Upgrade Your Squier Strat for Under $100

In this video I talk about simple mods to a squier strat mini to make is sound better and feel much better to play.
Stuff mentioned in the video:
Radius gauge: www.amazon.com...
New saddles: www.amazon.com...
Strap locks: www.amazon.com...
00:00 Intro
00:30 Saddles
01:13 Strings
01:52 Why not Pickups??
02:45 Overview of Squier Mini
04:18 Fix Fret Sprout
05:39 Using a Radius Gauge
07:30 Why not Tuners??
08:40 Fender Tuners Won't Fit
09:57 Demo of Little Wing
10:45 Strap Locks
11:00 Closing Thoughts

[@AM2PMReviews]

It’s funny how we all started sucking at playing but wanted high end USA strats and now we are decent players and just know how to setup cheap guitars and change simple things. Like squires are cool too. Then maybe get an EQ pedal and dial in the pickups if you don’t want to change them.

[@InsideTheStadium]

Lots of info for a new player like me, thanks man, You Rock. 🍻

[@Keithphotorama]

Love this video and it’s convinced me to buy my first electric guitar. The story about Jack Pearson was awesome and it reminded me of a lesson I had way back in college that it’s not about the equipment but the artist. Thank you

[@markbrown7103]

Your guitar sounds beautiful. I’ve been playing guitar since 1974. I just recently bought one of the 70s style squires. It only has one problem. It has a lousy saddle and lousy tuning hands. The neck is beautiful.. And the pick ups are great. I like the sound of it. I just don’t like the tuners. I’m taking them off the ones you showed. I am putting those on mine and I’m also doing a new saddle. A tremolo saddle cost me a few bucks but it’s worth it. I don’t particularly care for the strings either. Mine played pretty good right out of the box but I haven’t been playing it because I’m going to do some work on it. It will be beautiful when I’m done. I’m doing it all in gold. I think it’ll look cool with the walnut finish. Thanks for your video. Have a great day..👍🏼👍🏼😎❤️😎

[@dnews9519]

Usually even the cheapest tuners are adequate if the nut is correctly filed.

[@robertnisonoff3907]

I've been playing and repairing guitars and modifying cheap guitars for years. Here's where he's right and here's where he's wrong. Yes, swapping out a cheap saddle for a better one is always a good idea, however unless you do that in conjunction with swapping out the cheap plastic nut that comes with a Squire (or any cheap guitar), you will never intonate it properly. The two must be done in conjunction with each other. I already hear flaws in the guitar after he's modified it due to the effects of a cheap nut. Changing strings will help and filing the frets is always a good idea, but what should have been done was determining if a neck adjustment was necessary. This guitar looks and sounds like it needs one badly. Please never intonate a guitar by watching KZbin videos (unless you don't care about ruining the guitar). Better tuners are nice but not critical since the tuners have nothing to do with a guitar staying in tune. For all of you on this thread who are claiming pickups or amps are the answer, you are simply wrong.

[@Drjoyitas]

I agree on everything. But 11 gauge strings not. Fashion. Hendrix SRV myth. Hurts my hands. Too stiff. No difference in tone to be notable. Jimmy Page and Billy Gibbons AND even Blackmore used the lightest posible. .8 if available.

[@williamshafer1996]

What amp are you using, though? That is a huge part of the sound.

[@99bigjim]

the 2 pin tuner change is easy... those holes will be covered..... just drill your new hole... i think everyone can do that.... and those stock tuners...... horrible.

[@vinceguitarmusic]

How do you know the spacing of your squier when buying saddle?

[@brentharms694]

Most squiers have a string spacing of 10.5mm at the bridge. An easy way to confirm this would be to measure the distance between the centers of your outer strings. If that spacing is appx. 2-1/16" you know the string spacing is 10.5mm

[@EePingLiang]

Wjat are the low and high E string action from 12 fret in mm?

[@zachariahpoltergeist4516]

Mine didn't even come in a box!

[@ELJ666]

I have a baby dine dean total shit but i put emg hz ceramics and it sounds 100 percent better

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Pickups are important for sure!

[@ziiiim]

There’s video people make on KZbin proving you’re wrong. Pickups are the core of guitar sounds

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Pickups just electrify the sound. If the guitar intonation sucks, pickups won't save you.

[@mikeleatherwood2326]

What saddles did you use?

[@vincent_van_nunu]

Hi, the link is in the description. Thanks,

[@psaunders2112]

Don’t agree with the acoustic test “if the guitar doesn’t sound good on its own …..” I will give you the argument in reverse I can get a £2000 fender and make it sound shit through my cheap amp if I spend another £1000 it will still sound shit if I buy a £300 squire and just add a £300 Yamaha thx and a bit of Chorus it sound like a £2000 fender You only hear the last product in the amplification chain, spend your money there.

[@ramencurry6672]

I think you’re right. If I remember correct a KZbinr made a guitar out of cheap plywood and installed good pickups and it sounded really good. Also my epiphone doesn’t sound good acoustically but with good after market pickups it sounds killer