Fender Esquire, pickupS?

[DrOctagon]

I've just gotten an Esquire (MIM 50's classic) and I'm thinking about turning it into a stealth Esquire since it's already routed for a neck pickup. Yes, I know this is close to sacrilege for some of you Esquire fundamentalists, but I feel it wouldn't compromise the simplistic design and would only add tonal possibility. So my question is what are some great pickups for this guitar in general, and in particular would just any neck pickup be able to pick the signal up from under the guard? Not looking to spend a fortune (preferably under $200) and I have a Vox AC15 - if that matters at all.

 

[Sweetfinger]

You'd want something with a strong magnet- an Alnico V or a steel pole with ceramic magnets. Even a rail would probably work well.
Route your cavity and use shims underneath the pickup until you've got the top flush with the pickguard. Certain pickup designs can be modified to get the coil up closer to the pickguard as well.

 

[AEROSNIFF]

I built one with a strat Seymour Duncan hot rail and was very pleased with it.

 

[DrOctagon]

I've heard a lot of good things about the Twisted Tele neck pickup but I'm wondering if it will be strong enough without a huge drop in volume. And Kenny what do you mean doubling as a percussive instrument? Every time I touch the pickguard it's going to make some strange noise?

 

[Boris Bubbanov]

been there done that why go there unless you want your pick guard to double as a percussive instrument every time you touch it

Kenny

Thank you!

Just try a Seymour STK T3b with 4 leads in the bridge spot. Wire it series parallel split. Sounds good to me.

Stealth defeats the whole concept, I think.

 

[rhinocaster]

Thank you!

Just try a Seymour STK T3b with 4 leads in the bridge spot. Wire it series parallel split. Sounds good to me.

Stealth defeats the whole concept, I think.

I ran a pickup under the guard several years ago and I experienced zero problem with the pickup reacting to finger pressure on the pickguard. I can't see how it would be a problem if the pickup isn't actually touching the guard (mine didn't).

 

[JohnK24]

I believe the Fender Custom Shop did this and used a Texas Special Strat pup.

Yep....here's the demo

 

[TresGatos]

I ran a pickup under the guard several years ago and I experienced zero problem with the pickup reacting to finger pressure on the pickguard. I can't see how it would be a problem if the pickup isn't actually touching the guard (mine didn't).

I've built three and have never had this issue. I can see it would be easy to achieve, though.

Best result (most usable for rock and blues) was with an EMG T-Bridge and a stealth EMG 85 in the neck. I do understand that EMGs are heresy at TGP.

 

[vortexxxx]

I think you might need stronger less traditional magnets for the stealth pickup if you want it to be close to matching your other pickup in volume. Like neodymium...