Squier Strat SE - Episode 1, Bone Stock

This is a used Squier Strat SE model I picked up used to build up for a friend of mine. I'm playing it through a Vox Pathfinder amp.

[@DougHinVA]

this guy knows his guitars and how to customize... I met him for a guitar deal a couple of times in Richmond, VA.

[@ckbcustomshop]

Thank you, Doug!

[@socialdef3]

These guitars are excellent modding platforms. I upgraded mine with a Seymour Duncan SSL-1 loaded pickguard. The tuners are great. The nut needs changing and will throw a bone nut in there. But the biggest problem is the crap bridge - it will be getting a GFS steel bridge with full size steel block. Feels and plays like a much more expensive guitar!

[@jacintomorales694]

Been playing since I was 13, 66 now, tested three Strats, Mexican American standard and SE through a blues junior amp. SE had the best neck PU sound. Bought it 10 years ago at GC $50, eyeballed great straight neck. Ceramics are hotter, but with proper amp/tone settings, can be dialed in for clean tones as well. Tube amp really overdrives…best mods thoughts, lock tuners, bone nut, bridge/block

[@ckbcustomshop]

Thank you for sharing!

[@ckbcustomshop]

Thank you for your kind words. Absolutely nothing wrong with these guitars other than they need a good set up. I picked up another one at the local guitar center a couple of weeks ago and gave it a good set up and put it right back up for sale bone stock. It sounds quite good as is. They do make great build up platforms though!

[@perfectfan2006]

we just wanted to say thanks for all the great honest info there needs to be more guys like you in the guitar bizz. humility is not a thing money can buy but is a very attractive quality to have keep up the good work.

[@ckbcustomshop]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@rickbrooks2031]

I bought a used Black one for $60.00 not a scratch on it. I bought it, for the width of the neck. I have big hands and found this neck works better for me. I put Tex-Mex pickups and changed all the electronics to a better 5 way switch and installed 500ohm Pots, I didn't want a tinier sounding guitar. 250ohm Pots will give a little bit more high end. I used 500ohm Pots with .022 Cap and replaced all the wiring to a thicker gauge. I have no issue with the Bridge, I adjusted the Intonation and gave it a complete setup, and it plays and feels great. I will be replacing the Plastic Nut with a Bone Nut, but that job I will leave to a Luthier. The only problem I see by doing all the upgrades is, if you want to sell or trade the guitar in, it is still a cheap guitar according to serial numbers no matter what someone might do to it. I have no plan for doing that, I bought this to keep and play. Thanks for the Video!!

[@mozilla2576]

GraphTech nut is a drop in change. Just make sure to measure the length to get the correct one. I have replaced two so far without doing more than sanding the edges to fit the contour of the fretboard.

[@Ronno4691]

Good post and your comment on the value of an upgraded entry level guitar fully echoes mine - no one will pay top dollar for an Affinity or Bullet Squier with Seymour Duncans etc but if you've no intention of selling it, who cares!

[@ckbcustomshop]

I've been looking for the white one from that series. I believe a mint pickguard would look killer on that one!

[@Roger-dz2rc]

Great. I have all three colors. Some Lace sensors in the black one. Duncan JB mini humbuckers in the white one. Jeff Beck hot stratocaster pick ups in the sunburst. These guitars rock with a setup.

[@alanknott363]

Roger, It's been reported by others on various forums (including Squier-talk) that apparently there was a 'Red' SE model too. My understanding is that they're quite rare (Torino Red). I must admit I've never come across one personally and very happy with my more common black Squier SE. Maybe you need the rare red one to complete the full set lol.

[@mozilla2576]

@@alanknott363 Europe only model.

[@blitheringrando1410]

I just started adjusting my old 2000 model. It had upbow in the neck, sat unstrung for years after that. I've adjusted the truss rod a couple times now and it still might take 1 more tweak. Then I can adjust the saddles a little, float the trem, tweak the intonation, also need to sand the edges of my frets. I would love to be able to feel good playing my first guitar. It has grover tuners and an aftermarket HSS style pick guard setup so it's already got my flavor.

[@cc92103]

I recently picked up a 2001 black SE (s/n CXS01.....) with white pearloid pickguard and skunk stripe for $60 and I'm real happy with it. Compared to Affinity, the headstock is shorter and slimmer. Also, the tuners are better and say Squier on the back. The ones with s/n CXS were contract-built in China by AXL. Yes, these are a steal at that price!

[@ckbcustomshop]

Nice score!

[@mozilla2576]

I thought the CAE SE's were from the AXL plant?? Too tough to remember all the China plants. I would have to go look it up.

[@monkymonk6]

I recently scored one of these, and, with a lot of tweaking, have made this a respectable guitar to play. I would put this up against my Mexican Strat. The neck still feels a bit thin compared to my newer Mexican Strat, but is a great modding platform for those that are inclined to tinker a bit.

[@Haiasiriku]

+ckbcustomshop they areee

[@cbwavy]

Thank you for doing this. A lot of people in forums are trashing it but I'm an absolute beginner and I just need something to learn on. Sounds decent enough for me.

[@mozilla2576]

Any Squier is great. They are affordable and easily modded to your own tastes. There are slight differences between each model and factory...but, all are easy to play and enjoyable.

[@Ronno4691]

Upgrading the tone pots with Linear taper pots is a boss move, trust me.

[@brez-ed9dd]

These guitars are a steal.

[@socialdef3]

Excellent video. I am getting a black SE with the pearloid pickguard used and in great condition. Some people say that the pickups can sound much better if 250k pots and a .047 cap goes into it, could you confirm this? It's cheap little mods that are sometimes more satisfying than going in and "tearing it apart" as you say hehe.

[@mozilla2576]

They should have 250k pots in them already. I would upgrade the jack with a switchcraft as well as all the electronics. Also do a double cap....one for each tone pot. ...then figure out if you want the neck or bridge to combine with the middle for tone controls. After that chose the appropriate cap for each pot. It may take some testing to figure out which caps you like best for your application.

[@Ronno4691]

For your tone pots, you can go a little farther and use linear taper type pots too. An extra mod well worth the research....

[@ckbcustomshop]

David - I have a sunburst Squier Bullet Strat with a black pickguard in my collection and demo'd on this channel. It is indeed plywood made from basswood. Additionally, the older black Squier Bullet with maple fretboard also demo'd on this channel is also plywood. The fact that they are "plywood" has nothing to do with how good or bad they sound or play. Both guitars turned out to be gigworthy players.

[@ckbcustomshop]

The Squier Strat SE models have Agathis bodies and are not plywood like the Bullet series. The Agathis is on the heavy side weight wise. I have two other videos featuring Squier Bullet strats which are plywood. Nothing wrong with those guitars other than they are not thick enough to drop a decent tremolo into. Tone is in the plywood!

[@byronofcalgary6985]

YES - great insight - 2 Rules for Squiers #1 buy used with full name decals.. Stratocaster or Telecaster [ not Strat or Tele ] - #2 - full 1 3/4" THICK body

[@GrmReaper37]

Why not Strat? That’s what he has in the video.

[@mozilla2576]

@@byronofcalgary6985 Wrong!

[@superorangeish]

Do these guitars stay in tune w/ the stock tuning pegs?

[@ckbcustomshop]

No reason they shouldn't. Just make sure all the screws and bushings are tight.

[@superorangeish]

@@ckbcustomshop thanks.I won the Squier SE strat pack in a raffle.Thinking of keeping it.Can you recommend a place to get mod parts..pick guard..tremlo..etc..?

[@rodiebobwilliams1330]

Yes sir i just picked one up..From that Cxs line out of china.. Going through it trying to define the mod choices.. I agree the nut and the bridge may be issues.. Also looks like this one has a issue with the crab plate and the screws.. Some tuning instability with the nut that seems not to have been cut properly so yes short of a setup.. Neck and finish is good.. Got to get a t-handle allen wrench to fix the relief... Its locked down pretty hard.. Otherwise just needs some setup to get the neck loose, cut the nut in, and find a claw plate and screws.. Not sure about the bridge.. I may upgrade or hardtail it.. Thanks for the info sir!

[@slimepet3182]

Is the neck chunky ?

[@rodiebobwilliams1330]

@@slimepet3182 Not bad Slime.. It has a 43 mm Nut i just changed out.. This one seemed to be used lightly then put in a closet.. Lol..Ive never had a strat so still learning how to deal with it..

[@skeletongloss]

Are most or all of these Squier SE's CXS's? I just got a black w/ pearloid pick guard the other day in a trade. The neck is fantastic. All I had to do was adjust the middle pup. I plat it through a Silvertone 1483 bass tube head with an Audiozone 1×12 cab loaded with I think Celestion Greenback speaker. It sounded just as good as a 04 MIA Strat through my rig as well, at least to my ears. Anyways, I'm thinking of picking up another one soon and gutting it minus the body and neck. I dont want to buy an Affinity or a Bullet on accident, so any info on SE's being mainly CXS would be helpful. Thanks! Good video btw!

[@ckbcustomshop]

skeletongloss - Hi - Not sure what you mean by "CXS." The Squier Strat SE models came in bundle packs and have been discontinued. They came in three different color options: Sunburst w/red tortoise pickguard; black with white pearloid pickguard; or white with white pearloid pickguard. They come with modern, sealed tuners, small headstock, and have a fully thick 1 3/4" body. I hope that helps distinguish them from the Bullet and Affinity models. Happy Hunting!

[@chrishenderson9130]

cxs- made in China, axl factory. in the US, these were all SE models

[@GrmReaper37]

I know this is an old reply, but for informational purposes, mine is a CAE, made in China. It’s a 2000 model. Black with white/black/white pick guard. Not perloid.

[@mozilla2576]

@@GrmReaper37 What Cobra said. There were at least two factories putting out SE's. I also think there were other 1.75" bodies on a few Squiers....maybe the 20th anniversary or something like that??

[@mozilla2576]

@@ckbcustomshop Also....Red European model.

[@caseywilson7768]

I just picked one up the other day. Great neck but no serial numbers anywhere on it. Anyone know what year these were offered?

[@martinfeldwick9799]

They had a sticker with a serial so dont bother about it .

[@mozilla2576]

Probably early 2000's or so.

[@masterhorax]

the stock pickups are painfully thin, but swapping those are easy. How's the feel of the neck? If it's good, you can swap everything else within 15 minutes.

[@ckbcustomshop]

neck is nice and chunky...

[@masterhorax]

is it smooth or is it unfisnished like the bullet?

[@ckbcustomshop]

satin finish like the bullet series.

[@ralfcaetano]

do these guitars have a skunk stripe on the neck??

[@mozilla2576]

Really old ones do.

[@Mike-cv7hv]

Mine does

[@perfectfan2006]

by any chance do you know of a trem set up that is an upgrade that will drop in a bullet strat with no mods that alter the guitar at least that you can notice

[@ckbcustomshop]

Unfortunately, the Squier Bullet strats have a body too thin to drop a decent tremolo into. I have two video demos of my own Bullet strat that was a pawn shop special. Believe it or not, it is actually my "go to" strat out of my collection. While I was unable to upgrade to a better tremolo, I did upgrade the saddles to Graph Tech String Saver saddles. I gave it a really nice set up and it works great and stays in tune better than most.

[@mozilla2576]

@@ckbcustomshop Try GuitarFetish. I think they have three versions that fit all the different Squier models. I got the brass one.

[@MrPoppa2]

The Bullet Strat, is NOT made of plywood! The SE's are made in two different factories in China, and one has a Skunk stripe while the other has none.these are pawn shop guitars, and are a steal under $100.00!

[@mozilla2576]

I have a 2000 Bullet made in Indonesia....It is most definitely plywood. Some other Squiers are made of wood laminate, which is real wood layered. I am sure that some Bullets have real wood, but, not mine. Nonetheless....it is still my favorite guitar to practice on. It has great sustain.

[@Mike-cv7hv]

just picked a black one up for 35 bucks in good shape. then stumbled upon another for 40. ready for some mods

[@mozilla2576]

Can't find them for $30-40 these days. The word is out....Squiers are a good quality product. Any part of them that isn't working correctly is easily fixable for a low price.

[@Mike-cv7hv]

@@mozilla2576 yup those days are gone.

[@Ronno4691]

One guitar good....TWO guitars better!

[@Ronno4691]

@@mozilla2576 Squier Standard basses seem to be gaining value the fastest on the second hand market....

[@DinoKintanar88]

Hi, what is the body like? Ash? is it a plywood or hardwood? thnx!

[@mozilla2576]

I believe it's agathis or another hard wood. Plywood was the early Bullets. Of which I have one....and that Bullet sings like a bird. Great sustain. Don't look down on the plywood Bullet.

[@renehernandezcortes1995]

A friend of mine has one and the action on this guitar is terribly high. If you lower it a little then it starts to buzz lije hell. The Squier affinity one is way better than this guitar.

[@ckbcustomshop]

sounds like the relief is out of whack. have you tried adjusting the truss rod? all guitars need a proper set up.

[@renehernandez9803]

Yes i did

[@mozilla2576]

If it isn't the truss rod...then the nut may be cut wrong or some of the frets may have raised up. Otherwise...you shouldn't be having that problem. Something is out of whack. Recheck everything and reset to factory specs.

[@ckbcustomshop]

No, but neither does my American strat.