I took two squier strats one older squier with the nicest neck ever !
and a surf green / Green Blue bullet body.
I added a solid brass block to the bridge and GFS Texas wound alnicos.

Some fine tuning to the action and neck and........

WOW !!! what a great sounding and Playing guitar !!!!

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Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

waiting for some cream colored knobs and she will be all done !

The guitar sitting next to in the pictures above it is my AMSE 50th ann.

Those GFS pickups are great !! and I didn't buy the most expensive set either.

The solid brass block does prevent the back cover from being installed.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

The whole project after selling off the extra parts on e-bay was about $65.00 or maybe a bit less.

Sounds as good as any American Standard and plays like a dream !

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

Good deal.

Nice looking Strat.

I have been using the Callaham Steel block for my 2 strats and was considering a Brass block from GFS on my value project strat.

How do you like the sound and feel of the Brass block?

sweet looking strats bluesbondsman.
that is a coincidence, today actually i was looking at gfs 57 and 63 texas wound pickups and was very intrigued, under 80 bucks for a set.
how do they compare to standard pickups and cs54s in your number 1.

also, dont waste any money on cream knobs, remove the pu covers knobs and switch tip and soak em in dark coffee for bout 15-20 minutes.

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"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present."

oogway, kungfu panda 2008

Looks really nice man. How about sharing that sound with us?

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2010 American Special HSS 3TSB
Marshall MG15FX

You can still re-fit your back plate. Just cut out a letter boxed slot for the brass block - make it big enough to allow the bridge block to move if you're into some trem action!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

The question is now is it the brass block or the pickups ???

The thing sounds Very good!!!

I'm still adjusting the pickup heights, getting a little overtone noise, looks like the magnets are very strong on the pickups.

As far as comparing it's sound to my 50th, it sounds very much the same, sad when ya think I have over $1000.00 in the 50th and $65.00 in the green machine LOL !!!

I stongly suggest to anyone with a squier or older mexi strat that you try the GFS pickups, and for like 23 bucks add the brass block for some serious added sustain.

Take a look at the block on most squiers, its hollow and weighs near to nothing.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

Oh and I wired it the same as my 50th, shift into the bridge only pup and you bypass any tone pot.

The 50th came stock with C/S 54 pups with an overwound bridge too, so the guitars do sound very much alike.

And as stated before these are not the preium upgrade pickups that GFS charges extra for just the standard Texas wound alnicos.

I also got rid of the cheap garbage pots and switch (forgot about that) and so now I'm closer to $85.00 in the guitar.

The lead wires on the GFS PUPs were so long that I was able to use the rest of the very nice cloth wiring from them to wire the pots and switch.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

Thanks for the tip on the back plate aday !

Excellent idea.

I still can't believe how cheesy a block they put on those squiers, thin and hollow so how could it ever add any sustain to the guitar ?

The brass block from GFS is lees than 30 bucks including shipping.

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

Well done bondsman, nice axe.

It seems the surf greens and sonic blues are making a comeback in popularity. Can't wait for the Jeff Beck Purple to come back

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My Rig: Guitar into Pedals then into Amps and out into Speakers.

Surf Green has been on my wish list for a long time.
had to be a maple neck for that early 50's vibe

_________________
Keepn' the Blues Alive

2004 50th Ann. Limited edition AMSE Stratocaster
2017 50's Baja Telecaster BSB

1968 Bandmaster with 2X12 cab C-rex speakers
VHT Special 6 Ultra combo

Visual Sound Route 66
Cmatmods Signa Drive

Looks great -- nice job!

Looks great. A few questions. I learn something new about 'em each day. What are GFS pickups and where do I get a brass block?

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

Pretty guitar - good job!

Surf Green with a maple neck: I'm feeling GAS-y again!

Cheers - C