Anyone done it?
I'm
considering converting a MIM Std Tele into an Esquire-alike. I'm not after an authentic vintage-appearance instrument, more something with a slightly more modern twist. By using a MIM Std as the starting point I can have a 9.5" radius board, truss-rod adjustment at the headstock end, and six saddles (although a three-saddle bridge is still a possibility). So perhaps something like this...
https://m.imgur.com/KEkxffW(Image not mine. Something I found using google. Mods - hope this is allowed else i’ll delete.)
Pickup would definitely be replaced with something better. Not quite sure what at the moment.
Other thoughts are a single-ply scratchplate, and possibly ditching the blade switch altogether and just having volume and (no-load) tone controls. This slightly concerns me though - I like the idea of simplifying things by not having the normal Esquire tonal options but wonder if that's simplifying things too much.
I play guitar because I enjoy it rather than because I’m any good at it
Comments
Go here !
Mine comes with a Mojo pickup although I've not been told which one yet.
I shall be watching this thread with great interest.
Also, thanks for the info on the pickguard.
Position 1= cocked wah tone (great for rhythm & distortion)
2= standard Tele
3= bypass tone control
The harness came from OilCity & is brilliant.
I paired this with various pickups- Wilkinson, IronGear, OilCity FortyNiner... Finally I found the OilCity Alligator 90. It's AMAZING. My Esquire can do LP Jr to biting Tele.
I've sold several expensive guitars because this one is just "me".
An Esquire (other than a bound-body Custom) should always have a single-ply plate in my opinion, either 5-screw or 8-screw - it just looks 'cleaner'.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Hope that helps... It's really hard to describe tonal differences.
http://www.axecaster.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_20&products_id=125
https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--kbhLAoEW--/a_exif,c_thumb,f_jpg,fl_progressive,g_south,h_226,q_auto:eco,w_226/v1509645879/trqbgh8x4ylvmoppcmbc.jpg
Thanks for that. I’m now leaning towards either Oil City’s Alligator 90 or their Kayman 90.
Edit - just ordered the Alligator 90.
I'm dreadful for having ideas but never carrying them out. Now I’ve got some bits coming this one should actually happen.