If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

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callmestormymonday

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Greetings folks,
I been playing a '63 Stratocaster my uncle gave me for about 12 years. I jam in local clubs and am pretty hot from what people say. But I look around and see all the other players with modern pickups and pedal boards packed to over flowing and have to admit they do have better sound then my '63 Stratocaster. I love that guitar and wouldn't change it for anything. But I been thinking I'm going to by a Squire Stratocaster for about 50 bucks and put new hardware, pots, caps and pickups in it. I've been looking around for pickups and it is very confusing. I play it all blues, jazz, rock, metal and so on. What is a set or mix that will do me? you may have seen me at the pickup place asking about Fishman's and not getting anywhere there. Figured I try here where maybe your lookg at the total guitar aspect which is probably a better perspective.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Fender/Squier's got some really well-received "bluesy"(?) vintage re-issue models,but can't recall them specifically.
Actually played a couple a few months ago,but my mind was miles away.

Someone'll hopefully be along soon.
:)

edit:
Pics of teh '63,man!!!
:)
 
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Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

I still have my 1997 Squier Strat which I got when I was 13. About 5 years ago I put the SD "Everything Axe Set" in them, this consists of a JB Junior for the bridge, a Duckbucker in the middle and a Little 59 for the neck. It now sounds really good and probably similar to a "proper" strat. Chimey cleans, crunchy blues and gnarly rock, it covers a good range of tones and I love it, wouldn't swap it for anything (despite my other guitars having other brands of pickups). People will make fun of me but I don't care, if we did an A/B shoot out I don't think many people would notice the difference! It's been set up well and is restrung every 4 weeks. Plays nice!
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

In this scenario, I would add the fifty for the proposed Squier guitar to the intended budget for replacement pickups. See what you can find, ready to play, for that figure.

e.g. The Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster with Duncan Designed "lipstick" Danelectro style pickups is decent straight out of the box. Even if you do not care for the supplied pickups, you can be assured of finding a buyer for them.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

For blues and rock you won't get better than your 63 tonally IMO. So many of us would be (and are) deeply envious of such an iconic guitar to be able to play.

Where you might need some assistance is the heavier end of the spectrum. A humbucker for the heavier styles will give you the thickness needed to sound 'right'. I'm not a metal person, but the Duncan Distortion is a classic pickup for that genre, and it should be able to do hard rock too.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

I play a Strat, and I play mostly Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. For my setup, I have a DiMarzio Cruiser in the neck for smooth lead and clean tones, a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound in the middle which blends well with the other pickups, and a Lace Sensor Hot Gold "Hot Bridge" for biting rhythm playing. All these pickups are around the same output, and changing the pickup heights slightly could even them out across the board. All 3 pickups are very versatile and could do very well for most styles. The Lace Sensor isn't as Stratty as most single coils, in fact, I'd put tone smack dab between a traditional Fender single coil and a Gibson-style humbucker. Very unique sounding. I play a lot of chugging rhythms, and that pickups does them extremely well with little hum. With very low gain, it sounds very Gibsony. I'm not much of a blues player, but it does very well for Gilmour-esque solos. Its character is different from most pickups I've tried.

I'm just assuming that would work for you, because you said your '63 Strat wasn't good enough. I'd gladly trade guitars with you, so you wouldn't have to do any work. :nervous:
 
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Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

So you have a vintage 62 Strat, and you plan to buy a 50 dollar Squier strat to sound BETTER?

You aren't going to get a decent Squier for 50 bucks. The only thing you would get near is a used affinity, and those are not going to hold up to serious gigging. You might get a used good condition Squier Standard Strat for around 130-170 if you find a really good deal. You will have to invest more in the pickups and pots than you do the guitar. I have an older Squier Standard Strat that I stuck a CustomCustom and 2 Fat 50's single coils in. It sounds as good as my American Fenders. It is NOT what I would grab if I were playing a gig.

What amp do you play through?
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Just get a loaded dimarzio pickguard for your strat and make it sing.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Mr. B said:
So you have a vintage 62 Strat, and you plan to buy a 50 dollar Squier strat to sound BETTER?

You aren't going to get a decent Squier for 50 bucks. The only thing you would get near is a used affinity, and those are not going to hold up to serious gigging. You might get a used good condition Squier Standard Strat for around 130-170 if you find a really good deal. You will have to invest more in the pickups and pots than you do the guitar. I have an older Squier Standard Strat that I stuck a CustomCustom and 2 Fat 50's single coils in. It sounds as good as my American Fenders. It is NOT what I would grab if I were playing a gig.

What amp do you play through?
Click to expand...

'65 Bandmaster

Standard Squire has Agathis body, affinity and Fender standard both have Alder bodies. All three have maple necks. What makes the affinity so bad? All I'm eventually be using is the body neck and bridge and I'm gonna put a piece of wood in the bridge to fix lock it in place.
 
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Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Say "Squire" again. Say "Squire" again; I dare you. I double dare you, motherfarker. Say it ONE. MORE. GOD. DARN. TIME.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Now, ya made him angry. You won't like him when he's angry.

Seriously, though, why do people insist on spelling brand names incorrectly when the manufacturers put the name on the guitars for yez to read?
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

kramersteen said:
Squirrels
Click to expand...

Put a Schnauzer in your Trousers

nice-schnauzer-standard-dog-photo.jpg
 
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Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

You can pay $50 for a used Squire and spend a few hundred and change all the electrics, but in my experience with guitars? You can polish a turd, but in the end... For the money you'd spend trying to make it sound like what you want it to, you'd be better off just buying a better quality instrument from the start. And, I know it sounds cliche, but unless you're a prodigy, you will play better and learn more on better gear.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Used MIM,mebbe?

P/ups are only part of teh equation...

Find a nice "lively" one unplugged,& go from there.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

It would be worth saving & spending the $$ to get a more rockin' guitar (something you don't have to upgrade) and leaving the 1963 at home. I don't think I would take that out of the house.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

Really depends where you live (or rather, how big your ebay market is). I'd just buy stock Fender pickups, they happen to go for dirt cheap at times. Unfortunately, to ship this to Poland, I'd spend more on the shipping than the pickups themselves.

Slight offtopic, $50 Squier might have some really bad fretwork. Nothing you couldn't fix yourself but your time is worth more than the guitar you spend it on. Something to consider, I had a Squier before and will never have one again.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

If i had a 63 strat i probably would not play anything else.
 
Re: If you were a poor boy, could just put pups in a Squire Stratocaster what pups?

^^^^^^^^^^^^

Yeah,but with pretty active gigging I'd try to get something that would "somewhat" be able to hang,particularly unplugged(ie Alder/RW).
Nothing's gonna touch that '63 for "cheap".

Would be worth the bit of extra $,for a better platform,IMO.
Hard to say about budget,(I can't afford strings...),but deals are out there.
Lots of Peavey USA fans here,too,wouldn't rule those out,killer guitars for stupid little!!!
:)
 
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