Squier Sonic Esquire 3 Way Switch Mod

The Squier Sonic Series Esquire is different from the typical Esquire in that there isn't any switching. All you have it a humbucker, a tone and a volume. With this mod, you can switch a four wire humbucker from series to parallel and split. If you use an import switch, you will have to use a conversion chart for the solder slugs. The wiring diagram I used is linked below.
#squier #fender #telecaster #esquire
3 Way Switch Diagram: www.dropbox.co...

[@Guitarnivore]

3 way rotary switch mod with Seymour Duncan JB- kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYetpqSgm5V4l68

[@angusorvid8840]

I've always preferred guitars like this as mod platforms. I have a lot of parts from my 40 years of playing, including quite an extensive pickup collection of Duncans, DiMarzios, EMGs, PAFs and god knows what else. I'm a player, not a collector, so resale value doesn't even cross my mind. I believe in simple but practical guitar mods. Many top players use guitars like this as their workhorse a lot more often than fancy, schmancy axes. Trevor Rabin has used a heavily modded strat since the 70s. He still plays it. He's played other axes but still uses the strat. If it works it works.

[@Guitarnivore]

This is one of my favorites to grab when I just need an E standard bridge humbucker for high gain. It took a little work to get it how I like it, but I think it was worth it.

[@angusorvid8840]

No pickup can pop out so many great harmonics all over the neck like a JB, and I've owned more pickups than I can remember. @@Guitarnivore

[@Guitarnivore]

@@angusorvid8840 I put an Invader in this about a month ago. It's coming out in a few days and the JB is going back in. The Invader is cool...but it's just not a JB. It has the output, but it doesn't have the clarity.

[@cloudsss83]

oh man, you got a subscriber just because of the sepultura logo on the arm... i have myself the same tattoo on my calf

[@cloudsss83]

ps: i was flirting with this tele, but I got a voucher for a donner dmt-100. if i have watched your video first I might have this tele right now. great work and beautiful guitar!

[@Guitarnivore]

This tattoo is about 28 years old. Shortly after I got it, Max left the band. 🙁

[@TheFolkergeist]

By any chance, do you have the size of the bridge hole? I want to add an EMG pickup

[@Guitarnivore]

70.34mm X 38.9mm

[@TheFolkergeist]

@@Guitarnivore thank you very much!!

[@palm444]

Strongly considering getting one of these and making the same mod. Thanks for the diagram!

[@Guitarnivore]

You will NOT be disappointed. I've been playing the hell out of it and it's the second cheapest guitar I have. I would keep the 500k pots and .022 Capacitor. It gives the split such a bright and twangy sound.

[@marsmediapro]

@@Guitarnivore I totally agree with you about the 500k pots and cap!

[@Guitar-Geek]

JB pick ups. Just solder it properly and you will obtain hurricane in your guitar. Simple as "Here I am Rock you like a hurricane"!

[@attilathehun0]

I have 2 Teles with humbuckers and they have the coil tapping. Unfortunately no Tele Twang just the 60 cycle hum.

[@jasonwojcik]

Kids these days don't appreciate having a really good beginner guitar for a good price.

[@Guitarnivore]

Great sounding cheap amps, decent cheap guitars, free resources online to learn to play and maintain your guitar. I wish all of these things were available 30 years ago. I might be a better guitar player.

[@jasonwojcik]

@@Guitarnivore I'd be a better player if looper pedals existed when I started. The day I got a looper was the day ALL the theory made sense. 🤣 Now get off my lawn!

[@Guitarnivore]

@@jasonwojcik 🤣

[@discoreposession]

i do lol

[@CJJC]

Younger people having things better than we had is a good thing, especially considering how much of a mess everything else is for them.

[@markpell8979]

NEW SUB! I like your whole philosophy, at least what I know of it now. I mod my Squiers too and I enjoy all of that stuff. I've turned them into wonderful, personalized axes that are not necessarily for sale and which I would not trade now for similar Fenders. It's very interesting that you wired the hum coil as the active side of the split circuit instead of the usual signal coil. I never would've even thought of that and surprisingly it sounds great! Nice job.

[@Guitarnivore]

A few years ago I was buying just about every cheap, Squier I came across and did upgrades. I even modded my 50's CV with a better bridge and noiseless. I don't do it nearly as often as I used to, but I enjoy it. I didn't think to split the slug side. That's just how the wiring diagram was and I think it sounds great that way, more single coil sounding than it normally is. I had two nice MIM Fenders in the last year that I got for a great price on each....and I sold them because I never played them. They were nice guitars, but just boring to me. Thanks for watching!

[@markpell8979]

@@Guitarnivore Thank you for your thoughts and quick response. Someday I'll try that wiring trick. I assume you just swap the ground leads on the 4-conductor wire so when you go to your 'split' switch position the signal coil is grounded out of the circuit instead of the slugged coil. Fair enough? Thanks again, looking forward to following your channel.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@markpell8979 You can download the diagram in the description, but the bare ground gets grounded with the green like it normally does. It must be all in the switching and the crossovers for the norths and souths. I'm not sure how it all works with the three way switch because I usually use a push/pull for splits and I just follow diagrams. I do know when I was looking at the diagram and saw it used the slug, I was a bit apprehensive about that, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

It costs to much for a modeling platform.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

I want to buy a guitar that will play great and consider modeling.

[@stevencrash]

I'm thinking of putting my Seymour Duncan Phat Cat in the bridge but it's only 1 braided wire, any advice on installation? Diagrams? Anyone? ;)

[@Guitarnivore]

If it's only a two conductor wire, there is now you can split it. You could just wire it like factory with just a volume and tone and no switch.

[@dherdy9205]

Much appreciated for two great videos bruv , I'm 50 this year and well pops get his early for the party 🎉 What I plan to do is stub screws , pup , tuners , And when it feels butter in hands I'll do the 3 way plate mod , Subn dudes ❤ For Metal

[@Guitarnivore]

I'm only two years behind ya, I also did a mod with a rotary switch instead of the regular tele switch and it works great!

[@guyincognito741]

I have a 40th anniversary Squier Telecaster, I want those control knobs. Where did you get them, did you use the stock pots?

[@Guitarnivore]

Yes I used the stock 500k pots and .022 capacitor. These are the knobs I bought. amzn.to/3pTU0id

[@guyincognito741]

@@Guitarnivore thank you sir, love the videos. Just got the 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition. Going to put a humbucker in the neck position. 🎸

[@gregstimple8678]

Where did you get the shorter screws for the saddles? I have a paranormal Esquire Deluxe I'm looking for shorter screws.

[@Guitarnivore]

I bought the 6mm ones, but you may want to measure the ones in your deluxe so you don't go too short on them. amzn.to/3Os4TQR

[@richardtorres3299]

Monster Bolts has shorter screws for domestic and import.

[@mattpryor216]

what mod would you say is easier, this one or adding a bridge pickup and making it more like a regular tele? (assume cost is no issue)

[@Guitarnivore]

I would say it would just be easier to buy a regular sonic series Tele, unless you just really want the white and maple fretboard. The problem you'll find trying to switch over to a regular Tele bridge is the humbucker bridge is a bit longer and wider than your typical Tele single coil Squier or just about any aftermarket bridge. Screw holes may not line up and/or may be visible once you put a new bridge on it. Other than the bridge not fitting or sitting right, everything else would be rather easy.

[@ismachine_og]

Does anyone know what good bridge can I throw in there if I want to make mine string thru body?

[@Guitarnivore]

I don't know where Squier acquired the stock bridge, but it seems everyone I've seen on Amazon is a bit bigger in length and sometimes string spacing. The string spacing on the stock bridge is 52mm. This one [linked at the end] is the closest I've found, but it's still slightly longer so be aware of that before you buy. Your best bet might be to take some measurements and carefully drill the holes yourself, preferably with a good press and probably while it's still on the body so they match up perfectly. Then get some string ferrules or one of those bars you can mount to the back of the guitar to support the ball ends. With the thin poplar body of these guitars, I really don't think running string thru will make any tonal difference or increase sustain. I did it with a Squier Bullet Mustang and it resonated really oddly. Personally, I'd leave well enough alone, but it's your guitar and that's what matters. I hope whatever you do works out well. amzn.to/4cZLxx9

[@WTF-Cubing]

That sounds incredible. And looks beautiful. Definitely a fan of mods for personal flair. Kudos!

[@toneydavis9802]

Squire needs to change the logo to $quire - these guitars are money! I recently acquired 2 Squiers - a J MASCIS AND A bottom of the range jazzmaster. both are killer. Love your channel. I bought a Katana 100 MKii head after watching your video series. I would love to do a deep dive but dang, it takes pedals so well I cant stop playing long enough to plug it in to my computer.

[@Guitarnivore]

Nice. Glad you like the head. I have a 40th Anniversary Jazz as well as an active contemporary. Both don't get played nearly enough, but the 40th anny got some time in a video that'll be out later this week. Squier is killing it these days! Thanks.

[@pierangeloresta3755]

It is necessary to mount 250k pots or 500k pots are also fine?

[@Guitarnivore]

I always use 500k for humbuckers, regardless if I split them or not. If it's too bright in single coil mode, just roll back the tone pot a bit.

[@rocklandrevolution2139]

I'm so glad you did this video. I had tried this particular guitar in corpus Christi at a guitar center as is. But seeing this video has definitely encouraged me to buy one and to probably do a couple of mods myself. Would love to have you on my podcast show sometime.

[@Guitarnivore]

Thanks! Shoot me an email some time and maybe we can schedule something. [e-mail]

[@AndrewKondrakov]

are you using f-spaced humbucker?

[@Guitarnivore]

I'm using a standard one, but you can use an F spaced HB as well. Either way will work fine with the 52mm string spacing on the bridge.

[@PatrickGeneLeBlancHardy]

I thinking buying this same guitar & replacing the Humbucker with a P90 pick-up. What's your take on a P90 vs a Humbucker on this Guitar? Thanks For Sharing 🎸 💪

[@Guitarnivore]

You could put a humbucker size P-90 in without making any changes, but If you're going to do that, I would suggest a good HB size P-90, like Seymour Duncan Phat Cats. The cheap ones you can find on Amazon are just single coils in a humbucker casing.

[@gunthergunderson1379]

why not just use the truoil on the fret side? one of the ingredients is boiled linseed oil. I got a maple neck mustang prob from the same series and I'm thinking of redoing the whole neck, front, back and headstock with tru-oil

[@Guitarnivore]

Because truoil can be a little sticky even after it dries.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

You can use old English scratch and dent furniture polish instead of linseed oil .... I use the one for dark woods.... to put on the back of the neck/fret board after you sand it..... wipe on and rub in and wipe off....done/dry Takes less than a minute... will not stain hands or hardware.... gives it a natural aged look.... cheap and a bottle will last forever. Works good for rosewood fretboards also to condition and darkin up.

[@ivorytheband0]

What does the under bridge routing look like? I was wanting to add a standard Hardtail bridge with a ring around the pickup, nut don’t want a big hole from an angled single coil. Would that be possible?

[@Guitarnivore]

I did this just for you. A pickup ring would fit perfectly and line up pretty well with the existing screw holes in front of the pickup. However, you would have to find a bridge that would cover the 3 other screw holes. The outside ones are 80mm apart, so the center one is 40mm between them. freeimage.host/i/JoA62i7

[@ivorytheband0]

@@Guitarnivore thank you so much man!!! I hope you had a good thanksgiving :]

[@andrewbecker3700]

Maybe drill it for string through? Might thicken up the tones, especially in the coilsplit mode. Tru oil is the shiznit for unfinished wood. Gonna be hard to keep the fretboard super clean. I'd just keep applying the Tru oil and let it do its thing.

[@Guitarnivore]

I did a string through mod with an old Bullet Mustang. I don't think it made much of a difference. I may do the tru oil thing on the fretboard some day, but I need a fresh bottle. I did it on an old rosewood Affinity neck and it turned out really nice, but it was a bit sticky on the backside of the neck.

[@DredgenX]

/Spills dirt on the floor Better go get my RAZOR BLADE

[@Guitarnivore]

You've never cleaned old, dirty fretboards with a razor blade? It's one of the best ways to clean them. You just kind of lightly run it back and forth between the frets at about a 90 degree angle, scraping away any built up dirt that lemon oil doesn't get, especially right up close to the frets.

[@DredgenX]

@@Guitarnivore no never have thx

[@bass_journey]

How can I learn about wiring? Any tip?

[@Guitarnivore]

Seymour Duncan has a great wiring library and some tips and tricks to soldering and wiring. Just do a google search of "Seymour Duncan Wiring" and you'll have all sorts of choices to get you started.

[@stonkpuppets6393]

BULLET

[@ckbcustomshop]

you can also do this with a mini switch

[@Guitarnivore]

Cool. It's probably easier to do with a fender three way for most people.

[@fernandoforcada8401]

That T-shirt of Pink Floyd! Syd Barrett played a Squier in 1966-67, the mirrored! I have a Squier Butterscotch blonde with a single coil pickup like the original. Can't be happier with it!

[@Lalairu]

I saw a video from a guy who made the same thing, he built the body by himself I believe. It was a partcaster. How do you feel about the guitar itself? Is it good for the price?

[@Guitarnivore]

for $200, it's on par with the competition. After the work I put it, it's one of my favorites to play at the house.

[@Lalairu]

@@Guitarnivore thanks for the fast response :) I modded my CV 60s custom tele recently and I am so happy ❤️

[@Guitarnivore]

@@Lalairu I love the CV, Contemporary and Paranormal lines. I normally wouldn't mod a higher end Squier, but I did make a few changes to my 50's CV Tele with noiseless pickups, better electronics and a better bridge.

[@Lalairu]

@@Guitarnivore I also improved the bridge. I installed a SH1 in the neck, SD hot rail in the middle and baja tele pup in the bridge.

[@Guitarnivore]

@@Lalairu Nice! The pups the CV's come with aren't bad, but I can be picky when it comes to pickup and I like something that can handle a bit more gain than they're meant to.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

I'll buy the CV version and not worry about modeling

[@RC_Cola2020]

Whats the CV version?

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@RC_Cola2020"Classic Vibe"...an upscale series of Squier guitars which cost twice as much, but still cheaper than a Mexican Fender

[@newmanfertig886]

Can you explain how the "shorter screws" in the bridge and "radius fix" were accomplished? I'm assuming by that you mean you basically raised the middle saddles to unflatten them. Is that close?I would like to do the same thing. (Guitar sounds great now!). Thank you.

[@Guitarnivore]

That is exactly what I did. I used the shorter screws so they don't dig into my hand when playing. When adjusting the radius, I use a radius gauge. You can find them pretty cheap on Amazon. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y6rMc5V_r6ydjZo

[@ludmilla4778]

What are you talkin' about?? 8.2k ?? Mine has 16.1 kohms I have the indigo rosewood version but still.....8.2k ?!?

[@Guitarnivore]

Yes 8.2k on the stock pickup. What are YOU talking about?? Squier has never had a stock pickup that hot in a bottom end guitar. These are the same garbage green insulated 2 wire pickups they've been putting in every HH and HSS bottom line Squier forever.

[@Guitarnivore]

Even this guys ultraviolet indian laurel is only 8.16k : kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6acimiBZ8uFoa8si=WiChoPsmalrJymuB&t=317

[@ludmilla4778]

@@Guitarnivore not sure if I can upload a photo in the comments but mine has 16.1 kohm

[@Guitarnivore]

@@ludmilla4778 You buy it new or second hand? Here is the thing about Squiers. They're made in a factory where many other guitar brands are made. It makes me wonder if they may have run short on the stock pickup when that one was being made and just grabbed one from another brand and dropped it in there. Either way, that's great that you got a hot pickup. it sounds a lot better with a hot pickup, but Fender/Squier doesn't typically use hot pickups in any of their guitars, so that's why it strikes me odd. Mine currently has a Seymour Duncan JB, which is around 16k.

[@ludmilla4778]

@@Guitarnivore was brand new, when I was waiting for it to arrive I've already order another humbucker to replace it because I knew the squier will come with stock trash pickup.....but when I tested it sounded great , measured it and it shows 16k have you measured your pickup ? the stock one?

[@RadeGregov]

A newbie question: What is this configuration (single humbucker at the bridge) good for? What pros does it give to the sound? For what kind of styles/songs/sections is it good for?

[@Guitarnivore]

Single humbucker in the bridge is good for rock, metal, punk, but you can play clean as well. It's just a bit brighter at the bridge than at the neck. Neck pickups offer a warm, creamier sound to them. With this mod you can get a nice single coil sound out of the split, as well a scooped mid sound out of the parallel position.

[@sofanova6542]

Sounds great after pickup switched. I got Seymour Blackout and EMG 81 laying around for years, might get one of these Esquire myself so I can use those pickups... 🤔🤔

[@Guitarnivore]

Hell yeah! I have a SD Invader I pulled from a guitar I'm selling and I might drop that in a Squier mustang. I might have to see if I can find a rotary switch and achieve the same results in that.

[@marsmediapro]

Great mods! I got a great deal on one of these guitars on black friday. Your mods are on my list for how to improve my new Squire, after I finish mods on a few other guitars. Thanks for posting!

[@Guitarnivore]

Awesome! I just shuffled some pickups around and dropped a Seymour Duncan Invader in it and reused the JB elsewhere. The split doesn't quite work the same in the Invader as it did in the JB, maybe because of the overwound coils.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

If I wanted a good esquire I would buy a classic vibe version and not modify.

[@Guitarnivore]

Have you checked out the Paranormal Esquire Deluxe? kzbin.info/www/bejne/iabLfWuqoZyqfKs

[@Enemy_down]

i LIKEEEEE!!!!!

[@kdt85]

Thanks for the writing diagram, I think I'm going to do this with my esquire and hot rails

[@Guitarnivore]

I think you'll dig it.

[@SkeeterDigs]

Thank you 🤘

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

The problem is that players are having to modify before they plug into the amp.

[@jadslash]

Pickups are almost always a must. I do that on Gibsons

[@newmanfertig886]

Fender has them on sale now for $139. Hardly unfair to mod first IMHO.

[@SuperShecky]

Wanna send me that stock pickup?

[@Guitarnivore]

You can find better pickups on Amazon for $20.

[@samirshahid5846]

First like and comment 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[@kdt85]

Seymour, the house is on fire!

[@Guitarnivore]

No, mother. It's just the northern lights.

[@toneydavis9802]

Thanks!

[@Guitarnivore]

Thank you so much for that!!! It's always appreciated. 😃🤘

[@martinottley2395]

Is this a standard Tele switch plate with wiring mods please...I need to subscribe to get a wiring diagram I presume....I will do that if so as well worth it

[@Guitarnivore]

You don't need to sub to get the diagram. Here is a link to the diagram from where I obtained it: www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?attachments/esq_1h_ssp-jpg.579261/

[@martinottley2395]

@@Guitarnivore oh thank you. Really think your video are so helpful and interesting

[@Guitarnivore]

@@martinottley2395 Thanks. Glad you dig the channel!