Spice up an old strat

Architect--3

[img]http://[/img]Greetings all!

So here's my situation:
I've been avidly playing the guitar for about 6 years now and i've owed 8 different guitars both acoustic and electric. I recently sold my Ibanez RG420 for some cash enough to buy a Fender T-Bucket 300ce. This put me in a situation where the old Squire Strat i first started playing on, is my only electric guitar.

so instead of selling it for R500 i thought i might try and improve and upgrade it. Here's where you lot come in. I need some advice on what i can do to make this baby sing instead of squawk. Its totally stock besides the scratch guard. I have thought about the following improvements but really any advice would be helpful. ?

Replace the pickups
install a chromed bridge
Replace the input jack

I am considering buying a Fender MIM Neck for the guitar, is it worth it? I dont want to just sell this baby off because the things i've learned on it are far more valuable than R500. :/ Also, i got it signed by Dan Patlaski.

So anyway thanks for the help and the read, i really hope to show you this beauty in a months time all shiny and new. ?

-rowen

ryanguit

I would def agree with pickup upgrade. Tonerider.co.za as the guitar isn't worth putting serious money into. but you really should change the Pots or at least that overstrong tone cap at the same time. try out a smaller 10nF cap instead as usually the cheaper guitars can have up to 10x the value required. 22nF is stock Fender i think? i have seen guitars with a 474 code on them (47 x 104 = 470nF).

If you like a strat tone:
Change out just the neck and bridge pickups if you are on the cheap...

If you need a humbucker in the bridge:
Add a pickgaurd into the equation (the pickup isn't going to cost much more but it will be worth it if you don't play alot of bright bridge pickup tone.)

MIM Neck? well it will say "Fender" but otherwise not necessarily an upgrade.
Bridge is the last thing you need to worry about.
Jack connection isn't going to change much maybe just some fresh wire and properly tightened.

Good Luck and keep us updated

Architect--3

Thanks! I would have never thought about changing the pots at all! I'm such a noob at guitar electrics. I understand how the caps themselves work but I have no idea how they would affect the sound of the guitar! :-[ I really enjoy a warm vintage tone but with a bit of bite, ya know?

I'd definitely need help from a professional with regards to wiring choices and a change of pickups. Maybe it was a bit unrealistic to change everything except the body eh? ? However i did once see a custom Fender with individual pick up switches (3 pickups, 3 different 3 way switches for bass, treble and off.) which i enjoyed playing because it was so versatile.

I was looking at a custom Flame Maple/Figured Zircote neck with some vintage Grover 133N vintage pickups. Purely for the tone and look of the Zircote.

I really want this guitar to survive with me instead of letting it rot away in the cupboard or in a dusty guitar store. I don't mind putting money into it, but the question is, 'Is it worth it?'. :-\

AlanRatcliffe

+1 for the Toneriders in an inexpensive guitar that's a keeper. Ditto for changing all the electronics - do it once properly with the right stuff (CTS Pots, Switchcraft jack, CRL switch and decent wire) and then forget about it for the next 15 -20 years. Put the tone controls on the bridge and neck pickup. Consider adding a "neck on switch" to extend the range of sounds by 2.

Don't change body, neck or bridge. The neck is the heart and soul of the guitar (both feel and tone), so if you change the neck, you might as well sell the guitar and replace with another.

I consider the nut to be a crucial upgrade to any cheaper guitar. Tuners can last until they start giving problems. Saddles and string trees are the only other worthwhile upgrades.

ryanguit wrote 22nF is stock Fender i think? i have seen guitars with a 474 code on them (47 x 104 = 470nF).

.022uF (223) is modern Strat, .047uF is very common and vintage went as high as .1uF).

ryanguit

sorry to disagree, but surely 223 = 0.022uF not 0.22uF?

0.047uF is common on strats but every now and then there is a cheapy with 0.47uF (10x the value) but it still isn't 0.022uF like it should be.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=625487

AlanRatcliffe

ryanguit wrote sorry to disagree, but surely 223 = 0.022uF not 0.22uF?

Don't be sorry - you're right. ? Thanked and corrected.

Royce77

Some fender strat pickups for R400.

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Sports-Leisure-musical-instruments-FENDER-MIM-STANDERD-STRAT-PICKUPS-W0QQAdIdZ424016021

makepeace

I've got an exact such cheap keeper squier. Some (cheap) modifications that I have made are, and the parts for these have mainly come from generous donations (thanks):

-Replacing the pups with mex/usa pups
-Replacing the bridge block with a solid brass one (you'll have to check yours, but squires usually come with a cast bridge block of way less volume)
-Replaced the bridge plate with one that fit the bridge block (o.O)
-Replacing saddles with real deal (not pot metal) ones
-Redoing/replacing pots, jack, cap and wires
-New tuners (albeit cheap guitarfetish ones. however I am impressed by them - they really do graft for the price..)
-New nut

I'd also recommend a proper setup. Mine has quite a nice neck on it, so replacing that wasn't necessary. However, I believe a neck replacement is probably one of the more effective things one can do to change the sound and feel of a guitar.

GL

Architect--3

makepeace wrote I've got an exact such cheap keeper squier. Some (cheap) modifications that I have made are, and the parts for these have mainly come from generous donations (thanks):

-Replacing the pups with mex/usa pups
-Replacing the bridge block with a solid brass one (you'll have to check yours, but squires usually come with a cast bridge block of way less volume)
-Replacing saddles with real deal (not pot metal) ones
-Redoing/replacing pots, jack, cap and wires
-New nut

I will do these things. But before i replace the wiring, caps and pots. I want to put in a set of Tonerider City limits pickups (http://www.customshop.co.za/citylimits.html). Yay or nay? They seem to match what i'm looking for tone wise. Which is a combo of clear but deep lows temperate mids and tight highs. I play a lot of high gain hard rock and i dont like it when the bridge pickup makes my ears bleed.

What are pups by the way? ???
I shall have a look for a wiring diagram and let you guys know.
Thanks for all the help Alan, Royce and ryan!

nick

Rowen Powell wrote What are pups by the way? ???

Pickups

Psean

Rowen Powell wrote I play a lot of high gain hard rock and i dont like it when the bridge pickup makes my ears bleed.

Wire thebridge pickup to the middle pickup's tone pot; it then functions like a master tone for both the bridge and middle pickups. You just need one short piece of wire and a soldering iron . I wired mine like this and it helps to tame the harshness (unfortunately I can't remember which lug of the switch you have to solder to what; will have a look though) . I think it's odd that the bridge pickup of a strat has no tone control when it's robably the one that needs it the most.

Psean

Here ya go:

http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2008/Dec/Strat_Bridge_Pickup_Tone_Control.aspx

DonovanB

Rowen Powell wrote But before i replace the wiring, caps and pots. I want to put in a set of Tonerider City limits pickups

Why not get it all one while the guitar is open. I couldn't belive the difference better wire made to the tone of my Squier. It really cleaned up.

Psean

Donovan Banks wrote
Rowen Powell wrote But before i replace the wiring, caps and pots. I want to put in a set of Tonerider City limits pickups
Why not get it all one while the guitar is open. I couldn't belive the difference better wire made to the tone of my Squier. It really cleaned up.

What wire did you get? And where from?

DonovanB

I sent my strat to Chris at Marshall music Hillcrest. he got some american cloth covered job. Not sure of specs but its great

Psean

Donovan Banks wrote I sent my strat to Chris at Marshall music Hillcrest. he got some american cloth covered job. Not sure of specs but its great

Ah, cool. Thanks. Wiring and sheilding + new pots are on my to-do list (in a while).

DonovanB

Thats why I asked. It was R200 odd for the new pot and wiring. It's cheapo if they're in there anyway.

Architect--3

Okay sweet. So wheres the best place to order this stuff from? What manufacturers should i look out for? I pretty much wanna take all the old circuits out and put new ones in as well as the pickups. :?

rossgve

In my opinion, it is bad advice to replace anything (except your pickups). I would agree that pickups make a big difference in the sound of your guitar. Pots, capacitors, jacks, wiring and switches only need replacing if broken or noisy. I have the cheapest components in my guitars, they sound great and they're not noisy. The capacitor only works as a low-pass filter when the tone pot is engaged. How often do you actually use your pots? I know I only use my volume pot to shut my guitar up.

case study: My brother bought a Tokai LS160 with all those 'wonderful' goodies such as switchcraft jacks, cts pots and sprague orange drop capasitors and in all honesty it makes no difference. We both prefer my washburn raven with no-name electronics and my 2003 squier with garage wound pickups.

DonovanB

Ross, Switch the pots in your washburn and upgrade the electronics. comparing two different guitars isn't comparing apples with apples.

Also, as has been stated countless times here, having a great guitar and a rubbish amp degrades your tone. as does having a great amp and guitar and horrid cables or pedals. It all adds up.

I used to be of the same opinion as you, since upgrading my strat's insides and getting better cables I like it. I'm gonna be getting a new amp and a better pedal soon too, I'm a convert...