Squier Bullet Special baritone conversion.

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Unsprung

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This will only happen, if I manage be the winning bidder for a Fender Tom DeLonge Strat, on eBay. I'd decide between the Tom DeLonge Strat, and my Fender So Cal Speed Shop Strat, as to which gets standard tuned, and which gets tuned to D (D, G, C, F, A, D). It was having longed to own a Tom DeLonge Strat, but never could afford one when they were still in production, that I'd bought the Squier Bullet Special.

Now, I'd already bought a TV Jones PowerTron bridge humbucker, several months ago, for the Bullet Special, although it may still be a bit goofy to be putting a $130.00 pickup into a $99.00 guitar. With my So Cal Speed Shop Strat, I don't plan to change anything on it, except for the strings when needed, and I know the same will go for the Tom DeLonge Strat, should I end up with it. In continuing to wonder what I should do with my Bullet Special, aside from selling/donating/gifting it, and since I already have the PowerTron, I figured I might as well take another leap in the craziness of modifying it. When I get a chance, I plan to order a baritone scale replacement Strat neck, and go ahead and replace the Squier humbucker with the PowerTron.

In that vain, does anybody have any suggestions as to where, other than Warmouth, I might buy a baritone neck (especially if they're cheaper than Warmouth)? Also, what brand/model of tuners should I go with, and where should I buy those? Lastly, should I consider changing the volume pot, and capacitor? Again, what brands, and where to buy?

I'll still eventually buy a baritone guitar, in the coming future, but with this project I should end up with a fairly unique baritone. Of course, with two days left on the Tom DeLonge Strat auction, it's possible for me to get sniped, and if that happens, I'll likely put the PowerTron into my So Cal Speed Shop Strat, and the Alnico humbucker from that into my Bullet Special.

Matt
 
According to the specs at the Squier web site, it's "laminated hardwood," which really isn't a lot of help. The body of my So Cal Speed Shop Strat is basswood, according to the specs at the Fender web site, and I looked up the specs for a Standard Stratocaster, while I was there, and they have alder bodies.

Matt

*edit: I've found specs for the Fender Tom DeLonge Strat, and they have alder bodies.
 
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If you put a baritone neck on a standard guitar, you won't end up with a baritone guitar. The scale lengths are different all the way from nut to bridge, so unless you compensate for your bridge position, you'll end up with a guitar that plays open fine, and not much past first position in tune. Your intonation will be a mess.
Those squire bodies are basically leftover scraps that are glued together and shaped into a strat. I wouldn't be suprized if it was sawdust held together by glue.

I don't think I understand where you're coming from. It doesn't make one bit of sense to me to do what you're thinking about. It sounds like a godawful waste of money and time. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Rory
 
rory said:
If you put a baritone neck on a standard guitar, you won't end up with a baritone guitar. The scale lengths are different all the way from nut to bridge, so unless you compensate for your bridge position, you'll end up with a guitar that plays open fine, and not much past first position in tune. Your intonation will be a mess.
Those squire bodies are basically leftover scraps that are glued together and shaped into a strat. I wouldn't be suprized if it was sawdust held together by glue.

I don't think I understand where you're coming from. It doesn't make one bit of sense to me to do what you're thinking about. It sounds like a godawful waste of money and time. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Rory
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I think it sounds like a great project. Yeah, some money, but it'd be fun in my opinion, I love working on my guitar. And I love unique guitars.
 
elenore19 said:
I think it sounds like a great project. Yeah, some money, but it'd be fun in my opinion, I love working on my guitar. And I love unique guitars.
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The money isn't my concern, thats more of a secondary concern. My main concern is that the guitar will be unplayable because of intonation problems. The bridge will not be in the correct position relative to the nut.
 
rory said:
The money isn't my concern, thats more of a secondary concern. My main concern is that the guitar will be unplayable because of intonation problems. The bridge will not be in the correct position relative to the nut.
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that's not correct. when you put a baritone conversion neck on a strat everything is just fine.
 
As long as the twelfth fret is halfway between the nut and the bridge, it's cool.

My Bullet is made of plywood.
 
apl said:
As long as the twelfth fret is halfway between the nut and the bridge, it's cool.

My Bullet is made of plywood.
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I wonder what species of hardwood? A big DUH, on my part, but thanks for reminding me of what laminated wood is, no matter what species.

Matt
 
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