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Post subject: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2018 10:04 am
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Hey guy!

So I recently purchased a Squier strat to use as a project guitar. It was poorly setup right out of the box. I could heard scrapping sounds from the frets when I played bends. The store guys told me to try and setup the intonation and truss rod - which has improved things. But I still feel the frets are quite rough.

I just wanted to know if I could use a high grit sandpaper and smooth en out the frets? What grit do I use? Or should I just return the product?

Bonus: Suggest pickup upgrades I can use for blues kind of music. The tuners definitely have to go! What tuners could I use?

Appreciate the help ya'll.

-Glen


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2018 5:40 pm
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It was brand new?
Return it. Of all of the things that are needed on a new budget guitar, a fret dressing should not be one of them.
Full setup, including truss rod, intonation, and bridge, yes.

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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2018 12:28 am
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(Generally speaking:) The dilemma with economy priced guitars; they come from the factories with minimal setups, but the buyers' budget won't stretch to a pro setup…

Anyways, if it's a maple fretboard, the roughness may be just the clear coat finish over the frets - that will come off just by playing the guitar.

On the mods, and sorry if I come out rough here…
Investing in a new set of quality pickups and quality tuners will quickly raise the costs above what another Strat, perfect for your needs right from the start, would cost. Project guitar for learning mods & such, OK. Project guitar for saving money, a unicorn.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:56 am
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It is not just economy instruments that come poorly set up.

My American Deluxe setup was not great, and that was fresh out of the sealed factory shipping box.
Thankfully I have the tools and the knowledge to set the things up properly.
Recently I sorted out an American Special Telecaster for one my son's friends, and that too came in a sealed factory shipping box.

I haven't been impressed with any of the factory setups I've encountered in various music shops either, and this is all on instruments made in Corona.

Fret jobs in all cases have been fine, but neck relief was frequently off, and actions were too high.
And the models varied from American Standard, to Professional, to American Special.

You don't get the same problems with PRS instruments.
You can take one straight out of the box and it's ready to go.
If PRS can do it, why can't Fender?

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Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:48 am
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stratmangler wrote:
If PRS can do it, why can't Fender?


Because they cut costs to save money and make profit!


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 10:58 am
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stratmangler wrote:
It is not just economy instruments that come poorly set up.

I meant (and feel) that the problem is bigger with economy instruments and their clientele. Those who buy Deluxes etc. can usually either DIY like you, or are financially qualified to pay a pro.

stratmangler wrote:
If PRS can do it, why can't Fender?
Quote:
From Fender Electric Guitars Owner's Manual:
Your guitar is solidly built with the best materials and craftsmanship. As part of its final assembly, we’ve hand-adjusted it and set it up to Fender® factory specs, which give you the best possible playing action.
:lol:


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:42 am
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jmattis wrote:
stratmangler wrote:
It is not just economy instruments that come poorly set up.

I meant (and feel) that the problem is bigger with economy instruments and their clientele. Those who buy Deluxes etc. can usually either DIY like you, or are financially qualified to pay a pro.

stratmangler wrote:
If PRS can do it, why can't Fender?
Quote:
From Fender Electric Guitars Owner's Manual:
Your guitar is solidly built with the best materials and craftsmanship. As part of its final assembly, we’ve hand-adjusted it and set it up to Fender® factory specs, which give you the best possible playing action.
:lol:

I agree with you - the issues are greater with economy instruments.

The quote from Fender, the bit about final assembly, is just plain horse sh1t - if the instruments were actually properly set up to their spec I'd have no complaints.
The thing is, not many folk have radius gauges, string height gauges, and feeler gauges, including the good folk at Fender it seems, because with some of the setups you'd think that was the case :lol:

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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:32 pm
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chromeface wrote:
stratmangler wrote:
If PRS can do it, why can't Fender?

Because they cut costs to save money and make profit!

Yep, PRS Korean models are priced toward the top end of MiM Fenders.
But the CE24 is very nice....

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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 11:09 pm
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It would seem that the final factory set ups have not changed in 45 years and are still crap
I got brand new, a 1963 Strat, traded my old guitar in for it and had it delivered to the UK via Ireland (trade embargo at the time)

Picked it up from the shop and didn't really have a lot of time to assess it as my Dad and I were going round the corner to have suits measured up for a wedding

Eventually got home and as we were playing that night , jumped in the bath and got dressed ...........when we got to the gig, I quickly realised how bad the setup was . The pickups were set too high leaving virtually no room to pick over the bridge pickup. The trem was decked with 5 springs and made a resounding clunk every time I let go of the arm and it had been sent out with 12's strings on it with a wound 3rd


After coming off stage with 2 of my fingers raw , my new Strat got called all the names under the sun and the following day , I set about sorting it out . I got rid of 2 springs , lowered the pickups put lighter strings on (there actually were no light gauge strings around then, so we used to use a banjo 5th as a first, a first as a second, second as a third etc), set the intonation and action and by the time I'd finished it played well

I went into a huge guitar store about 4 years ago and got a Fender jaguar down off the wall. It had an action of around 3/16ths at the 16th fret, was well out of tune and as soon as I played an open E chord, the bottom E string jumped out of the thread on the saddle (and I wasn't hitting hard )
I said do you set these up when you get them? to which I got the reply No we never touch them

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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 7:11 am
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Totally agree. I've said many times that Fender may as well sell a box of bits which I can assemble myself. Similarly to others here, I'm referring to pukka US guitars.

Yes, OK, my preferred setup requirements may be (are) a little different from Fender's own, but I could work with the recommended setup - if ever Strats came with it!

Why do we keep buying them?! Oh yes, it'd be the sound, looks, ergonomics etc...!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:06 am
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Thank you for the nostalgic laughs, ted j. Your story is so familiar it's almost a postcard from younger me.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2018 8:20 pm
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When i think of how much that guitar would be worth now.....

Mind you , you could pick a second hand one up for £60 in the early seventies. I remember a red fender Jaguar in the front window of a Manchester music shop, it was in there ages and didn't sell. In the end it was reduced to £45
Nowadays the old valve amps are worth a fortune . I could have a few good holidays with the stuff I had


A Watkins Dominator (17 watts valve).....now £999 for a reissue
A Fender Bassman top (supposedly 40 watts but seemed much louder)
A Selmer Treble n Bass 50 head (around £1000 now)
A Sound city 100 watt all valve PA amp

All the above were going for less than £50 in the sixties

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Ted

"All right, guys, uh, listen. This is a blues riff in "B", watch me for the changes, and try and keep up, okay?"


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 7:54 am
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To the original poster (as if they're coming back) a "Fret Eraser" should do just fine, I wouldn't take sand paper to them. And a new set of pickup's are gonna run you nearly $200 (US)...so choose wisely.

Now to join the other discussion here: (EXAMPLE)
Johnny Fingers orders a guitar.
Imagine your guitar being made in Corona, California---in the desert---on the salty Pacific coast.
Guitar gets set up and boxed.
Guitar goes on a truck (dry van...not temperature controlled).
Truck goes over the Rockie Mountains...now that box in that trailer went from 96 degrees down to 40 degrees and condensation is introduced.
Then it crosses the Plains into and through the Midwest. Humidity and temperature change is reintroduced to the cargo yet again.
Cross the Mississippi River, over the Appalachian Mountains, and to the east coast and salty winds blowing off the Atlantic Ocean.

Johnny Fingers opens the box to his new guitar in Boston, Massachusetts and REALLY expects it to be perfectly in tune and ready to play? We all know what happens to wood (a guitars main composite) in different climates and weather conditions.

Sure...if guitars are sent to Music/Guitar Stores, I WOULD expect them to set it up before displaying them, and if they get one from the storage, they should be willing to set it up for you before you leave the store---but if you buy one sight unseen direct from the factory, or even a gear site, and it is shipped to your house, expect to set it up yourself or have it set up for a cost, because it's GONNA need some adjustment.

Just my 2 cents.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 9:47 am
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Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.


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Post subject: Re: NEW Squier strat
Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2018 12:15 pm
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White Dog nailed it. Punch line - any guitar that is shipped could need a setup when it arrives, regardless of how well it may have been set up before being shipped.

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