Doing up a Squier?

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240v

240v

Super Perfectionist
Hey,

Would it be possible to get a Squier Strat sounding a lot better if I spent about $500 replacing pickups, tuners, bridge etc? I'm thinking about buying a new guitar but was wondering if this is a goo way to go. Cheers :D
 
The pickups will make a difference.

But isn't it the wood that determines the sound the most? I don't know, I'm more on the acoustic side where it's mostly wood and bracing.


Maybe Muttley or JCH can quickly chime in here.
 
Squire strats are complete junk so don't waste your money trying to upgrade one. Save yourself the aggravation and spend the money on a new guitar. There are plenty of decent guitars that can be had for $500 or less that are actually worth upgrading.
 
Cheers. :) I was at a music shop yesterday. I tried out a Blacktop Telecater. Have you heard good things about these?
 
It's an odd one as Squires can be soooooooo hit and miss. the last guitar i bought was a Squire tele custom ii (with P90's instead of hum buckers) and love it. I was on a pretty tight budget but out of everything i played in the price range (£100 - £400) the squire tele played and sounded the best. However, the squire strats i played were god awful, the jaguars were hit and miss (they either played really well but sounded crap of vice versa) and some of the other teles were pretty ropey. A friend of mine has several older squire jags (5 i can think of but he's always buying and selling them) and he loves them but he's definitely upgraded all the pickups and on one or two of them he put a proper fender necks on, but even then the pickups were only about £100 or so for each guitar and at least one of the fender necks was a bargain on evilbay.

For $500 though, unless the exchange rate is mad and strats cost way more down under, i'd be more tempted just to save a bit more and get a proper fender strat.
 
Justsomeguy said:
It's an odd one as Squires can be soooooooo hit and miss. the last guitar i bought was a Squire tele custom ii (with P90's instead of hum buckers) and love it. I was on a pretty tight budget but out of everything i played in the price range (£100 - £400) the squire tele played and sounded the best. However, the squire strats i played were god awful, the jaguars were hit and miss (they either played really well but sounded crap of vice versa) and some of the other teles were pretty ropey. A friend of mine has several older squire jags (5 i can think of but he's always buying and selling them) and he loves them but he's definitely upgraded all the pickups and on one or two of them he put a proper fender necks on, but even then the pickups were only about £100 or so for each guitar and at least one of the fender necks was a bargain on evilbay.

For $500 though, unless the exchange rate is mad and strats cost way more down under, i'd be more tempted just to save a bit more and get a proper fender strat.
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Hey, guitars are relatively expensive here! A Blacktop Tele is $750 ish. It's cheaper if I buy in the US and get it shipped here!
 
240v said:
Hey, guitars are relatively expensive here! A Blacktop Tele is $750 ish. It's cheaper if I buy in the US and get it shipped here!
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Sweet bejesus, fair enough man! As i said, i can never gauge the AUS exchange rate. I've gathered on here from other uses that things like mic's and gear are hideously expensive in comparison down under but haven't really thought about instruments etc.

in that case, as i said, swapping the pickups and neck makes quite a big difference on the ones of my mates i've played (just keep an eye on t'bay for necks)
 
I've played quite a few Squires that were excellent guitars. The problem is that you have to play quite a few to find a good one. If you're thinking of going this route you'll need to buy a local guitar and you may have to do alot of legwork. You may find the original pickups satisfactory depending on the rig you're using. You will, however, need to upgrade the electronics. Use the good stuff there: CTS or Alpha pots, Switchcraft jacks and switches. Others may suggest other brands. The point is, get good quality here. It isn't much more expensive to do so. The only exception: Don't buy the hype about high priced capacitors.

You definitely don't need to buy boutique pickups if you decide to upgrade. You just need to do your homework before making a selection.

Most important: DO YOUR OWN HOMEWORK. There is plenty of information out there. Do not settle for my opinion or anybody else's. Learn enough to decide for yourself.
 
arcaxis said:
The jump from a Strat with single coil PU's to a Tele with humbuckers is going to give a heavier, thicker sound. Is that what you're looking for? And what are you using for an amp?
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I'm not against it. I played the Blacktop at a music store and it sounds pretty nice. I'm using a Vox Mini3 amp that I picked up really cheap in Japan.
 
ocnor said:
Squire strats are complete junk so don't waste your money trying to upgrade one.
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What do you base this statement on?

Save yourself the aggravation and spend the money on a new guitar. There are plenty of decent guitars that can be had for $500 or less that are actually worth upgrading.
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There is plenty you can do to improve just about any guitar. As far as electrics go look first st the pickups to get the sound you are after, then the electronic components to improve durability. Screening properly will help as will getting a proper set up. All of that you can do yourself. Forget changing out tubers that will not help sound or use on a squire.

The main problem with going to far on a squire is that you end up with "Triggers broom" (look it up on youtube) but what you gain is experience and a playable workmanlike guitar. I posted a thread here lately about bringing a squire back to life look it up. It can show you what is possible. Ok that was a bit extreme but my kids are now learning on a decent guitar without junking better options.

Ultimately the choice of upgrade or replace is down to you..
 
muttley600 said:
What do you base this statement on?
The main problem with going to far on a squire is that you end up with "Triggers broom" (look it up on youtube) but what you gain is experience and a playable workmanlike guitar. I posted a thread here lately about bringing a squire back to life look it up. It can show you what is possible. Ok that was a bit extreme but my kids are now learning on a decent guitar without junking better options.

Ultimately the choice of upgrade or replace is down to you..
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Hey, I couldn't find 'triggers boom' on YouTube. What is it? :D
 
Trigger was a road sweeper in Brit sitcom. He was once given a long service award and for looking after his broom for 25 years... He proudly announced that it was his original broom and had only had 14 new heads and 20 new handles...

Work out what I meant from there.:)
 
muttley600 said:
Trigger was a road sweeper in Brit sitcom.
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Tbf, even when you said it i thought "does he mean the trigger of 'only fools & horses' fame?"

turns out yes you did, and it's a great analogy man :thumbs up:
 
Squires share a lot of parts with the MIM and even MIA counterparts . It depends on the year and what fender/squire have in stock.

Pickups are almost always junk on Squires, so replacing them can make a world of difference (and might as well redo the wiring and pots and caps too while you're in there).

Usually the hardware is good (tuners, bridge), but you can replace a bridge and nut for fairly cheap if you want to.

Necks are the big thing. If it has a good neck it's worth the money to me. If it has a bad neck it's junk. A lot of Squires have MIM necks (which are often MIA neckst too)! So, yeah, get a good neck....change out pickups and wiring...if you don't like the bridge change it...set up...and you'll have a great guitar for cost+$300.
 
so to avoid "trigger broom" (new to me)...you'll have a good neck and good body/pickguard/hardware so if you can get one used ($150-200 here in CA), throw $300 in parts, and you'll have a killer guitar for under $500.

I did just this to a '93 MIM strat a few years ago with some P90s...now it's one of my main guitars. Guitar costs around $150, pickups, $175, wiring/pots/caps $15, body/neck/hardware was all good on the original...total cost was under $350 and it is awesome!
 
aaronmcoleman said:
Squires share a lot of parts with the MIM and even MIA counterparts . It depends on the year and what fender/squire have in stock.

Pickups are almost always junk on Squires, so replacing them can make a world of difference (and might as well redo the wiring and pots and caps too while you're in there).

Usually the hardware is good (tuners, bridge), but you can replace a bridge and nut for fairly cheap if you want to.

Necks are the big thing. If it has a good neck it's worth the money to me. If it has a bad neck it's junk. A lot of Squires have MIM necks (which are often MIA neckst too)! So, yeah, get a good neck....change out pickups and wiring...if you don't like the bridge change it...set up...and you'll have a great guitar for cost+$300.
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Lots of great advice in this post.:thumbs up:
 
i will ask a simple question.

is buying an expensive squire better than buying a cheap fender?

i am currently upgrading a squire p bass that is like 15 years old one of my first and it isnt about making it sound like a £500 bass its about making it look, feel and sound how you want!

also i guarantee no one in the world will have one the same when i am done with it.
 
Br3n said:
i will ask a simple question.

is buying an expensive squire better than buying a cheap fender?

i am currently upgrading a squire p bass that is like 15 years old one of my first and it isnt about making it sound like a £500 bass its about making it look, feel and sound how you want!

also i guarantee no one in the world will have one the same when i am done with it.
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I think the big thing to check for is the neck. If the neck feels good, and the guitar can be set up well - pre modding - it's got potential. I wouldn't get an expensive Squire over a cheap Fender...I'd go for whichever has the best neck and ability to setup well. The more expensive Squire may have better pickups etc, but that's the stuff you're going to change. And, at the risk of sounding like a snob, all things equal, I'd probably grab the fender because of the name on the head. But, yeah, get the neck!
 
the point is in reality the black top squire this dude is on about is actually a better guitar than a bottom end fender but because fender is on the neck people will buy the fender. it is a shame as personal my £150 squire played and still does play a lot better than my £350 warwick rockbass. this is one of the reasons to why it is being upgraded.

and the £500 fender i played was the most horrendous thing i have ever played.

i do apologise i got this wrong a black top is a top model squire or at least it used to be. now its a bottom level fender as it will sell better as a fender not a squire
 
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I've heard good stuff about the Squier CV Telecaster, not so much the Strats.
 
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