Building a SUPER SQUIER! - Getting BIG Tone With Habanero Pickups!

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Part II is finally here! Today is a full electronics upgrade and tone test! This guitar may look the same, but that's what a sleeper build is all about :) Pickup info: shorturl.at/cjDW3 Full parts list is in the video description Enjoy!

[@GCKelloch]

The weaker Gauss, higher permeable AIII poles produce a sweeter attack and warmer tonality, and the Brass Babicz Saddles must add to the warmth.

[@mojorocketman]

Any chance you can give me the classic vibe loaded pickguard? I'm looking to do a low budget guitar build for my nephew who expressed interest in learning to play electric guitar.

[@RalphAriola-j7k]

8:00​@@GCKelloch

[@Tiburcio1950]

Nice. I've built 10 Squires using all upgraded pots, pups, full block trem, bone nut etc using 1.75 thick body. I buy used for about $125 add another $200 for parts. I do all the wiring myself with a 7 way mod using a blender pots. They actually sound better than the player series for a lot less and fun to work on. I usually give them away to schools or music teachers. I can see that you had fun upgrading a Squier as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

That's fantastic!

[@IamtheFerryMan]

Try the freeway 10 way switch! You won't be sorry!!

[@TheDukeOfBlues]

what does a 7way-switch?

[@Tiburcio1950]

@@TheDukeOfBlues A 7 way mode gives you more pickup selections Bridge and Neck. The All three pickups at same time.. thus 7 way swtich. You can find diagrams on line. But special Blender Pot. Good luck. Tiburcio

[@DMSProduktions]

@@TheDukeOfBlues LOL!

[@Gene_Cali]

This episode left me 'Stratisfied!' 🤗🎸. Happy New Gear! Thanks, Darrell👍

[@DMSProduktions]

OOOF!

[@Voartist]

I overhauled and upgraded a Squier a couple of years ago. Complete changeout of hardware, electronics and pickups. Locking tuners, Tusq nut and tree, Tusq Saddle, new paint job, Seymour Duncan pickups. During a lesson I had it sitting aside and was using my kit Tele, which is pretty nice as well. My teacher, a former professional session guy and gigger, asked me why I didn't use my Squier. I said that I thought he'd make fun of it. He said "let me see it" and began to play. His jaw dropped and said, "This sounds, plays, and feels like an American Classic Strat. It's incredible. How'd you do it?" Well I explained and that was that. But I'm proud of the work I did on it. It was only my second overhaul and it is my favorite guitar. I also play it through a Koch Vintage Series, Classictone, 4x10 amp, which is a monster and is crystal clear. I'm just glad to see this video, to show that a Squier can be made into a really great guitar. My teacher said he would play mine anytime, anywhere. Thanks Darrell.

[@bluehaze2001ify]

Took a Squire Affinity and turned it into Frankenstrat. Replaced the pick guard with a clear one, replaced bridge pickup with a single coil sized hot rail hum bucker, completed with the paint job. It went from warm to hot sound. Then gave it to my brother for Christmas. Was a fun build with amazing results.

[@picksalot1]

Sounds good. You could make the old pickguard into a loaded swappable one by adding a "quick connect" to it and the guitar Jack, for added versatility using the same guitar body and neck, etc.

[@debhart4302]

I have 2 of those Weller soldering stations. They are awesome for making guitar pedals, and all guitar soldering, etc. I've changed the tips once in each one in 15+ years of almost daily use.

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

Mine is definitely due for a new tip, but it's really great to work with!

[@Dell-ol6hb]

I have one too, very solid little iron. One tip for anybody that wants to extend the life of their soldering iron tips is to make sure the coat the tip with solder before you turn it off and store it away, this will help reduce oxidation, you actually should be making sure it is coated while it’s on and not actively using it as well

[@Voxguitarsrock]

I love my Squier. The wife bought me a VM 70's Strat. I thought id hate it. Boy was I wrong!

[@danmc_2783]

I got a 70s VM, it's a great guitar but I wasn't happy with the Duncan Designed pickups. It just didn't sound like a Strat to me and as a mostly LP player, I was really after "that" tone for a change or when needed for a gig. They have a weird layer of shielding around the coil that is then grounded off, hence the 3 wires. I replaced them with a more traditional set of Alnico V pickups and now I absolutely love it

[@seanmurphy26]

Dude! Refinished my '94 Squire i got when i was 12 to Graffiti Yellow! Locking tuners, full Wilkinson brass trem block, bone nut, Fralin Blues Special pickups!! So damn good..

[@bldallas]

Great stuff. I’ve done full upgrades on my 60s CV LPB Strat and 60s CV double-bound burst Tele. Also fully shielded all cavities. They both turned out fantastic, plus I really love the thin 69CV necks. Great stuff.

[@homeboyjon4885]

Darrell, your playing is awesome.

[@BrandonEht]

Those pickups sound great 👍

[@bigswededog]

Hi Darrell, I have always enjoyed watching your rebuild/upgrade videos, but, this one was especially interesting for me because I also have a Classic Vibe Squier Strat (70's) that I am in the process of upgrading. Thanks for providing a few good ideas!

[@rayjeeves8000]

Gorgeous tone! Love those Habaneros!

[@rodgerbell810]

Hi Darrell, Happy New Year to you! Wow, I would love top copy this build. I found those pickups smooth, pristine and buttery but still retaining that stratty tone. Loved this review. Cheers ✌️🎸👌

[@noravitz]

Hey Darrell I just wanted to say thank you for entertaining me for 12 min and 38 seconds. Great video as always.

[@garettturbettmusic]

So what’s better about the full sized pots compared to the smaller ones?

[@thethesaxman23]

Bought a Squire Strat a few years back. I definitely think I might look into some of these same upgrades for it!!

[@X-boomer]

Those pickups are amazing

[@ollielindsay]

I recently posted a vid of one of your old guitars. I just tightened the truss rod slightly a couple days ago. Everything on it is awesome. Love it. Great vid

[@Krullmatic]

Those pickups kick butt! It sounds phenomenal!

[@fuzzymuppet1990]

With pickups this spicy, they should have thier own 1:56 OF account 🌶🌶🌶

[@pedraw]

You always find the coolest stuff Darrell...............sounds real good.

[@jimmyalber]

Great sounding pickups!

[@the1khronohs40]

Nice job! So glad you went with the classic neck. Sounds fantastic too! Those pups are definitely worth checking out!

[@patrickkeenan6331]

Those pickups are incredible.....

[@RA-ew8rv]

Welcome back, man that sounds great!! Cheers!!

[@MashaT22]

Sounds great! Doesn’t seem too difficult to do these mods if someone has the cash to invest. Might be a great first project for people looking to try to mod a guitar. Anyway, I’d like to suggest something. I would have liked to hear a side-by-side of the stock Squier vs the modded one - like you could have clipped from the first video. Please do that next time so we can get the full impact. It also helps to use the same sound bites back to back with each guitar so we can compare before we forget. Maybe you can try that sometime? Ty!

[@geoffwidmier3714]

I had the exact same thought while watching

[@Tech12301]

Really like the sound of those pickups.

[@jefflien2599]

My squire I just bought has the balance n tone like such on my line 6 amp sounds amazing love your video and playing!!wow 😮

[@dlux703]

The GJ pickups sound more "alive" than the player series. The whole upgrade seems like the real deal. I have an early Classic Vibe Strat that now has a pair of Alnico 5 P 90's and an Epiphone SG humbucker in the bridge, and it's, IMO, definitely a "Super Strat" now. I did the 500k full-size pots with just one tone, one volume and the orange drop cap + the 5way switch upgrade, and old style bridge saddles with fender road-worn Kluson style tuners and a refinish. It's my #1 out of 26 guitars.

[@theoversouls]

Great job, as always, and those pickups sound excellent - perfect balance between beefed-up and vintage.

[@RobertVeasquez]

Welcome to the new year. Lovecthe modded Strat. I prefer the sound of it over the ‘Player’ as it has a far richer and deeper tone.

[@glendoggett9670]

NOW, it’s a Fiesta!

[@rosajai2000]

Wow….great job. You definitely bring inspiration to the modding community. Your playing is also great by the way.

[@donfriedrich5737]

Love it! Looks and sounds awesome! Great build

[@brianpaauwe3641]

Wow!! I’ve been waiting (impatiently 😂 ) for the second video to come out. Especially since I have a CV 60’s strat and want to eventually upgrade it a bit. This was an excellent video series for me! The tones sound absolutely amazing! Love it Darrell!!

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

The new pickups sounding great! Maybe I will change the pickups on my Fender Stratocaster Professional. The fact that these are no noisless pickups are sometimes frustrating. But overall it's a great sounding guitar. I changed also the entire tremolo system against my self made system out of titanium, including the block, saddles, plate, different springs, spring claw... It sounds great and stays in tune very well. Maybe I will change the tuners against locking tuners in the next step. Your videos are always interesting and inspiring. 😊

[@pitermg]

Hi! Very nice project. I own 2011 CV 60's and also made some similar upgrades few years back. I put on tremolo bridge from MiM with Fender stamped saddles, CTS pots, 5 way switch vintage CRL, Custom Shop Fat 50's pickups, vintage tuners (classic, not locked). Complete cloth wiring and some shielding. All made and mounted by myself - some would say it was not worth it, because it's worth more than guitar itself and it is still Squier, but I beg to disagree. It's was out of the shelf very good guitar, with mods it's even much better. Although I plan to buy Am Pro, won't ever sell my CV.

[@volvot5boy]

I’m getting my sons Squire start off him so I thought I’d do something similar. Those pups sound great and that neck looks amazing.

[@gregoaks4413]

Love Darrell's channel !

[@jckelley10]

Awesome improvements in tone!

[@kelalamusic9258]

I’m glad I watched both parts of your build videos. I’m planning on getting the classic vibe in a few weeks when my wallet gains a bit more weight. I will definitely change out the bridge and tuners, and perhaps later change out the electronics. I have a friend who I think is a master builder. I’ll let him do the electronics. Great videos.

[@randyallen4959]

Nay on the blocks. I took steel wool to knock the shine off of the neck of Fred my Fiesta 50s C.V. Strat. My volume pot scratched like keys a car body even with pot cleaner so I replaced all 3 pots with cts pots a .033 uf Orange drop tone cap and new jack and switch. I also gate all cavities 2 coats of shielding paint and am thinking of an aluminum pickgaurd

[@barnaclerusty]

All us guitar nerds enjoy your videos no matter what the subject is 😊👏

[@sydwynd]

My fave strat pickups are by Tone Hatch. They're hand wired and very affordable, like $90 per set. I have a guitar with the vintage set and one with the tex mex set and they just smoke! Definitely recommend trying them out.

[@debhart4302]

I'd throw a bigger trem block in that. Brass ones are great.

[@GCKelloch]

I wonder if would make any difference with those Full Contact saddles? They make the bridge plate and saddles into one very thick solid piece, effectively eliminating any bridge plate resonance loss, which is what a thicker trem block mainly does.

[@debhart4302]

@GCKelloch My experience has shown me that the trem block did matter too.

[@GCKelloch]

@@debhart4302 It normally does, but I'm saying the Babicz Full Contact saddles might make it not matter.

[@BMichel347]

Really nice setup, I like it.😊

[@tmo7734]

Happy new year, Darrell. Thanks so much for this excellent video.

[@cristianhernandomendivilra461]

I'm pretty sure it's a fantastic rock and roll machine just connect to a fuzz 🤘

[@johnhutton9105]

That Strat chime ❤

[@ianrose5505]

Fantastic sounded superb

[@hassanhayek6067]

Nice job the new pickups sound amazing. And what a difference between the new and the old!

[@redkurn]

i think they sound the same, short the habanero pickups sound a little warmer. interesting upgrade... might keep mine now and maybe give this a try...

[@mickeymessstudios109]

The upgraded Squier blows away the Fender all night long.... damn...

[@tomaslopez2940]

The Grover Jackson? The man behind the Rhoads, Soloist, Kelly, and even Charvel???

[@harukiri2738]

This might be the only pickup swap out demo where I can actually hear a difference.

[@RevGerryRM]

I happen to think it sounds fine, just the way it was built! I am not even considering changing the pickups. I would like to replace the bridge on mine. My is the 2 post version.

[@ej1_drew]

sounds amazing and looks refined! rn I'm modding a squier to be hh 1v 1t

[@speedrcr968]

Do you have a video where you get into details on full size pots vs dime sized?

[@eugenyfilimonov2114]

Very interesting. As allways. But what do you think about delux drive pickups? 👋 😁

[@Bobby_Digital37]

Great upgrades!!!!👍🏽

[@Josie.Merchant]

I am thinking about getting a CV because I have a bullet strat that was made in China, and it's a good guitar made very well. I just can't make my mind up, which color to choose. This video helps a lot because that fiesta red is too bright for my taste. I tend to like darker colors. Thanks!!!

[@kareemmendoza5004]

Love your content dude

[@rellikguitars7237]

One of the things you often mention, is dime size pots. You generally also mention that you have never had one fail. So why do you tend to frown on them?? 💜💜💜💜 Sarah xx

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

They are definitely a budget item that makes use to save a few bucks on each guitar :) Full size pots usually have a much nicer taper and feel. My opinion is that every maker should use them!

[@rellikguitars7237]

Fair enough, but in the world of electronics, components have historically gotten smaller, while at the same time getting better. Do you think that this trend will be the dame with guitars, and maybe with PCB's , it is already happening, and in time PCB's will be the normal thing. @@DarrellBraunGuitar

[@grene1955]

Sounds awesome!

[@gorgon9786]

What a great tone! Beautiful playing also!.. Can I ask: did you go on the setup, - lower than the "strat" setup standard action heights?. Seemed very low and smooth handling?! Great topic, thanks!. 🙂👍

[@d3w4yn3]

I am seriously impressed by those pickups! This is one cool guitar!!! I'm about to buy a high-end guitar, but now you've got me wanting to experiment with a build like this!

[@speelbergoMF]

I wish you would’ve done a tone comparison with the stock pickups. Otherwise how would I know if it’s worth the upgrade?

[@benjaminnevins5211]

You had my attention at Habanero lol

[@DarrellBraunGuitar]

🌶🌶🌶 😁

[@Chadleyization]

would u add shielding (copper tape) in the body cavity?

[@paj1015]

Nice guitar and nice tones. But why didn’t you use a Free-way switch, instead of only a blender-pot?

[@robmurphey8824]

Wow! Sounds and looks awesome! Love your vids. SDG

[@gabedirmeyer692]

How does the CV neck feel in comparison to the Fender Player?

[@JamesPetroff]

I read that you were using peppers. That sounded pretty hot.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Fun Squier build! Habaneros sounds awesome! Not a fan of my Player pickups on my Lead II, Habaneros would fix my problem.

[@farmpunk_dan]

Would have loved a comparison between stock with new strings vs modded with new strings. I’m still developing an ear for pickups, and I’d like to actually hear the difference back to back.

[@farmpunk_dan]

I can hear the difference between the modded squier and the player series, and the habaneros sound way better imo. I have a CV and I’m curious how it would stack up with stock pickups

[@davidswan3539]

I looked on AX LABS site and that pick guard is quite expensive. By the time you are done with the particular parts you put on you're in used Fender Strat money anyway. It sounds great and the idea of having one's "own build" is good, though. I picked up the hobby never haven soldered a single connection and now have 3 builds done.

[@TheDukeOfBlues]

The neck is good enough? my stepson has a really f..d up squier, but with a megy style body, so I would update it with your tips

[@angusorvid8840]

Stratisfaction

[@adammichaelchannel]

Thanks Darrel. How do you think the classic vibe neck holds up to the affinity or supersonic necks?

[@AnimalJohn85]

You done good there fella, sounds as good as it looks :) so glad you kept the neck a bit more standard looking, tis a classy bird ;)

[@MikeJBlues]

That sounds great, are those noiseless pickups?

[@donobrien1538]

Nice guitar, but I have to ask how much these upgrades actually cost. For $500-$600 I can a decent used MIM Fender Stratocaster. What is the total cost of this including the upgrades?

[@sinisterj73]

The guitar turned out amazing. I just have one question, what gear were you using to get that tone is this video. To me it was about as good as it gets here.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

Nice upgrades. I realize you're north of the OTHER U.S. border, but, I'm cringing 60 miles north of Mexico, where we eat sauces with these chiles, regularly. Say, "ah-bahn-YAIR-oh."

[@groover5863]

For the money it definitely holds it's own I'd certainly have one.

[@filip6665]

Hello, nice video, thank for advices. Just a question, is It worth to replace neck on squier classic vibe with original fender neck? Thank you

[@jeffreymckeown]

Hi Darrel.... I am wondering how the fender put the brown strip wood on the back of the guitar neck. I've researched it on the internet but haven't found any answers for my question.

[@Throwaway-kg7ft]

Sharpie

[@lamontcranston2627]

I would love to see the build of a semi-hollow. If anyone can figure out the best way to do it, you can Darrell.

[@marcell9847]

what you think about pickup lace for that kaind of guitar

[@86HAWK1]

Take a shot glass full of whiskey everytime Sleeper Squire is said

[@vliecatt]

anyone know where he got the neck from? :)

[@Patriot1777]

I will do mine 😊

[@buddyvincent9205]

Cool mods. Why not try. CV 60s Telecaster mod?

[@k2dave1969]

Drop a freeway 10 way switch in that squier .

[@place_desjardins]

Nice video.

[@pmarona3667]

Habanero!

[@SeanDS1989]

wait, wheres part 1? I see a vid of yours about a super squier from like 6 years ago, that's not it, is it?

[@SeanDS1989]

Ohh, nevermind, I remember the first video now lol forget I said anything 😅

[@FGg503]

Sounds great! Who needs a $3000 guitar? 👌😎✌