Best pickup for an Esquire?

[BadgerDave]

Some of you may remember Jol's article in Premiere Gutar Magazine discussing the advantages of single pickup guitars. The idea of eliminating the magnetic field of a neck pickup and a very simple control path resonated with me. I also think guitars like the Firebird I, LP Jr. and Esquire look damn cool.

So, I assembled a few parts-o-Esquires to test Jol's theories.

This one is a little "out-there". It's a thinline black korina body and solid rosewood neck. I used a Barden "plus" tele pickup and it works really well. Not a classic Fender tone, but good.

I tried the same Barden pickup in a second build and it didn't work as well. This one is a swamp ash body and maple neck. I wanted this one to be a traditional Fender design with a tone to match. The Barden is too "hi-fi" and doesn't chime. The only other Tele bridge pickup I have on hand is a Rio Muy Grande. Great pickup, but not in this application. I'm looking for a woody, balanced tone with some of the sizzle dialed out. Since there's no neck pickup to blend in warmth, I need something that isn't overly bright but still sounds like a vintage tele. Any recomendations?

[Hackubus]

I've got a Lollar Special T pickup in my Esquire. It'll do the Tele thang, and has a passable P90 type growl when I throw some dirt against it.

[tomteriffic]

Dave, a lot of folks pooh-pooh it, but my T-51 fits that general description and the Duncan Broadcaster is perfect in it. Especially as you describe the tone you're after.

[JohnnyB]

I have a guitar buddy who was smitten by a 1951 Esquire but put off by its $13,000 price tag. So he decided to build an equivalent with the exact same recipe--one-piece extra light ash body, baseball bat maple neck, high thin vintage frets, cloth-covered wire, Bakelite pickguard ... and for the pickup he had Lindy Fralin handwind one for him. It's been about 12 years, but I think Lindy underwound it by 5% or so. If you decided to go this route, contact Lindy directly and tell him what you would like. I'm sure he could give you just what you want.

[hardheartedbill]

Lil puncher hooked up to 3 way switch

[cmatthes]

Lil puncher hooked up to 3 way switch

This recipe works for me.

Way affordable too!

[serial]

+3 on the GFS. Not exactly Tele vintage sound, but I have these in all of my Teles. No hum=nice for gigs.

[bubs_42]

Dave, a lot of folks pooh-pooh it, but my T-51 fits that general description and the Duncan Broadcaster is perfect in it. Especially as you describe the tone you're after.

I love that pickup. I turned my T51 into an esquire and left the bridge pup stock.

[hamerican gigolo]

Van Zandt True Vintage. I have one in my parts tele & the sound is totally righteous.

[burningyen]

Maybe a SD Quarter Pound?

[JohnnyB]

Some of you may remember Jol's article in Premiere Gutar Magazine discussing the advantages of single pickup guitars. The idea of eliminating the magnetic field of a neck pickup and a very simple control path resonated with me. I also think guitars like the Firebird I, LP Jr. and Esquire look damn cool.

I can attest to the benefits of a single coil pickup. I had a G&L L-1505 for awhile; it's configured like a 5-string single-bucker Stingray. Without the neck pickup the neck/body attachment is solid and uncompromised, while the single pickup down and away from where the string oscillates the most factors out much of the magnetic pull. I was shocked at how much more sustain this single pickup bass had.

[Jimbilly]

I had a fifties Fender Champion lap steel I sold to a guy who used it for parts for an Esquire type tele. I still have a '48 Fender Champion, but I need to get the pickup repaired, it's a zero ohm pup right now.

I understand the pickup is basically a tele/broadcaster pickup with a different base plate, and the base plate can be changed. You'd pretty much use all the guts from the lap steel, I think all those old Champions are becoming esquire parts. You buy the Champion for $600 ish, take the parts, rebuild it using new pots and pickup, and resell it for $300-$400. I'd do that if I were doing an Esquire.

like this, but this one is too clean/nice to part out.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/msg/2606534001.html

[Bloozguy]

Try a Seymour Duncan Five-Two. Alnico 5 magnets on the three low strings and Alnico 2 magnets on the three high strings. They designed this for Brent Mason around ten years ago and it's a killer sounding Tele bridge pickup.

[jaberwock]

I'm intrigued, how do you think the solid rosewood neck affects the tone ? I'm assuming it's Indian.

Bare Knuckle make fantastic Tele PU's, contact Tim he's really helpful.

Jaberwock

[Jakeboy]

Contact Aaron at rumpelstiltskin pickups and tell him what tone you want....he will nail it as he is an expert at winding Fender type pups. I have 2 sets in my Teles and love them. He winds a 50s Blackrope Broadcaster that would be perfect in an Esquire. I have one in my main Tele and it rocks! Sound clips on his site.

[BadgerDave]

I'm intrigued, how do you think the solid rosewood neck affects the tone ? I'm assuming it's Indian.

Jaberwock

The neck in the photo is a cocobolo baritone neck. Since replaced with a solid Brazilian rosewood 25 1/2 scle neck. I expected it to add resonance, sustain and clarity. I think it does, but it could be a biased perception based on the fact that I paid a $hitload of money for the neck and I very much do not want it to suck. Seriously, it sounds really good. Balanced, clear, round and thick. The neck vibrates in you hand like it runs on battteries.

[zenmindbeginner]

Try a Seymour Duncan Five-Two. Alnico 5 magnets on the three low strings and Alnico 2 magnets on the three high strings. They designed this for Brent Mason around ten years ago and it's a killer sounding Tele bridge pickup.

+1 - I just picked up the custom shop stacked noiseless version of this, I'm really excited about it... I've been jonesing for one for a while now.

[JGale]

"So, you must have learned a lot in law school - because I got off just by looking at you." ?

[jaberwock]

I'm intrigued, how do you think the solid rosewood neck affects the tone ? I'm assuming it's Indian.

Jaberwock

Since replaced with a solid Brazilian rosewood 25 1/2 scle neck. I expected it to add resonance, sustain and clarity..

Holy $hit that must have cost the best part of a grand !! probably a good investment though .

Jaberwock

[Bloozguy]

Try a Seymour Duncan Five-Two. Alnico 5 magnets on the three low strings and Alnico 2 magnets on the three high strings. They designed this for Brent Mason around ten years ago and it's a killer sounding Tele bridge pickup.

+1 - I just picked up the custom shop stacked noiseless version of this, I'm really excited about it... I've been jonesing for one for a while now.

There's one of the original Five-Two pickups on Minneapolis Craigslist for $50.

SD Five-Two

[BadgerDave]

Thanks for all of the great suggestions!

I decided to try a Fralin Hybrid Broadcaster first.