Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

[Big]

I am new to the forum. My local guitar shop suggested I check with you all to get good ideas for upgrading the electronics on my Squire Stratocaster HSS.

I recently bought a Starter Kit off of Amazon and the Humbucker is sounds very thin as if something is wrong with it. It virtually puts out barely any sound. The guys at my local store tried raising it and it did not do anything to help. I tried to return it to Amazon because the shop believes there is something defective. I called Fender and they told me to take it to a fender repair guy in a town close enough for me. But before I do that I thought about going ahead and upgrading the electronics in the guitar.

I am not saying I have the chops to play all but I need to be very versatile. Enough grind for metal, crisp smoothness for Jazz, mellow for blues and twang for country. I play both lead and rhythm. Right now I am really feelin" Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Joe Bonamassa's music. I will be playing through a Fender Hot Rod III Deluxe, a Mustang V2 V Half Stack, or a Black Star ID Core 40 for now as those are the amps I do have. I thought about doing Texas Specials but don't know what kind of Humbucker to go with it. I also thought about changing pots and doing some push pull stuff and adding some mid boost.

I know that may be a stretch but what do you guys think?

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I think its funny that your local guitar dude wiped his hands and sent you here.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

You want a Pearly Gates bridge

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I have an 80ties Squier made in Japan. Despite all new pickups and pots the swapping out of the zink sustainblock was the most helpful mod. It got lounder and more twangy strat sound. I purchased a Wilkinson 5+1 contemporary style trem - great for 90 bucks.

 

[paul dyckman]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I am just jumping in here. What Sperzal-type gold plated (AZTEC GOLD 60TH) will fit into my Classic Vibe......or shall I just know to buy a drill to open up the headstock tuning machine holes? <recommendations?>

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I am just jumping in here. What Sperzal-type gold plated (AZTEC GOLD 60TH) will fit into my Classic Vibe......or shall I just know to buy a drill to open up the headstock tuning machine holes? <recommendations?>

DO NOT DRILL those holes if you need them to be a tad bigger.. you should use a tapered reamer and take you time

 

[Mincer]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Yeah, a drill is the wrong tool here. You need a reamer. It is expensive to buy a good one for just one job, so unless you plan to do other guitars, ask a tech to do it- he/she should have the right tool for it.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Yeah, a drill is the wrong tool here. You need a reamer. It is expensive to buy a good one for just one job, so unless you plan to do other guitars, ask a tech to do it- he/she should have the right tool for it.

i disagree

here is what I used.... just remember to take some masking tape and make a bar stop to keep the bar from coming out and to estimate revolutions.. AND TAKE YOU TIME.. check the fit after every revolution or 2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DZE5FW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
<edit>
that one is unavailable it would appear..
This one looks good though
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...rd_wg=t2Rgj&psc=1&refRID=AZDA7F29XYPM4F67NPFS

 

[paul dyckman]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Yeah. When I had to open up the tuner holes in my Jimmie Vaughan I used a dremel tool. It had a barrel sander tip that "sanded" (reamed) the perfect size. I had to press rather hard on those Sperzals to fit them in really tight. The tone of those tuners coupled with the best Callaham Bridge made the strings ring like BELL. The Callaham alone didn't change the tone much with the stock vintage tuners, but with those tight fitting (HEAVY) Sperzals...WOW!

 

[TNTales]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I'm going to add a vote for the reamer. It can be pricey and there are other ways but there is a reason that tool is still around. A drill can cause chipping.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Yeah, the chipping is the reason not to use a drill. I've seen it when going slowly, even with it taped up. It might not matter on an inexpensive guitar (instant relicing! cool!) but I'd never use it on an expensive one. I have, however, used a hand-crank drill for strap locks and other smaller screws.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Yeah, the chipping is the reason not to use a drill. I've seen it when going slowly, even with it taped up. It might not matter on an inexpensive guitar (instant relicing! cool!) but I'd never use it on an expensive one. I have, however, used a hand-crank drill for strap locks and other smaller screws.

also i heard if you reverse the drill and use it that way,it is safer as well

 

[BenJB]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I would pretty much do exactly what Mincer did in his blog post: http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the-tone-garage/my-versatile-hss-wiring-scheme

 

[Mincer]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

Oh cool, thanks! That wiring scheme is a really good one, and that guitar gets a lot of use!

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Squire Stratocaster HSS need help choosing upgrades.

I have an 80ties Squier made in Japan. I purchased a Wilkinson 5+1 contemporary style trem - great for 90 bucks.

Old thread,but got a link?