Esquire switch in Les Paul switch spot.

[ItsaBass]

Hello,

Can anyone point me to a Les Paul style switch that has the function of an Esquire/Tele switch? Or maybe there is a way to pull off the Esquire wiring using a regular LP switch? If neither, then how about a switch with the Esquire's functionality that fits in the spot for a LP switch.

An Esquire switch works with a one pickup guitar to give you normal tone control in the middle, to bypass the tone pot when flipped one way, and a path through a preset tone circuit when flipped the other way. It only goes through the tone pot in the middle position.

Thanks.

[FuseG4]

you could use a no load tone pot on the bridge pickup to get the tone pot out of the circuit, and for the muddy-as-hell "bass" tone circuit it seems like there would be a way to do that with a push-pull volume knob that when engaged runs the pickup through a tone circuit, right?

[Funkfingers]

+1 for M Vol + Fender No-Load Tone control layout.

The Switchcraft-style three-way toggle selector does its stuff by parting sprung metal leaf contacts to eliminate the unwanted pickup from the signal path. (In plain English, it de-selects.) Hence, it is not physically capable of running a Fender Esquire circuit.

Another switch type that might do the trick is the 12-contact 4P3T on/on/on. The reason for needing so many contacts is to make all the necessary links for the capacitor/resistor networks in the "preset bass" muffled position.

[FuseG4]

I'm interested in what you want to do with this wiring idea. Is it for a Les Paul or SG?

[Funkfingers]

Itsa, just to clarify, are you talking three-way toggle selector switch into an Esquire or Esquire circuitry into a Gibson-style guitar ?

[ItsaBass]

Thanks, fellers. I'm thinking about possibly converting my Tele to an Esquire...but the Tele doesn't have the switch in the normal spot, nor is it the normal Tele switch. It is in the Les Paul spot, and it is a Les Paul style switch.

I can do all that other stuff, but I'd really like all of those options to just all be there on one switch, just like it is on a factory Esquire. I find it to be a great way to set up a control layout, especially for playing live. Plus I am already completely used to it.

Basically, I am trying to get my Tele to be a better backup for my Esquire, since I never use the neck pickup of the Tele anyhow.

[Funkfingers]

If your Tele has the 2 Vol, 2 Tone, three-way toggle pickup selector control layout, you can get what you want by altering the connections on the selector switch.

At present, the switch offers two pickup sources into one output cable. You could change this to send the one pickup through either set of control pots (or even both). Achieve the muffled setting by rolling one Tone pot fully off.

NOTE: The output path from the pots to the jack socket will also need altering.

[ItsaBass]

Hi, and thanks again.

No such luck, though that is a fun idea to try some day. The Tele has just two pots.

[Funkfingers]

Okay. Here's another suggestion.

On my PRS SE One, I replaced the stock volume pot with a push-pull. The out position engages a .022uF capacitor connected directly to ground for instant "woman tone".

[FuseG4]

Hmmm. Your best bet really is the no load pot of you don't combine it with the "push pull with a cap to ground". Just keep your switch glued to the bridge position and you'll have all three of the esquire settings available... but instead of a "muted" position on a switch, you get the best possible upgrade for an esquire: a neck pickup!!!

I use a no load pot on my strat's bridge pickup... it rules. I'm going to put one in my tele. It's easy to get used to and it's easier than just about any other mod.

The other mod is to find a SECOND ESQUIRE! That's the solution we're all dancing around

[Funkfingers]

find a SECOND ESQUIRE! That's the solution we're all dancing around

Nah. Buy a decent P-90. You know it makes sense.

[ArtieToo]

If you can live with the tone control remaining in circuit when you activate the preset tone circuit, (which wouldn't be a bad thing IMHO), then this is pretty simple: