Esquiring a Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster

Esquiring a Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster with a 47000 pF capacitor and a Dimarzio Chopper T humbucker.
Turn on annotations for explanations.
Esquire Wiring diagrams: www.tdpri.com/f...
Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster Butterscotch Blonde amzn.to/2uA38KD
DiMarzio Chopper T amzn.to/2u0PXB8
Fender 3-way switch amzn.to/2uuMStP
47000 pF capacitor amzn.to/2t7Bi41
Esquire pick guard amzn.to/2u16KUz
Cleartone strings amzn.to/2u0TU8G
Planet Waves lemon oil amzn.to/2u1hjp1
Dunlop guitar accessory pack amzn.to/2t7MYno
How to restring a guitar: • Change strings - strin...
Photo of the finished guitar: www.flickr.com/...

[@wesmatron]

Watching someone work as cleanly and meticulously as you hypnotises me.

[@MrLespaul1963]

Thanks for putting the video together. A lot of players appreciate the simple sensibility of the Esquire, Billy Gibbons being one of them. The Les Paul Jr. is of the same aesthetic. As Esquires of any manufacture are hard to find and generally overpriced, you did the kindness of illustrating perhaps the easiest and cheapest DIY way to get there. Again thanks.

[@stan2211stan]

Roy Buchanan preferred Lemon Pledge. That's a fact face. Roy's Telecaster arguably is the most famous of all of 'em and it's a SIN that California didn't call the Reissue the Roy Buchanan Model.

[@MeatyM8]

should've put in a Esquire pick guard

[@Marmelademeister]

Ryebread Boy He could have done it, but why would he mess up a beautiful guitar...

[@turbine3780]

Marmelademeister because now there's a massive gaping pickup hole on the pickguard

[@1980bwc]

Marmelademeister How would it mess up the guitar? You can buy new pickguards cheap.

[@JacksonDukes]

It’s really hard to find an esquire pickguard that will fit an affinity

[@elymolloy8333]

@@JacksonDukes I build partscasters. It most certainly is not. At all.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

Waaaaay too much lemon oil, bro! And you're wasting it on a maple fretboard, anyway. Lemon oil is for unvarnished fretboards such as rosewood. Just a few drops on a clean rag and then wipe the fretboard... let it soak in a few minutes and wipe. NOT A FEW DROPS PER FRET!!!

[@tacojiminez7243]

The amount used is fucking irrelevant. The time it sits is what matters. But yes, oiling a fucking poly-coated fretboard is retarded. Like everything about this shit video.

[@tacojiminez7243]

TheTRUTH That's your best? MEDIOCRE

[@tacojiminez7243]

TheTRUTH Better, but still not terribly interesting. You bore me.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

Taco Jiminez Holy crap do you suck at insults... you are indeed sorry... a sorry-ass pinhead.

[@MisterGuitarItalia]

Taco Jiminez You're an absolute beginner... can't even get myself to waste good wit on your sorry self... you wouldn't get it anyway.

[@ml414skidoo]

Appreciate the good camera work and quality video. I bought an Affinity to strip it, upgrad parts but the stock bridge pickup was responsive/hot. String through bridge plate works good with no flex in the plate as holes are drilled low at body level. Neck pickup is a bit weak so would replace that. Raised it but still poor response. 3 way switch was damaged/bent so the bridge pickup stopped working/selecting. should have spent the extra $5 and used a proper one for what it's worth..

[@stephengent9974]

So how is putting in a humbucker Enquiring the guitar?

[@DucksDeLucks]

I've got an Affinity just like that. Just bought it. It's hard to tell the difference made because you're using a pedal. It would be great if you demo'd the different clean tones for the different settings. I think it sounds pretty good stock though perhaps a little shrill and I think you can hear the wood -- which may be good or bad according to taste.

[@74dartman13]

Thanks for the video! I don't think I'll do away with my neck pup and Esquire my Tele, but upgrading the selector switch and a dual blade humbucker in the bridge is definitely in my plans. I'd like to do a coil split option on the bridge pup so I can still get that single coil sound as well as the humbucker too! Do you prefer the bridge with 6 single saddles over the old style with 3? Thanks for any response! 👍😎🎸🎶

[@bradowens4052]

Beast mode brother

[@adamstudios]

Like I've said before, I'm aware of this discussion. This is an unfinished neck, and I use very little oil just to clean it. The results have been great over many years on several guitars. Don't use it on maple necks with polyurethane finish.

[@adamstudios]

The DiMarzio? It's still in this guitar, yes!

[@alexalmeida4553]

Muito bom o Vídeo, me ajudou muito. Obrigado!

[@asr1143]

one stupid question: i have a telecaster which was built piece by piece with emg pickups solderless, if one day i wanna change the pickups to solder pickups, do i have to buy a new plate and pots? i have to solder to something right?

[@bilalnachabeh]

you replaced only the switch, are the pots good and do not need replacement?

[@adamstudios]

they're ok but not great. they sound fine but wear out if you use them a lot.

[@bilalnachabeh]

@@adamstudios Oh.. I always use the tone and volume knob :p

[@gogiants123]

never cut the strings like that at full tension. it's horrible for the neck. you need to graduate the tension off then cut them. also, why would you put on the original pick guard at the end. you're supposed to buy an esquire pick guard so it looks like an esquire. now it just looks like a telecaster with a hole and a missing neck pickup, which looks silly and defeats the purpose.

[@Hanb1800]

Because it's his own guitar and he'll do what he wants with it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I do agree with the string part though, that could harm the neck as well as cut you if it hits you wrong.

[@SiIentwater]

He cut one string after the other, so he was gradually reducing the tension...

[@Hanb1800]

True, but that could put tension on side of the neck. Doing that shouldn't really cause much, if any harm though.

[@nickfanzo]

there's actually test videos to see if this is true and nothing bad ever happen.

[@pjm329]

Nothing bad ever happened by loosening the strings first either.

[@sknowman5]

Can the same thing be done with a fender squier california series telecaster?

[@ikerzarate2335]

what did yo use at 6:08 ?

[@mikecorey8370]

These are good sounding and playing guitars. But re-stringing it will dry you nuts due to the saddles. Change them, or get the body drilled to allow strings from the back.

[@SrSaraviaMusic]

+Mike Corey Could you recommend good saddles?I was thinking about the Ashtray bridge... Thanx

[@mikecorey8370]

+Sr.Saravia! Yeah. Go with that one with the offset saddles. They make it easier to intonate.

[@SrSaraviaMusic]

Thanx a lot for your advice :-) I was thinking about to buy a proper Tele(I will)but I'd like to experiment on my Squire... Cheers!

[@Hoopermazing]

If by "taking care of" you mean play it hard as hell and then throw it in the back of a van, I agree. This is a Telecaster... not a tarted up prissy Les Paul.

[@Question_Authority]

This is fun!

[@AudiA3S]

maple neck and lemon oil ?

[@orcaflotta7867]

Linseed oil would've been better?

[@transforminggravity15626]

Cool 💯💯💯💯👏👏👏👏👏🎸

[@brudla]

I´d love to listen that DiMarzio pickup with real amp, no that battery powered shit.

[@adamstudios]

This particular model is very cheap and doesn't come with the greatest pickups. Also, the twangy Tele sound is really more a result of where the bridge pickup is placed on a Tele. Put a different pickup in the same position and it will sound more brilliant, or bassy, or raunchy, more or less noisy or whatever, but it will still have that twangy timbre to it. So, I guess the point is, make it sound unique, maybe less noisy, but it's still a Tele :)

[@gijsvandersluijs]

Doctor Guitar!

[@attilathehun0]

oh yeah humbucker in bridge

[@RicardoMartinsSaraiva]

Not good sound

[@pgroove163]

the affinity is the best tele

[@bradowens4052]

Dollar for dollar best Guitar maybe ever

[@HatsDownProductions]

no, the one you removed

[@1980bwc]

This video has to be a joke! Somebody please tell me it's a joke! I didn't even know Acme made amplifiers.

[@mcafeehammocks890]

Chinese?

[@shawnhuff3597]

I'm ashamed of you that is a squire telle there is no hope for you buy a real American vintage 52 fender telle I have one it's better than anything you have

[@djynfxxbdhtbrn6854]

dude... puctuation is a thing.

[@orcaflotta7867]

Punctuation as well as Capitalizing where appropriate. *cough cough*

[@djynfxxbdhtbrn6854]

+Orca Flotta Oh... Sorry

[@lentil5176]

Fender bullshit is so overrated it's not even funny. Fender SUCKS, their pickups suck, their bodies suck, their pots suck, their tuners, tremolo, etc. Literally only thing good about them is the stratocaster idea. Literally the best at NOTHING, there is always a brand that makes something for their guitar that is better than what they put in it. Only good thing they did was design

[@howlcoproductionhdfi]

I ordered a Esquire pick guard from eBay all black no core ... looks awesome also installed a Seymour Duncan Broadcaster vintage bridge p’up and did a Eldred mod/Danny Gatton double tone cap mod and reversed the banana plate .. just love the sounds I can get

[@pireteddy]

I never understood those people who cut the strings in the middle when they replace it... Why !!?? Too much money, may be..

[@skaman125]

Easier to pull the ball end out with out the twisted end from the tuners.

[@NathanHassall]

*you can always use a firehose to apply the lemon oil to the fretboard*

[@Dannyk-jh8lv]

You magnificent bastard!

[@Music_is_fun]

I prefer the paint roller for that, it uses more of my time finding one for each fret space size😎

[@ThorCarlton]

No one says "Gibson Epiphone", why the hell do people say "Fender Squier". I hate that. It's either a Fender or a Squier.

[@joemurphy3308]

Thor Carlton Squier is wholly owned by Fender, while Epiphone is not owned by Gibson.

[@geetarbube]

Thor Carlton It's Squier by Fender...right on the headstock

[@geetarbube]

Joe Murphy Epiphone is most certainly owned by Gibson. Has been for a VERY long time.

[@bradowens4052]

Fender does put their name on the head stock... I do see your point about the same to you today and do I agree to a legal state yes I some how is agree with your conclusions. Live music before the tip! Don't day Episode Gibson custom?

[@jerrodrushford2503]

Too much lemon oil. I use a drop of two for every couple of frets

[@adamstudios]

Totally agree, except a guitar tech shouldn't scratch someone else's guitar - no matter how invaluable it is. That's why I show people how to set up their guitars without scratching them. The finish is actually the worst part of these cheap guitars, so the faster it comes off, the better :) I'm not easy on my guitars when I play them, but when I adjust them I'm pretty anal about it. Also agree about relic-ing - beat it up on stage, at the bar, etc.

[@wakeboarder860]

You don't need to oil a maple board. They are already finished. I know that brand of oil shows a maple board on the label. But oil is only necessary for unfinished boards, like rosewood or ebony. If you continue to do that I've heard it turns the finish a gross yellow color.

[@frankfitzpatrick5300]

Please get an esquire pickguard . Done

[@Buelligan88]

I didn't even notice that. I just naturally assumed he used one.

[@Xcorgi]

I thought you were going to replace the neck pickup as well. All you did was remove the original and leave an open hole. What the fuck?

[@MikeJones-oe3do]

An esquire tele have only on pickup,

[@Xcorgi]

Mike Jones Good point however Esquires don't have hum bucking hot rails where the single coil should be. As long as your being technical about it then be true to the Esquire. Not that the hotrail isn't a huge improvement.....

[@raymondwilliams2609]

I found this video more explanatory than an awful lot that are on KZbin; and.....YOU DIDN'T SPEAK A WORD! To many people on KZbin are telling you what to do when they should be SHOWING you! Take note people-PUT UP OR SHUT UP!

[@thexplode7]

I don't think the pickup should be that low. Don't use lemon oil on maple, it is on instructions. Last when esquiring a tele use the proper pickguard pls for aesthetic.

[@adamstudios]

Thanks! This particular Tele is really inexpensive - the original pickups are ok but not great. Check out 77kelvinsmith's videos, he plays a stock Affinity Tele - sounds pretty damn good if you ask me (like they say, "it's in the fingers".) Watch FruduaTv's videos and learn how to setup your guitar, that's more important than the pickups. For its price this is a pretty good guitar in my opinion.

[@TheTacdriver]

Here is how to ruin a nice guitar! Good thing it only costs $200 bucks. I just bought one of these and I will not do anything like this to it!

[@WolfgangKeim1]

Why do you put oil on a sealed fretboard?

[@adamstudios]

you do realize this is a battery powered 1 watt amp without any pedals in a 600 sq ft room recorded with a cheapo point & shoot cam? plug it into a real amp ==> blow minds

[@michaelmace924]

It's good work but would sound a world better if you got that cheap wiring out of there & upgrade caps🤷‍♂️

[@defakosgr]

lemon oil @ a maple finger board?! EXTREMELY WRONG!!! It damages the lacquer finish. Please people... DO NOT TRY THIS @ HOME... Maple fret boards do have lacquer finish, even if you can't see it.

[@TheTacdriver]

never use anything containing oil on a maple fretboard.!!! You would be better off using soap and water!!!

[@Xcorgi]

Seriously, after all that work and putting in a Dimarzio humbucker I couldnt believe just how shitty this thing sounds when you play it. You mean with those mods, all you could get is a pissy little fuzz tone out of that? Either that or your amp is a piece of shit. What a shame.

[@ghostdriver7558]

Esquiring it ? They didn't have rail hum buckers in 1950 !

[@DrainpipEProductions]

Anyone who would be prestigious enough to guitar tech for Paisley would be more professional than randomly calling people out on youtube and insulting them. And your statement COULD be right but probably isn't because Fender makes Brad his own signature telecaster so he wouldn't really need to modify a crappy guitar when they've already built one to his exact specs. These are just my thoughts because, frankly, I hate his music and don't listen to him much XD

[@adamstudios]

It sounds and feels different - no magnetic field from the neck pickup, etc.

[@Bodie007]

The ambient sound is nice during consruction and that thing jams!

[@xboxXXliveXXfreak101]

i dont want to make any one mad or and thing but why do people cut the guitar strings when i change my guitar strings i save them for if one breaks

[@77kelvinsmith]

And what is the whole point of all this ?. The Affinity sounds great as it is, leave it be , check out all my videos to prove a point.

[@UrAverageJ0E]

Its honestly hilarious how clueless this guy is.

[@AvengedSe7enfold96]

I'll be putting a Seymour Duncan '59 in the Bridge of my Tele soon, and get a Duncan Hotrail for the neck :3

[@theo_moll]

Check out the chapman ML-3

[@bradowens4052]

Man that sounds super cool. Good luck with the hot rod of your guitar! Got hot rail bridge and going to put Benson custom in neck and middle. You got it a custom Nashville Squire Tele?

[@tjnugent62]

Have you ever thought of replacing the bridge?

[@32000BTUGasGrill]

This was a helpful video, thanks

[@GerardoPradoSegura]

Did you loose the strings before cut them? it's a bad idea to cut them if they're not loose

[@tatialo37]

Cool! An STP sticker would've covered thepickup hole tho!

[@1thess523]

Just picked one up for $65 at a pawn shop!

[@bradowens4052]

Got one for 80 on Craigslist list it is me project guitar. Upgrading the holidays out of it.

[@bordebomb6631]

this is like gold plating a turd

[@bradowens4052]

If a third plays great than gold plated brass hardware it.

[@adamstudios]

Oh - I kept the original pickups as spare parts, yes. But I don't like the way they sound, so I don't think I'll ever use them...

[@rivulus]

adamst

[@vintagevanhalen5394]

why so serious?

[@VictorAvinashSinha]

Why did you esquier it? You could just keep the neck pickup

[@ThunderboltFan2000]

Can you convert that bridge to a twang bridge 4:32

[@KC9KEP]

Helpful video, thx :-) PS: "insulation"

[@davekeating.]

You were correct to dump those bloody awful “fridge door” magnetic strip type pickups! I see your replacement pickup is 4-wire - be great to have “split” option on a 4-way switch? To complete the “Esquiring” a vintage style bridge - brass 3-saddle style - and string through is a must…

[@tyecook9630]

Why Esquire a tele?...it was born with two pickups for a reason...It's a fuckin tele...leave it alone and buy an Esquire okay?..it's just my opinion and that doesn't make it right but it's mine nonetheless, but I really think if you buy a tele you should leave it the way leo intended it...

[@SenOrSmiFfy]

You did not just put lemon oil on a maple fret-board.

[@KudosCultureCartel]

sounds wayyy better than the original

[@GUB3]

WTF LIONEL MESSI PLAYING TEHE GUITAR AHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[@NoStringsAttached777]

How do you find the fret ends on the Affinity version? Have read that they can have rough ends on them.Also, I noticed that you have screwed the bridge down at the front only. I think this is the opposite from the norm. Is there a reason you have done this?

[@rsears78]

Bridge is too new, it needs some patina

[@jayrobb9]

I 'Esquire'd' an Affinity Tele once. Then after a few months realized the IDEA of having an Esquire was much more fun than actually HAVING an Esquire and switched it back. It was fun doing the actual work, though.

[@loon2u4fun]

That had occurred to me. I thought about esquiring my affinity and adding a GFS "bigsby" style tremelo. But was affraid it would turn into just a unique wall hanger and not get played/

[@dustyboots2693]

I did the very same mod just yesterday, on the very same guitar. I left the factory bridge pup (a replacement will come soon) and I actually like the sound I have now. I enjoy very much the "fake neck pup" position (never liked the stock neck pup though). maybe it's soon to tell it, but I think this mod is a keeper.

[@BretAmes]

Great Video, Thank you. It seems to have more sustain than my Affinity Tele. Is that because of the distortion you are using, or is it the new Pickups? Cheers

[@djynfxxbdhtbrn6854]

would linseed oil or cooking oil work for oiling the fretboard? that's all I have and I can't be bothered to go out.

[@joshdaddy7350]

Wtf that hurt watching him cut the strings

[@Xcorgi]

It you're referring to the Classic Vibe Squier series; hell yes! Whether it's the Strats, Teles, or basses(Jazz & Precision);these guitars are in most cases actually better than some of the current American made Fenders; both in build quality and in sound.The Chinese factory where these are built are reproducing the same high quality masterpieces that Fender did back in the 80's in the Japanese plant.The Am made Fenders are really slipping in quality and these CV Squiers are kicking their butts!

[@adamstudios]

This Marshall MS-4ZW came with an Epiphone Zakk Wylde Pee Wee Les Paul which I received as a gift. You can buy them at most local guitar/music stores or at Thomann's for around 30 bucks. Search for Marshall MS-4 (there's also a smaller one called MS-2, they are both pretty awesome!)

[@SodorValleyProductions]

Do you plan on adding an Esquier pickguard? I apologize for the two comments but the other one posted before I finished.

[@adamstudios]

You also need to consider the length of the bridge, etc. I can't post links here, but google "Easiest upgrade for Affinity bridge and/or saddles", the first result should take you to a thread in the Squier-Talk forum - this should be helpful.

[@adamstudios]

Of course, which is why it's called "cleaner" :) But seriously, it does clean unfinished fretboards very well. From the verndor's description: "Planet Waves Lemon Oil is a natural cleaner and conditioner formulated to remove dirt, grease and build-up from unfinished woods on all string instruments. It's particularly recommended for use on fretboards and unfinished woods." I would not use alcohol to clean a fretboard as it will dry out the wood. If you do, even more so you should apply lemon oil.

[@adamstudios]

Interesting point - yes, this brand shows a maple board on the label (Planet Waves Lemon Oil Cleaner & Conditioner by J. D'Addario.) I have been using it on rosewood and maple necks for years (most of them unfinished.) It has helped me clean necks that hadn't been used in a long time. None of them have turned yellow, but I do agree: fat and sweat from your fingers are the best finish for your guitar's neck (and will add character!)

[@adamstudios]

The Esquire was the first Fender guitar - it looked like the Telecaster, but had only one pickup, a bridge pickup. The pickup selector was used to roll the tone off, to create a more bassy sound (there were no electric bass guitars, yet.) So, to Esquire means removing the neck pickup and changing the wiring to how they built these guitars in the 1950s.

[@Hoopermazing]

Point taken about the guitar tech thing... I'd imagine that would make a customer rather salty. I was, of course, referring to one's own Tele.

[@adamstudios]

@77kelvinsmith you're right, I also have a vintage white one like yours and I absolutely love it! I wanted to have a guitar I'm NOT comfortable with, to improve my playing. I don't like humbuckers, and I don't like the sound of bridge pickups, so I put one in the bridge position and removed the neck pickup. But guess what, this guitar SINGS now, and with the rolled off tone through a fuzz it sounds insane (other than that I'm more the plug-it-straight-into-the-amp kinda guy.)

[@sbrave]

I have the same Tele and that pickup switch is already shot after 6 months. ($9 for a new Fender switch) I like the sound/feel otherwise.

[@adamstudios]

I did replace the pickguard with a $25 Warmoth pickguard without a neck-pickup hole - I think it looks great. There's a link to a photo of the finished guitar on flickr in the description of the video (sorry, can't post links in the comments.)

[@GuniMusicChannel]

You can't use lemon oil on maple :0

[@valadez191]

I'm pretty sure most if not all maple fretboards are finished, so oil was indeed the wrong choice, I'm not sure about alcohol though, maybe naphtha? Dunlop's Lemon Oil even has a warning about using on maple on the label.

[@defakosgr]

then, in the void of the neck pickup, you can keep your money...

[@adamstudios]

You could, but the original Esquire also had the pickup switch wired so you could roll off the tone or bypass the tone control completely.

[@Sergent44]

what does it mean to Esquire ?

[@SodorValleyProductions]

Very interesting to see the change here. The Esquier has always been a great looking and sounding guitar. One question though,

[@DutchVanHelsing]

COCKBURN !!! SHUT IT !

[@MrMcpoop1234]

Oh I'm modifying one of the cheapest squiers, better protect it from scratches!

[@bilparanormalinvestigator5696]

cutting the string is gonna Scratch the finish you savage! lol. good video tho.