I've just got in from our weekly rehearsal/set up session at our residency and I thoroughly checked out the Esquire on a number of tunes, comparing with my Custom 62 Telecaster and my new Harley Benton Telecaster each equipped with a tremolo system and it was quite clear that the Esquire lacks variation and reinforced my decision to do the 'stealth' pickup modification.
I have a Classic Vibe Telecaster which has a neck Humbucker rout. although it's a Tele pickup that's in there, so I'm going to use that body for my initial experiment, I'll fit DiMarzio Humbucker under the pick guard and wire it as a coil tap as well to give options. I'll then have a good idea if I want to take the router to the Esquire - or not.
I love these little projects and whilst I was doing the comparing, I tried my recently acquired Electro Harmonix 'Knockout' pedal, which is a Hi Pass & Low Pass Filter in pedal form and helps do the job of thinning out or fattening the sound in the manner I have been discussing in recent posts regarding getting accuaracy in Hank's early tone. I'm pleased to say that it works great and is a welcome addition to my rig. It certainly beats spending fortunes on different pickups and the hassle involved in swapping them out.