Squier Dave Murray Tribute Stratocaster Project

[@D4veJap4n]

Yep. That’s what squiers are for. Absolutely fantastic mod platforms. You can gut them and throw in fender hardware / electronics, then pickups of your choice and you’ve just made a guitar comparable to a guitar ten X the price. Well done sir.

[@MichaelD8393]

Well, thank you. I had this idea in my head for a long time, so it was about time I put it all together.

[@angusorvid8840]

One thing I dig about this demo is you dialed in an extremely authentic early Maiden tone. What amp or plugin did you use? I can hear those 50-watt plexis cranking. I prefer the old Maiden tone before Dave started using Duncans and they started using higher gain amps. I prefer their classic era tone. Hell, I prefer their tone on SOT and 7th Son to their modern tone.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, man. I used the PRS Archon SuperModel from Waves Audio for the dirty & the clean tones; it's one of my go-to plugins. For the dirty, I dialed in my settings to have a good all-around rhythm tone in the plugin. For the clean, I tweaked a couple of settings in the plugin's default clean setting; just added a little more volume & bass to compensate for the rather quiet & thin sound it had at first.

[@mfry1970]

Heck yeah! I have the same strap on my black strat! Dave Murray loaded pickguard from Seymour Duncan on the way!

[@MichaelD8393]

Awesome, I've been meaning to try that pickguard in another of my Strats.

[@davidchelazzi1544]

Baby sounds as it should, looks as nicely, great job!! P.S. CV 50s Squier necks are great!

[@MichaelD8393]

They sure are; one or two decals from being Fender necks.

[@johnwinkler2606]

The Iron Maiden tone sounds pretty good.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks John. I used the PRS Archon SuperModel from Waves Audio; one of my go-to plugins.

[@Taylor_Lee]

I love how passionate you are about it! I bet you are proud of that sound now that you built it on your own! Amazing!

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Taylor, I'm so glad I made one, rather than pay 5k for one. It's more satisfying than playing one you just bought.

[@4stringz.]

Great job man. That’s a really sweet Dave Murray strat!!

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, I'm still impressed with how great it turned out. And that I finally stopped thinking about making a Dave Murray Strat & actually made one.

[@renehernandez881]

That tone sounds killer!

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Rene. I record direct with amp simulator software to keep noise down, which is why it sounds so clear.

[@nocountrymembers5852]

Nice work. I'd like to do exactly the same thing but with a Kahler Flyer trem like Dave had on his (saw them live a few times and he deffo had a locking trem on one of his versions that he used on tour). DiMarzio Super Distortions have great tone.

[@MichaelD8393]

Hmm, the Flyer seems like another cool addition. Dave's also had a Kahler trem on his Strat at one point, too, but that would require a whole new rout in the guitar; not something I wanna risk.

[@frednava3869]

Prowler came out killer! Subscribed!

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, man. I'm still impressed at how _Phantom of the Opera_ came out; that was the first Maiden song I learned.

[@nikolopez4887]

Excelente hermano 👏👏 una pregunta Dave murray. Usaba siempre dimarzio superdistorion en bridge y paf en neck verdad?

[@MichaelD8393]

Sí, eso es correcto; Así los tengo también en mi guitarra.

[@bigmikeyz0071]

I felt your pain because I also wanted a first run Murray strat but as you said prices have tripled. But recently at my local GC hanging on the wall in the used guitars was a Dave Murray 57’ USA strat in great shape with an amazing price tag so I snagged it. But your Murray tribute is sick and sounds great as well. The USA Murray in reality is a well made accurate 57’ reissue with Dave’s mods they even kept the 3 way switch which I plan to swap for a 5. The nitro satin 50’s light v shaped neck with 9.5 radius is unique and the 57’ styled sharpe contoured body is cool but purely ascetic and both aren’t make or break in my opinion. Oh yeah I bought the same strap lol. Keep up the good work man.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, man, and congrats on the score. I still wanna find a Fender Dave Murray '57 Strat too, just not at a price like the one I showed in the video. That way, I can compare my tribute guitar to the real deal. I will say there's just something about a guitar you make yourself that makes it all the more special. The pride you get from playing the guitar you assembled with your own two hands is something the real one cannot emulate.

[@bigmikeyz0071]

Thanks man, I completely agree you can’t beat building or making a guitar your own but an original is special in it’s own right. I wasn’t bonding with my 1990’s Gibson les Paul 60’ classic anymore so I literally changed everything from the plastics to the tuners. The 300k pots and ceramic pickup’s were swapped with all Mojotone parts, 50’s wiring, 500k pots and true historic 59’ Paf’s. I love that guitar now and it’s a keeper for life. Prices are crazy on many discontinued models like a 57’ Murray in average condition goes for over 3k luckily mine was half that and it’s in great shape. I’ve only played my Murray but I’d compare it to a Eric Johnson strat as far as feel and quality. The Murray 57’ feels like a high quality American vintage reissue with Dave’s mods. To me the only differences between the Fender and a build like yours is the slightly more accurate vintage details and small touches that make it closer to the orig. The biggest ones are the accurate 57’ specific contoured body, nitro finish, and the v shaped satin 50’s neck with 9.5 radius. But I’m sure like most artist models it’s definitely not 100% 1 for 1 match to the real deal and could be improved upon but for now I only plan on swapping in a 5 way switch.

[@MichaelD8393]

@@bigmikeyz0071 Well said. The 5-way switch in my guitar was my main difference (other than the Squier parts), as I find it handy to have some single coil tones on board just in case.

[@bigmikeyz0071]

Yup I agree it’s just makes since to have those in between Strat tones.

[@MichaelD8393]

@@bigmikeyz0071 Exactly. The switch I used in mine is the DiMarzio Super Switch, BTW, and it's wired up, so positions 2 through 4 are a vintage 3-way Strat, while positions 1 & 5 are the full humbuckers.

[@Gary_007]

That was really good Mike

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Gary, glad you liked it. I think it turned out great!

[@jeffconzatti5714]

Any issues with the new pickup clearances in the affinity body? Looks just like Dave’s!

[@MichaelD8393]

Nope, the Affinity has the swimming pool route; perfect for humbuckers. Though the guitar I started with was a 2009 model, so I’m not sure if the new Squiers have that routing or the regular three single coil routes.

[@carlog.1165]

Hi. Please can you put the link about the humbucker chrome frames ? Thanks

[@MichaelD8393]

Oops, can’t believe I forgot that link. I got the last pair of 2 I could find at the time I ordered them. Now the only pairs I can find are from Canada and thus more expensive when shipping & other fees are added. Here's one that's in the US, but you can select two to add to your cart on Reverb: reverb.com/item/36776361-low-profile-metal-humbucker-pickup-mounting-ring-chrome The link's in the description too.

[@Videoinvest1984]

“Because your boy is broke” then we are two haha:) Amazing and inspiring build. I actually think it’s almost cooler to build out of a squier. Watching people build 10 thousand dollars guitars just make me wish I could afford it. This is something I could actually try!

[@MichaelD8393]

I think so too; turn something you already have that isn't too special into something awesome.

[@petebrown3715]

Awesome video Mike. It looks great. Sounds fierce bro.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks Pete, I’m so glad I put it together.

[@christinalee3812]

Awesome I love it! U are so good on camera 🤘🏼

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Samara, I always think otherwise.

[@Charles75N]

Love the project!! The story makes the video.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Charles!

[@dwightbailey5994]

Great looking Guitar 🎸 sounds good 👌 you did a great job 🎸🎸🤟🤟Cool build 🤟🎸🎸🎸🎵🎵🎵

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Dwight, came out pretty good huh?

[@dwightbailey5994]

@@MichaelD8393 Ten Four guitar looks and sounds great 👍 🤟🎸🎸🎸🎵🎵

[@MichaelD8393]

@@dwightbailey5994 Yeah, man; Up The Irons 🤘

[@seanhensley941]

That's actually pretty cool. I'm thinking I might have to do the same thing since the real ones are getting harder to find and they're very expensive when you do find one.

[@MichaelD8393]

Definitely do it. You saw how much the real one I found cost, and if I could do this, anyone can.

[@Leo_Safko]

I see the method to your madness....🤘

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Leo. Guitar came out great huh? 🤘

[@MarinaValmont]

You’re really good 🎸 🎶

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Marina. Guitar came out good didn’t it?

[@nunocastanheira8834]

Congrats on The project. I used to have One like that, mor or less ... but after a few mods, it has a diferent pickguard and Pickups now. Mine's a Korean Squier from The 90s. But after I Saw your video, I feel like doing a classic Dave Murray Style Strat again, why not? That old beat up Squier Strat is for mods anyway. Cheers.

[@MichaelD8393]

Awesome, glad I could inspire you. I used a black Affinity Strat body with a Classic Vibe 50s neck for mine.

[@carlog.1165]

Hi. If i install a floyd rose tremolo, must i use a f spaced humbucker near the bridge? Thanks

[@MichaelD8393]

Ah, yes, you would. And you'd also need an F-spaced neck humbucker too. F-spaced pickups are the right spacing for the strings to pass over the pole pieces on a Floyd or a regular Fender tremolo. Regular-spaced pickups are for fixed bridges, like Gibson's Tune-O-Matic or, say a Gotoh hardtail bridge.

[@carlog.1165]

@@MichaelD8393 Thanks indeed! Can i bother you again ? :)))) I have a squier stratocaster made in Korea 1992 to convert. Do you think every HSH pickguard can fit on it or i should have some compatibility problem? I would like to wiring by myself the guitar...do you have a wiring diagram or where i can find it? Last question...about the potentiometers, do i have to change them or can i mantain the oldest one? Thanks a lot again

[@davidmarks5400]

Why didn't you just get the squier classic vibe 50's guitar in black instead of ordering the neck and a different black squier? Was it still cheaper that way?

[@MichaelD8393]

I suppose it was. I already had a black Squier Strat, so I just had to order the neck, which is always cheaper than ordering a whole guitar. I also didn’t know A) if the Classic Vibe 50's Strat was routed for humbuckers like the Affinity, and B) that the Squier made the Classic Vibe 50's Strat in black at the time.

[@davidmarks5400]

@@MichaelD8393 It's all good,you got what you wanted without having to shell out big bucks and still have a guitar that's probably just as good.

[@MichaelD8393]

@@davidmarks5400 Exactly. From what I can tell, it plays closely to the Dave Murray signature Strat I played at Guitar Center in 2010. I think that's because the neck, being from a Classic Vibe Strat, is made so well; no sharp fret ends, so night or low frets, good truss rod, etc. Squier has stepped it up lately.

[@louisebordeauxtv]

LOVE THIS

[@MichaelD8393]

Thank you, Looloo. I can’t believe how well this one turned out; it won’t be my last project that’s for sure.

[@mrzulazmi1]

That guitar look sick and that sound ! , yeah iron maiden all the way 🤘 dave murray my fav guitarist. Well done !

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks 🤘

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Good job man! Probably a 3 ply pickguard would have looked better tho.

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks. Maybe a 3-ply pickguard would look better, but that’s a matter of opinion. Plus, Dave's Strat has a single-ply pickguard, being a 50s model. When I do a tribute guitar, I do it as accurately as possible. The real liberty I took with this guitar was the pickup switch. Dave's Strat only had a 3-way, but I installed a 5-way to take advantage of the single coil modes in the humbuckers.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

@@MichaelD8393 right, got it. I honestly didn't ever know Dave's strat had a single ply...I just assumed that usually a 3 plies looks better imo, but as you said everyone's taste is different.

[@MichaelD8393]

@@lovecraftmusic8717 Exactly. And that’s what makes the Strat so appealing to everyone; you can make it your own with just a few modifications.

[@NICK79ist]

Very good effort just to tell you that the selector was a three seater

[@MichaelD8393]

I know that. I just figured why not throw 5-way in here to take advantage of the single coil modes of the humbuckers. I like having some extra tones when possible.

[@MrMvidz]

Didn't Dave have gold pickup rings on his guitar? The old pictures are so low res, so I could be wrong here. The signature version has chrome of course.

[@MichaelD8393]

I think they were always chrome; they sure look that way in _Live After Death._ You can see relatively clearly during _The Trooper_ in that performance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnamoo2ZfrRknLc&ab_channel=GusTheAnt

[@JPTyler]

Bravo! 👏👏👏The only way you could get better is if the actual parts and the guitar itself were "aged" looking to make it even more authentic 😄👍

[@MichaelD8393]

Yeah, good point. I'm not that into relicing myself unless it's to match an actual player's guitar. I'm good at it, though, so pristine & clean it is for my guitar.

[@jorgerst]

Sounds great!! What amp, speaker and pedals are you using?

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, Jorge. I used the PRS Archon plugin from Waves audio as I can’t mic up a real amp in my house; a shared wall next-door means I have to record direct. The clean and distorted tones are both presets I created in the plugin. The only pedals I used were a Spectre Media Group Cock Blocker noise gate & a Dunlop Mini Bass CryBaby on _Prowler._ The signal chain is guitar--pedals--Focusrite Scarlet Solo interface--Reaper DAW.

[@jorgerst]

@@MichaelD8393 perfect! Thanks a lot :)

[@MichaelD8393]

@@jorgerst You’re welcome.

[@kmesaric]

Dave uses 10 strings thickeness?

[@MichaelD8393]

Erine all 9s (Super Slinkies) according to UberProAudio here: www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-what/199-iron-maiden-dave-murrays-guitar-gear-rig-and-equipment

[@Nightshade1881]

Isn’t the F space meant for Floyd rose spacing? For my Dave murray replica I used regular spacing dimarzios

[@bamboocha63]

It means Fender spacing. However, I think that Dave's original one also had regular spacing judging by all the photos I've found. The difference in sound is negligeable.

[@Drammer19]

🤘🤘👍

[@MichaelD8393]

🤘🤘🎸

[@angusorvid8840]

Damn that guitar is awesome! Sounds absolutely great. The Super Distortion is my all-time favorite pickup. I love that song also, Oprah's Phantom. I preferred Dave's tone when he was using Super Ds instead of Duncans which I find way too cold and boxy. I've always believed that changing pickups is the single greatest thing you can do to change the tone of a guitar besides using a different amp. But crappy pickups through a great amp will not sound that good. But great amps through a good amp can make it sound great. When you've got a great amp and great pickups it's like magic. What kind of amp were you using in the demo?

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, man. I love the Super Ds, too; I have a Gibson Explorer I bought used with two & that guitar's a screamer too. I don't think I have a favorite overall pickup, but the Super Ds are on my top five best pickups list. And replacing a pickup you feel isn’t cutting it is a good way to spruce up a guitar.

[@angusorvid8840]

@@MichaelD8393 I played in the Los Angeles metal scene on the Sunset Strip in the 80s, starting when I was a teenager. I was totally involved in shred culture, had a small following who'd show up to any gig I played with any band no matter how crappy. The most popular aftermarket pickups in those days were DiMarzios, usually a Super D, X2N, MegaDrive, Double Whammy or PAF Pro, or the Duncan JB, Distortion or Custom I've owned all these pickups and the DiMarzios always worked best. The Super D has been my main thing for about thirty-six years. I put them on Charvels, Kramers, Fenders, you name it. They always beef up any guitar and help them cut through, far superior to the Duncan JB.

[@MichaelD8393]

@@angusorvid8840 Get that. DiMarzio was the real name in the 80s. While I’m sure there were some players using Seymour Duncan’s, I’ve been hard-pressed to find any myself. I also have the Super 3 in my 1989 Fender HM Strat. That was the stock pickup in the guitar from the factory and there’s a reason why.

[@angusorvid8840]

I love the Super 3 and own a couple. I first tried it on the HM Strat at a local shop back in '87 when Greg Howe was endorsing it. Great pickup. They handle high gain very well without falling apart. @@MichaelD8393

[@joeocchipinti1934]

it should be a 3 way but still good

[@MichaelD8393]

I know it should be a 3-way to be 100% accurate to Dave’s Strat. I actually ordered a Dimarzio 5-way Super Switch, so I figured I might as well tap into the coil split modes on the Super Distortion & the PAF. Plus, with three single coil settings, the guitar has some proper Strat tones tucked away if needed.

[@carlog.1165]

With a Floyd Rose should be perfect

[@MichaelD8393]

Yeah, but I have no clue how to install a Floyd on a guitar that wasn’t built for one.

[@hassanchop7096]

He retired that guitar in 1990 not the late eighties...

[@MichaelD8393]

Thanks, I thought my history was off.

[@ralfhoffmann8724]

OMG🙄

[@MichaelD8393]

Not a bad build huh?