NGD! Squier Strat

[autologic]

I overheard a girl that works with me talking about having to take her dad to sell a guitar after work, so I mentioned to her that I played, and it was my favorite thing to do. I didn't even ask about the guitar because I figured I couldn't afford another one right now. We talked for a few minutes and I found put that her dad had quite a few guitars and amps, so I mentioned I would like to meet him and then went back to working. About 20 minutes after I left, she texted me asking if I knew anyone who wanted a squier strat for $60. I immediately told her I would take it. It needs a little work, but it has what appears to be a hot rail in the bridge, and I needed a new project anyway.

I haven't got to play it yet, but I'm on my way home now to do just that. I will let you guys know how it goes!

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

I believe the first order of business will be setting it up to my taste, followed by oiling the fretboard, painting the pickup covers black, and then changing the knobs to the standard fender ones.

 

[HALENisking]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Something to be said for polishing frets with steel wool. It can really boost playability. I would do that if needed.

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

My mistake, the bridge pickup is actually a Duncan Performer Scorcher. Does anyone know what these other pickups are? They aren't like any of the other Squier pickups I've had in the past...

The wiring is extremely sloppy, and for some reason, the Duncan pickup is wired into the volume knob instead of the 5 way switch. Is that correct? The only Squiers I have owned were back before I knew much about guitars, so I'm not really familiar with the wiring. Also, the PO decided to use super glue to hold on the tone knob closest to the volume, which seeped super glue into it and locked it up. This guitar needs some work, needless to say, but I love projects, so that works for me.

 

[HALENisking]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Nothing odd about those single coils, typical low quality. My MIM strat's stock pups looked like that

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

The pups in mine looked exactly like that. They would hardly even respond to the tone controls. Yank 'em and put something better in there. Is that an Affinity series?

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

It doesn't sound right to have the bridge pickup wired into the volume instead of the switch. You would probably do well to strip out all that stuff and start fresh. The Duncan wiring diagrams are great to show you how to do it.

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Yeah, once I got to looking at it, I realized it's wired to be on all the time. It's pretty much a hackjob on all the electronics. I did finally get the tone knob unstuck at least... I don't even feel like messing with all of the wiring, I am probably going to buy a cheap loaded pickguard and just put the Duncan pickup into it the right way.

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Thanks so much for the help guys! I was curious about the pickups because I have some lying around from my old squier that look like this on the bottom:

I also have one more question for everyone. When I got the guitar, I was at work and didn't really have time to look at it, and the guy I got it from came back to bring me a gig bag for the guitar, gave me another bridge for it and told me the saddles on the bridge that is on the guitar didn't have the adjustment pieces. My question is which of these types of saddles should I use? I know basically nothing about fenders, obviously...

I have a whole extra bridge like the one on the left from my old squier, so I can put the adjustment screws back in if it's the better bridge.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Kac]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

nice guitar for $60! Black is the best color.

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Unfortunately, the truss rod seems to be at the end of it's adjustment and the neck is still a bit too concave. It is still playable, but the action has to be a bit too high. Bummer. I will probably try some washers, and if that doesn't work, I will just get a $50 neck off eBay and still only have $110 in the guitar.

By the way, I went with the bent metal saddles, I like the way they look more than the others. I've been wanting a single coil guitar for a while now, even with the problems it still sounds awesome.

 

[Der Oberherr]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

The pups in mine looked exactly like that. They would hardly even respond to the tone controls. Yank 'em and put something better in there. Is that an Affinity series?

You would be correct in thinking that this is an affinity strat.

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

You would be correct in thinking that this is an affinity strat.

Then it's probably made of agathis or basswood rather than plywood so a loaded pickguard should be a good move, IMO. On mine, I replaced all the electronics except the output jack and the guitar came alive. If your neck is still a good one, the cost of your mods will be just the loaded pickguard and a couple of pickups. I think you'll find that the neck and bridge routes are for humbuckers if you want to go that way. Sounds like fun.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Bent steel saddles are better than the cast ones

Amazon has some replacement necks for $35
I don't know how good they are
Just they are cheap

Since the neck is possibly the most important part , maybe you should step up a bit

Get a custom one with stainless frets or something

Make it into something you want to play

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Bent steel saddles are better than the cast ones

I've heard this before. Why is that?

 

[autologic]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

I actually have a old maple neck from a squier I had years ago, I just started the process of refinishing it. If it doesn't work out, I will keep an eye out on c-list for a MIM or possibly even a MIA Fender neck. I just got done wiring the electronics to autosplit the pickup in the 2nd position, but in doing so, I may have figured out why the Scorcher was wired to be always on... it is LOUD. Much, much louder than the other pickups. For now, I have the guitar tuned to D-standard, but the bottom of the neck is still way too high, even though most of the neck is straight. I kinda think the neck is just toast.

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

I actually have a old maple neck from a squier I had years ago, I just started the process of refinishing it.

Looking forward to seeing it.

One thing I tried with mine before I got the neck pickup was to wire the neck and middle pickups in series so, in a sense, they became one humbucker. That worked OK, but I decided to go with the L-500R and tossed them. I mention this because the series wiring gave a better tone and a bit more volume to them.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

I've heard this before. Why is that?

I'm not sure really
but my buddy tried several different ones on his partscaster
and settled on the bent steel

he originally had the cast ones like yours
then rollers
then stainless steel block type
and when he got the bent steel he found the sound he was after

on my Squire Standard it looks like the stainless steel block type
it is a bit brighter than the MIM with bent
but that may be the pickups

 

[rgand]

Re: NGD! Squier Strat

Thanks, ehdwuld. I've been thinking about changing mine and this may be the way to go.