Can We Save This $20 Goodwill Guitar!?

[@topbreak38]

I like how you don't crap on the guitar for being an old Squier. You just fix it up like you would a high-end guitar and show off its strengths. Thanks for the vid!

[@thegamersgalaxy2855]

Yet it IS a cheap, crap guitar🙄

[@grantkoeller8911]

All instruments deserve respect

[@grantkoeller8911]

@@thegamersgalaxy2855 no it's not, it's a mid tier guitar, made in Indonesia, at the Cort factory, in 2003, Glarry is a cheap crap guitar.

[@BeeRumblin13]

Squiers can sound good with a good player and amp. People that crap on them try to justify why they spent way too much money on wood and stainless steel

[@thegamersgalaxy2855]

🥴 These are the typical comments from broke, cheap ass players that can’t afford a real guitar. See how your daft comment works in reverse genius? No, factually the reason I KNOW this guitar is junk is because I’ve owned one🤔 Your response is essentially the old “Don’t piss on my head and tell me it’s raining” theorem. If you try believe there is no difference between a $3000 pice and a $300 piece? Your idiocy is beyond help🤷🏼‍♂️

[@wtdenton4090]

Nice video! This came up random in my You Tube suggestions, really enjoying your channel. Subscribed right away. I just did a similar project. A boy in my neighborhood (6 yrs old!) Wanted to learn guitar very badly, he and his Mom don't have a lot of extra money, so a several hundred $ guitar, plus an amp was not an option. Last week he was a guitar at a garage sale, a 1980's Lyon (Washburn) for $5! It even came with a hard case. (way more than 5$ value there alone) He begged his Mom to get it. She though it was way beyond repair. The lil guy said Mom, "my Buddy Bill is a Rock Star he can fix anything." I was kinda worried about this one myself. It's wiring (3pickups) was a little worse than the Squire, needed, redone. Repaired frozen tuners, new strings... Actually Complete setup. But he is such a good kid.... I grew up without a father to help me with such things so I gave it a shot. 8 hrs and $45 in parts later... WOW! The look on his face when we cranked it up thru my Synergy... Was precious, worth all the effort! Bringing even an inexpensive guitar back to life, so it can be appreciated by someone who really wanted to learn to play so badly. That was more of a reward for me than anything! Any ideas on a decent Amp for him. Something cool, but of course inexpensive. That he can grow into, and drive his Mom just to the point she's praying for my slow and painful death, that would be hilarious. Thanks again for your entertaining and helpful videos.

[@rockdaddy2168]

The all important box of "Random Knobs" saves the day. You are truley the "Goodwill Guitar Whisperer".

[@grantkoeller8911]

In 1986, Squier used to be disrespected and made fun of for being a cheap entry level guitar. Now in 2022, 36 years later, with the Alibaba Amazon Chinese market cranking out cheap $100 Glarry's, Squire has in now moved up to the respectful Intermediate guitar range. That Squire guitar when all fixed up with new pickup, truss rod adjustment, guitar polish, tightening of neck screws, straps buttons, new custom Telecaster knob, fixed bridge and one bridge pickup was meant to rock! This is a guitar for shredding with a no bull$hit electronics, only a volume knob, no tone controls. This Squier is perfect for a beginner or a touring pro like Randy Rhodes to use with a Black Sabbath style band.This guitar could be used in a blues group, like Buddy Guy, uses, or even a straight ahead jazz fast bebop guitar!

[@mattrogers1946]

You forget, those were made in Japan...

[@Heroesworkshop]

Those Squier bullets are phenomenal. It’s literally my main guitar. I sold my other ones because of how good it felt and played. All I did was upgrade the pickups.

[@Guitarnivore]

Such an under-rated brand. The new Sonic series (replacing the Bullet series) is fantastic.

[@misterknightowlandco]

My bullet tele is awesome too. All I did was new pickups too

[@Ian-qs3fz]

Stealth!!

[@Bazooka_Sharks]

Dude thats a 20th anniversary bullet. Those are kinda rare, i have one that ive hot rodded over the years, still my no 1 guitar. Been trying to find another for a long long time. Theres a super rare orange one with black hardware out there too

[@rickroberts9182]

A few years back, I bought a 1976 Hondo Strat copy for $20.00. It was covered in duct tape, bridge was hanging by one screw, and knobs were all missing. I pulled the duct tape off and the body was excellent and I put in some emg pickups I had laying around and ths guitar is extremely playable. I have gigged with it. wish I could post a picture.

[@JCGronewold]

I love this! I have a very similar story! I bought a 85’ Hondo HH strat copy for $20, it was in pieces, stored in the trunk of his car. One neck shim, a new pair of pickups, and a few solder joints later it’s my number #1 guitar. Built like a tank

[@kilroywashere1828]

I have an 84 holdo les Paul..man iv had real Les Paul's..and I just didn't care for their sound after the Hondo being around since 84.. I put in DiMarzio pickups..it's still a screamer

[@Gothguitarist]

Post a video

[@sircampbelltenson7297]

Love the old hondos (Except fro the Hondo II line, general materials and QC went down the hill there). Own a Hondo 760D myself (strat copy) and a 767 Deluxe series (Flying V but with a strat style control scheme, neck and bridge). Both absolute dreams to play and sound great. 767 did need a pickup replacement as it came from a dealer who basically bought huge containers of guitars from Japan so being about 30 and a bit years old and being sat in a container played havoc with them. Still 2 of my favourite guitars out of the ones I own

[@garydeceder2181]

Find some pictures Rick I like to take a look at it

[@Rj-jm8vm]

You don't see too many single bridge humbucker hardtail Squires . I like it.... Nice guitar .

[@stevemercure902]

Nice save! It was a joy to see you bring this one back to life for someone. I purchased a 3/4 size Harmony classical acoustic from the late 70's from a Goodwill Store for next to nothing. New strings, cleaning, a little file work on the nut and it played quite well. It has a new home with a new player. I love watching the old instruments come back to life.

[@dp9550]

If the truss rod is tight and the neck is still in a concave position with no string tension you may have to force the neck into a back bow by clamping relieving the pressure on the truss rod after that the truss rod will be much easier to turn, this will make sure you wont strip the truss rod nut or even worst the truss rod snaps from using the truss rod to do all the work against the neck. 🧐

[@vegasaxeman]

WOW! What a labor of love man! You actually took what could have been a disposable guitar that could have ended up in the wood pile for firewood and turned it back into a very playable guitar! An instrument that an underprivileged person could pick up, learn on, and possibly turn out to be the next Eddie Van Halen or Stevie Ray Vaughn! There needs to be more musicians like you around man! Kudos to you bro! You have another new subscriber here! Keep the faith and keep fighting the good fight! God bless and take care...

[@richardturk7162]

Bought plenty of Goodwill guitars and fixed them up over the years.

[@kilroywashere1828]

I work at a goodwill in sorting...did you know they have 2 auctions a week to sell off stuff that they don't want in their stores...anyway I found 2 old fender stratocasters.. Old as in 55 and 56..I marked them 100 each..and put them down beside me .later that day went and bought them 200 bucks with a employee discount.. Keeping both..and both are worth a ton of money

[@Larzra]

I have this exact guitar at home! Same colour, bought in 2004. That is so weird! The only difference is it looked like the pickup was angled a little, but I don't know if that was because the pickup was falling apart. My first electric, and it's still so fun to play!

[@erix777]

Pull the wound strings in slowly dude so you don't risk filing them. Thanks for the video, fantastic work of love and the chrome knob looks grand!

[@booitsnick]

That blue is one of the rarer colors of the squier bullet special. They are rad guitars I wish they would bring it back

[@grantkoeller8911]

I bought my 1960's acoustic nylon string folk guitar Harmony H-937 at a Salvation Army for 15 dollars. Now, it's totally restored and plays great!!! worth about $299 -$325 now, perfectly for sitting around the campfire or singing at a folk music sing along.

[@robertortega8093]

The gentleman doing this fix is spot on and has turned this instrument into, even a seasoned players dream guitar. Well done dude. A little Brite but that can be corrected on the amp.

[@KurtS5150]

Dane saves the day, I’m sure he made a young lady happy

[@davidkastin4240]

Good save. The Indonesian Strats from this era are great. I have a '00 Squier Standard. Dave Tucson 🌵

[@caiusmadison2996]

Yes they are. I have a 2002 bullet like this one that's a memory guitar. Plays well, same as this but blacked out hardware, red, and it's a Squier Anniversary model

[@grantkoeller8911]

Yes, I have an 2004 Indonesian Squier P bass special with jazz neck and additional jazz pickup, for $50 bucks from a pawn shop. It's my main bass now. The value on Reverb is now $425

[@mouse_eater]

I bought a Westone Concord in absolute disrepair for $25, I've done countless mods, repairs, and refinishes on it now, and it's been my main player for years

[@werewolflover8636]

Unfortunately this or worse the landfill is where many cheap imports end up. I really appreciate seeing this restored and loved once more!

[@grantkoeller8911]

Many end up at Guitar Center Used section, or pawn shops

[@mattyredrock]

YEAH! Love it man. I'm such a sucker for a single pickup guitar.

[@walterdaniel1060]

Interesting that there is no rout for a neck pickup. If there was a swimming pool rout I would install a loaded HSS pickguard (tortoiseshell, of course). As noted below, Dane made a great save for this guitar that deserves to be played for many more years.

[@RJsCave]

I love a good single pickup guitar. Nice save!

[@christopheraaron8299]

I found my Epiphone Les Paul Special at Salvation Army for $20. All it was missing was the bridge, so I got a neat roller bridge on Amazon for $13 and a set of Super Slinky stings and I had myself a pretty awesome guitar for next to nothing. There was also a Squier Tele with no pickups for $20 there, but I hate Telecasters so much, so I let that be someone else's thrift store treasure.

[@grantkoeller8911]

How could you hate telecasters?

[@christopheraaron8299]

@@grantkoeller8911 Well, for one, I hate country music and southern rock, I prefer real music. Second, it's not a very versatile instrument. For example, you can make a Strat sound like a Tele, but you can't make a Tele sound like a Strat. Finally, I hate the way it looks, from the ashtray bridge and half-sized pickguard to the very ugly headstock.

[@gamingwithmrgvil3511]

I like your restringing trick bending the string. I wasn't as smart and twisted the saddles sideways. LoL live and learn 😅.

[@tambert3897]

You just made that guitar as good as new. It's worth a lot more than $20 now.

[@grantkoeller8911]

it's worth $225 now

[@ClintsCrypt]

Hi Dane, Greetings from Tucson. From the looks of the fretboard, that Squire looks well played. Nice and broken in. Great save! Years ago, when first learning to repair my own guitars, I broke a truss rod. My takeaway from that incident: When adjusting a truss rod, if it stops, don't add an extension to the wrench to get more leverage to tighten the truss rod more (even if there is still too much relief in the neck). Doh!!! 🤣🤣🤣I was very sad, as it was my first guitar I had owned and I loved it. It was a limited edition candy apply red MIM Fender Strat with a black pickguard, black controls and rosewood fretboard. It was beautiful. I haven't found one the same shade of red since then. All the newer ones also have Pau Ferro fretboards, not Rosewood. 😢

[@grantkoeller8911]

get replacement neck

[@BassWhoopinFishingTeam]

I’ve got an 05 Squier. Plays great after a setup. Very happy with it

[@edwardippoliti626]

Great rescue ! Those Squire Bullets are great guitars ! What is the cleaner you used at about 8:30 ,oil? It works awesome! Thank you Zimm 's for your inspiration!

[@beerwolf8518]

Sounds and looks great! Really showd that some elbow grease can go a long way! 🔥🎸

[@curtiseverett1671]

never underestimate a Squire bullet stop tail. I have one from 2002, Samick Indonesia, and I love it. Mine is thinner and lighter than an expensive Mexican Strat.......but I happen to like the thin light body. It gives it that thin guitar feel like a Les Paul Jr, or Melody maker. The pickups are cheap ceramic, but you know what? Once you play around with the tone, you can get whatever you want. UNDERRATED guitar!!!!! Oh, and on your guitar, that chrome knob fit right in with the vibe. You could play shows with that guitar.

[@hotniaoniao]

Aww, parents went out and got Johnny an electric guitar so he can be a star. Too bad they bought him the Xbox first. Xbox = Easy and the guitar = work. Hope the girl sticks with it.

[@grantkoeller8911]

Hondo was made by Samick in Japan from 1974 to 1983, after that they moved to Korea

[@nitr8]

Nice work (and a nice colour combo too).

[@danielmiller2886]

I bought a guitar just like that at Goodwill for $30. Everything is still basically intact, so I am going to route it out and throw a pair of Wilkinson P90s on it.

[@michaelblaney4461]

Looks like it will make someone happy when it's fixed 😊

[@yourdrummer2034]

I love the way it looks and sounds good!👍

[@AdamRainStopper]

Oh my god, it's one of those old Bullet models, not to be confused with the later "Bullet Strat" that had standard 3 single coils and 5 way switch and a really lightweight basswood body. These had laminated/ply bodies and were heavy as all hell, and those pickups are just ungodly hot. Weird guitars, I only ever played one once, and it was when I was 17, stumbled into a store high on heroin, picked up the first strat-looking thing I saw, plugged it into the closest amp to me (an AC15) and started playing, so my memory of that experience WILL be a bit skewed because of the time and my state of mind. It was set up ok for its age, but it really needed fretwork. This was 2002 and it was made in the 80s. That said, it was the strangest instrument I'd held. Not like unique like a really old Mosrite or Eastwood type weird, not like a Silvertone, but weird in a sense of expecting strat sounds with a little extra girth because of the humbucker, but getting this choppy attack and lower mid groan that sounded more like a semi-hollow. I turned up the AC15 and hit another chord and jumped out of my skin for a moment. I don't know if I loved it or hated it, seems counterintuitive to have a Japanese Squier with a ply body and a way too hot pickup, but it was made during hair metal, so it likely was catering to kids who wanted to learn to play Hot For Teacher. Strange memory.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

I enjoy these shows. Thanx

[@subd3]

ooo, I'd love to take some 000 steel wool to that fretboard.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I have an Ibanez RG470 that's over 30 years old and still plays like brand new. I am lucky to have a guy here in town that's a professional luthier. He did the original setup on the guitar. I had him lower the action and put new strings on it last week. The guitar plays better than ever. I just need some DiMarzio's to put in it so it sounds as good as it plays.

[@gregrayner3146]

at 9.22 in the video after you have used the cleaner n a rag you can still see alot of gunk build up on the fretboard, with really old guitars like this the best way is to use the cleaner n soak the board n then use 0000 steel wool and scrub the fretboard to fully clean it and it will polish the frets at the same time n remove all that stubborn gunk off the fretboard and you just put an old towel under the guitar and use a business card n sum masking tape n tape around the end of the fretboard n body to keep the steel wool fibres away from the body n pickups because that fretboard if you look at 9.22 in the video is not clean at all imo

[@mountart2]

I never knew Sean Penn worked as a guitarist technician... cool!

[@jeromewagschal9485]

As soon as I saw it I said to myself : "It looks like my Squier Bullet Special" and I was right 🙂🙂

[@actionfiguretimes]

Cleaned the instrument up nicely! Kudos...

[@KnuckleheadStuey]

Don't be afraid to adjust your truss rod.......until you hear a crack.

[@nizodizo9549]

I appreciate my Fender Stratocaster more after watching this video.

[@RobRoyR8R]

I have a Bullet Bass Passive. Very strong pickup. Nice machine.

[@Guitarnivore]

I tell you, some Squiers (I own several) have some of the nicest colors.

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I need to learn how to do pickup changes and wiring. The problem I have is I have a slight tremor in my hands. The funny thing is that I don't have it when I play guitar or piano. If I have to do something that has small parts or have to keep something still, can't do it. I have had this tremor since i was a little kid.

[@nwojason]

i always think of evh and tom delonge with a single hum

[@therightisright8276]

great job man!

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Wow! It's rare to see a hardtail....I can see that being turned into a Jake E Lee tribute

[@georgeprice4212]

It’s a Squier Bullet.

[@popogejo7245]

I started switching out all the hard tails for high mass ht's like on a bass. That and a tusk, or brass nut just adds so much to the tone and sustain it's worth the extra you have to put into the guitar. Also be sure and "set" the neck on all the Squires, as many times that's not done from the factory.

[@bessiebraveheart]

Hello frome England. I have a Japanese squire, great guitar, dakota red. I like the blue colour on that guitar.

[@earnestmatlock9694]

Great job Dane. Sounds ok for a single humbucker. 73 Earnest K5EWM.

[@zombieheadsyndicate]

Are you able to rebuild the pickup? Great video!

[@ernieb3626]

well done! I always enjoy the videos.

[@ZIMMSGUITARS]

Thank you very much!

[@corneliuscrewe677]

With all due respect, what difference does it make which pole faces where, particularly in a one pickup guitar? Physical pole orientation doesn’t matter, only in relation to another pickup and how it’s wired.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

@@hollyc5417 Exactly my point.

[@mattrogers1946]

Nicely painted firewood...🔥

[@MikeJBlues]

I really enjoyed the video. It's great to save a good guitar for sure. I have been fixing my own guitars for a very long time. I have some parts I would like to send you for future rescues . Didn't see an address .

[@terran236]

Of course you can, fret job, new hardware, new pickups, good to go.

[@curtiseverett1671]

My favorite strings are Slinky Hybrids I LOVE them

[@caiusmadison2996]

Looks like a 2002 Bullet example H.

[@spoonsmith9506]

damnit where the hell are people finding 20 dollar guitars!!?? I've never seen one at any goodwill.

[@QBRX]

Wish you had shownthe tuner end of replacing the strings.

[@yucatansuckaman5726]

8:45 will be most watched I hope 😩😩🤌🤌

[@FiveStringCommando]

“Box of knobs” [every British viewer giggles]

[@Tom_Klein]

Well done! Enjoyed your video!

[@johnburris3395]

I love on guitars get rescued don't care if it's worth five bucks or five hundred bucks it's always somebody to enjoy one

[@maxmustardman298]

didnt know they made Squiers without neck pup routs, cool

[@corneliuscrewe677]

It’s a Squier Bullet from the 2000’s. Not even sure they called them Bullet Strat, just Bullet. $99 bottom of the line then.

[@georgeprice4212]

@@corneliuscrewe677 some were called Bullet Strat. Some weren’t.

[@dp9550]

4:44 Use an alligator clip to hold the spring in place until threaded then remove the clip. 🤓

[@bossfan49]

Never seen a guitar for less than $100 at any Goodwill. Guitars get snatched up immediately.

[@andrewsmith1520]

Since it's a one humbucker guitar, what makes you want to put a certain poled coil one way or another? Is it just for consistency, or is there another reason I don't know?

[@228Brendon]

Coil splitter? Not sure

[@eyb0ss317]

Somebody liked blink-182 with that single bridge pickup, guitar’s age checks out too

[@TheMeJustMe75]

I have never seen a guitar a Goodwill. Next time I go, I will keep my eyes open. I need an electric bass, doesn't have to be fancy, just be able to do basic tracks with it.

[@georgeprice4212]

Look behind the checkout. They sometimes put them there.

[@grantkoeller8911]

This is a perfect Squier strat made by Cort indonesia

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Awesome guitar

[@TheMoneyMakingMentor]

Nice job

[@jfrankcarr]

The infamous box of random knobs. I have one of those.

[@heavymetal19610]

Solid content, earned my sub, thxs for sharing!!!

[@redblazehorse]

Great video! Nice job!

[@richardhendel8132]

is that all the guitar is good core? heavy overdrive and distortion ?

[@GuitarType01]

Great job, enjoyed this video

[@edbstrung]

How much did you charge her for the repair? Just wondering how much an old guitar like this adds up after the initial $20

[@blueslawyer]

Does N/S matter if it's just one pickup?

[@rockdaddy2168]

Nice job. Another rocker on the loose.🤟

[@jamesdiehl8690]

Whoever gave it to the Goodwill, didn't have much Good Will!

[@jedfiekel9809]

That pickup isnt ruined... lol.

[@autumnetcetera]

i found a stella harmony at a goodwill for 7 bucks once, you never know

[@aquilarossa5191]

9-42 are the best selling strings? Probably been that way for decades too. But if we go by the forum comments most folks say they are using 13s, or at least can not admit to less than 11s. Do forum types just like to tell the world they have big, thicc strong hands, but do not actually use the strings they say they do? :P

[@mikebaird6788]

there's no way that's a 2003 with a laurel fingerboard in 2003 it would have had straight rosewood

[@debm8313]

I have mores parts than guitars to put them.Flip.nice vid

[@waynecribb4922]

Great job.

[@MichaelBLive]

nice guitar!

[@jeffreybuckingham3782]

Aren't ALL D strings wound?✌

[@kentpulido8010]

Awesome buddy

[@nwojason]

put an invader in it get that tom delonge vibe

[@228Brendon]

Missed opportunity for a nice creative refinish

[@procrastinator6902]

Not worth the effort nor the paint on the guitar. Whatever cheap wood it's made of is likely to end up with a bunch of dents from removing the old finish as well.