How You Can Build a BETTER Tom Delonge Stratocaster Than Fender

[@landonbailey]

do you like it? Parts used (or similar) Get a Squier Strat guitar for modding: 🛒 *Sweetwater* sweetwater.sjv.io/VmxRYa 🛒 *Fender.com* fender.prf.hn/click/camref:1011lzDtv 🛒 *Guitar Center* guitar-center.pxf.io/9ge7kj 🛒 *Andertons* bit.ly/AndertonsSquier 🛒 *Thomann* bit.ly/ThomannSquier *Seymour Duncan Invader* seymour-duncan.sjv.io/3eEGXM *Pickguard* geni.us/Kaish11StratPickgrd *Steel Bridge saddles* geni.us/DoproSteelSaddles *Fender Knob* geni.us/TeleKnob *Fender Vintage Style Tuners* geni.us/FenderClassicGearTuner *Timestamps:* --------------------------------------------------------- 0:00 - opening tones 0:25 - what we're doing 1:50 - how much it cost 2:57 - all the parts in detail 5:35 - taking apart the Squier Bullet Stratocaster 6:15 - oiling the fretboard 6:30 - new tuner installation 7:30 - removing the pickguard and electronics 8:00 - installing steel bridge saddles 8:19 - Seymour Duncan Invader bridge pickup installation 10:20 - treble bleed demo 10:45 - trying various dirt pedals with the modded guitar 12:32 - my thoughts on the whole project

[@jasondorsey7110]

Sometimes a Squier is Kenough

[@aitken1965]

That looked like a relatively straightforward build. Nicely executed. I love the TS Mini + Joyo Sweet Baby combination.

[@landonbailey]

Glad you liked it!

[@miracleman7836]

I had a bridge invader pickup in the early eighties, sounds really good tapped and gives your sound more versatility. Good job.

[@ZitherBeast]

Nice work here Landon. Came out looking very cool.

[@landonbailey]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@andredmtr]

I would've gone with a rounded pickup slot pickguard but other than that it's a perfect build to me! And sounds killer too, congrats! 🔥

[@Erkinstien]

Less than Halfprice makes makes you think a little. Love these upgrades.

[@StupidGuitar]

I always lol at these comments who don’t understand a) the value of their own time b) royalties are a thing and c) simple supply demand economics. Edit all the upvotes on the surrounding comments show the guitar community has a lot to learn

[@Y33tastic]

​@@StupidGuitar all of those combined still don't really warrant a $1300 price tag when comparing it to other guitars (even signature models) in the price bracket though, at least imo

[@StupidGuitar]

@@Y33tastic 🤣🤣🤣🤣 guitar is sold out otherwise. I feel like the public school system failed a lot of y’all. I’m not even saying it’s worth the price to me but economics point to both of you being pretty ignorant to the market dynamics

[@Y33tastic]

@@StupidGuitar I’m aware that the guitar has sold well, people would pay 2k for so long as it tickles their nostalgia. I don’t think that the sales performance means it’s not overpriced, though I understand I’m a consumer making this point, not a Fender exec. Maybe your definition of overpriced is just the point at which your product doesn’t sell, but I don’t understand why you approached this trying to be as condescending and unlikeable as possible. For as uncreative a joke as this is, the name StupidGuitar seems to fit well enough lol.

[@StupidGuitar]

@@Y33tastic it inherently means it’s not overpriced. It may still be outside what you’re willing to pay. It’s funny seeing you get all uppity then make personal attacks. It’s OK to admit you’re wrong about something or ignorant to market dynamics. No reason to make sad personal attacks but you do you. Also jokes are funny…. That’s just a sad attempt by you to belittle someone else. Can recommend some good reading and videos on comedy if you so desire.

[@19guitarshredder]

Solid video! I've been converting these hardtail strats for years now, they're a solid modding platform. Squier just released a new "graffiti yellow" sonic strat for $200 with the maple neck! I've got a pink as well.

[@Eugensson]

I really want to make a Tom DeLonge Parallel Universe Telecaster/Esquire. The question is how do I butcher the Invader to make it a single coil that fits into the tele bridge.

[@landonbailey]

Very cool!

[@guyincognito741]

@@Eugensson you're going to need a pickup specifically for a Telecaster. A Strat pickup or regular single coil won't fit. They make mini humbucker for Telecaster, not sure about the Invader though

[@Eugensson]

@@guyincognito741 yeah, that what i am afraid, is that a half humbucker is bigger than a tele bridge single coil.

[@ClintsCrypt]

Great video Landon! I bought a new Squier strat for $130 from GC a few years back. It was a two tone black tobacco burst with black logo, hardware and black pickguard. HSS configuration with a satin neck. I picked it because it had an immaculate finish, wonderful wood pattern and I thought it was beautiful. I polished the frets, dressed the fret ends, put in a leftover loaded black American strat pickguard with American strat pickups that I had. Added new string trees and lubricated the bridge and nut. It now plays and sounds better and smoother than my stock $2000 Fender Elite strat, my American Pro strat or my Ibanez AZ prestige (and I love it just as much, if not more). It also holds tune very well. The neck is very stable. I have only needed to adjust the truss rod once, after it was shipped in a storage container from the U.S. to Australia and had spent a year in shipping and storage. The newer budget guitars can be amazing with a little TLC.

[@BrokenStrings231]

Honestly, this really gave me an idea for making my own build of a guitar like this. I would only instead put either a superdistortion, d-activator or emg 81, locking tuners and a graptech nut. You did such a great build on such a good budget.

[@landonbailey]

have fun!

[@zhest07]

Hello! You pleasantly surprised me showing the Invader`s clean side - it`s great! this was unexpected from such an extreme high output pickup.

[@hatchethank]

Seeing a stratocaster with no back plate is surreal 🤯

[@benjipc5637]

That's hardtail Strats for you

[@keilagarcia4030]

top loader? or body through?

[@Okla_Soft]

Dude, I started building Warmoth Strats a few years ago, except I left the pickguard off and stripped it to the bare essentials. It’s an homage to our favorite pop punk songs from Green Day (and Weezer even though they’re not really “punk”) But they’ve become my favorite guitars over the last few years. $1200 US and waaaaaaay better specs than authentic fender strats. I’ve played a few $4k strats recently and they’re amazing, incredible guitars with much more traditional build and specs, but you get so much more for your $ if you custom build your own using a reputable company like Warmoth to build the neck and body. It’s like putting legos together, and I’ve gotten pretty good at soldering. It should sound about as good as any other Tom DeLong strat with an invader. Mine just have single Seymour Duncan HBs with a single volume knob and coil split for some versatility, but otherwise just like this. I have mine on my channel if you wanna check them out. Props to you, that thing is beautiful and this was a sweet video. These are for guys like us who just love a great 2.5 minute pop punk song 😂🎉

[@richardclark.]

Warmoth now sells necks and the headstock has a thin metal plate sandwiched in the middle. This way, when you change tuners it keeps you from damaging the tape on your drill bit.

[@landonbailey]

😱😁🤣

[@ultimatesteve]

how are the frets on the bullet? i have been toying with the idea of making a a tom delonge out of a bullet or an affinity (for the surf green and classic headstock). one thing i dont want to have to do is reseat and file a bunch of frets. doesnt have to be perfect but playable with decent action is all im after.

[@landonbailey]

These frets were fine. Could use a polish

[@BennyJet-u4t]

there are several modification possibilities with the Squier bullet. I was surprised to see that there is space for humbuckers in the cavities. I really liked your video. It's fun to see your evolution as a youtuber. You are now a luthier/tech who can pimp guitars. Very good work

[@landonbailey]

evolution? kzbin.info/aero/PLUKDOD2AiVCiTJPMKMUGtgFObUP7-SpqH

[@BennyJet-u4t]

@@landonbailey sorry, there are some of your old videos that I haven't seen 😊. Thank you I will catch up 😁

[@derekgenre8057]

Bad Ass !!!!! You ROCK !!!! Great job !!!!! They definitely should have made that version !!!!

[@andrewksadventures]

Well done, it's interesting to see the build.

[@Spacexrover]

Made my own! They sell them new on Amazon. I learned how to solder on KZbin. It’s so cool! Sea foam green too

[@jcedrez]

Your mastery of moving images and sound have become increasingly sophisticated. Good work!

[@jcedrez]

Seriously, you have honed your skills such that you could sell them!

[@landonbailey]

oh thanks! I don't know what I'm doing!

[@dougberry5003]

cool build, I have a Squier 3 qtr scale to rebuild for my grand daughter , thx for the ensite on parts.

[@DeeTee79]

Love watching these build videos of yours. The end result of this particular one was sweet. Looking forward to the Gilmour red strat build.

[@briannelms158]

Great build alternative! Sounds great! Nice work Landon!

[@zackamodeo-thomson8010]

That's awesome. I love it. Great job as always Landon

[@UNDAHAND]

This guitar looks & sounds amazing! Tbh the shell pink looks 🔥 definitely earned a sub

[@landonbailey]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@tone2216]

Love it! I did this to the tropical turquoise hardtail bullet. Even went to the trouble of making it string through body. My fav axe.

[@DaringDan]

I love these builds you do. Cheers, Landon.

[@landonbailey]

🎸👍😁

[@BUNKERJR53]

I bought a MIJ 85' Contemporary Strat, Single Humbucker pick-up, single volume knob, with lock down trem system years ago. I upgraded it with a Floyd Rose trem and a Carvin M-22T Humbucker and it is my go to guitar. This guitar reminds me of it. I prefer a single pick-up, single volume knob guitar especially because I'm a Lead Vocalist. Less stuff to mess with. Great job on the build my man. Not a big Blink fan but I like Tom's guitar.

[@GiselleDK]

Beautiful and sounds great

[@dubhudz]

from what i've read, the humbucker tom used was the neck version, just in the bridge slot. sweet build!

[@diddyfaplord]

Nope! This is a common misconception that has been debunked. The rumor was that Fender used neck pickups in the production model because they erroneously said that in the specs sheet it was a Seymour Duncan sh-8n, which is the neck model. Tom’s old guitar tech confirmed Tom always used a invader bridge and not the neck. The production models actually had bridge pickups too

[@dubhudz]

@@diddyfaplord good to know, thanks! gonna pick one soon

[@diddyfaplord]

@@dubhudz no problem!

[@musobill]

Love it! Nice one Landon!

[@eddiejr540]

Very nice job Landon…I really need to get/build a hardtail strat…for ease of changing tunings and I find myself using a tremolo less these days👍

[@PipeCat1965]

Nice build, simple and sweet. Chat Breaker is where it's at in this demo.

[@claudevieaul1465]

I'm looking at a cheap and cheerful Squier Strat with a hardtail - these are actually well-made guitars, and a perfect platform for modding.... EVH would certainly approve 😎🤘

[@OnTheFritz602]

Some music stores online have Bullet Strats in inventory selling at a discount, making room for the Sonic that's replaced them. I bought a single pup Sonic last month for just under $200 USD. Has a super nice neck. I bought an H-/-S pickguard from Amazon that was a perfect fit. Fun project, plays great! Cool vid btw!

[@stevejarosz8136]

Any 1 pu guitar is a great build idea. Fun video and well made

[@christopherharrold3045]

hay I've just fixed up a 2008 Squier bullet rose wood fret board elder body factory. parts musiclily trem 36mm brass block. Wilkinson vintage 60 alnico5 pickups fender locking tuners and a Fender pre-amp mid boost kit. boost boost i like that word boost anyway it is amazing. should have done it years ago.realy like watching you up grade guitars got a bunch of other guitars im going to mess with now cheers.

[@jcedrez]

The DS-1 sounded awesome! The Sweet Baby and TS Mini was pretty good too!

[@landonbailey]

SD-1! close :)

[@NintenDub]

That's how it's done. I'd love to play this one, next to the fender,just to see what the difference in feel is. I have a lot of experience with squier, and haven't played a real fender guitar in like 10 plus years. My memory was that the neck always seemed more...dense,hard? And usually finished differently as squier alot of times goes for raw,natural or real light thin feeling poly. Maybe it's just a perception thing

[@Zilmayjaink]

Landon what are your thoughts on that style of top loader bridge? How difficult is to restring vs a string-tru?

[@landonbailey]

It was really tough to restring. I would avoid one in the future

[@pierrepierre8920]

I’ve modded a lot of hard tail Squier strats and the wider bridge is a pain because you can’t fit any pickguard without sanding. Or buy another bridge. 😢

[@3Torts]

you're awesome man.

[@landonbailey]

You rock!

[@malcolmgibbs-e5c]

a great looking pickup, a great video very in-depth short and sweet 👍

[@landonbailey]

Thank you kindly!

[@patrickkem689]

Call me strange,,but I have always been a fan of the top loader bridge for non trem strat/tele bridge but have Always had a hard time finding a good quality one with some weight and girth to it. Like that one on that one.

[@kurtz1993]

It is a Pink-182 guitar! Nice build!

[@miguelangelvacaheredia8230]

Dammed, your guitar looks and sounds Fantatic London, I was checking some guitars to buying for my daughter.....but now I feel I could follow your "tutorial" and get a Barbiecaster :-D

[@landonbailey]

Go for it!

[@willdietzler1926]

Going to be doing this soon as a first project to my white 96 or 97(?) Squire Strat I found in my basement

[@ipuya]

That looks great and sounds pretty good too! Seems like not everything fit properly but you just went ahead and tweaked it without a word of complaint! 😃

[@lukaslmguitarcorner]

Great video! Really enjoyed watching it

[@landonbailey]

Thanks so much!

[@briandipierro8865]

My ol' Squier Bullet has a string-through body. Interesting. I did enjoy seeing this video and love stuff like this. I want to do a project like this some day.

[@JoshuaDomoslai]

I did the same. Purchased a squire strat off the fender website during a holiday sale and used a coupon. Was like $160 - $170 bucks shipped to my door after all the fees. Found a brand new genuine take off wired pick guard/with pick up removed off a real Tom Delonge model on reverb. Simple install. Swapped to the same strings Tom uses Ernie ball 52-11 paradigm. Not an exact replica. But for the low cost it sounds freaking awesome, plays awesome. It also opened the door for me to work on guitars myself. I have no experience with luthier work and yes anyone can do this. Just watch vids on here.

[@bingerbennison9729]

Good stuff. I figure a Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT H would also suit well the build, with even less stuff to do and an even barbier pink (though a bit thicker? and with a maple fretboard).

[@landonbailey]

ya I was going to get that, then found this one used

[@AlienPizzaZombie]

Revv Pedal sounds awesome

[@andybungert]

Alright this was killer. It's got the vibe and it's nearly a third the price. Totally worth it! ESPECIALLY when it's a single pickup guitar. Paying 1300 for one would def feel bad. Killer work!

[@Travis-guy-247]

Paying $1300 for a real and authentic one is still worth it. Plus, if the original run is anything to go by then it's an investment

[@MashaT22]

I’m feeling’ this . . . Tom Delonge Barbie Strat by Landon Bailey! (Blink reference required of course!) This is a great one to build. It would have been so punk if they had also released a Squier Tom Delonge artist model for all the people who are making their own partscasters out of Squiers. Fender would make a crap ton - maybe they will reconsider?

[@eljefeguapobarbon]

That's how I did mine in Sea Foam Green with Invader fun!

[@McRocking]

I just baught a brand new TD Strat in blue for £699 (list £1179). It has the neckplate art, a slab rosewood fretboard (not a veneer like most Fenders), a nice Fender gigbag with plectrum shaped zipper handles, and it will have the most important thing going forward... resale value. All good things come to those who wait :)

[@Greuh]

Cool guitar. I did the same with the Squier FSR H HT last year, I saved myself from GASing those TD reissues without even knowing it.

[@landonbailey]

Very cool!

[@guygaron1162]

Nice! Great build!

[@priscillarodriguez6867]

Great video. Someone can always block the tremlo or try adding all five springs real tight if they can't get a hard tail.

[@landonbailey]

Thanks! And ya for sure

[@andrebuhrmester6054]

I just finished a similar project. Got the new Squier Sonic Series Hardtail Stratocaster for 199€, bought a used Fender MEX roasted maple replacement neck for 220€ along with used Fender locking tuners for 55€. The bridge saddles got upgraded with graphtech tusq for 80€ and finally the good old invader pickup with the treble bleed mod together for 150€. In conclusion that's 704€ approx. 1040 CAD or 774 USD. All together for an instrument that to me is far superior to the new ltd signature model. And i really like the combination of the california blue body together with the roasted maple neck.

[@landonbailey]

awesome! I was about to get that Sonic, but then this Bullet came up on the local used market

[@Nothing-gv8mv]

What a great build to create great content. I may have gone with a knockoff invader pickup.

[@davedavem]

Squier should do this. With all the QC issues I've heard about with the Fender one, I bet yours is better.

[@JeremyLeech]

I was okay without getting the new strat. But damn I want this one.

[@keilagarcia4030]

r u planning to mod some body through holes? those top loaders scare me that wouldn't do the job. it's the only thing stoping me from getting one. nice guitar and nice video!

[@Gottaloveguitars427]

I want a Tom Deshort strat personally

[@landonbailey]

Demedium is also being requested

[@eddiejr540]

Landon, I just have 2 questions…1. how tall are you and B. how much did it cost??….but seriously, how does a thermos know whether to keep something hot or cold??😮

[@sergmo4979]

This was a fun watch !

[@careful...Icarus]

Yeah but did you assemble it on Jupiter,with parts found on the other side of a Stargate? Then will you ship via saucer?

[@landonbailey]

Yes

[@lukesteverything627]

I have a question but I feel guilty to ask now. After my Father passed away my mother told me I had his feet (the only thing I inherited). Now the left one is showing serious signs of wear so I thought I'd upgrade them both. Could you do a video on how you would go about it. I could send you a picture of my ingrown toenail if it helps. Nice work Landon!!

[@bencolgan5421]

Hey Landon great video. I’ve recent set up a partscaster with an old Bullet body and neck but I would really like a hard tail body. Did you have any issues using regular saddles in that top loading bridge? I’ve got a great set of black Tusq string saver saddles on my partscaster now, and I wouldn’t want to go with the top loading bridge if they didn’t fit.

[@landonbailey]

no issues with these saddles. the hardest part was restringing the guitar when I'm used to running them through the body

[@bencolgan5421]

Great to know! Might try to pick up one of these Squiers on the used market

[@chrishammonds72]

Cool build. I thought you might’ve gone for the new pink squier sonic with the single humbucker and volume knob.

[@davidkay3443]

I like the recently released Tom delonge strat just the price for a Mexican made fender on this occasion is ridiculous. My sea foam green strat arrives today. And parts over next few days. Only difference is will shield the cavaties on mine as will be cranking it at gig level..Decided would just make my own.. so this has been a good and useful video from the across the pond. Thanks from the UK..

[@nostro1001]

The one they should have made is the one without the name. Who is he anyway? I'm sensing this guitar gonna b a huge seller!

[@alanturingandthetapes5575]

looking forward to future zeitgeist guitar builds

[@vlarussajr]

Great video! Can you tell me what you used to sand down the pickguard to make it fit?

[@landonbailey]

Hey thanks! I grabbed the first sandpaper I could find in my garage!

[@valkimber3706]

"'All the small things," great title for this one!

[@cjhenry41]

I would take it a step further and have TWO pickups , and tone control and a selector switch.

[@gregchisholm7843]

Wondering if a Fender neck would fit in here

[@raceface_m2579]

I would advise against putting that much conditioner on the fretboard. It can loosen the glue in frets

[@landonbailey]

I like to live on the edge!

[@marquisdecarabas1312]

In my country this colour is called Rosa. Little kids also call it "Schweinchenfarben" what means something like "piggy colour". We have "Pink" too but it is another colour. What we call pink is what you would call "neon pink" i think 🤔 Interesting that you use "pink" for both colours in english 🤔

[@landonbailey]

that's interesting!

[@interested_in_things]

Getting a string through hard tail strat body is the tricky bit.

[@kelvinklauck]

With a drill and some ferrules you can easilly do it

[@derekgenre8057]

Guitar Fetish … XGP hard tail bodies $89.95 …. They are great for this exact application … add a mighty mite neck to it …. And you have a great foundation for a killer Tom Delonge strat

[@michaelp8529]

That is an awesome guitar and an awesome video. I think I want to build one myself now. But I think I'm going to go with the Stratocaster Sonic in the lime green with a black pickguard. Not a big fan of pink guitars but it does look amazing. And it sounds just as good. Excellent job. I think that's going to be my next project thanks again for all the info I really appreciate you and your videos.

[@landonbailey]

lime green would be awesome!

[@scharrsilicio]

Nice build! I would add a finish to the neck so you don't have to wipe the sweat off after every practice

[@philljrton]

What do think about using an official fender neck? I got mine for my partscaster for 250

[@landonbailey]

No guarantees that it would fit on a Bullet body

[@Ownerim]

Even tho the head stock comes with the guitar toi make it really feel like tome delonge id buy that 70s headstock

[@LorSTApunk07]

I’m surprised they didn’t do a Tom Delonge in pink.

[@JordanBMR]

Would it make a difference if it was a neck invader or a bridge

[@landonbailey]

Yes

[@rustyfenders101]

Cool build dude! 🔥🔥🔥

[@edwk5284]

This is really cool. I'd like to try something similar but with an HH Rivers Cuomo style strat at some point

[@gnarlantlers70]

Why arent you making your own single hum custom squier? Hot rod your starter guitar. Get your bullet squier plek'd. Are you in it to flip it or are you in it to play it?

[@gnarlantlers70]

Try a direct-to-jack push/pull if you're going single-hum. Just sayin'. Youre gonna run a tube screamer in front of your amp? Try a direct-to-jack push/pull volume pot.

[@ChameleonHulk]

What was the extra wiring for? Didn’t see it being added…

[@landonbailey]

I thought I would need some, but ended up not

[@astrofire68]

Looks and sounds great. 👌

[@landonbailey]

Thanks 👍

[@flogginga_dead_horse4022]

This is funny, I did the same thing with the blue one. Had not even seen this until now

[@flogginga_dead_horse4022]

I guess I got the one that already had only the bridge humbucker.

[@georgecaplan11]

i would like to mod the new pink sonic strat and turn it into a barbiecaster.

[@michaelp8529]

On an unrelated question I'm hoping you can help me because I just don't get it. After watching your video I decided I'm going to build one. I ordered all the parts and I ordered a CTS 500k pot. This is where it gets weird I received a CTS 1MA pot. Maybe you can help me and tell me what the hell is a 1MA pot I have no clue. So I called the company up and they're sending me a new pot but what is it ? I'm hoping you can answer this for me.

[@landonbailey]

I'm guessing 1meg with type A logarithmic taper. I googled it!

[@michaelp8529]

@@landonbailey thank you so much for getting back to me quickly I really appreciate that. So should I use a 500K or should I use the one Meg what do you recommend.

[@DieselWeazel]

No offense but I didn’t know Delong was that big a deal. I don’t know why one pickup is appealing.

[@landonbailey]

why would that offend?

[@DieselWeazel]

@@landonbailey I just kinda thought maybe he’s an OG with a big fan base. I know how gear review channels work and I didn’t want to poop on anyone. I thought you did a great job. Me personally, I’d love the guitar with a trem and at least a neck pup. 👍👍

[@sonicaids]

i did this a few years ago. but my bullet strat had a trem.

[@maxbrown766]

i have a squire bullet but mine only has the one pic up near the bridge instead of the double will this still work or is there space for 2 underneith my pic gaurd?

[@landonbailey]

I wouldn't know, you'll have to tell me!

[@stanphillips7277]

You should get a "Ken Cable" for Barbies "Input Jack" ! What? ✌️❤️🤣🎸🎶🙏

[@landonbailey]

😱🎸