Hello all,
Posted this in the Squier forum but thought I'd put it here also.

In the past few months I've been getting parts together to build a Squier version of the Black1. Ever since I saw this guitar I have been in awe but, I could never afford the $1800+ it takes to buy one thus the reason for building my own. I've used a Squier Bullet neck and an mid 90's full sized Affinity body. I sourced my parts through ebay, pickersparts, and guitarfetish. I put in some Alpha 250k pots, Orange drop .047uf cap, vintage wiring, CRL switch, shielding, mint green pickguard, Fender MIM bridge, Fender vintage staggered tuners, and GFS Alnico vintage stagger pickups with kiwi shoe polish tinted neck and pickup covers. I was going to go with the pearl button tuners but I like the vintage tuners. I am almost finished with it but, I thought I would post up some pictures to show.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

Great effort!

Totally got that vibe happening, even more so that you've put it together your self (not that JM did, but put a SRV neck on a old body with a few things you don't see on standard strats). Most importantly, you've taken something that exists out there, and made it your own (how you kinda like the vintage tuners for example). Gonna post a sound clip of "Gravity" or "Slow dancing in a burning room" when ya done?

Dan

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

GFS pickups with staggered AlNiCO magnets are a good start for this "Squier" version of the JM Black1, however, you can put a set of Big Dippers on your guitar if you decide to upgrade the pickups at a later time.

The big problem is that Fender doesn't sell the Big Dippers as a separate product unless they have the artist's consent first.

Thanks for the compliments guys. The Big Dippers are too expensive for my blood. They do sound awesome though. I may get something like D. Allen JM Rock & Blues or Klein SS5 eventually. But as for now, I think the GFS pickups will have to do and my wife probably would like it that way also.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

The original Black1 had the string retainer placed near the headstock end.

good effort!

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blues - its a religion...

Yeah, I know about the string tree. Since I have the staggered tuners I'm thinking about just eliminating it altogether. I still have a ways to go before I call this finished. When and if the weather warms up, I'm going to have my brother repaint the body for me (he paints cars for a living ) and refinish the neck and redo the Squier logo and make it gold similar to the Fender spaghetti logo.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

Which type of staggered tuners? Locking staggered, perhaps?

Very cool guitar.
If its ever up for sale, I would definately buy that off of you.

No, the tuners aren't locking. They are the Kluson type vintage split post. I got them off of ebay. The seller said they were off of a Fender 50's reissue. Not sure about that though. I've never seen staggers on a 50's reissue. They are nice tuners though.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

Especially GOLD staggered...!!

The great thing is that you can, if you wish, upgrade parts as you go along...

...aren't Strats just the best!!

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How did it sound to you?

I absolutely love Strats. They are so versatile and you can mod them however you please to no end. Greatest thing since sliced bread

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

Thanks Tanner! I think this one is going to be a keeper. But, if I ever decide to send it on, I will let you know.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug

Very cool, the JM black one is one of my favourite strats, you've done a really good job there! Would be cool to hear some sound clips when you finish it!

Drew

I'll do that. I have a few more things I have to do to it yet but, I'm gaining. I have to plane some of the thickness of the headstock off so my tuner posts will be at the right height. Right now it is approx. 9/16" and I need it to be 1/2" according to my other two strats that have the vintage tuners in them. I have a buddy who is a luthier so, he is going to help me with it. I don't think I want to tackle that.

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Squier Classic Vibe thinline telecaster
Squier JM Black1 partscaster
Line 6 Pod XT Live
Peavey VT Classic 212
Vox AC30 Amplug