How to upgrade the electronics on a Fender Squier Strat and fix faulty shielding

[@dnb3810]

I love how he also takes a moment to make the case for having no shielding and just appreciating the noise.

[@jeffbeck6501]

Me too. I am a no shielder too.

[@elonmush4793]

I tried one of those aluminum shielding plates on my Strat and it definitely took away some hum but also some of the highs. I reverted to how it was before because I didn't recognise my lovely Strat sound any more. If you find your instrument too bright this might be for you but I missed the single coil sparkle on top.

[@photondebuger45]

Spoken like a true guitarist

[@doknox]

If you use a lot of high gain, sheilding is a necessity. Otherwise there is no need.

[@panan7777]

@@elonmush4793 How to really shield single coils? Try US made Strat and if it speaks to you, BUY original one. Skipping ONE new phone will get you entry level, TWO will get a very good one. I was explaining this fact of life to my daughter, how she could get a good used car, only if she would "suffer" the old phone for two years more. Complete WASTE of money is unbelievable with the young generation. Get a frickin' CAT phone and forget when you have bought it. For surfing, get top quality ultrabook which costs about the same these days. CAT + Dell XPS 13 are still LESS than top of the line phones, if you go around shopping. Crazy world. I'm just wrestling with a cheap HB and will take time and nerves to fix it, to be halfway good. Oh, forget this rave FB reviews, they get selected, properly set specimens. Mine was unplayable out out the box. Loud as the pig screwing the porcupine. ;))

[@GerryBlue]

Imagine having Dan as your guitar tech! Lucky girl

[@OverlandOne]

That little girl's smile at the end says it all. Priceless. Elyse is quickly becoming a Master Luthier.

[@cnosprandt5155]

What an awesome Grand Dad and lucky and appreciative Grand Daughter! Thanks for sharing this Dan!

[@williammiller1531]

I started shielding Strats and Teles with StewMac shielding paint about 15 years ago. It works great!

[@davidkastin4240]

Great job Elyse and Dan. Your granddaughters smile says it all. She loves it even more now

[@wolfiesjustfine6499]

I've only recently started watching these Stew Mac videos, this is my 3rd video i've seen, but I am love with the guy presenting, he seems like not only the nicest guy in the world, but also, these videos are so informative! Thank you, sorry I didn't catch your name.

[@stewmac]

That is Mr. Dan Erlewine, and thank you for the kind comments!

[@je1279]

Well done to both of you. I recently began playing again after a 20 year hiatus. My favorite aspect is being able to teach my buddies kids how to play now. While I will never be a rock star for the masses, I am a rock star to them and that is what matters most to me.

[@LeviBulger]

Very wholesome and thorough demonstration! Great job StewMac. I never thought of connecting the pickguard shielding to the cavity in that way. Wayyyy simpler than what I would normally do.

[@james6028]

id have run a strip of the shielding foil up instead of the wire myself. dont really like the idea of the wire bowing out the middle of the pickguard like that

[@jackklenk4352]

This has to be the most helpful and straightforward I have watched in years. Wow. Thanks a ton! You got yourselves a customer!

[@mozilla2576]

That sweet smile at the ending makes all that hard work pay off. AwEsOmE!

[@ChrisFranklyn]

Damn, I wish Dan was my Granddad when I was a kid :)

[@theguymaxqc]

i feel bad for your granddad

[@ChrisFranklyn]

@@theguymaxqc Which? The violent alcoholic or the selfish bully? You weren't to know - :)

[@cartonflesh9961]

He's like the cool grandpa that teaches you a lot of stuff that schools don't teach you.

[@xbmpr]

Yeah! I just got 2 stupid dead ones!

[@kanealson5200]

Mine wasn't bad or like this guy. Just a regular one.

[@gabrielsilva1337]

I love you guys, you're doing a great service for the guitar community! I wish there was a StewMac in Europe

[@jergervasi3331]

How lucky Elyse is to be learning from the master! And you can tell she's experienced and knows her stuff!

[@NoWayOut55]

An incredible video. Dayem!!

[@avjake]

Great job, guys! Any time you get paid in big smiles, totally worth it. Whoever is putting these videos together is doing a great job, BTW.

[@GuitarNTabs]

Thanks for the video - it's great! Also, thanks to Elyse, for making things so clear and presentable! Bring her in some more! Cheers.

[@invay69]

WHAT ENVY MAN!!! Seeing these youngs working side-by-side with Dan!!! What an honor!!!! Love you!

[@JohnOhkumaThiel]

Last time I commented that I had only been playing guitar 🎸 eight months and wasn’t ready to mod anything. Now twenty-two months a guitarist, I’ve basically taken a cheap Squier I bought in a thrift shop for $90 and gradually modified it, bit by bit, into my dream guitar much thanks to your videos. About the only thing left on here which came with the guitar originally are the neck-which I’m going to replace, though I upgraded it with locking tuners and graphite trees and the nut-the body, and the tremolo, though I did replace the saddles. Anyway, when I upgraded the pots, switch, and output jack with an Obsidianwire Blender, and then the pickups, I had to make the holes in the original pick guard bigger. Then of course I wanted to change to a new pick guard because the old one was badly stained, and frankly a piece of crap. And now the point. The old pick guard was 8 holes, and the new one is 11. Not a problem because the dimensions are the same, BUT because it’s an exact fit it really needs to be on there perfectly. Down at the bridge, one part of the pick guard warped out, creating a gap between it and the body because it wasn’t as perfectly aligned as it was meant to be. Then I fixed that problem and it was still not quite right. Finally I realized, those screws don’t need to be very tight; they’re not giving anywhere. Still not exactly perfect, but I’m leaving it until the next time I change strings.

[@TheRamsberg]

1: Whelp, now a want a pink guitar! 2: Elyse is a fantastic presenter.

[@christiaandemarezoyens4720]

This is so endearing and just confirms I made the right choice picking music as a career no matter how tough it gets sometimes.

[@dougreed9843]

That's the smile that steals grandpa's heart forever the reason for living a joyous and happy life family !!!

[@donttellthekids2655]

Great video....You can also use wooden toothpicks instead of dowels. Already beveled, very easy to trim off, and widely available. Use two if the hole is a bit sloppy. The taper allows for this.

[@avega2792]

Don't Tell the Kids but the skewers are a closer fit to the hole and I’d think it would be more secure.

[@donttellthekids2655]

@@avega2792 Toothpicks (made of hard birch) come pre-tapered, are easy to glue, and tap firmly into a guitar screw hole... you can fill every hole on that guitar in the time it takes someone to taper, sand, and trim just one of the skewer/dowel pins. I don't think you'll find many luthiers or finish carpenters using dowels when they have a box of toothpicks handy (they're much less expensive than dowels, too).

[@avega2792]

Don't Tell the Kids I disagree.

[@donttellthekids2655]

@@avega2792 Whatever you decide to use, please make sure that your "skewers" aren't made of bamboo as it's naturally water resistant and won't take wood glue very well.

[@ExternalInputs]

You can also use wood golf tees.

[@philt3730]

I'm planning on rewiring my Squier Mustang and I've never thought about shielding! I'll definitely be painting the cavity and lining my pickguard!

[@tbonky]

I love seeing Dan introduce the next school of excellent guitar techs! The best of both worlds!

[@DJ_Mooster]

This shows how much of a national treasure Dan is by how excited he is to teach his granddaughter

[@NoWayOut55]

Now this is a video to learn from. This Gentleman is top shelf!! YOUNG MAN!! I'd love to buy you a beer!!🤜🤛🤝 good job teaching your granddaughter!!

[@thseed7]

Some of the best videos about guitar repair, maintenance and customization. Always love the content, thanks for another excellent tutorial.

[@zenmaster6780]

Just wanted to say Thank you! I watched your video and gave it a first time try and it worked great! I was so happy when my ohm meter showed continuity! Thanks!

[@ParaBellum2024]

Being a cheapskate, I shield my guitars with aluminium foil (from the kitchen), cut, folded and shaped to fit a cavity in one piece, stuck down with Pritt Stick and extended out under the pickguard, which has a single layer of foil stuck to it too. An earth wire is wrapped around a small screw that goes through the foil into the body, and that's pretty much it. Where components come very close to the foil, I put insulation tape over it. I can't tell any difference in the sound using aluminium foil, except the hum is gone. I tried it once on a Strat, using self adhesive copper tape (slug tape actually, from the garden section at Wilko), and I felt that this affected the tone. I was going to fit aluminium foil in its place, but ended up selling the guitar, so we'll never know if this would have been better.

[@ParaBellum2024]

@@_DeadEnd_ Correct, and standard aluminium foil is conductive. It must be connected to the guitar's ground, or it won't work.

[@anthonycongiano8890]

Excellent! Cool tutorial and she looks so happy! Maybe next time let us hear the 60 cycle hum and or the EM interference noise before you shield and compare it afterwards. Thanks again!

[@thylacine1962]

A Man with a good family to pass his skills & knowledge onto = priceless.

[@gag3rs]

Dan, you make me not only a better tech, but a better person

[@nachom1971]

Hey Dan I loved this video. I just wanted to add something I do to my shielding which is I additionaly attach a wire to ground at the jack or a pot comming from the shielding surface (held by a screw) . Many times I find that the pot wont provide a reliable path to ground from the pickguard foil. Also instead of the wire to connect the cavity shielding to the pickguard shielding, I find it very convenient to use a strip of copper tape. BTW I also prefer aluminum to copper shieldings just like Bill Lawrence suggested and you used on this upgrade. Thanks!!!

One of my favorite channels in KZbin, thanks Stewart Macdonald!!!

[@jasonhuttermusic424]

This is exactly the upgrade I wanted to see. Just the electronic. Thanks for posting.

[@Breakbeats92.5]

Sure, he will gladly give his grandbaby guitar instructions, but there is sure to be some sage wisdom imparted during those lessons. An experience I'm sure she will cherish forever. Bless your heart 💓 Stew Mac.

[@whyzen2081]

Dan is awesome. And Elyse made filling those misaligned pickguard holes look so easy. I would've panicked had I ran into that problem. Nice one.

[@solidifysinger]

I absolutely LOVE this! Thanks for sharing with us girls how to take care of our guitars! I've been waiting for a game changer!

[@fabiopunk1661]

I have a pink Squier Strat, found the cavity very well painted (and conducting!) Sound is excellent, guitar plays great. Only tuners were crap - replaced with Kluson. Having said this, this is an excellent video.

[@brandonanthony7331]

I find these videos oddly satisfying and at the same time makes me want to do a luthier apprenticeship.

[@symonf1966]

A guitar playing progress video in about 6 months please. Just one song played with grandad would be fantastic.

[@leftymadrid]

Why, that was so informative, great team, young and old, together, fantastic actually... I REALLY liked that new pick guard with the latest wiring, and pots, and pickups! I can imagine that the sound would change in one's guitar for sure! "Nothing but the best"

[@domg7616]

This is cool ass old man. He is a true tech God! Thanks for all your knowledge and a great tool and parts shop!

[@bobsaturday4273]

you guys have been doin this for a while so I'm really surprised you don't realize when those p-gard holes are out a bit , a lotta times just filing it a hair on one side where it meets the neck can get those lined right up !

[@Bulletman426]

You’re such a good man. Thank you for sharing your videos, experience and your talent

[@PaulMThe]

God, she's so lucky, what an amazing grandfather she has! I knew, the moment I saw that guitar for her granddaughter, that he wouldn't give it to her like that, I knew he would improve the hell out of that guitar, amazing.

[@michaeltucker4090]

As always you're the man Dan another innovative,informative, and we'll thought out lesson . Thank you 😊

[@davechapman7735]

great clip thanks and Dan has done a great job of training his young assistant. well done.

[@Charlie-ov1bj]

Shes very lucky to have him as her grandfather... My grandfather died before i was born... But i heard about his expartese in musical instruments from elders... He was also a fan of diy...

[@espiritguitar]

You are the man Dan.

[@wickedcrypto6004]

What an amazing video. Dan is a true guitar hero.

[@Meddled]

4:08 quick, hide the bit of pickguard I cut into!

[@iniquity7]

Lol nice catch

[@Nullllus]

That's just a shaving.

[@JBergmansson]

It might be protective plastic as well.

[@garymitchell5899]

Oops. Cutting-speed and pressure was too much. Rookie error.

[@sagrado5]

Ups Jajajajaja

[@joshemartinez2577]

Finally a good video about these stuff.

[@lennyluzitano8920]

Such nice people...love is present.....God bless all of you...

[@mototalksoficial]

Dan, our Grandpa, regards from Brazil!!

[@jk-76]

I went through a few different types of shielded wiring and learned about ground loops. Hum is never a worry.

[@TrapCityProd]

Good video! I've done shielding on various 6-string guitars and bass guitars and have used 3 kinds of shielding material on these projects: 1. MG Chemicals 838 Carbon Conductive Spray-paint, 2. Copper Foil Tape with conductive adhesive and 3. Aluminum Tape from Dollar Tree. On the Copper Foil Tape, I make sure to get the kind with conductive adhesive so the various strips are electrically connected as you overlap them, as well as for bridging the strips of aluminum tape (which is a LOT cheaper to buy and use, but doesn't have conductive adhesive so the overlapping strips are electrically isolated unless bridged). I found the foil tape easier to use and a lot less messy than paint (whether spray-paint or brush-on). I'll often times use the aluminum tape for covering the bulk of the cavity and then use the copper tape with it's conductive adhesive to bridge the strips of aluminum tape so it can all be grounded, and you can solder a ground wire to the copper tape as well (not so with aluminum). You can take the tape over the rim of the cavity to touch the cover, so don't need to add that extra wire he screwed in towards the end of the video either. If you use a spray-paint like the MG Chemicals 838 Carbon Conductive paint, make sure to mask off anything you don't want the paint on as it will not come off! Make sure to take safety precautions as you don't want that paint getting into your lungs and follow the instructions on clearing the nozzle after use or you'll render the can inoperable for the next time. I felt I got better coverage with the spray-paint than I would have with a brush-on and wasted MUCH less of the expensive paint in the process (any decent shielding paint is not going to be cheap, FWIW!). MG Chemicals also makes conductive paint with nickel or silver, though the carbon paint works well enough and is typically less expensive. With the foil being cheaper and easier to use and just as effective, I tend to use it more than the paint. I'll use a mix of aluminum tape and copper tape on cheaper guitars, but use strictly copper tape on more expensive ones and on 'pet' projects. Both strategies using foil tapes are effective at eliminating noise, as is using conductive paint (whether spray or brush). And as they point out in the video, it's important to do the cover as well so the electronics are totally sealed away from any interference.

[@fabienbourdier9847]

Dan is easily one of the coolest guy ever.

When I shielded my guitar I used aluminium foil and double-sided tape. It was pretty hard but works like a charm and it was what I had at home. Also, I left a piece of aluminium coming from the cavity and going over the edge, like if i had painted poorly and never cleaned the border. That will act as a wire between the shield and the cavity. And, since the shield will be at the top, won't hurt the finish.

[@olenfersoi8887]

Good job. You got everything covered that I thought you might neglect.

[@juanmax2155]

Excellent pace and lenght, excellent information, super clear ... five star video! Thanks much for this! Blessings! Keep the good work!

[@JeffIndigo]

Heartwarming and informing video!

[@ERIC-65]

That drill-bit with the tube was a cool idea!

[@shauncarter924]

I love this. I have 2 young daughters that I’ve tried to get into paying guitar. They loved watching this with me and knowing that girls can work on guitars too. Nice work!!!

[@TranscendentBen]

I didn't get a view of the headstock in this video, but I'm guessing that's a Squier Affinity, the lowest grade you can get with the "by Fender" name on it. Over the years I got several Squier strats cheap in thrift stores and such, and noticed one felt and played better than the others. It also appeared that someone had spiffed it up with a two-screw-support floating bridge. I did some online research which pointed me to the headstock, it's a Squier Standard model and comes with the floating bridge as standard, whereas the others are the Affinity models, which actually have a thinner body! The neck and everything feels better on the standard, and the adjustments and intonation came out better. If the Affinity has an advantage for a 12 year old, it's that it's a bit lighter, easier to hold and carry than a better guitar.

[@longlivegarybusey6409]

I'd say if you're building a guitar you want to look vintage go with the Affinity. The body thickness isn't set so you can find ones with thicker or thinner bodies. You just have to look. The finish they use seems to age really nice too rather than being overly thick and looking exactly the same 10 years after you buy it. The bridge can be easily swapped out with a vintage MIM bridge with a thicker block and bent saddles. Plus they don't come with that massive bright bleached maple headstock that screams "THIS THING IS A BRAND NEW CHEAP SQUIER! NOT A VINTAGE GUITAR! LOOK AT THE BIG GOLD LOGO!". You can also buy an affinity with those cheap blocky encased tuners and easily swap in a set of vintage klusons without purchasing oversized bushings since the tuner holes are drilled smaller. And the new klusons will cover up the screw holes left by the cheaper set.

[@NuraliKushkov]

I wonder if I should do this to my 64 tele American vintage reissue. I absolutely love the tone of it but not the hum part. Also hesitating as I’m afraid it might affect the tonal character. Is copper foil easier to work with? It’s ok it cost a little more, if it’s easier to work with in general. Thanks for any advice and such great instructions. Love your channel, very informative and open hearted. Inspires me to share my knowledge with the world.

[@stewmac]

IMO opinion it is harder to work with. However foil gives you the added benefit of being easily reversible if you don't like the way it sounds.

[@ghostfacegrillla6272]

Gotta love it👊😎 Rock on young lady!

[@djcurtis9547]

Thanks for this INFORMATIVE video I love learning something new about the Amazing instrument we call the guitar

[@barrychickini9074]

Stew-Mac needs to sell the paint in a smaller quantity. I did not want to work on a dozen guitars. I did use the copper sheeting kit and soldered the joint overlays and the results were stupendously amazing!

[@eggy68]

Welcome, Elyse! I enjoyed your presentation style. The edits were a little jumpy for this old dude, though.

[@onpsxmember]

I feel the same and I'm 30.

[@kanjosidr]

@@onpsxmember I feel the same and I'm 21.

[@safetyman4967]

@@kanjosidr I feel the same and I'm 14

[@ccgbassandmore3]

I feel the same and I'm 6 months old

[@safetyman4967]

@@ccgbassandmore3 I feel the same and I'm a 1 day old fetus

[@Mooseboy08]

Great instructional video, and a great excuse for grandpa to show off his granddaughter!

[@mywaveinwoodswoodperfumes]

very helpful, simple, and professional. thanks a lot

[@allyhellkiller5535]

Love that pink guitar!♡♡♡♡

[@SanplerVarondaro]

muy buen video saludos desde Baja California

[@iggysixx]

For drilling the new holes, there exist these self-centering drill bits with a retractable shaft (the drill bits are held in with a hex screw, and are replaceable). They're 'officially' for door hinges and such (since misalignment would mean a crooked or squeaky door), but they would work very well for mounting holes on a guitar :) I use them for anything really, even for marking the centers for holes I need to drill in walls. (Saves a lot of time, since you don't have to account for slightly misaligned screws pulling everything out of square/level)

[@jergervasi3331]

Thanks for this tip! Just when I think I own all the cool tools already! LOL... Just ordered up a set for myself.

[@madisonmasontv]

Oh Dan, you're in looooove! There's nothing like it.

[@charleshuggins7574]

Another great job by a great team go Stew Mac

[@enigmatic0ne]

Did that new 5-way switch fit into the Squire cavity? Found out the hard way that they have thinner bodies and shallower cavities than the Fender Strats. A shorter switch is needed to fit, like the cheap stock one.

[@gregf438]

Right on Dan 👍

[@kcsvantasticvoyages9729]

One happy student, bravo!!!

[@gergemall]

What a beautiful guitar

[@Echo5_Delta76]

@5:35 😲 Adjustable wrench?

[@gtrman12887]

I found myself blowing on the screen as Elyse was sanding trying to get the dust off the pickguard, lol.

[@nigelsmith4948]

What an amazing grandfather to have. Another excellent video, thank you

[@FaOut]

nice job!

[@Secretarian]

So, the pick guard and cavity shielding are grounded to the guitar body via the wood screw, but not connected to the ground wire going out to the output jack/amplifier ground. Might have to try that, as I find it to be somewhat of a hassle connecting the shielding to the output ground.

[@VonBluesman]

Great video. Are you going to replace the saddles ? I don't know where to find saddles that fit the mini squire.

[@nodakjohnsful]

I would like to do the same

[@brioncommon5701]

Please explain how you dealt with the height of new 5way switch. Did you route body? What did you do off camera that you are not telling us?

[@stuofthepots]

Wonderful video, Dan your such a top guy

[@FODVAPOR]

Thanks for video, wasn't sure how to properly shield my Dean MLX ! Answered my question :)

[@AiMR]

I just went over the cavity with copper foil tape. The trick is to get the stuff they use in the garden to ward away snails because it is a LOT cheaper 😉

[@kanealson5200]

No routing into the body to fit the new pots?

[@stewmac]

No routing required. The cavity is large enough for the replacement pots

[@kanealson5200]

@@stewmac Thanks. By looking at it, it looks like a Squier Affinity. I'm looking for a similar pre-wired pickguard but can't find one in the link provided here. Never mind. Turns out I misspelled pickguard as pickgaurd. Ha ha.

[@nicolamontoro]

Great video, lucky kid. Grandpa is the man!

[@WARPapaRouge]

If you leave some shielding paint on the face of the guitar (under the pickguard), it will make the connection to the shielding of the pickguard without having to add a wire. I recommend doing it close to a screw hole, to reduce the risk of the pickguard separating from the body and breaking the connection. Also, don't forget to ground it.

[@rsingh1252]

im probably never going to do this but its relaxing to watch

[@MrJoeyBoombotz]

I love it. So sweet. OR....just spend $500 for an entry level PRS. You will have no hum, an optimized single coil OR humbucking sound and no need to fix anything. The set up on all 3 of my mail PRSs was perfect out of the box. I played Fenders and Gibsons to a lesser extent for 50 years. Thank God for Paul Reed Smith. I hope others will be able to enjoy the party a lot sooner than it took me.

[@onpsxmember]

That's the beauty if you want to upgrade later. The thing is that this guitar is smaller and lighter, which makes it perfect for a kid. If they stop playing, you saved some money and they can do some mods on that guitar, it's not the end of the world when they drop it.

[@gergemall]

Excellent video

[@formallynamed85]

Always great videos

[@GuitarExpress]

Great video! I usually use light matches to fill up the holes :)

[@ononoma]

Very well done!