Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

[JoshuaEA]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting here, hopefully I can get some advice!

I've been playing for 20 years (self taught), but never very seriously, and I'm just now starting to get more focused and a bit better. I like to play mainly 90's alternative rock (think, Stone Temple Pilots, Pearl Jam, Toadies...etc.), but I also like to play some classic stuff like Tom Petty, Hendrix, Beatles

I have a Korean made Squire strat from 1979 that I've been using since high school, but I'd like to upgrade the pickups. I'm looking for a nice full strat sound when it's clean, but a nice crunchy Les Paul bite when I use distortion...is this possible? Do I replace all three pickups? Suggestions for neck, mid and bridge? (I hoped I named them right...)

Would appreciate your time!

Thanks!

Josh

 

[Inder_Cine_Mann]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

What amp are u playing?

And are u all single coils?

 

[JoshuaEA]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

Yes, all single coils. I'm using a small Peavey Transtube amp at the moment, but I'm looking to upgrade to a nicer small tube amp.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

20 years? Upgrade to an American Strat. You deserve it man. Let me suggest a Lone Star with a Pearly Gates+ humbucker in the bridge.

In all seriousness, hearing your range of stuff, A killer set of pups that are humbuckers with split witching may really be the ticket.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

There's no 79 Squier Strat.

 

[JoshuaEA]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

There's no 79 Squier Strat.

S987063 is the serial number. Which puts it at 89. My fault, you're right!

And thanks for the help all!

 

[CloneRanger]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

S987063 is the serial number. Which puts it at 89. My fault, you're right!

Well, then it's not Korean.

 

[stringbender11]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

Personally I would probably just get a nice Gibson or Epiphone if I were in your situation, then you'd have a humbucker guitar for that grit you want. I have an old Squier strat myself & also 2 Epi guitars for my electrics, and it's much easier to get all those sounds you described with them then trying to modify 1 guitar into covering all the bases.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Advice for upgrading my 79 squire strat!

Ace's suggestion is very valid and much cheaper than getting another guitar (which he'd probably have to replace pups on anyway).