Here's my problem, I have a mexican strat but it's currently on the other side of the country as I'm taking a kind of vacation. While I'm away from my love I've constantly got the itch to learn something or start writing something new. Since buying another Fender isn't something I currently have the money for, I was wondering if getting a Squier and upgrading the parts would do. I'm sure if I put American electronics in it there would be a noticable difference, I'm just wondering if the change would be enough to have me picking up the Squier instead of my Fender sometimes?

tl;dr how would American electronics do in a Squier? Videos would be nice. Thanks

Welcome.

Some Squiers play quite nicely and sure, you can make any guitar sound like a million bucks with a major electronics overhaul. Notwithstanding, I for one would not be picking up a Squier when an outright Fender is right next to it.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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You dig?

Yea, I see your point, I was just thinking I could get something alright and make it something enjoyable to play and not a waste of money. As of now my Fender is approx. 6000km away and has been for almost 2 months and is going to be that far away for another month from the way things are looking.

Consider: The money you'd be spending on a new Squier could very well get yourself a used Mexican Fender.

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You dig?

There's huge satisfaction to be had from taking a bog standard Squier and turning it into the best instrument it could be, by a series of upgrades. I Know, I've done it 3 times and still not learned the lesson!

Alongside my Fenders, these 3 guitars have become much loved and perform far beyond the level they were designed to reach.

But it's a false economy. Financially at least, upgrading like this is a bad idea. As for re-sale values - a buyer will only see the word Squier on the headstock, no matter what you've done to it, and no matter how good it sounds or plays.

The last Squier I upgraded with every bell and whistle I could put on it, has now cost me more than I would have paid for a US Standard Fender Strat - actually, make that a US Fender Strat Deluxe. When I used it last at a gig, some oik said to me afterwards, "yeah it was good mate, but you want to get a decent guitar - them Squiers are rubbish.." (and thats a fairly typical reaction from a surprisingly sizeable number of people who know just enough about guitars to be ignorant..)

If your main guitar is only 1 month away, but you still have to have something right now, then buy a 2nd hand Squier or a JHS Vintage V6 (which is better) or even one of those cheap old Mexis with the ceramic pickups. Hell, even a 2nd hand Yamaha Pacifica 112V would do just as good a job..

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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!

If things go how I'm hoping soon I might be able to buy an American strat when I get home but I've always had the desire to build buy getting the different components I wanted and putting it together and whatnot, I guess that's why the idea to get a Squier and upgrade everything was appealing haha. Anyways, thanks for your opinion.

It is an appealing idea. And if you're not bothered about re-sale at a later date, then you can make a really fine personalised intrument - providing you picked your donor Squier carefully.

You 'll also have great fun and learn a whole heap about Strat style guitars into the bargain. But as I say, just on financial considerations you can do better.

Good luck with your preferred and final solution!

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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!

If you buy a Squier, then upgrade with American electronics.....then you spent enough to just flat out buy at LEAST a used mexican Fender! Just buy a Squier and enjoy it for what it is until you get back to your baby......or start looking for a used MIM Fender

i find the vm strat quite enjoyable i spent about two months in canada and i got the itch to play (couldn't cross the ocean to play my other strat) my sister got sick of hearing me complain and brought me to a guitar store tried it out and now it's my main guitar it could definately compete with a mim strat

If you have the ability to build a strat, that would be your finest moment. There are tons of aftermarket parts as well as the stuff on ebay. If you build one, as a foundation use the best woods you can afford for the neck and body (flamed, birdseye, koa, mahogany, etc.). Everything else can be changed/upgraded when the mood for new tone/parts come to light. As a result you'll have a great custom strat.

Also, there are some really good MIM strats such as the classic series.

Custom all the way.