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Post subject: New Squire Stratocaster Project "Hot Blonde"
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:06 am
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Ok, it's my first post here so please go easy. I'm getting ready to start working on my first guitar project. I'm not a great player yet, but I'm getting there, took a little age and two kids but I'm finally dedicating my spare time to the guitar something I've always wanted to do. Here's why I'm planning on dropping a large amount of money into the guitar.

For Christmas 2005 my girlfriend (now wife) bought me a Fender Squire Standard Stratocaster. It was suppost to be a wood finish, but came to me in a nice Maple Butter Blonde finish instead. That's also the year I proposed to my wife, and about 8 weeks later we found out she was pregnant with my son. This guitar never played well, didn't sound great, but means the world to me, for those two reasons. As far as I know, the Blonde finish isn't a highly manufactured finish on Squire instruments either.

After spending the last few months really learning to play the guitar I figured it was time to invest some money in a good guitar to play, but nothing at my local guitar shop, Sam Ash, has the look, feel, and sound I'm after. So I decided instead of dropping 1,000 to 1,500 on a guitar that I'd end up modifying any way, I'd just drop the money into my Squire Strat that means so much to me. I've done alot of research into the parts to make it what I want, here they go.

1. Warmoth Pro Neck
2. H/S/H pickup config. with EMG-81/85's and a EMG-S in the middle
3. All new electronics and wiring, from pots to the switch and output jack
4. Dual Battery box (I'm sure I can pull the routing off)
5. SuperVee Tremolo (I don't want to route the body for a Floyd, plus I like the look of the SuperVee, and they can 100% make it fit my body)
6. Gotoh locking tuners (a bit redundant with the SuperVee)
7. Strap locks
8. All the hardware and screws will be gold instead of chrome, the pickguard and cavity cover will be tortoise like the existing one.

That's the just of the parts list, with an estimated total cost of around 800-1,000. Like I said before you jump the gun and say I'm wasting the money, the guitar itself it what matters to me more than just buying a Fender Strat inside my budget range.

I do know I might be lucky, since my neck pocket is 2-3/16 x 3 made it easy for the Warmoth neck to line up. The pickguard is also replaceable with a Fender replacement part. I actually proved it to myself by buying a used Fender strat std pickguard off ebay, it lines up perfect.

I'm planning on kicking off the project sometime in October after the Metallica concert and my birthday.

Tell me what you think about the project. And yes my body is standard Fender size, not thinner profile like the bullet or affinity.


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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:37 pm
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Location: Magnolia, Texas (just north of Houston)
I have said it before and I will say it again, there is nothing wrong about spending money on your guitar to get it the way you want; however, $800 to $1000 dollars worth of mods...wow.

If your guitar means that much to you, go for it. I put a Warmoth neck on an older Squier I used to have...well worth the $350 I spent on it. I got a Bird's Eye Maple, Rosewood Fretboard, and Albone fret markers on the front and sides. I do not remember which frets I had put on, but they were awesome. I wish I still had that guitar.

I would love to see some before and after pics.

RK

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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:29 am
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So you are replacing everything except the body, pickguard, springs, claw, and back plate? I'm all into modding as well, but that will hardly be the same guitar that you feel so sentimental about now. For the sentimental reasons and the fact that I wouldn't put $800-$1000 into my Squiers, I would leave the guitar as it is and buy another or build a parts-o-caster. But if you really want to mod it, go for it! And pics are a must.

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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:33 am
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The only squire peice left will be the body itself. Nothing else will be there, not even the trem claw. I know that's alot of money, but you've gotta look at the fact most of that is spent on just a few items.

Warmoth Pro Neck - $275 (That's built the way I want it)
SuperVee Tremolo - $320 (Double locking, Floyd's go for the same)
EMG Pickups - $300 (81/85/S)

So when you really look at it, if I were to buy a true Fender and then build it the way I want I'd spend more, and end up with the same. Since it's a body up build, it won't really be too much of a Squire anymore, the only diffference between my body and a standard fender strat body is the tremolo posts. The rest of the body is 100% fender specs.

I can understand some people saying that's alot of money, but when you look at the fact most of that goes into the bridge system and pickups, I don't think it's too much. Buying the new pickguard, screws, cavity cover, and jack plate is just around 90 bucks.

Like I said IF I were to buy a Fender Standard and mod it how I want it, I'd spend the same amount for the tremolo and pickups, plus pickguard. So not only this way do I get the guitar I WANT, but I save a little money.


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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 6:35 am
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And when I do start the project, I'm going to photo document the build and also video the process and put it up on the YouTube. I'll post some links.


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Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2009 11:53 am
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Location: Magnolia, Texas (just north of Houston)
Ask Caboose wrote:
And when I do start the project, I'm going to photo document the build and also video the process and put it up on the YouTube. I'll post some links.


Love a good documentary with pics on a mod job. Looking forward to it.

RK

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2007 Fender Highway 1
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2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head


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