if you are replacing everything, just buy something nicer. i did this to my first electric and wasted a lot of money. i learned a lot though....
I'm leaning more towards a parts-o-Tele or Esquire though.
I have one, bought it to be a testbed for my Tele pu's. The one I have is actually a pretty decent sounding piece of wood, better than many American or American Deluxe Teles I've tried, even with the since-departed cheesy ceramics.
It's good enough that I would take it out and gig with it if I ever get around to having the frets dressed.
I also don't think there's anything wrong with putting quality pu's and electronics in a cheap guitar, IF...you know it's a good piece of wood.
I think I may end up doing that too, unless I can find a 52RI for $600 :lol:
I've heard these things aren't string through, they're top-loaders. No thanks, I want as close to a nice old tele as I can.
ya if i had a "good" one i could see gigging with one.... changing the pickups is cool to mod a cheap guitar... i'd save the original PU's so you can unload the cheap-o axe stock in the future if need be... I just could not see buying a Squier Affinity just for the neck and body and mod the hell out of it to the point that there was no point in buying a cheapie guitar in the first place.... If i was buying $400 worth of aftermarket parts it would be for a much better guitar than that $169 Squier...
Still i want one....
If there's a good neck and body, you wouldn't need $400 worth of parts. I can't imagine a new bridge and pickups being that much money.