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Post subject: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 12:04 am
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So, I'm 23 and I have been playing guitar for almost ten years, so regardless of me getting a Squire Telecaster Standard, I'm not a beginner, as the music store seems to think when you grab one of these. (you wouldn't believe the looks I got after I plugged it in, in front of them, and then proceeded to buy it.)

That being said I have owned a lot of guitars; from Epiphones/Gibsons, Martin & CO., Taylors, Greg Bennett's, Fenders/Squires; yet I've never "Modded" one.

I have been researching for the past week (while waiting to sell an Epiphone Les Paul to get some extra cash to mod this... Shhhh) on what I should do, I bought this from a friend BRRRRAAAAAND new and the only thing he did was put in a brand new Seymour Duncan Hotrail in the bridge, and put Ernie Ball cobalts on it. He didn't change the caps/pots, nothing, so I'm wondering what some of you guys would recommend.

I play in a 90's cover band, we play about 2-3 times a month, plus the weekly practice or two. So the thing is gonna be used. with that being said what kind of tuners, nut, caps, pots, and neck pick up would you guys recommend.

For an idea, my band covers; Blink-182, The Offspring, Green Day, Bush, Sublime, Jimmy Eat World, Rancid, and aside from that, for my personal flavor, I've been looking into infusing some slight blues tones into the mix, I know I have a lot of questions, but once again this is completely new to me. Also I play out of a Crate Gt2x12

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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:15 am
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IMO modding a Squier guitar is a waiste of money . Now you have good pickups on it ..... :(

A better switch ( first ) and pots will work better , Better tuning machines too, better nut .........

About switch , good American made , the hole for the screw won't fit IMO.


What I recommend ? sell the guitar and buy a good American Standard Tele


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:00 am
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Hmm... I disagree with stratele52 here to a point - but not totally.

If one buys every piece new, the price of modding very quickly rises above a (second hand) MIM, even MIA Tele. So there st52 is absolutely right.

On the other hand, many of us have guitar parts "in store". So if dppk wants to learn how a guitar works, modding (& different set ups) are just right. And, not many want to practice on high end Fenders...

So, where to start the modding?
{Of course first experiment with different set ups (action, relief, pickup height - very crucial to playing comfortability and sound...) and string brands & gauges, maybe install a new bone or TUSQ nut.}
IMHO electronics. Caps, pots, resistors are cheap. Pickups, especially second hand, also.
Try no-load pots, the 50's wiring, treble bleed, Esquire the guitar etc. etc. Have fun.


BTW, (not counting one or two that broke mechanically) , I've not had problems with Squier tuners. Of course, if one just has to have locking tuners, then...

Somehow a modded Squier Tele feels just right for a nick like dapoppunkkid... Oh, and come to think of it: first spend some money on a good amp. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:16 am
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jmattis wrote:



kid... Oh, and come to think of it: first spend some money on a good amp. :lol:



+1


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:19 am
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Al guys I know over years who mod low budget guitar , have always sell them not long after to buy a better one .

That 's experience ......I do that myself :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 5:09 am
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I've upgraded a 94 Chinese squire, that's naturally reliced, and plays and sounds real good now so why sell it for nothing.
But yeah i poured a bunch of money into it, so it would be crazy to sell it now.
Modding is cool because you learn to work on your guitar but it costs money cuz you just have to fix/improve that next little thing that bothers you.
I've just been to Nashville and in one of the bands playing in a bar there was a guitar player just wailing away on a great looking and sounding squire.......


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 5:15 am
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[quote="Sev Grey"]
Modding is cool because you learn to work on your guitar fix/improve


+1


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 9:00 am
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Yeah, I already have a Seymour Duncan Hotrail in the bridge. I paid $150 bucks for the guitar w/pickup, and surprising plays better than my Les Paul, that I paid over $500 for. I figured, it was cheap enough, why not throw a couple hundred more bucks into it. The amp I have is perfectly fine. I know it's not world known for tone/versatility. But I've used it for shows with multiple guitars and it's the least of my worries :P

So, CTS 250KA Pots? I read they're great to replace the stock Chinese/Indonesian pots with.

What would you recommend for caps?

Anyone have any experience with Seymour Duncan Coolrails? I thought about putting one in the neck to compliment the heavier tone of the Hotrail.

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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 1:16 pm
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dapoppunkkid wrote:
Yeah, I already have a Seymour Duncan Hotrail in the bridge. I paid $150 bucks for the guitar w/pickup, and surprising plays better than my Les Paul, that I paid over $500 for.
Epiphone or Gibson or ...? Not same , Les Paul only mean nothing :wink:

The amp I have is perfectly fine. So perfectly you don't tell the name :lol:

So, CTS 250KA Pots? I read they're great to replace the stock Chinese/Indonesian pots with.

Good pots

What would you recommend for caps? orange drop caps

Anyone have any experience with Seymour Duncan Coolrails? I thought about putting one in the neck to compliment the heavier tone of the Hotrail.


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:50 pm
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The amp is a Crate GT2x12

I was an Epiphone, junk :P

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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 1:37 am
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dapoppunkkid wrote:
The amp is a Crate GT2x12

I was an Epiphone, junk :P



Sorry but a Epiphone pickups are very poor quality easy to find better .

You could have a better sound with a good amp . This Crate is good for gig , powerful with solid state and bot expensive .

All your gear are good for a beginner .Or to carry on gigs , keeping you high end gears safe at home ..... Nobody will stole them .

With time and experience you'll buy good ones .

We all started like that too :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 11:17 am
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Eh, I have had many expensive guitars, I just said screw it and started buying "cheaper ones. But yeah, my crate is what I use for my gigs.

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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 1:01 am
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dapoppunkkid wrote:
Eh, I have had many expensive guitars, I just said screw it and started buying "cheaper ones. But yeah, my crate is what I use for my gigs.



Should I understand , modding this low budget guitar is like a hobby ?

Why not , we learn with mods :D


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Post subject: Re: Modding a Squire Standard Telecaster
Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2014 3:10 am
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stratele52 wrote:
dapoppunkkid wrote:
Eh, I have had many expensive guitars, I just said screw it and started buying "cheaper ones. But yeah, my crate is what I use for my gigs.



Should I understand , modding this low budget guitar is like a hobby ?

Why not , we learn with mods :D


Actually you're right, I can always go out and buy an american standard or anything of the sort. But I figure, I'm never truly happy after awhile, why not get something cheaper, and something that plays pretty good, and upgrade the little things.

I've been to shows and realize. the guys who have the "nicest" guitars, usually have the worst tone, or don't know how to properly play. I've also been bitten with the Blues bug and chose between a MIM Standard Strat, The Squier counterpart, my Les Paul, and the Squier Tele Standard. After playing them all for a bit I realized that the Telecaster for me was a whole lot more comfortable. Not just that, but I bought it slightly used from a friend I went to High School with a few years back and saved 79 USD, and it also have the Seymour Duncan Hot Rail in it. (which is gonna come in handy since my band cover alot of 90s-2000s rock.)

I figured with the 79 bucks I saved from buying it new, I could shield the PUP cavities, change the pots/cap, tuners, and nut; as well as saving a few bucks.

Since I gig a lot it gives me something that sounds and plays good, that way if something happens on the road, no big deal it was a cheap 200 dollar guitar, it also gives me something to learn how to properly solder, wire, and change certain parts. That way when I build my custom Tele within the next year, I'll have a little bit of experience, as well as something to fall back on if I screw up my build

:lol:

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