size neck humbucker for my next Tele.

It is powerful. No more noisy than my 62 AVRI bridge, which I consider normal for a Tele pickup. I wanted something heavier than the '62 for the Esquire and the Fat Lion really hit the mark. Perfect for rock/blues - not one you'd want for country.

 

[4pickupguy]

It is powerful. No more noisy than my 62 AVRI bridge, which I consider normal for a Tele pickup. I wanted something heavier than the '62 for the Esquire and the Fat Lion really hit the mark. Perfect for rock/blues - not one you'd want for country.

I just put a Twin Lion ( Nashville, Fat) replacing a straight Nashville. My first impression is that the Fat has the tone of my SD Broadcaster on steroids. Just kills a crunch rhythm and lead tones. Very, very snarly!! I likes!! In Nashville mode it's slightly Twangier and fuller than the Nash I replaced. I'm done with tone tweaking this guitar after a year of work. This is the best sounding, most versatile guitar I have ever heard or owned. Killer bridge pup!! Now a set for the other tele to match!!

 

[atreidesheir]

The Nocaster lion is an absolutely flawless pickup. My esquire really shines because of that pickup. Never shrill. Mike Campbell "Refugee" tone at your fingertips.

 

[Southpaw Tele]

So, I just emailed the man himself to get his ideas on which route to take. I appreciate all the help gang. I saw some clips of the Nashville on the Youtubes and now that's an option. I'm hopeless?

 

[AJBaker]

For an Esquire, I'd say a tapped pickup would serve you well. I'd maybe get something like a Bakersfield/full lion combo.

 

[Southpaw Tele]

Rob was super quick in returning my email and thought the Fat Lion would best suit me. I have some junk on EBay to move and then I'm putting in the order.