How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

The difference between a $200 Squier and a $1000 Strat is the hardware and the pickups, and the overall craftmanship in putting together the guitar!

This, but even so... one would be surprised just how crappy the pots can be even on an american deluxe. I had to replace the stock pots / caps (S-1 switch and all) for an RSGW harness that was designed for an HSS setup. Once those pots / caps were in, the amount of "filtering" i could do with the tone was almost like having an onboard passive wah effect. (A bit of hyperbole, but RSGW saying that they "de-blanket" your guitar, isn't... it's that drastic.). I bought as a gift for Trevorus an RSGW set for his Lester, and he said the same thing... just opened up the usability of his LP.

1. Cherry pick a good import - rings loud and balanced, lightweight, great neck, etc.
2. Replace pots and switch, and rewire it with my favorite setup such as EJ wiring. Replace jack unless it's fine.
3. Install high end pickups.
4. File and burnish fret ends as needed. Some imports are so good I can skip this, but I always check.
5. Strap locks
6. New bridge and/or tuners if I'm unsatisfied with the stock ones.

Since all of this adds up in price, I prefer to start with guitars that need less of it. On a US strat, I just install Surfers wired with EJ wiring and give it a perfect setup.
Eric Johnson wiring is Master Volume, Neck Tone, Bridge Tone. Middle isn't connected to a tone knob.

This.

And if you're not afraid of "permanent surgery", get machine screws and inserts to replace the woodscrews. The clamping power is IMMENSE, once the neck meets the body, ITS ON, and the tonal response due to the clamping power makes the guitar vibrate as a singular unit. I'm a fan of this setup if you don't plan on removing the neck too often (or at all).

Jason

 

[dotsdad]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

I don't ever want to see you comment on someone being tone deaf, be it myself or anyone else on this forum until you learn how to use a freaking tuner.

LOL! I may have to steal this for my signature! :kabong:

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

And if you're not afraid of "permanent surgery", get machine screws and inserts to replace the woodscrews. The clamping power is IMMENSE, once the neck meets the body, ITS ON, and the tonal response due to the clamping power makes the guitar vibrate as a singular unit. I'm a fan of this setup if you don't plan on removing the neck too often (or at all).

Jason

I'd think that arrangement would be even better if you planned to remove the neck with any frequency. You wouldn't have a metal woodscrew thread tearing up the wood in the neck heel every time.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

The difference between a $200 Squier and a $1000 Strat is the hardware and the pickups, and the overall craftmanship in putting together the guitar!

DEAD WRONG. You should join the Strat Forum, so all you guys with cheap Strats can reaffirm to each other how you paid 200.00 for a guitar that is as good--no WAIT- BETTER!, than an 1500.00 American Deluxe. I bugged outta' that forum so fast it'd make you head swim. You get what you pay for, mostly in grade/quality of tonewood, next in the extremly important quality of the finish, and certainly by no means lastly, the all important craftsmanship not to mention the extreme difference in quality of the hardware They are two totally diametrically opposite instruments. One is excellent , the other is not, the other is barely playable and the tone is harsh( it can be helped with upgrading though- see my post about my Cheap Squier project).

 

[Securb]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

The difference between a $200 Squier and a $1000 Strat is the hardware and the pickups, and the overall craftmanship in putting together the guitar!

The only way you are going to get a $200 Squier to sound like a $1000 Strat is alcohol and plenty of it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

The real issue here is the "distribution" of quality.

First thing to remember - A decent pickup and some FX and NO ONE IN THE CROWD will know or care.

And I won't say that a - as Joe Mentioned - Squire that really has it's mojo, won't sound great, and I won't say that 1500 Strat WILL sound great - because some are crap. That said, the top ten percent of Squiers MIGHT compete with the Average American Strat.

However, for a very little money, a Squier can be made to sound quite good.

Same deal with Epiphone/Agile and Gibson. I'm not saying Gibson isn't stupid over priced. But I'm saying note for note, feel for feel, fret for fret, the AVERAGE Gibson is better than 90% of your Epi/Agiles etc...

But I will not dicount Gibson turds that are grossly over priced or just gross. And I won't say there are not some killer Epis out there than can SLAY with just a new pup/pot etc...

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

I lerv my imports

 

[voggin]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

The real issue here is the "distribution" of quality.

First thing to remember - A decent pickup and some FX and NO ONE IN THE CROWD will know or care.

And I won't say that a - as Joe Mentioned - Squire that really has it's mojo, won't sound great, and I won't say that 1500 Strat WILL sound great - because some are crap. That said, the top ten percent of Squiers MIGHT compete with the Average American Strat.

However, for a very little money, a Squier can be made to sound quite good.

Same deal with Epiphone/Agile and Gibson. I'm not saying Gibson isn't stupid over priced. But I'm saying note for note, feel for feel, fret for fret, the AVERAGE Gibson is better than 90% of your Epi/Agiles etc...

But I will not dicount Gibson turds that are grossly over priced or just gross. And I won't say there are not some killer Epis out there than can SLAY with just a new pup/pot etc...

I think Ace is right on here in describing the differences between higher-end and budget guitars in a distribution or statistical way. If you can play many imports (and I'm not including Japan as an "import" country) and if you are handy with set ups and mid-level repairs like some fret work, then you can really get a bargain with the right import.

But if your skills are like mine, non-existent to marginal, then you have to factor in the costs of a tech doing things. And if it still doesn't work out, you are really out of pocket. Whereas for the most part, you see more quality/consistency in a MIA strat or an SG standard, say.

The cost gap really closes when you compare new imports with mods to used MIA. Just the other day I saw a used LP Classic used for 1K. The low price was due to it having a lot of wear on the finish, especially where the guys arm would have rested on the upper bout (Jesus, that guy should look into his diet. He's must be sweating vinegar!). And it already had a JB/59 combo put in it. That would be pretty hard to beat unless you could do all your work yourself (which a lot of guys here can do.)

 

[Kramer Guy]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

I own 2 Squier Standard Strats which are from 2003 and 04 respectively . I installed Fender 250K pots, Graph-Tech Bridge Saddles, and Fender 57/62 pickups on both of them. I would put them up against any MIA Strat any day of the week.

 

[AlexR]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

Well, my Squier really is only the body and 'trem minus block', but it sounds just like all the much more expensive ones I've had and do own. Granted I've got some nice pickups in it and a really nice neck, but there's no doubting the body and the bridge plate/saddles are making some good tone to my ears.

Just a note on wood - I'm still flabbergasted that some people think you can automatically tell 'better' tonewood from the average stuff just by looking at it. Most mass producers don't separate wood in 'good for tone' and 'no so for tone' batches. Its usually about weight and dimensions. High end like the custom shop at fender probably gets access to the lightest and most consistent wood, but there is ABSOLUTELY no guarantee that this will give you a great guitar. There are some boutique builders who claim that you can find perfect matches for body and neck by knocking on the raw lumber, but this could be just as useless as any other method unless you have some kind of tests done with compatible vs less compatible wood pieces.
Its certainly true the prettier pieces and those with more matching grain (or 1 piece) will get diverted to the custom shops.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

There are some boutique builders who claim that you can find perfect matches for body and neck by knocking on the raw lumber, but this could be just as useless as any other method unless you have some kind of tests done with compatible vs less compatible wood pieces.

This is where you are wrong. A trained ear can definitely tell the difference in wood with a tap test. I have a client who studied at the academy for violin making here in Cremona (Which is the city that Stradivarius and Guarnieri came from). During our sessions we have spoke about wood and the finding good wood and hes explained to me the methods and what it means and how the woods interact. It is far from useless. The problems now are different. The quality of the lumber has changed finding "good" lumber is much more difficult but that doesnt mean that people cant tell the difference and dont know the difference between them.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

I think Squier guitars are perfect candidates for modding and they can be made to be real players if you know what you are doing. There are some people who comment how much it costs to upgrade a Squier, but IMO you don't have to spend mega-money to get a Squier to play right. Look for deals on pickups and there are deals for other hardware if needed. If you are paying top dollar for any components, then you're not finding the deals...plain & simple. Every guitar is a bit different but Squiers can be set up to play and feel just as good as a U.S. model if you really put your mind to it. The guitar in my avatar is a '98 American Standard Strat which I love, but I have quite a few Squier Strats ranging from a Standard, Affinities, Bullets & a Korean. I'm modding these guitars and some have a great feel already. I'm doing things like dressing the fret ends, rolling the edges on the fingerboard, making a tighter neck to body fit for improved sound, etc. There are many things you can do to improve a guitar without spending loads of money which some of you think you have to do. And another thing...how is Chinese alder cheap? How does a tree know it's less quality if grown in another country. Are trees only grown in the U.S. higher quality? Has anyone asked an American tree this question?:scratchch:nana:

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

You make some silly assertions. Chinese alder is cheap because its not "alder" as we know it in US. To make things clearer alder is a trade name used for many woods the wood that comes from the tree Alnus Nepalensis is not the same wood thats from Alnus Rubra. Not saying the wood is bad but its not the same wood. Also classically many of the woods used in guitar building have been imported from the tropics and are not part of this whole US vs Asia argument your trying to inject here. Rosewood and Mahogany (real mahogany) dont go on either continent.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

Personally I think the love for Chinese squires is way overblown. Sure, I like mine a lot, but no way would I put it even close to the same category as a MIA Strat. Not close. Lots of wishful thinking and tonal deafness going on. Everyone wants to get something for nothing, and keep the change. IN my opinion.

DEAD WRONG. You should join the Strat Forum, so all you guys with cheap Strats can reaffirm to each other how you paid 200.00 for a guitar that is as good--no WAIT- BETTER!, than an 1500.00 American Deluxe. I bugged outta' that forum so fast it'd make you head swim. You get what you pay for, mostly in grade/quality of tonewood, next in the extremly important quality of the finish, and certainly by no means lastly, the all important craftsmanship not to mention the extreme difference in quality of the hardware They are two totally diametrically opposite instruments. One is excellent , the other is not, the other is barely playable and the tone is harsh( it can be helped with upgrading though- see my post about my Cheap Squier project).

Love your Squier project and you did a good job on this guitar, but some of your comments are a bit misleading I think and you seem to have this mindset that you can't break out of. You remind me very much of this guy in the video I posted below...maybe you have some more intelligence than him. There's also a magazine that was made for you and I think you should subscribe.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

You make some silly assertions. Chinese alder is cheap because its not "alder" as we know it in US. To make things clearer alder is a trade name used for many woods the wood that comes from the tree Alnus Nepalensis is not the same wood thats from Alnus Rubra. Not saying the wood is bad but its not the same wood. Also classically many of the woods used in guitar building have been imported from the tropics and are not part of this whole US vs Asia argument your trying to inject here. Rosewood and Mahogany (real mahogany) dont go on either continent.

What tree does carbon fibre grow from since you are a tree expert? :scratchch:naughty:

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

What does carbon fiber have anything to do with 2 tree species not being the same? Now your trying to confuse the issue and muddy the water. You asked "why is chinese wood cheap" I answered cause it isnt the same wood that simple. No need to be a yob.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

What does carbon fiber have anything to do with 2 tree species not being the same? Now your trying to confuse the issue and muddy the water. You asked "why is chinese wood cheap" I answered cause it isnt the same wood that simple. No need to be a yob.

What's wrong? Did I trample your wood theory? I guess you're missing the point my friend. How am I trying to confuse the issue and muddy the waters. I'm just shedding some light on the situation. It goes to show you an instrument can be made of anything and still sound good, depending on the material, of course. The traditional way of making instruments with wood has been around for centuries, but who would have thought carbon fibre could make such a presence. I apologize for putting you in your place...please forgive me.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

Does carbon fiber sound like wood?

Your trying to confuse the issue since the issue is squier wood quality what does that have to do with carbon fiber? Nothing no one is the least bit interested in if a carbon guitar sounds good thats a separate issue for a separate thread.

Also I answered your question that you put forth but I guess you dont like the answer that not all wood is the same cause well its not the same wood.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

I apologize for putting you in your place.

You have to make a coherent argument before you can even say you put yourself in place let alone anyone else.

 

[RorySquier]

Re: How to make your cheap Squier Strat play and sound better

Does carbon fiber sound like wood?

Your trying to confuse the issue since the issue is squier wood quality what does that have to do with carbon fiber? Nothing no one is the least bit interested in if a carbon guitar sounds good thats a separate issue for a separate thread.

Also I answered your question that you put forth but I guess you dont like the answer that not all wood is the same cause well its not the same wood.

You have to make a coherent argument before you can even say you put yourself in place let alone anyone else.

Personally buddy, I think you are confusing the issue, not me. Your comprehension of what I'm trying to get at seems to be stuck in neutral. The issue is the quality of Squier wood which I think is just as good, as long as there is no wood rot. And of course I posted that video of that carbon fibre cello which sounded pretty amazing. It goes to show you any instrument can sound good and it doesn't have to be wood. So is there really such a thing as bad tone wood? I think it's all subjective and psychological IMHO. Do you understand now, or are you just trying to come across as some self-glowing expert. :foot: