Upgrading Squier Strat |
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Upgrading Squier Strat |
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Jan 10 2018, 03:41 PM |
I have an '87 Squier that one of my main players.
The most obvious thing I did to it was strip the body. It was black. I kept the hardware but I did change out all the electronics: pkups, pots, caps, wire. The pkups now are Fender 'Robert Cray' neck and middle and a Seymour Duncan '59 Custom' (F-spaced) bridge. *I tried probably a dozen different bridge HB pkups before settling on the SD. Also, the Robert Cray pkups are outstanding trad Strat pickups that you can find pretty cheap. Anyway, great guitar all around. I put a Fender decal on the headstock. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 10 2018, 03:42 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 10 2018, 06:21 PM |
Wow that's some beautiful wood structure - wonder why they choose that piece for a black body?! My thoughts exactly. My 'guess' is that is was originally intended to be a normal, USA Strat but the mid 80s were a weird time for Fender. They bought back the company from CBS and they changed factory locations in the states. A lot of parts were sent to Japan to be finished and assembled there and then came back to the USA. The order probably said something like, "100 black Strats, 50 candy apple red, 50 shell pink", etc. No one paid any attention to the wood (obviously). *They also made some of the first Squier's in the USA . This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 10 2018, 06:36 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 10 2018, 10:23 PM |
Ken, Im guessing that squire holds its own against your other fenders is it a 12" radius, do you know? I was reading that during the years mine was made, they had the 12" radius necks. Dunno if that's true, I should get a tool to check. It absolutely "holds it's own". Radius is 9.5 with a C shape. It's not a fast or modern style neck/fretboard like some of the other Squiers. Over time (at this point, 30 years) I've also changed the pick guard, the tuners, the string trees and as I mentioned - all of the electronics. It's a weird but really good guitar. I've had it since about 1989. It was the 'studio' guitar of a friend of mine who just didn't want it around (taking up space) anymore and he gave it to me. At that time they were considered to be worthless. I always liked it and used it a bunch whenever I'd go over there. One day he said, "take that with you, I don't want it around anymore". OK, no problem. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 10 2018, 11:12 PM |
Keep it as it is mate, if you're not doing a major change, you're chasing rainbows
This post has been edited by Phil66: Jan 10 2018, 11:13 PM -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Jan 11 2018, 03:31 AM |
I'll go a little against the tide here.
IMO, you can definitely do better on the pick ups and the wiring in the Squiers. It's generally of lower quality than the MIJ and USA Fender counterparts. The necks and bodies can be very good but they cheaped out on the pkups, hrdwr and wiring. Also, check to see if the trem block is the full sized version. If not, I'd change that. The block that the strings thread thru should be almost as long as the depth of the body (42mm by 13.2mm) and should be relatively beefy compared to the cheaper versions. You will notice a difference in feel and tone. The left (Fender) side is really what you want. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 11 2018, 03:32 AM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 11 2018, 02:00 PM |
This might help you mate:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BSai46gX0I Should you decide to re-do the Electrics and aren't confident of doing it you can always mail the Scratchplate etc to me and I'll be happy to do your re-wire for you!! -------------------- I'd rather have a full Bottle in front of me than a full Frontal Lobotomy!!
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Jan 11 2018, 03:47 PM |
Did you get any hint about the wood grain through the black finish - or did you just take a chance? I took the neck off and I saw that the neck pocket wasn't painted. What I could see of the grain was beautiful (Ash) and the black paint and the polyurethane was several coats thick. Stripping it decreased the weight and opened it up a bit. This post has been edited by klasaine: Jan 11 2018, 04:50 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 11 2018, 04:43 PM |
Replacing a wire won't change the sound. Unless the old one was faulty of course. One or two pieces of hook-up wire no but if all the wiring is that super cheap and super skinny red, black and white crap - ?, changing it all out for 22 awg pvc or cloth covered will definitely make it quieter (less hum and rfi). And if you decide to do all that, shield the inside cavity and the underside of the pkgrd with copper paint or tape. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Jan 11 2018, 08:45 PM |
Trem looks good! Keep it.
One down. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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