GRM Guitar Rehab - Squier Strat

Nice work, helluva gift! Any 15 year old should be thrilled to get a modern Squier. They're actually shockingly good guitars. I won one in a charity raffle about this time last year, and I was really surprised it wasn't an unplayable piece of junk. Nothing weird in the finish or construction, plays nice, even sounds pretty decent through a good amp. The quality of entry-level guitars is damn impressive these days.

I would suggest you pop for a pro setup if there's a decent independent repair guy in town. It may seem like a frivolous expense, but having a guitar that's easy to play will go a long way toward keeping an inevitably frustrated learner playing a little longer.

alex wrote: Nice work, helluva gift! Any 15 year old should be thrilled to get a modern Squier. They're actually shockingly good guitars. I won one in a charity raffle about this time last year, and I was really surprised it wasn't an unplayable piece of junk. Nothing weird in the finish or construction, plays nice, even sounds pretty decent through a good amp. The quality of entry-level guitars is damn impressive these days.

It is true. The quality of beginner guitars these days is orders of magnitude better than when I started playing in the 80's. A $99 Affinity Tele is, despite lackluster tuners and cheap pickups a fine piece of kit. Compared to the atomically crappy Lotus and Hondo guitars that, at the time we had to pay a couple of hundred for and were made from the same rubbery wood putty material that cheap flexible pencils were made from.

Just how different is the CNC program used to cut out the bodies and necks on a Squire than the US made Fenders? Not bloody much that is for sure. Remember, Leo Fender designed his guitars to be assembly line manufactured by unskilled labor. As long as the materials are strong they will function just fine.

Yeah, the thing that got me right away about this guitar is how well it played, even though it was nasty. I may lower the action a tiny bit, but that's it. The thing plays better than any $70 guitar should. I've played lots of Strats that friends and old band members had, from American Standard ones to hot rodded Mexican ones, to properly set up cheap Squiers, and this feels just as good as any of those. This thing blows teh doors off my fist stringed instrument, which was a cheap Samick P-Bass copy. That thing was garbage and couldn't be helped. And I paid more than $70 for it!

alex wrote: Nice work, helluva gift! Any 15 year old should be thrilled to get a modern Squier. They're actually shockingly good guitars. I won one in a charity raffle about this time last year, and I was really surprised it wasn't an unplayable piece of junk. Nothing weird in the finish or construction, plays nice, even sounds pretty decent through a good amp. The quality of entry-level guitars is damn impressive these days. I would suggest you pop for a pro setup if there's a decent independent repair guy in town. It may seem like a frivolous expense, but having a guitar that's easy to play will go a long way toward keeping an inevitably frustrated learner playing a little longer.

The guy he's taking lessons from is my old lead guitar player from my old band, and he knows how to set up guitars properly. He will show my nephew how it's done. For now, the guitar will be playable, and that's all I could hope for.

This baby is done.

I put some DR Tite-Fit strings (10's) on it. It plays fantastic, and actually better than my Les Paul! Sounds great too, which is surprising. I was thinking about trying to do a setup on it myself, but the thing plays so nice, I don't want to touch it at all. Now I want one.

I may go the next step with my Epi Les Paul and do a full setup. If a cheap Squier Affinity Strat plays better than the Paul, then you know something is wrong with it.

Really, really cool man. My "Claus-o-meter" is in the green.

Yeah, I think my nephew will like it.

I get to do this all over again next year with his 10 year old little bro. He is learning to play the Cello in school, and he's picking it up really fast. He wants to learn electric bass.

Damn. Do they have upright bass instead? That'd be an easier transition.

I can't play Strats worth a damn. The long scale fretboard is too big for my fingers and I play with 10's and don't hit hard, so I can't get it to sound good. Thus, I play Gibsons.

That one's neat, though. Right out of 80's-era Headbanger's Ball.

In reply to gamby:

Oddly enough, I have a small arsenal of Gibsons (3 Les Pauls and an Explorer) yet I play my Strat the most...

poopshovel wrote: Damn. Do they have upright bass instead? That'd be an easier transition.

From what I understand, they don't have upright bass at his grade level yet. Cello was the biggest stringed instrument they have.

And yeah, this thing is glam-tastic. I really like the finish on this guitar though. It has a black sparkle finish that looks pretty good all cleaned up. The pick guard is a bit much though, but for the price, he can change it to one of the million other colors they make if he wants.

I've never been a Strat guy, but after messing with this one, I think it's a better fit for my fat sausage fingers than my Epi Les Paul. The action is much lighter on the Strat, and the neck feels great in my hands. Again, the Les Paul has never had a proper setup, so I think that's my next step with it.

My other guitar (Jackson PS4) has a really wide neck, and I love it, but all the Floyd Rose problems I have with it keep it zipped up in the gig bag and out of my hands.

My Strat is a '57 Reissue with maple neck and fretboard. I love it. I probably play my PRS more, but I do dig the Strat. In fact, thanks to all this talk I have been playing that one this week.

My other guitar (Jackson PS4) has a really wide neck, and I love it, but all the Floyd Rose problems I have with it keep it zipped up in the gig bag and out of my hands.

Do you just not like floyds in general, or is it just this one? You can always block it. FWIW, if you love a strat, and love a Wizard-thin neck, I'd suggest a 90's MIJ HRR strat. I absolutely berkeleying love mine. I've got one in surf-green, looking for a steal on one in sunburst.

Looks like this, but with a rosewood board.

In reply to poopshovel:

The issue with mine is that I think it's either broken or messed up. Right after I bought it, I tried to change the strings on it. Mind you, all I had changed strings on before was my POS Samick P-Bass copy and my then-new Ibanez TR70 bass. That string change took all day and night.

After I was done, the bridge seemed way too high, and I couldn't get it to sit back down. I took it to a friend of mine that's had his fair share of these, and he got it to sit down a little lower, but it's still high. Also, after that string change, the tuners started to bend! Now all the tuners need to be replaced too. I'll have to snap some pics tonight to show the weirdness that's going on with it.

I looked into blocking it, but I'd rather try and get it working correctly first. If I can't, then I will be tearing it down and starting over with it and getting rid of the Floyd. I've thought of trading it in, but in it's condition, I doubt I'll get much for it.

I've always wanted an Explorer since I saw Def Leppard's Photograph video when I was 3, and there's a black and white ESP LTD EX50 at a local Guitar Center in serviceable shape for only $99. I've been thinking of taking the Jackson down there and seeing what they will give me for it in trade. Think I'd get anything for it?

Ooooh man. Yeah, floating trems are a different ball of wax on the string change. You basically have to do them one or two at a time, keeping the nut locked on the other 4 strings. There are vids on youtube. I'd take it to a pro; someone who works on floating trems. They should be able just to pull the whole ball of wax apart and set it up from scratch. If you've got the time, try doing it yourself. Again, there's E36 M3 all over the internet. If you can wrench on cars, guitars aren't any different. I wouldn't trade squat at GC. I'm guessing the reason they can keep their used stuff so cheap is because they don't pay E36 M3 for it. That said, man, the new ESP's are nice for the price. My brother has two of their super-strat shaped models. One floyd copy, one string through. They play really nice, and with a humbucker upgrade sound as good as anything out there for metal.

Oh, and the Explorer in the Photograph video is actually an Ibanez Destroyer. I've been really really really close to buying one so many times, but they always need a ton of work. If I could find one in decent shape for $300 or so, I'd snatch it up. The rocket-roll V is on my list too.

Here's a cracksmoker model on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980s-Ibanez-Destroyer-Phil-Collen-Def-Leppard-Guitar-Vintage-Collectors-DT555-/121037243120?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c2e61c2f0

They reissued 'em a few years ago in some really nice natural finishes. I don't think they were super expensive with a standard bridge.

Like so:

http://www.musicgoroundwoodbury.com/detail.aspx?id=1316266

SilverFleet wrote: I've always wanted an Explorer since I saw Def Leppard's Photograph video when I was 3, and there's a black and white ESP LTD EX50 at a local Guitar Center in serviceable shape for only $99. I've been thinking of taking the Jackson down there and seeing what they will give me for it in trade. Think I'd get anything for it?

Hard to say what you'd get for the Jackson. They made so many version over the years I've lost track. None of the LTD guitars have done anything for me, so I'd probably say stay with what you have.

FWIW - he played an Ibanez Destroyer in Def Leppard, but otherwise I agree. Steve Clark is why I have Les Pauls and why one of them has a Kahler bridge. The Scorpions and Metallica are why I have the Explorer. I had a Destroyer for short while, but it was a bolt-on version vs. the set-neck version Phil Colleen played. It never played or sounded all that great. I went through a ton of guitars back in my 20's. Pretty much you can name it and I owned one for at least a month or so. But I was always a Les Paul guy, so I never even looked at Strat-style guitars until I picked up my current one in a store. It's hard to describe it, but it "felt" like my Les Paul. Since my #1 les Paul was damaged in a basement flood, the Strat has been the go-to guitar since. I've had other Les Pauls and Strats, but none have equaled the first ones.

Ok... now I really want to sell some cars so I can get the Les Paul back.

I have a ESP Horizon from the 80's (neck thru, carved top version) that is on my to-do list to refurbish. I got it pretty cheap (for an original neck-thru ESP), but it needs work. That's the one I want an original Floyd for. The ESP branded Floyd it came with is horrid.

The next electric guitar I buy will probably be a custom-shop Charvel.

poopshovel wrote: Here's a cracksmoker model on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1980s-Ibanez-Destroyer-Phil-Collen-Def-Leppard-Guitar-Vintage-Collectors-DT555-/121037243120?pt=Guitar&hash=item1c2e61c2f0

Yowza! yeah... I can't see $2800 for that guitar... maybe if it had a Kahler like Collen's has.

Speaking of Kahler's:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HAMER-1980S-USA-MADE-BLITZ-CUSTOM-GRAPHIC-GUITAR-KAHLER-TREM-SETNECK-EXPLORER-/221163058890?_trksid=p2047675.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555003%26algo%3DPW.CAT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D142%26meid%3D4107459921803587252%26pid%3D100010%26prg%3D1076%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D121037243120%26

I love how it says "original Kalher" yet has a spring cover on the back. Nice!

The Destroyer from the video was black with cream binding. I remember it well.

In reply to poopshovel:

Yep, and I believe the one in the video was black with yellow polka dots. That stupid video was the beginning of a long journey for me with music.

I've just always liked Explorers and that body style. Every time I see one, I immediately think Metal. I still can't believe they were introduced back in the late 1950's. I would love to be able to go back in time and pick one up and shred with it, like Marty McFly at the Enchantment Under The Sea dance.

The next electric guitar I buy will probably be a custom-shop Charvel.

That's poopin in tall cotton boy! But yeah, I'm thinking my next one will be a Warmoth tele body, HSS, floyd, with a genuine fender floyd neck. I really like the San Dimas style 2, but the neck just doesn't feel right, and I like the HSS configuration. Also high on the list is an American Deluxe Tele in white or cherry sunburst. Drooooool.

There's also some company buying up the older San Dimas models and doing super heavy relic jobs on them. I like that a lot.

poopshovel wrote:

The next electric guitar I buy will probably be a custom-shop Charvel.

That's poopin in tall cotton boy! But yeah, I'm thinking my next one will be a Warmoth tele body, HSS, floyd, with a genuine fender floyd neck. I really like the San Dimas style 2, but the neck just doesn't feel right, and I like the HSS configuration. Also high on the list is an American Deluxe Tele in white or cherry sunburst. Drooooool. There's also some company buying up the older San Dimas models and doing super heavy relic jobs on them. I like that a lot.

Yeah, well... my problem with guitars is I've always had high-end ones - I got my first Les Paul at 17 as a graduation gift (bear in mind - back in 1988 you could get used Gibsons for cheap since super-strats were the guitars to have). Gibson, Fender, PRS... Off the rack just won't do... That said, I agree I'd have to play a new San Dimas first to makee sure the neck felt right, but from what you posted about them in the past, it sounds promising.

I don't need an artificial "relic". I'm perfectly capable of making one on my own... you should see my first Les Paul...

Well, after searching for some Floyd Rose tips, I found this site:

http://www.blues4kids.com/special_promotions/jackson%20page/jackson_floyd_howto.htm

I have an extra set of DR 10's at home that I bought for my Les Paul, so maybe I'll take the Jackson apart and try to mess with it again. Looks like what happened to mine is a common issue. I'm not sure if the tuners are bent or really loose, but they are all pulled down toward the bridge. If i need new ones, then it will have to wait until after Christmas and I'll order some.

One thing to keep in mind if you want the LP to feel similar to the Jackson: I'm 99% sure Jacksons use the Fender 25.5" string length, so if you run 10's on one the strings will feel different than on the LP with its 24.75" length. Personally, I run 10's on my Strat and 11's on my LP's.

Ian F wrote: One thing to keep in mind if you want the LP to feel similar to the Jackson: I'm 99% sure Jacksons use the Fender 25.5" string length, so if you run 10's on one the strings will feel different than on the LP with its 24.75" length. Personally, I run 10's on my Strat and 11's on my LP's.

I think my Les Paul has 12's or something really thick on there right now. I forget what I put on there last time. All I know is that it plays and sounds like garbage. I bought lighter strings on a suggestion from the guy behind the counter at a now-defunct music chain.

I like it, and it seems built well, but I don't even know why I bought the thing. It's an Epi Les Paul Standard that has to be about 15 years old now. I paid $299 about 12 years ago for it. It makes a lot of noise, and hates to be cranked up. I'm thinking I may want to mod that one at some point too. My friend has a newer one (same model) and it plays 100% better than mine. I've played genuine Gibson Les Pauls that play worse than his. It must be in the setup.

Stevie says you're a bitch if you play anything short of .013's! Funny you mentioned a Sammick. I played a Blues Saraceno model at our local music store a while back. FAT neck, and the thickest berkeleying strings I'd ever seen. PO had tuned it down to A or some crazy E36 M3. Apparently that's what the kids do these days. Whacky.

poopshovel wrote: PO had tuned it down to A or some crazy E36 M3. Apparently that's what the kids do these days. Whacky.

I worked with a 21 y/o kid that wouldn't shut the berkeley up about 7 string guitars and dumb tunings. Drove me berkeleying nuts.

Early 90's Epi guitars were not know for being of great quality. I have read the newer ones are pretty good and arguably up to the standard of some eras of Gibsons. Hell, Les Paul himself said he was amazed at how good Epi guitars were in one of the last interviews before he passed.

Set up is definitely important. Back in the day I could fake it pretty well as a guitar tech, but nowadays I'll take it to a pro who has the practiced skill. I consider it like building bicycle wheels. Sure, I can do it myself, but if I want a GOOD wheel, I let somebody who builds them every day do it.

If the guitar isn't set up for really heavy strings, then yeah... It'll play like crap. The intonation will be all over the place. Most guitars are factory set for 9's and 10's.

I like playing in dropped D once in awhile, but have never felt the desire for a 7 string.