software

im looking to make a franken strat with my money from selling my parker and
was wondering what upgrades you would do from stock.

chris

ones I was thinking of are

graptech saddles

locking tuners

graphite nut

SD pups (either HSS or HSH)

CTS pots and Orange Drop caps

new pickguard

straplocks

and trying to keep total cost under $500
base model is a squier strat...(I know I know!!)

its either that or upgrades on a Steinberger GU-7R

chris

Probably all of the above, and adding coil taps for the humbuckers via push/pull pots.

In my opinion, as long as the wood is good you always have the foundation to create a great guitar, regardless of the logo on the head stock.

HSS strats are always a very versatile and useful tool. I don't know the material for the sustain block on a Squire. If it's not carbon steel, then I would find a block that is. That's probably more important than the material of the saddles. Good pickups, light weight locking tuners, and so forth, and you could have a fine guitar. I always like simplier, rather than more complicated switching and electronics myself, but to each his own.

yeah, good wood, then tone changes, then cosmetics

If you like the guitar then why are you changing it?


Originally Posted by SOLO GUITAR STEWIEones I was thinking of are

graptech saddles

locking tuners

graphite nut

SD pups (either HSS or HSH)

CTS pots and Orange Drop caps

new pickguard

straplocks

All of the above!!
Originally Posted by SOLO GUITAR STEWIEones I was thinking of are

graptech saddles

locking tuners

graphite nut

SD pups (either HSS or HSH)

CTS pots and Orange Drop caps

new pickguard

straplocks

and trying to keep total cost under $500
base model is a squier strat...(I know I know!!)

Ok, maybe somebody can explain this to me...but what's the sense of spending $500 on upgrading parts of a Squire or some other cheap paddle? IMO, it's a point of diminishing returns and it's not like they're amazing guitars or anything. Didn't some guy just sell a Jimmy Vaughn Strat for like $400 bucks? That would be a better guitar then a Squier or I've seen used Am Standards for under $650...


Originally Posted by J MooseOk, maybe somebody can explain this to me...but what's the sense of spending $500 on upgrading parts of a Squire or some other cheap paddle? IMO, it's a point of diminishing returns and it's not like they're amazing guitars or anything. Didn't some guy just sell a Jimmy Vaughn Strat for like $400 bucks? That would be a better guitar then a Squier or I've seen used Am Standards for under $650...

That depends on your point of view, bro. If modding guitars is your bag, then it certainly makes sense. Plus, given you#8217;ve got a good foundation to start with you can built a guitar to your liking using better aftermarket components for probably about the same price. The result could be an axe that is better than a used JV Strat or Am Std.

If the wood is good I#8217;d say pickups are a must, then hardware such as the bridge and tuners. So long as the nut is cut well it probably won#8217;t need to be replaced. New higher quality electronics should replace the stock stuff when new pups are installed. Those kind of modifications can do wonders for your tone. After that, put your personal flair to it. Have fun.


Originally Posted by SOLO GUITAR STEWIEones I was thinking of are

graptech saddles

locking tuners

graphite nut

SD pups (either HSS or HSH)

CTS pots and Orange Drop caps

new pickguard

straplocks

and trying to keep total cost under $500
base model is a squier strat...(I know I know!!)

chris

All of the above, unless you don't break a lot of strings.
Go wild and have fun, maing!
I would have to say good wood first, then hardware, then pickups and electronics.

These are all worthwhile... and I've done most of them... partially in answer to J Moose, I also have a cheap strat, but I like the way it feels and plays.

I did my mods usually one thing at a time - for a couple of reasons - I didn't spend a whole lot of money at once - and each change made the guitar seem new again.Originally Posted by SOLO GUITAR STEWIEones I was thinking of are

graptech saddles lt;== did this - really does save strings

locking tuners lt;== not yet, but someday

graphite nut lt;== I was going to do this, but discovered nut sauce

SD pups (either HSS or HSH) lt;== changed them out one at a time (see above)

CTS pots and Orange Drop caps lt;== did it with the last pup, improved tone a lot - also added a switch to the vol knob to switch in the bridge pickup along with the neck

new pickguard lt;== no, I opted to paint mine instead (see avatar)

straplocks lt;== yep, all part of the last change - got a red dimarzio strap and paint spattered it to match the pickguard (see avatar)

and trying to keep total cost under $500 lt;== probably put between $300 and $400

base model is a squier strat...(I know I know!!) lt;== Hamer Slammer for me

its either that or upgrades on a Steinberger GU-7R lt;== I'd go with the upgrade

chris
The thing is you start with a guitar that works (even if you don't like how it works) and you can add things to your liking without thinking quot;I better not mess this up, its a 3000$ instrumentquot;. As soon as I get my drivers license (have to pay for the damn lessons) I'm saving up for a Affinity strat in black with a rosewood fb and modding it. Tried one the other day and for 250$ you really start to wonder if its worth it specially for me (not in a band, not too eager to be in one, just want something with a decent sound that works and lasts).

Here's the upgrades and their order (mostly in order of ease and less $ spent).

Straplocks

Set it up nicelly (see how I like the trem and adjust it, stuff like that)

Replacing the nut with a graphite one

Master tone, master volume. Wait to see what happens to the hole left by the second tone pot.

Removing the finish in the trem cavity and under the pickguard but appying a small coat of wax (why? Because even if it does nothing, I don't care, the guitar is basically worthless so I can get it to breath a little but still protect it from moisture (got a lot of that around here at times)

Shielding the whole thing (might take some effect from the removing of the paint but... who cares, at least it won't hum as much)

Wax the pups if they squeal like little piggys.

Replacing the pots with quality ones

Putting a mini 3-way switch that will get me some more versatility in the place of the second tone pot

Replacing the tuners

Replacing the pups (SD alnico II in all positions or maybe just in the middle with a cool rails in the neck and bridge position and do a crazy switching arrangement)

Replacing the trem if it sucks too much.

Stripping the entire finish of the guitar body, work on the heel so it's a bit contoured, refin with a thinner finish, replace the guard to something that suits the mood of the guitar. Strip the face of the headstock and refin as the body (I'd actually like to saw off the entire headstock to get a 3/3 config)

Assemble the old pots, pups and stuff like that and sell it or give it away. Or use it as a backup or as a test platform.

Will this guitar be better than any other? Beats me.

Will it have all I love on various models. Heck yeah.

This would of course be done over a number of years. I've given up hope I'll ever have enough cash and time to make my own guitars so I guess this way I'll always have a guitar ready to play but always improving.