Better Sustain on Squier Strat

[ElDeguello666]

Hello,

in my recent playing, I've developed a longing for better sustain from my Squier. I don't know a whole lot about where sustain comes from, but that its a combination of factors from the nut to the body wood to the saddles etc. My strat has a tremolo and I've considered purchasing a new sustain block from guitarfetish.com, if anyone has experience with these, was there any substantial/noticable improvment? I've also considered upgrading the saddles, if anyone knows how big a difference they make or has suggestions on which compatible saddles provide the best sustain please let me know, any other tips on improving sustain will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mincer]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Sustain is combination of many factors, from bridge/saddle/nut material, to pickups/player/amp. I tend to think of everything working as a system. Are you looking for the same tone, just with more sustain? A compressor pedal might help. A thicker guitar sound? Perhaps a pickup upgrade.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

If the setup is good, then hotter pickups make for a greater signal.
After that you have technique to consider......There are ways of making a note last longer through vibrato.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

I have GFS steel block. On two guitars I've had it, it really did improve sustain very noticeably. It's easy and cheap fix, so definitely give it a try.

Hotter pickups do add sustain, but not good if you want to keep classic strat tones.

Good setup is another important thing for a good sustain.

 

[ElDeguello666]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

I thought about a compressor but i’d rather improve natural sustain first. Also i’m relatively new to guitar so I haven’t got a well trained ear and won’t notice whatever minut differences in tone occur from a new sustain block or saddles. I’ve already upgraded about everything i could except the neck and the bridge which is an area that i believe could use improvement.

 

[ElDeguello666]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

As I mentioned, it’s a squier so the body is thinner than a fender, i’ve seen reviews about the block that say it sticks out of the cavity and the cover can’t fit over it (though i’ve heard that removing the cover adds sustain, is that possible?), did you encounter this problem? It’s the contemporary HH strat so there never was any classic strat tones

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Turn your amp up louder and learn where to stand.

Also, loosen each of the screws holding the neck a little, like less than one complete turn. Do it with the strings still at tension. This will seat the neck into the pocket more securely. Re-tighten the screws and you may notice a little difference.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Sounds like you are obsessed with this idea of sustain.

You can do all of that to your guitar and it may have an impact on the amount of sustain of the guitar. But, reality check here, unless your guitar is really whacked, you're not going to notice the imperceptible amount of increase...even if there truly IS some improvement. The majority of sustain that you notice comes from electronics (pick ups, amp, stomps) rather than mechanics (trem block, saddles, body wood, strings, nut). That's assuming that your guitar is pretty well set up to begin with. If this is NOT the case, then a good nut and saddles will make the biggest contribution. All other mechanical parts are merely small players in the equation.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

The easiest, most immediate upgrade would be a proper setup, then after that would be acquiring hotter, thicker-sounding pickups. I don't know if chasing things like blocks at this point is worth it on a fairly inexpensive guitar with stock pickups.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

^ +10. Absolutely!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Turning up and standing in front of the amp is free and WILL work.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

+1 to Mincer's post #9. There's only so much you can do to improve a Squier with non-standard dimensions. I'd put the money into saving for a better guitar before I did a lot of wholesale parts-swapping. Which is not to say I think the Squier can't be a good guitar. Set up is key, especially the neck-body joint. Take the neck off and make sure there are no globs of paint messing up the joint. Both the neck heel and the pocket should be clean and flat, so they mechanically couple together when the screws are tightened down. Also look at things like the nut slots & break angle.

The best news is, a decent setup is practically free. Instead of a new sustain block, I recommend you spend a few bucks on Dan Erlewine's book "How To Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great". All sorts of great advice for players who need to maintain/improve their guitars.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Saddles (allparts) and tuners (fender) do help and aren't that expensive. The lower tier squier ones are fairly cheap.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Sounds like you are obsessed with this idea of sustain.

You can do all of that to your guitar and it may have an impact on the amount of sustain of the guitar. But, reality check here, unless your guitar is really whacked, you're not going to notice the imperceptible amount of increase...even if there truly IS some improvement. The majority of sustain that you notice comes from electronics (pick ups, amp, stomps) rather than mechanics (trem block, saddles, body wood, strings, nut). That's assuming that your guitar is pretty well set up to begin with. If this is NOT the case, then a good nut and saddles will make the biggest contribution. All other mechanical parts are merely small players in the equation.

Well, the two strats I changed GFS block in definitely got more sustain. Difference even unplugged was very much noticeable.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

BTW: You need to remove trem cavity cover for GFS block to fit, same as most full sized blocks. It doesn't make any difference aside cosmetics though.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Sustain is largely about setup and technique, not components. Has your guitar been professionally set up? Have the frets ever been leveled and dressed? Don't spend a dime on any part that you think will increase susstain, until you have done both of those things…especially on a lower end guitar, which likely came out of the factory with bad fretwork and a bad setup.

How low are your strings, and how hard do you hit your strings? What weight of pick do you use?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

Sustain is largely about setup and technique, not components.

They're all important. I'd agree that a level should be the first thing to spend money on. Then saddles and tuners.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

This;

https://www.guitarfetish.com/Solid-...-Compatible-105mm-Chrome-Tremolo_p_24707.html

AND this;

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...p/B01JLT840S&usg=AOvVaw1exOOjPZuBd4JYzeuP4MQy

will make a credible difference to your sustain. I don't know what planet some of these supposed experts here are from, certainly not mine. You can set up the guitar yourself to a degree with tutorials available on the web, but those Squiers need serious help beyond just setting up w/o a fret level , which is too much of a cost to pay for on that guitar,that is, unless you learn to do it yourself, which would be a good idea if you plan to stay with this guitar playing.

Also, sustain is a fundamental of the guitar, not the amp.

Your inexpensive Squier is a good guitar to practice your skills on,because you will mess up as a process of leraning, but you'll need to invest some time and energy on researching some internet tutorials and invest money on some tools.

But as has been mentioned, thats close to a hundred dollars there, might want to save up for a good used made in Mexico Standard.Of course, that will need to be upgraded also, but it makes more sense.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Better Sustain on Squier Strat

^ That's what I did, learn fret levels on my Squiers. I would recommend anyone do that, but it does take time and $$. A level, good set up, and some hardware on a Squier won't make it delux, but it will take it from being rickety to feeling and sounding pretty good.