Esquire Owners?

Lewligan

How many folks on this forum own an Esquire?

Be it a 'proper' Fender or something they've pieced together themselves.

I have a new found obsession with them.

Went through a LOT of different styles of guitars before it finally dawned on me that a Tele bridge pickup is pretty much exactly what I need.

It wasn't even planned.

Was forced to take a shitty SG to rehearsal one evening as my other guitars were being worked on, and it was feeding back like a bastard as soon as I used even a touch of gain.

So I told our front man (who uses a clean rhythm sound mostly) that he'd have to use it and I'll borrow his MIM Tele for that rehearsal.

BREAKTHROUGH!

That cutting, 'bitey' Tele bridge pickup tone was absolutely spot on for my lead playing, and I could do the rest with the volume control (e.g. roll it off a touch for my rhythm parts).

God knows why it took me so long. For some reason, I always had them down as too 'jangly' and 'glassy' for what I needed, and thought humbuckers were the way forward.

Lesson learned!

Knew I'd rarely (if ever) use the neck pickup as I'm like that on most guitars.

Prefer to use the vol and tone controls to clean things up and take a bit of treble out.

So, I went on the hunt for an Esquire and found this...

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/12509023_994184113960972_3759627717914440940_n.jpg?oh=9332df0809193629d4b653e8eca20730&oe=573A314D

It's basically a solid alder Hosco Japan body finished in sea foam green, Mighty Mite satin neck, all top end USA hardware (custom notched bridge, compensated brass saddles, high ratio staggered tuners etc), good quality pots/caps/wiring and a Bare Knuckle Piledriver pickup.

Really nice guitar that plays great and sounds the bollocks.

Wired in the 'Eldred' style with a 3 way switch.

The headstock was plain when I got it, so I thought I'd dedicate it to my good mate's little girl Lexi-Mae who was born with Edward's Syndrome and is currently defying the odds. Absolute little miracle.

Now known as the "Lexicaster"...

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xlp1/v/t1.0-9/12360041_984750424904341_1837860298129693647_n.jpg?oh=1f546fcaa5ec1e527786d51f10f6760b&oe=5732E521

Currently in the process of converting my USA 'California Series' Telecaster in to an Esquire, so I'll get a picture of that up when it's finished (hopefully in the next week or so).

So, any other Esquire owners out there?

Show me some pics!

Nunogilberto

Sweet!

TTony

This was my first one ... the p'up is an Oil City special and both the pots are push/pull (one to tap the p'up and one to bypass both controls).

Which I quite liked.

So then I made this one ... this time with a DiMarzio P90 sized HB

I made both the bodies (Ash) but cheated on the necks!

pj310

Love the headstock and name mate

benmurray85

esquires are great and as you found they really seem to excel as live guitars. I made a partscaster version which I loved and Ive also had a couple of custom shop fender ones.

Lewligan

TTony said:

This was my first one ... the p'up is an Oil City special and both the pots are push/pull (one to tap the p'up and one to bypass both controls).

Which I quite liked.

I'm genuinely in love with that @TTony - absolute beauty!

Loving the simple controls too.

Do you still have this one?

stimpsonslostson

Esquire thread? Asking for photos? Here's mine (again):

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b625/stimpsonslostson/Mobile Uploads/C1F4D151-73A5-42DC-9029-B1C59572041E_zpslkrmkawe.jpg

http://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/b625/stimpsonslostson/Mobile Uploads/E179C8F2-4EC9-401B-B75E-06FEF3FF6E34_zpssaowkecp.jpg

Eldred wired, truoil finish & Born To Run pick guard. Since these photos were taken it's been upgraded to an OilCity Fortyniner pickup- which is EPIC: the p'up was a late christmas present from MrsLostSon (- so I'm still taking part in the antiGAS challenge!)

Like you I'd always thought that tele's were too bright and cutting, but this sounds great & has become my main guitar.

TTony

Yup, still got it @lewligan.

Lewligan

Ah, sorry if there's already been another similar thread!

Probably should've checked.

Ah well, can never see too many Esquire pics

Glad that Fortyniner is being put to good use in such a lovely guitar @stimpsonlostson!

@TTony If for some crazy reason you decide you want to move that beauty on in a month or 2, give me a shout

TTony

Lewligan said:

@TTony If for some crazy reason you decide you want to move that beauty on in a month or 2, give me a shout

@Lewligan - apart from the fact that I rather like it, it's also got a tasty (aka expensive) neck on it, which would make it rather expensive!

Solid rosewood from Warmoth.  Expensive, but worth it!

stimpsonslostson

Lewligan said:

Ah, sorry if there's already been another similar thread!

Probably should've checked.

Ah well, can never see too many Esquire pics

Glad that Fortyniner is being put to good use in such a lovely guitar @stimpsonlostson!

@TTony If for some crazy reason you decide you want to move that beauty on in a month or 2, give me a shout

Bring on the Esquires! (I was referring to the fact that I've posted that picture before- people generally comment on my Totoro neck rest).

I'm a sucker for single pickup guitars, I've got a LP Jr (single P90) and a Pacifica 510v (p-rails: single coil/P90/HB in one p'up) too. Strangely I NEVER miss the neck pickup, I have got more adept with the controls though.

I love the colour of at Lew, and the headstock is a lovely idea- I've been debating what to put on mine. I have two daughters so was thinking a Freya Elliecaster might work.

longjaw

Here's mine:

Surf green Rosser sugar pine body

Might Mite neck

Seymour Duncan Broadcaster pick up

gavin_axecaster

First assembly - Mighty Mite V neck, Mighty Mite body, Tonerider Hot Classic Tele pickup with Eldred mod. Finished in shellac.
Weighs 6lb 12oz


My office open G guitar. Body and neck same as above currently sporting an Oil City prototype Tele P90 with Eldred mod. Finished with an ageing solution then shellac and Liberon black bison paste wax. Neck given a spritz of shellac and rubbed out with 0000 steel wool.
This one weighs in around 9lbs!

Lewligan

Loving that top one @gavin_axecaster!