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Since I have talked with the luthier that wrked on my LP, I got serious GAS for a tele custom.

My first idea was to have esquire without carving and routing for the neck pup, a five way switch with fancy wiring, string through boody and made of local wood.

But yesterday, trying some stock american tele @ Sound control, it occured to me that I dig a lot more the neck pup than the bridge... hence my interrogation:

What would you think about an Esquire with only the neck pup? Would it give the same benefits sustainwise as a one bridge pup guitar, considering the magnetic field pull closer to the middle of the strings?

I personally believe that the sustain benefit of one pickup over two would be negligible. Why not give yourself the added versatility of two pickups?Plus, if you're going with a traditional Tele bridge, it'd look pretty funny with an empty pickup slot.


Originally Posted by MikeRockerI personally believe that the sustain benefit of one pickup over two would be negligible. Why not give yourself the added versatility of two pickups?Plus, if you're going with a traditional Tele bridge, it'd look pretty funny with an empty pickup slot.

Well, it would look something like this (see pic) as it would be custom made, so no empty slot.

I could do a one pickup guitar but there is now way I would do it like that. A Tele bridge pickup is a joy! I would do an Esquire (with the traditional bridge pickup) but I really enjoy the tone of both pickups at the same time. If your gonna get a Tele, just go with a traditional 2 pickup Tele, it will be far more versitile and it won't look goofey!

I have to ask though, only because most people are really unhappy with most Tele neck pickups (this can be seen with all the buckers, mini buckers and Strat pickups in the necks of Tele), what is it about a traditional Tele neck pickup that you really like?


Originally Posted by Jazz RockWell, it would look something like this (see pic) as it would be custom made, so no empty slot.

Do they even make Tele bridges like that? I've sure never seen one. What would the switch do?
If that's what you want, go for it, but in my experience it's nice to have guitars that are as reasonably versatile as possible. You never know when you might decide you need a bright, twangy Tele bridge tone. Not to mention the fact that when you play with a band or do any recording, sounds that are good by themselves can sound bad with a full band or mix, and vice-versa. Why not have the extra sounds available?

I really like the idea. I'm trying to decide myself, whether or not to make Patriot single-neck only. The Distortion in there sounds so good split, and with my quot;de-mud modquot;. The only thing I'd do different is maybe the bridge quot;stylingquot;. I quot;paintedquot; this up real quick. (I know - it shows a humbucker neck.)
wow, thats a fantastic neato
Reminds me of EVH single pickup guitars


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireI could do a one pickup guitar but there is now way I would do it like that. A Tele bridge pickup is a joy! I would do an Esquire (with the traditional bridge pickup) but I really enjoy the tone of both pickups at the same time. If your gonna get a Tele, just go with a traditional 2 pickup Tele, it will be far more versitile and it won't look goofey!

I have to ask though, only because most people are really unhappy with most Tele neck pickups (this can be seen with all the buckers, mini buckers and Strat pickups in the necks of Tele), what is it about a traditional Tele neck pickup that you really like?

What I liked in the neck pup that I tried is that it give me the twang without too much brightness. I found it more balanced than the bridge pup, that is actually quite nice, but I prefer the neck. it also had a jazzy edge I quite appreciated. Am I weird doc?

To come back to the one pickup axe idea, goofey look apart (thank you for this one TGWIF ), why people usually prefer a single bridge pup to a single neck pup?

Dude I live in Edinburgh too haha! Well I was there last year but I'm on holiday somewhere else. That Sound Control does have some sweet guitars. Have you ever had to deal with their guitar tech? What'd you think of him?
You're talking about the SC at Grassmarket right?
Sorry for hijacking the thread


Originally Posted by Jazz Rock. . . why people usually prefer a single bridge pup to a single neck pup?

I have a theory. I may be way off base. I think its the difference between whether or not you play in a band, or at home. In a band, the bridge pup has more quot;bitequot; to cut through the mix. At home, there is no mix. So the fuller, more filled-out tone is prefered.

Just my 2-cents worth.


Originally Posted by MikeRocker

What would the switch do?

Well the idea of the 5 way switch was originally for a bridge humbucker: nomal, parallel, first coil, second coil, out of phase.

Original idea in pic.


Originally Posted by PierreDude I live in Edinburgh too haha! Well I was there last year but I'm on holiday somewhere else. That Sound Control does have some sweet guitars. Have you ever had to deal with their guitar tech? What'd you think of him?
You're talking about the SC at Grassmarket right?
Sorry for hijacking the thread

That's the one. They do indeed have sweet guitars, I tried a Mc Carthy some months ago, I was on a little cloud. But about the 2 teles I tried yesteday, one had a poor finish with the switch cap already lost.

About the guitar tech, I had a set up done by him for my studio, he charged me £60 because he did a fret work, but at the end I still got some irritating buzz. Otherwise it is true that the playability was improved and I guess, as he did a standard set up, it might be that it doesn't suit my style.

I find that the team in overall is quite good and they are really cool to let people try the gear. Good shop.

I forgive you my son

I had the same problem with him. I ask for .10s and a full set up, he made me pay 70 for the strings fret level set up the Floyd's knife edges being repaired and it still had LOADS of buzz, and he put .09s... The guitar was seriously unplayable. Now I do it myself aside from the fret works and I've never been that happy
Yeah the guys there are quite nice indeed. I like this place.

I think it sounds like a cool idea. I have two one-pickup guitars and with a little turning of the pots they are very versatile. I think that has much to do with pick attack and adapting to what you have. The difference between an Esquire and a Tele is pretty significant, but that's the bridge pickup. I don't know what the scoop on a neck pickup only thang would be.

As for your question about why it's usually 'bridge pickup only,' I think it's because of tradition-minded guitarists and the fact that when a lot of people think 'Tele,' they tend to think of the bridge pickup sound first. Plus the Esquire was the first solid body electric guitar.


Originally Posted by PierreI had the same problem with him. I ask for .10s and a full set up, he made me pay 70 for the strings fret level set up the Floyd's knife edges being repaired and it still had LOADS of buzz, and he put .09s... The guitar was seriously unplayable. Now I do it myself aside from the fret works and I've never been that happy
Yeah the guys there are quite nice indeed. I like this place.

Parallel thread

I am doing the same, did you manage to get rid of the buzz?


Originally Posted by FalstaffAs for your question about why it's usually 'bridge pickup only,' I think it's because of tradition-minded guitarists and the fact that when a lot of people think 'Tele,' they tend to think of the bridge pickup sound first. Plus the Esquire was the first solid body electric guitar.

So basically, it is just a question of taste, the outcome would be similar to an esquire but with the neck sound?

Yeah... I got it strung with 10/52s in Amsterdam (the tech in Edinburgh said the neck wouldn't take .10s... :S... He was nice though but well...) and after I learnt how to set up my guitars myself as much as I could. The action is about 1mm, there is not that much relief and there is no buzz anywhere, even when tuned in C standard like I was 2 days ago I'm pretty proud of this setup. I use .11s now on it though but I think I'll buy a set of .10s and use a .50 or 49 on the low E, simply enough.
Mhmm ok let's stop this :P My take on the Esquire thing is that it could also be cosmetic. I think it looks much better with a single bridge pickup. Also a single pickup in the neck is always pretty bassy (though in Strats I admit it's not that bad) which may turn off many people.