Neck is tight and straght, 3 springs on whammy(bar is broke off in it's hole none exposed)the face plate is flat on the body(can dive bomb but not raise), machine heads are tight, pretty close in harmonics(12th fret) to actual string note,per string.
But when a cord is played it is still out of tune .
I'm still conofused, the only thing is it has old strings and My friend does not want to put new on, unless he can get it "in tune" better.
Thanks for your input!

You answered your own question. Get new strings. What's holding your friend back from getting new strings? A pack of new strings is just a few bucks.

Make sure he's not ham-fisted when chording. Strangling the strings against the frets will surely make them go sharp.

_________________
Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

1- New strings

2- Perfect intonnation, pretty close is not enough.

That's it

have you checked the frets themselves? sometimes protuberances on the frets can cause buzzing or intonation problems. what model squier is it?

_________________
Gear:

Heavily Modified Olympic White 2007 MIM Strat (my baby!!)
Fender Showmaster 2003
Bugera V55 HD
Peavey XXX Cab
Vox Satchurator
Ibanez TS-9
Dunlop Crybaby
DeltaLab Digital Delay

The older and more worn and dirty the strings are the worse the intonation will get.The only to rectify this is to bite the bullet and invest the 8-10 bucks for a new set of strings.The only way to guarantee good intonation is to use new strings, trying to set the intonation with old strings is impossible and an excercise in futility.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Your friend has no clue!!!! Replace the strings they are cheap enough Six pack of beer cost more.

_________________
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

please i live in Morocco in Rabat town, i love the fender electric and accoustic guitar; but i can buy it here in Morocco and i would like that anybody guitarist of america can send me one guitar even old guitar excuse my bad english......i give you my msn box to contact me:haysmali@hotmail.fr.....................please i am waiting for this holy gifft from america the temple of fender guitar THANK U VERY MUCH and God bless u and america

Yes, new strings are mandatory! However, you may still have difficulty holding tune and intonation due to the Squier's weak spots - tuners and saddles! I am NOT a pro luthier or guitar tech, but I do pretty good work on my own Strats...so here goes:

Buy a set of used MIM or USA Strat tuners off of e-bay (don't have to be locking, just "Fender" script logo imprint).

Buy a set of stamped steel "Fender" imprint saddles (or Graph Tech poly) off e-bay or some other source.

Replace the above parts, restring with good quality strings (and secure them to the tuners properly), have the action and intonation set by someone who does good work, and have fun playing!

A previous responder also mentioned your frets...another good idea...inspect them for wear and level.

The Squier saddles are notorious for being weak and slipping adjustment....the alloy is poor and the adjustment screws wander.

Just a few thoughts that may help.....but then, free advice is worth what you pay for it!

Man thats crazy, like driving a car w/bald tires. It it aint gunna steer or align right just like those old strings wont let that guitar tune right. And like Chris mentioned about the saddles n tuners. Start with the saddles cuz the strings sink right into that cheap white metal. When ya string ur up n it still sounds like a upsidedown brass bell full of ky jelly, u no its time to resaddle the horse. Tell him we got a safety issue here, when one of those old rusty strings breaks and punctures his eye or flesh n ends up w/lockjaw, he,ll b wishing he bought that 3.99 set of super slinkys. If he still dont listen, Snip some of em w/some side cutters n say Woops I did it again. Tug on those joints after ya get to pitch n keep doing that till they stays in tune. Damn! Good Luck Bro.

I have two squiers, one since new and a used one (talk about being thrifty) and have absolutely no tuning issues with either one. Haven't touched the set up of the new one since it was out of the box.

The used one is a one owner and he had it for 10 years, its mint except for the fret wear. Being new to guitars I've just learned what fret wear is. No tuning problems with this 10 year old, and as far as I can tell it is all original, except of course for the strings.

Guitar repair guru Dan elrewine says if you install your strings correctly, your guitar will stay in tune. As simple as that.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD

Maybe but not sure with the same strings company and same gauge. But if you use another strings company, intonnation is almost needed.

Stratele

Please tell me about this amp



Email

nikininja@ntlworld.com

_________________
No no and no

I have to agree with the other guys. I got a Squier Given to me brand new for a gift. Straight out of the box it wouldn't stay in tune for 20 minutes. I changed the strings to Earnie Ball Slinkies and now I can lean it against my bedroom wall for 3 or 4 days and come back and at least 4 out 6 strings will still be dead center in tune on a chromatic tuner the other 2 or 3 that are out are only out of tune a tiny bit. Yes intonation, saddle and tuner quality, nut material, electronics, all have to do with how a guitar sounds, but the strings, the strings are where it all starts and make THE biggest effect on sound. Change the strings, or play a sorry sounding guitar, that simple. Without new, good quality strings he might as well string it up with bailing wire.

nikininja I will answer to you soon about the amp