Squier Strat Upgrade - My $89 Squier Transformed Into An Amazing Guitar!

[@yothisiselmo]

was not expecting the song to be stay together for the kids. nice

[@johncolvin1864]

😅😅😅😅❤😅❤

[@stevewells4295]

I bought a new Squier Affinity HSS starter pack for $300. Dropped in a Fender loaded pickguard with Fender Gen4 noiceless pups and Shawbucker humbucker.Sounds and plays like a $1800 USA Fender!

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Shaw pickups are lifeless would rather have the stock pickups.

[@LunchBXcrue]

I was thinking of doing the same thing, I already have my expensive guitar I use for metal and lower tunings but little wing and wonderful tonight just don't sound the same as they would on a strat. But I already spend a ton of money on that one, I'd rather get a squire and have it set up and the frets leveled and polished properly

[@gergemall]

Amen

[@abdulal-hodl8861]

Shaw pickups are super-awesome and I put them on every axe I own

[@abdulal-hodl8861]

@@BryanClark-gk6ie nobody cares

[@gt-37guy6]

What a change the PU upgrade s made....she sound awesome! I love the color too. I just did an upgrade to a 2000 Indonesia Squier Strat, a Blackie. It had routes for humbuckers and I as able to bolt on some P90 Dog Ear pickups from an Epi Casino. Sounds like a Monster now! Love to mess with cheapie guitars and make them play nice...it very fulfilling. I have expensive guitars as well (that are superior) but I have learned so much about guitars by tinkering, adjusting and modifying, I just cannot stop.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! Not really is fun and educational doing this stuff. Necessary skills for guitarists I think!

[@Ronno4691]

The physics inherent in the build of a Squier Stratocaster (is that the right way to put it?) must guarantee that THE Fender Strat sound is always there. Even the original pickups at the standard factory height settings, good strings, good intonation, correct string heights and proper/preferred neck relief can make a cheap Squier axe sound like a Hendrix or a Knopfler ;-)

[@scott83074]

So nice to here people play like this. Simple but total feeling and mood. Let's the listener create their own thoughts and images. Like reading a book.nice upgrades mate

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man! I appreciate it and glad you checked out the video/channel. 😎🥂

[@TheRedSwallowCG]

He’s playing Blink 182 dude, lol

[@peterjones4621]

From when you first got this guitar I was hoping you'd keep it and fix it up. After 21 years it was in incredibly great condition. The upgrades and cleaning you did really gave it a much richer sound and I loved the look of the fretboard after you'd cleaned it. I'm glad you kept the original pick guard, it's patina matched the knobs. That guitar is a keeper, a well done transformation, nice job. 👍

[@Trials-and-Tribulations]

Bought HSS squire affinity an old one from late 1980s early 1990s for 100 a good one with good body. I bought fender Mexican standard tuners fender stamp from ebay for 20. Notice two post standard tuners won't fit in squire. Standard tuners are staggered on fender standard mexi I shoulda line up tuners compare before removing squire ones. This video helps with few others. Tuners is big improvement to squire next string tree, nut and bridge upgrades. Tuner nut is 10mm wrench both squire and fender mim 👍🤘

[@michaeld.mcclish]

Polished up the green looks nice. Great job, and really, minimal $$ in the upgrade. It's got the real live quack. Ready to start your own country group now! Thanks for the video.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re welcome! Thanks for the comment 😎

[@ericwright6672]

I found a sguier in the pawn shop , cleaned it up ,roller string trees , roller saddles, big block tremolo(steel) tree of life fret stickers , new pick guard black humbucker single single,& new strings not so slinky & it sounds awesome,I did the same to my other 3 guitars gave one to my nephew ,his son wanted it but he wouldn't part with it cuz it was a homemade strat 3 piece body very light with a zebrawood neck & a maple pick guard laser etched but it was a labor of love, I make them & give them away ,it makes me feel good!

[@user-fc9iq6le2g]

I love that more people are doing upgrades on their squier and making them great guitars. Ive been saying this to guitar snobs for over 25 years. "II have a cheap guitar and i sound great. You have an expensive guitar, so why do you still sound like crap?" I love saying that

[@thefryinallofus]

Wow you turn a cool thing into sounding like a real prick.

[@doombringer1505]

Sounds better! I have an old60's Classic Vibe that I swapped out the whole pickguard with loaded HSS from a 70's Clasic Vibe. Been that way for some time now. But I'll never get rid of my 60's Classic Vibe. She's a keeper. Maybe better pickups later, but for now, I'm happy. Plays like a dream.

[@manolosantana4314]

Great job! I made exactly the same expirience: Bought a used Squire Affinity for 70 €, put in some Fender MIM Pickups (which I prefer over the MIUS) and it is my preferred Strat. Plays fantastic and the sound is awesome. They in generally seem heavily underrated.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love the MIM pickups myself. Especially what’s in the player series now. Amazing sound!

[@mikecorey8370]

The Affinity Strats have great necks. I bought one from a rockstar's lighting guy 8-9 years ago. $100. I put Fender GEN4 pickups in it (had to route the body) and changed the string trees. It's an awesome guitar.

[@gt-37guy6]

Similar experience, I lived in San Diego in early 2000s, went to a guitar shop on the coast highway, a cool young musician guy was behind the counter. Told him i wanted a good playing cheap guitar, and didn't care about the finish, as I wanted to paint one anyhow. He was sitting there playing an Affinity with a primer / checkered body. He said this is the best playing used guitar in the store. I held it for a bit, strummed a few and threw down $ 125 for it. It has the lowest smoothest action of all my guitars, and super played in. I ended up getting a nice solid Alder body and routed it perfect for Gibson Mini -Humbuckers. It is phenomenal.

[@Michael-jv2cn]

Got my first one with hard case for $65. I agree one of the best necks I had. Trying to buy a blue Bullet right now for %65

[@marksystemed4678]

I bought a 2009 HSS Squier Strat Affinity made in Indonesia for 90 euros 2nd hand. Strings were rusty and fretboard a bit dirty. I cleaned it up and changed the strings, messed around with the pick up height, and I did the intonation and next to my AM Pro I strat, it doesn't sound bad at all. So I'll be taking my Squier out when I jam around my friend's house.

[@Late2theShowagain]

Wow great job. Well worth it. I'm going to buy a $75 Affinity Strat I found and install one of my Fender loaded pick guards . Thanks for the demo. Oh and thanks for the killer riffs at the end man--your an excellent player.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you! I hope yours turnabout amazing. Also, thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it. Good luck man, happy upgrading!

[@vayabroder729]

One word of caution; the Fender pickguard might or might not align and fit perfectly on the Squier, including the holes lining up. Same thing with string spacing; some models use Metric system while others use Imperial.

[@francoolivera3799]

Great! I recommend to change pots and cap, what will make a bettler upgrade for really cheap, the circuit for my it’s more import at than the pickups by themselves

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True, pots will be next!

[@blikketty77]

The patina on the knobs matches the pickups. Expected more feedback about how it played and how well it stayed in tune or not after all the fixes.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I figured the demo was the proof. It actually plays in tune just as before and sounds great! ☮️

[@PipeCat1965]

Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about! Great restore/upgrade. Can't ask for better Strat tone that you're getting here. And it's a beauty.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much!

[@slingasixstring]

Great job Marty! You will never regret keeping this guitar. The guitar sounds great 👍.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you!!!

[@wideyxyz2271]

I have no idea why but I feel good that you kept it. Love the upgrades. Sounds sweet. I think its an instinct guitarists have when they find a gud un it becomes a keeper. Love it!

[@jimmyz2098]

Awesome! You did a great job on that guitar, Marty, and that thing looks and sounds killer now! It is so much fun to take these budget guitars that you can find in different places, and do a few things to them, and make them your own. I have a last doing that, and you rocked this one. Awesome riffage too, bro. Especially in that 37 minute segment....

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Jimmy! If I wouldnt have had the tone specifics laying around I was gonna buy the Alnico set from Stratosphere. They have really good budget pickups and loaded Strat pickguard a for $40! I appreciate you man. 😎🥂

[@jimmyz2098]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Hmmm..... I need to check that out big time. Always looking for some pick-ups and loaded pick-guards. Thanks Marty! You're the best, man.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@jimmyz2098 hey man, here’s the link. stratosphereparts.com

[@meesterprofe007]

Really well done video on souping up the squire....nice execution, tonal shifts on Joe’s lead to HC

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I appreciate it. 😎🥂

[@Case_]

Fun fact: It doesn't matter which way the "triangle piece" is pointing as far as polarity or phase of the pickup is concerned. You can't change the polarity of a single coil pickup by just rotating it 180 degrees, because the same magnetic pole is still facing the strings (you'd have to mount the pickup bottoms up with the polepieces facing the inside the guitar to reverse the pickup polarity), and you can't change its phase either, because just rotating the pickup 180 degress doesn't actually change the direction the coil is wound (it is still clockwise or counterclockwise, again, you would have to mount the pickup bottoms up to reverse its phase). The only issue you would have with mounting the pickups the triangle piece pointing to the neck would be fitting them into the guitar cavity :)

[@adammichaelchannel]

Thanks Marty. Sticking to the stock setup with the switch/pots and taking pics is good advice. Diagrams can be frustratingly difficult to find.

[@mcgrath16511]

I bought my 2009 Affinity at a pawn shop for $50.. installed 62 remakes in it, replaced the trem block with a heavier one from guitar fetish,, wired tone on the bridge p/u.. absolutely love the thing..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Solid guitar platforms. You can do a lot with em man!

[@mcgrath16511]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker sure can.. had people chuckle at the Squier logo til they hear it. usually get," man sounds like a Strat" i say because it is!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@mcgrath16511 😎🤟🏻 awesome man.

[@geetarbube]

Get this man a socket wrench! 😉

[@victorformosa2825]

Or some ringed spanners.

[@stancoleshill8925]

If you have a brand new wood chisel it does not take much to carve out the cavity to the Hummer right size "if you've got it". If you had the right size screwdriver bit, it wouldn't skip so badly. Soldering is like TIG welding, or MIG welding . . . or ARC welding. (if you've got it") NICE SOUNDS BY THE WAY . . . . . .I GOT SOME GOOSE BUMPS SO............IT'S WORKING ! ! Nothing wrong with a Squire . . .after all . . .it's just a piece of wood screwed together to another. Just gotta know how to do it . . . . . .well ??

[@Gbhbbgvsbnjhhdchhb]

Still trying to get my head around the idea that we are in a golden age of cheap good quality guitars, which is great considering how "collectors" have bastardised the market by hording great guitars instead of actually playing them. Nearly sold my 57 Les Paul Junior to a guy who turned up to buy it. As soon as he told me me he wasn't a player and hedge fund manager I declined to sell. I have two £90 Harley Benton strats I bought to experiment with and upgrade. They have turned out to be amazing guitars, even ab'd them with a custom shop strat and damned if I could tell the difference. Thanks for this post, it gives hope to young kids out there

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks for the comment. I appreciate the story and you’re welcome man!

[@jasonhuttermusic424]

How did he react when you turned him down?

[@midnightshade32]

Nice Restore!! And good deal! I have other guitars but wanted a single coil strat. Seeing how expensive fenders are right now, I didn't want to go that route until maybe prices settle. To hold me over, I bought a used squier off marketplace recently for $100. It's action was way high. I did a setup and got everything down, then noticed that the 18th fret on the middle strings was all buzzy and weird. I then checked for high frets and there was two slight ones. I sanded with a notched file and then polished it down. All buzzing gone but now I noticed that the 18th on the G string sounded the same as the 19th. Sure enough both strings were reading the same note (it was either C# or D, can't recall now). I took it to a mom and pops shop nearby who checked it out. Made sure my leveling job was good, no problem there. they kept it overnight and snapped the Truss rod the next day. ooph... All good though as I got a brand new neck out of the deal. Classic vibes style more chunky neck with tinted gloss maple neck to replace my broken rosewood Affinity neck. I paid for the new strings. My frakenstrat plays amazing. Got a new neck and setup out of the deal and It plays great! I never had a maple neck so that was a plus too. I really like it.

[@congerscott6064]

That come out great, i didn't think i would like a green guitar but the more i watched the video the more i liked it, now i want one lol, excellent video, thanks 👍.

[@keithclark486]

Well it's a good way to store and keep up with your parts.

[@paxonearth]

Nice job. Man, I dig that green! Good decision to go with the plain pickguard.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks 👍

[@ericrudy2504]

So cool, I just picked up a candy apple red one the other day for 75.00 and am doing pretty much the same thing except with Texas Hots. Thanks for sharing this, I hit the "Subscribe" button.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Sweet man! And thank you!

[@thewjw]

I went with the hot Texas blues pickups. Really nice tone!

[@isaacshaver6218]

My first was a(n) 1983 or 1984 Red Mexico made Squire strat that I bought for a $100 bucks from a local pawn shop. It had the one piece maple kneck. Also, I thought it was kool cuz it had a humbucker in the bridge, & 2 single coils for the middle an the kneck position, with a 5way selector switch. When I compared it to my friends bullet series start, we started to notice that mine was heavier, with a slightly bigger body & a longer, but more shallow body scoup on the back. My hardware was also different. His bullet strat also said it was Korean made & only had single coils 3 way selector switch. God I wish I still had that. I cut a solid block of wood to lock the bridge in place & put my tremelo springs and bar in my gig back. After that it never was out of tune, even after dropping down a flight of stairs or losing it live before I found out about bolting my straps to my guitars. The only complaint I had about it was that it had that constant fender hum you hear at the beginning of so many live performances of the 60s & 70s. I even tried resodering everything & using insulting tape & later paint for the body cavities. Everyone who played it always said that it didn't sound like any fender they ever head before. I thought it had that bite that Adrian Smith from Iron Maiden played. I also think the block of cedar I jammed behind the bridge gave it a little bit more low end. I prefer the one piece maple knecks as opposed to rose wood on cheaper guitars. I've seen the fret board lift off of some models or twist n bow. Also, I prefer to remove gloss finishes from the back of my knecks. I prefer to feel bare wood. The only thing I like better on his bullet strat was, that it had the bigger, rounder head stock like a classic Stratocaster & my head stock almost looked like one cut from a telecaster it seemed like. Either way there is a big difference in quality when a guitar is made closer to North America and a retail price of 389.00 for my made in Mexico squire Stratocaster. And my buddy's $199.99 by squire bullet strat. That you could get with a strap, 3 picks, 5 ft. Cable, and fender practice amp for $269.99 package deal at Sam Goody record stores....lol. Great video bro. That's a lot work for a squire modification... Lol.

[@jakelondon]

I don't think Fender made Squier guitar in Mexico until 1989. If you had an early '80s Squier, it was made in Japan. Otherwise, if it was made in Mexico, it was probably made in the '90s.

[@gearhead2017]

Joe Walsh and don Felder would give a standing ovation for the hotel California cover lol! It was in bad shape and you brought it back to life

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. 🎶☮️

[@judeworth938]

Just got a 2008 Affinity Strat for $100...I'm going to put some Hipshot (or GrafTech) locking drop in tuners cause Fender tuners won't fit unless you want to start drilling, ...then I can get rid of the string trees....replace the bridge, or at least the saddles, upgrade to a better nut, clean or change the pots.... The neck and body are fine ! StewMac has some great tools and stuff re: upgrading, polishing, etc... P.S...best to take a picture of all wiring before you remove/change the electronic...that's been my experience anyway. Great watching you during the transformation !~. Thanks..

[@nedalhubhub1851]

to help pass the wires for the Jack and the ground to the bridge through the body, I recommend a thick fishing string. Just tape the string to the wire and pass the string easily first then pull it from the other side and it will pull the wire easily with it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Nice tip! 👍

[@Ronno4691]

Socket wrenches are good! Also, a good quality proper fitting Phillips head screwdriver for tightening the bolts on a bolted on neck!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True! 🙌

[@Dave062YT]

Very nice video .I used to use lemon oil but now I've found something even better in Monty's Montypresso relic wax .It'will darken your rosewood oe pau ferro fret board while bringing out the grain..You have to leave it for at least 12 hes so a few coats will take a couple of days but the final result is brilliant and worth the wait.

[@Shiloh7377]

Cool video. I got a 09 Squier deluxe hit rails stratocaster from a pawn shop(200with a case) and I changed the tuning keys to fender locking tuners, put brass saddles on, put a brass block in it, put seymour duncan vintage strat pickups flat in it, and installed a Mojo tone solderless blender wiring harness. It's an awsome sounding strat now. I seen your video and watched and decided to share that. Again awsome video .....

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I think I should replace my tuners too. Locking Fenders if I can find a deal on some! I wanna keep the cost low. Lol

[@Shiloh7377]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker yea the locking tuners are definitely the way to go. I put the fender ones on my squier, and got them off of Amazon. I also own a 81 les paul that I put Grover locking tuners on. And this might seem weird or crazy, but the grover are way better I wish I would have gotten them. I tellnu though if your squier has the tunning keys with the little tits on them , you'll have to make new holes for those little titles thing s on them.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@Shiloh7377 yeh I hate having to make those little holes. It’s time consuming. Vs a quick tuner install!

[@jeffgagawood3741]

I have one I’ve taken apart over a year ago gonna sand and paint and put some fender locking tuners I bought. Thanks for the push to get it going!!

[@soniah4821]

Love to see old guitars brought back to life and cheap guitar mods too. P.s., a tortoise shell pick guard would look kinda cool here. 👍

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh I agree, I think tortoise is a great suggestion!

[@jamesdaltrey2878]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Why didnt you do it actually ?? I was looking forward to seeing it like that....looked tasty with that dark green !

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@jamesdaltrey2878 so far I just went with parts I had in the house. (For now). It may be evolving !

[@rickmarch502]

It would have been nice to hear how the guitar sounded prior to changing the pups, but interesting nonetheless. I bought a Fender AM Performer a few years ago & replaced the Yosemite pups with Lace Sensor Deluxe, a 2-point tremolo, LSR nut, & locking tuners (which may have been unnecessary). My next project will likely be a Squier too - but the Sonics actually sound pretty good for €180. I do have a set of Fender Hot Noiseless pups that need a home though....

[@papablue3015]

Nice! I always change stuff on my cheaper guitars! It's kind of fun? But the results are amazing sometimes!! I do it all! paint,refrets,pickups,tuners! Totally different guitar when I get done!! Thanks!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! Working on these things is so fun and rewarding. Sometimes frustrating. Lol.

[@TheDaler22]

Oh my god, get the correct open ended spanner, I would never use an adjustable wrench on any guitar. Love that colour of the body, green not everyone's favourite but so dark., I think it looks great. Excellant video Marty.

[@leonarddaneman810]

Nice. I found a Squier HSS used with a two-post bridge and standard Fender body thickness and upgraded the bridge (Wilkinson) and found an Elite Ebony board neck on FB marketplace cheap (some tech had over-filed the nut slots), and now I'm working with Tone Shaper mods to split a new Pearly Gates HB at the bridge. Not as 'budget' minded as your upgrades, but learning a lot. SUGGESTION: Go in from the back of the pickups and push the poles on the E and B string magnets so they fit flush to the covers . . . probably a scary thing to do on such fine pickups.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I’ve heard great things about the Wilkinson bridges. I have yet to try them. I was a little cautious with these pickups BTW. I don’t know why but I handle pickups like they are very delicate. When really they are quite indestructible. I recently got a hollow body Chinese Fender telecaster that is amazing. Super cheap. I am probably going to post that video this weekend. Or in the next week!

[@davebruton5731]

When you began playing , I closed my eyes and just listened . Man that thing sounds like an expensive hi end guitar in the deep pockets range ! Great Job , Obviously Time Well Spent ! Thanks for this vid .

[@Mauitaoist]

Thanks for posting your project with us sorry all these people want to hate with their comments just not very nice you're just showing them what you do and you're having a good time I don't understand these people but I appreciate you putting your work on there helping guys out, thanks again

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Cory! I look at negative comments as a positive. It drives traffic to my channel. Lol. But yeh... I'm just doing what I do and I'm enjoying life and sharing. It's a lot of fun. There's no extra space or time in my world for stress and hate. 😎☮️

[@stevevaughn2040]

Interesting how light works. Body looked black when guard on. Removed it is that nice green, then back to blackish. Good video

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True. I thought it was black when I bought it. Then realized it was green when I got it in the car! 😂😂

[@jimmyjoe1871]

Just bought a blackie classic vibe Strat as a gift for my grandson who’s in the Air Force. It’s getting a set of Eric Johnson pickups in it before he gets it

[@timhunt2500]

Sounds great. Middle position got my attention. God speed man.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks Tim 🤟🏻🎵

[@johnsugden1073]

Good detailed guide to changing pickups on squirer ⭐️ ⭐️ 🌟 ⭐️ ⭐️

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! 🙏

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

So awesome that you gave it a new life🤘🏻 sounds great and playing is awesome too🎸🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you very much! 😎🥂

[@patriots5628]

I just picked up a fender strat bullet that looks absolutely brand new been sitting in the brand new bag that doesn't have a scratch on it in her storage because she's moving to Washington from Virginia. This guitar plays very well I have played this thing for hours and it stays in tune or slightly comes out and I just adjust it real quick but I haven't had any aggravating issues with this thing yet and I've had it for over a month. I do want to change the electronics though and make it a better guitar and I'm an Eddie Van Halen fan love Van Halen so that sound of rock is what I enjoy and I'm not a great guitar player I don't even think I'm a good guitar player but I can play a lot of songs by ear now and I have a lot of fun with it so I definitely want to upgrade the guitar and just reading some of the notes on what people put in their guitars to make it sound a lot better because it is a fender body and it's a fender neck so they call it a squire who gives a s*** You can't buy the wood and paint it for under 300 bucks I don't think so and have a neck from fender so you get my point but I'd like to upgrade it and try to get some pickups for what I got three single coils in there I haven't taken it apart to see if I can put a humbacher in it but I would love to have a humbacher and two single coils wouldn't be too bad or two humbuckers in it and a single coil in the middle. Any suggestions

[@christopheraaron8299]

Kinda surprised you didn't replace the tuners. I put cheap Amazon $15 locking tuners on both my Affinity Strats (and they work as well as many expensive tuners) and I put vintage split post tuners on my MIM Fender. All my guitars get tuner upgrades. What you should do is get out the heat gun, strip the paint and stain it for a more natural wood look. I've done that with several guitars, and if you want a nice color you can stain it with Rit dye. I have a beautiful purple stained Strat that has really nice wood grain.

[@BAND-MAID-USA]

May as well shield everything while it’s apart. Also get some Tusq or GraphTech string trees for $13. And the same for the nut. About $20 to $30 total and it’ll make the as big a difference as any mod. Squiers are great guitars.

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

I have 3 Sqiers; all some model... I love ❤ it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I understand why!

[@peterwright5249]

What models are they ?

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

@@peterwright5249 affinity ssh I call it woodie... it's the wood like guitar with the white guard and trim, poor tremolo. But it feels like butter in my fret hand. I have three play two because I hate toning and re-toning.

[@Rogata_Dusza76]

Hello my friend. Sorry for my English (I'm from Poland). I am writing to you because I am the owner of a 2020 Squier Affinity Strat with HSS pickups and I decided to give it to my teenage son. He and his buddies started playing in a rock band. The problem is that they have "high-end" guitars. I am of the opinion that the Squier, after appropriate modifications, will not differ too much from their instruments. So I'd like to make a few upgrades before handing this guitar over: 1. replace the current tuners with genuine Fender locking tuners. 2. replace the Nut and string trees with those from Graph Tech (TUSQ XL). 3. replace the current tremolo bridge with a better quality one. 4. possibly to buy some not very expensive but good sounding pickups in HSS combination. If you have any comments or suggestions, I will be very grateful. Thank you in advance for your response and best regards...

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Sounds good! Be careful. You could get to the point where it may be cheaper to trade in get a really nice player strat with similar features. Look for s decent set of Alnico V single coils. They'll sound better than squier ceramic pickups. 😎🤟🏻

[@Rogata_Dusza76]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Perhaps it would be cheaper, but I've had Fender locking tuners and a Graph Tech graphite nut for a long time, so I'd like to use them. In addition, I will look for the Alnico V pickups you wrote about - maybe I can find them somewhere at online auctions a bit cheaper. I just don't know what bridge to invest in and is it worth it at all? Regardless, thank you very much... 🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@Rogata_Dusza76 the fun is in the hunt. And also... you get a customized guitar. Fun experience too! Enjoy. 😎

[@Rogata_Dusza76]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I already have 2 other guitars in my collection from Andertons UK: Gibson SG Standard with T-Type pickups and Fender Player Strat HSS with ebony fingerboard and in beautiful yellow ferrari color! I replaced the machine tuners and nut on both of them and now they sound perfect! However, I've never had to replace either the bridges or the pickups because the ones in my guitars are good enough. So I've already tried something when it comes to guitar modifications ... 😉

[@mboyer68]

Looks familiar! My very first electric guitar was a $60 pawn shop strat similar to yours... but an off brand. I used this guitar to learn how to level and crown frets, hour to adjust the neck angle, how to solder pots, measure and tweak the nut, and i still play it. Even though it's an off brand, it's the 3 color burst style and looks great! I have a couple expensive guitars which are great but it's nice to be able to experiment with a cheap guitar. It's good because after learning how to fix guitars, was able to repair a Guild for my friend who had broken the neck years ago and had it mounted to the wall. He had this guitar since he was a teenager and it meant a lot to him. The glue joint held, it tuned and he's still playing it. I like working on guitars as much as playing, and I'm MUCH better at repairing them then playing them! If you don't have any, you can buy a bag of 6 tremolo arm springs, the tiny ones that go in the hole before the arm so it stays where you want it. But you probably already know that...sorry. Okay, cheers! Thank you for the video!

[@douglaschristine8387]

Another great video. I love my Squier classic vibe strat but just like you I only like one out of five on the pickup selector switch I like. For someone that has never done all this it shows me I'm going to put a humbucker in my bridge pickup, so thanks Marty.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much. You're very welcome dude. 😎🎵

[@jimqartworks]

wow, awesome, I just bought a used 2001 Affinity for $60, and it gives me idea on how to upgrade, very very helpful video. THANKS

[@rick00770]

Bought my squire strat at guitar center for 109.99, amazed at how good it played, but of course could stand an upgrade. Good tips, been playing a long time, just wanted to prove you can take a good cheap guitar and make it playable. Mines black with white pick guard slightly used but plays really well. Dark fingerboard. Subscribed.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

109 man, good price and find! These are solid guitars and fun to upgrade. Check out the link below. You can get Alnico Strat pickup sets cheap in loaded pickguards for around $40-50. They are super nice too. 👍 stratosphereparts.com

[@rick00770]

P.s. the neck looks brand new, no fret edges sticking out . Plays fast and smooth. Thanks for the tip on the pick ups, I'm going to get them, great price.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@rick00770 you’re welcome man. I think you’ll love ‘em. I have bought 3 sets and they are all consistent. And for Alnico that is a steal! 😎👍

[@f1livenews2023]

I did the same with my Squier! changed pickward, bridge tuners and replaced the ceramic ones with alnico one

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Amazing what small changes can do! 😊

[@paull8678]

I also got a black Affinity used for 90 bucks at GC, and I also modded it. But I swapped out that skinny neck because I have huge hands. It does play great though, and I think any Squier is a solid base to mod from.

[@timrussellguitar1516]

Lemon oil will dry out the fretboard. Use boiled linseed oil instead. Or use lemon oil to clean then use linseed oil after.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I have some. Forgot about that. 👍

[@anthonycashero7605]

My favorite is guitar honey. I believe it's mineral oil.

[@terryshrives8322]

Polishes the whole thing then decides to work on it after the fact. Also says, not a mark on it, then lays and moves components all across the top 👍

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Rest of the story ... sold neck on eBay for $100 and body for $50. Turned 100% profit. 😂😂

[@adrian_V99]

These models have great neck profiles and the large headstock is the coup de grace.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I love it man. It’s a keeper. 👍

[@adrian_V99]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I've a '97 Squier Affinity and the neck is never going anywhere although the body might get replaced due to it being heavy. With loaded pickguard it sounds like an American Standard Strat.

[@toddplager8676]

I always take a picture of every step or I'll mess it up. Great video learned a ton ty!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! I’m still learning too! 😎☮️

[@leonarddaneman810]

Strange that your Mid PU has the yellow wire. You can see the order repeated on the switch. But I've seen the colored wire associated with the bridge . . . a higher output PU? As for my homemade Ultra HSS, the Pearly Gates didn't match the Ultra Vintage Noiseless so found the appropriate Shawbucker (extra red wire) and rewired the S-1 switch to Fender's wiring diagram. Shut the thing up and huge hum . . . so trying to find the hum now. Something failed, a ground somewhere. The difficulty in replicating a $2000 Ultra from a $200 FSR Squier is that Fender uses Ultra Hot Vintage Noiseless which is around 12 ohms, the regular Ultra Vintage Noiseless are around 8 ohms. The Shawbucker is around 7.7 ohms, although I haven't measured the actual one I found. So . . . will the Shawbucker match when split? Only one way to find out! So, balancing the SS's with the H may require resistors. It is also impossible to find the pcb treble bleed as a part. Anyway, a lot of work taking a Squier to the 'limit' . . . all that is left of the original Squier is the body, output jack, modified pickguard, and floating trem. Next week, after two years on the bench, it may be done . . . finally. You are correct that you have to take Fender's wiring diagrams with a grain of salt. They mess with pickups and resistors as the model years progress. Some say the pots are off, so you have to try 250's, 500's, and even 1 Meg pots . . . I have a rewired '89 E-Series Squier putting in Noiseless Vintage and the controls are whacky, weird tonal changes . . . my wiring was perfect. So, rewiring to a standard Strat setup, but adding the bridge to the tone control. If that doesn't work, get rid of the 1 Meg pots that came with the set of pickups. In the end, the standard 60's wiring may just win the day . . . a long journey to finally come home.

[@blastofo]

Would be really nice to hear a before and after direct comparison. Or a comparison with a high end strat. This is helpful for people doing these upgrades though.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Hey, if you haven’t checked it out here is the link for my first video. I compared it to an American Pro II and 2 different player Strats. 🙌 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp_EaJ6GgZVjjMk

[@EddieOakes]

Gotta love that Tarheels shirt! Chapel Hill born and raised!

[@winstonthomas1785]

when replacing soldered-in parts just do one at a time. If you unsolder everything at once and your sister calls with a huge emergency then once you get back to the task .... you can get a little confused.

[@donniecook8438]

I put a planet tone loaded pickguard in a 05 Indonesia made Squire Affinity. I couldn't believe the difference it made. My tuners where exactly the same very loose.

[@jodylowe8476]

I recently bought a squire strat and love it. I have a used squire bass jazz that is also great.

[@bjstein4242]

Nice rehab.. love these things.. curious.. in your light it looks dark green or is it black?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It's actually green 😁❤️

[@richardclark.]

While those tuners were loose I would have taken them off to clean the headstock good. That is some serious gunk!

[@richardclark.]

How many quarts of oil you got on that neck? 5 is normal...for a car.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True! It was nasty!!! Lol

[@davidjeffers68]

That little stray strat is strutting and purring now son! Nice... 😊

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks David!

[@curtisjaynes8059]

Thanks that was a awesome video. I love that green it’s way better now than a pile of parts. 👍🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Totally man. 💯

[@addieb8943]

I tried the same tactic the reality is unless you have a great neck and fret leveled its impossible to make these cheaper guitars sound like the 1800 stratocaster not to mention there is a huge difference on the quality of work between the cheap and the higher end ones. A lot people believe change pickups do a few adjustments and you will have a great guitar is all thats needed but seems to me the longer u play ur modded strat the more I realize that it always needs setups and adjustments that its cheaper to buy a good strat.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

True! Once in a while you find the anomaly but that is rare.

[@Ronno4691]

What if you don't have £800 for a US Fender? What if you have good DIY skills and want to turn a bargain guitar you just bought into something that punches way above its weight, just for laughs? Someone's already done the paintwork, the body shaping, the neck work at a factory for you and you now have a guitar you can mod in any specific fashion YOU want.

[@addieb8943]

@@Ronno4691I would suggest you practice and get good on ur modded strat and get gigs and get famous. There is a reason why custom shop strats cost 2500. I mean you have to start somewhere I also believe that learning on a cheap guitar is harder then learning on some instrument that is well adjusted, it makes your playing and skill level develop faster.

[@TheGhostGuitars]

Another option is check tge bridge block's bolt pattern to the bridge plate. If they're compatible just swap the block and install the Kramer bridge with the Squier block. I suspect they're likely compatible since both are imports.

[@pjo1964]

Why would they put the ground wire between the springs when you can just as easily drop it on the other side of the plate or solder it on the bottom?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh, I see what ya mean. I guess it’s an easy go to for repairs.

[@mr1bienvenu1]

I had a MIM Strat with those same pickups and I really loved the tone. I wish I had kept that guitar 🎸 😕

[@Spuzzmacher]

Man I've got a '95 Squier Mexistrat that I've been playing since it was new, but the pickups rusted while in SoCal so I tossed a set of DG20's on it, replaced the cracked nut with a brass malmsteen job, stuck some boingy new strings on it, and that little bugger sounds like a million damn bucks. I'm giving it to my little musical prodigy niece to learn on. If she can avoid going all Pete Townsend on it, it'll probably go another 25 years.

[@deanlong9614]

Man, My OCD keeps kicking in watching you setting the body down on that pile of screws! Oh well... turned out pretty good all n all. Cheers!

[@Santacroce73]

Great job Bro! Those pickups sound amazing..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you Steven! I was pleasantly surprised too!

[@davidkornblatt991]

I would've recommended that you could have shielded the beast to create a FARRADAY cage to lower the 60 cycle hum but what do I know?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Good idea man. Honestly!

[@guidonirvana]

your guitar rocks with the new mics :), ¿what brand are they???.

[@Colhogan06]

I can attest to having spare parts around. Especially whammy bars for strats. Those things are so unpredictable in size that it never hurts to have a bunch of them lying around. Buying one to match can be hard. Even when you're sure you have the right size, there is a chance it's not going to fit. Save those whammy bars.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I agree. I still have a used player strat I can’t match one up to lol! One day! 🙌

[@cathybroadus4411]

But dude, you poured a $1000 dollars worth of knowledge into it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

That’s a cool way to think about it. 😎🤟🏻

[@jamesjaviermd]

Hello, sir. I'd appreciate your opinion on whether creating new holes for the pickguard and guitar tuners would impact the guitar's value. I own a similar guitar and intend to switch the tuners from 2-pole to vintage nickel lock string tuners. Additionally, I'm facing challenges finding a suitable pickguard for my Squier, possibly due to limited availability here in the Philippines. This difficulty in sourcing a pickguard specifically for my Squier is making the customization process more challenging.

[@JRoss-zxzx]

2:10 affinity starts are slightly thinner than the others, but you can get thick tremolo blocks in brass or steel these days. Guitar fetish is one place.

[@user-gs2nq3rs8l]

I have a Squier standard that I absolutely love play came out early 2000s set a 2 point floating trim it's got a mirror black of course radius neck is the most comfortable guitar I've ever played in my entire life I would like to get locking tuners and put on it and it will play it was saying to him. No matter what you did a man walking tuners I just don't know what kind of locking tuners will work Squier guitars do you have any idea what brands will work

[@demonrouge3338]

The single best timesaver I ever bought for working on guitars was a rechargeable string winder.

[@jezmez68]

If you're going to the trouble of putting nicer pickups in there, re-do the entire wiring, get full-sized pots and an Oaks-Grigsby switch. Sound-wise, no big difference, but as the player, you will FEEL the difference. The CTS pots have a smoother taper than those alpha pots that I can hear.

[@HooksBill]

Like what you did there. Really can't go wrong with that. Cool shirt too. I'm in the southeastern part of NC... not far from Mojotone.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you! It was a fun project. I spend a lot of time in Chapel Hill 🙌

[@LayneBurroughs]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Need to get you an NC State Wolkpack T shirt. Nice video.

[@tony_n316]

Nice job! and it's a beautiful guitar for it's age... Fun fact for ya... For 36 years I called the jack on the guitar the "input jack" and then last year, after a heated debate with another person on KZbin, I had to concede that I was calling it the wrong thing all those years... It's actually called the "Output Jack." Who Knew??? 😂

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You know, that’s a fun fact. Makes sense when you think about it!

[@Trials-and-Tribulations]

Question was the ground wire attached to metal clip in center on back and the soldered to spring claw. Or was there a hole in body that you ran a wire through it?

[@jamesrohrbach9147]

I thought it sounded good before but now it's over the top! The only other change I would make is the string trees. I would put roller trees on it, but thats me.

[@bstar777777]

That’s a “I don’t give any F’s” RGB pattern on your mouse. Also nice work on the guitar. Thanks for not putting stripes on it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thank you, yeh I was not feeling stripes. I just wanted a nice playing strat in the end!

[@bstar777777]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I just noticed your guitar looks like David Gilmour's strat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nJmnl6CLo7NkrLs

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@bstar777777 hey it does! Cool 😊

[@steelysam7189]

I am about to do the same to my squier. I'm putting 64 pickups from guitar fetish, grover tuners, and cts pots.

[@dennislynn2955]

I would change that 5 way switch for a fender 5way switch, that type there is just too cheap, they tend to give you a lot of scratchy noise. That's just what I would do.