In that case, I recommend Emerson Custom. This, times a million. Decide on what kind of overall sound you're looking for, and then go to your favorite pickup supplier and see what they offer. Am I missing something or does my $300 Mexi strat sound just as good as a $1000 US strat? This could be half the price of your budget guitar’s value in many cases. When it comes to hardware, especially on cheaper Squiers, it can be hard finding parts that fit with little to no modification; most parts are made for American/Mexican-made Strats. I’d just use it as is and save up for a used Mexican strat or something else. Check him out playing that Bullet on YouTube and stop worrying about even upgrading that thing. Here are a few additional mods to make your guitar play like an instrument that cost a whole lot more. There is a universe of difference between the playability of the two. Do you have any recommendations for pick ups, tuning locks, or other necessities to get it sounding better? Keep in mind this is nearly a $500+ Upgrade but if you really dig the neck and body of the current squier, then do it! The Gearnews Holiday Raffle, Week 2: Win a Novation AFX Station worth €430. Why upgrade your potentiometers? In keeping with Squier’s other entry-level models, the Bullet Mustang has a basswood body which gives it an incredibly lithe, lightweight feel. Honestly. I see lots and lots of players go out and spend a lot of money on new pickups for their cheap guitar, in the hope that it will make their guitar sound nicer. When Upgrading a squier here are the things I would replace: Entire electronics with a loaded pickguard (With pickups of your choice) New Tuners (I like grovers) New Saddles (Recommend Graphite) Input Jack. The best place to start if you're new is right below in our "Rules" section. If you plan on upgrading it soon to something better like a used MiM strat maybe getting some stuff that you can cannibalize like fender locking tuners and some used Seymour Duncans might help. Thanks for the tips! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, EBMM JP15 7 String / Fender MIM Strat / Line 6 HX Stomp. Welcome to r/guitar, a community devoted to the exchange of guitar related information and entertainment. Often a set of pickups will cost you well over a 100 pounds. I’m going to get some new strings and tuner locks and save for a MIM. Check out the Stratsphere; they sell OEM Fender and Squier parts for a bunch of different production models. After that, upgrade the controls. gearnews.com uses cookies to ensure the best possible service. So if you find you want new hardware, you might need to do a bit of trial-and-error before you find something that works. Sure, it'll cost more than your guitar now, but it can easily drop into a higher quality Strat at a later point if you decide to upgrade. Make your Cheap Squier sound like an American Fender: Upgrade your Potentiometers! My first ever guitar was a Squier Strat and my second was a MIM Strat. If you have guitar related questions, use the "Search" field or ask the community. Build yourself a loaded pickguard. A while ago, I posted a few tips on how to polish off poor finishing on fret ends to get your Squier playing better. I bought their Strat 5-way Blender harness, and I absolutely love it; it brought a lot of clarity to my guitar's sound, and my volume and tone controls are actually useable now. That said, Wilkinson makes a good replacement bridge for an affordable price. Thanks for visiting. If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can buy all of the components seperately and save some money. Which Squier Strat would a Fender Master Builder buy? Hope this baby can join my collection! This is a forum where guitarists, from novice to experienced, can explore the world of guitar through a variety of media and discussion. If you continue surfing the site, you agree to the, How to make a cheap Squier play like an American Fender, Make your Cheap Squier sound like an American Fender: Soldering Basics. YouTube/stewartmacdonald. I mostly play punk, rock, and alternative music. When Upgrading a squier here are the things I would replace: Entire electronics with a loaded pickguard (With pickups of your choice). The site may not work properly if you don't, If you do not update your browser, we suggest you visit, Press J to jump to the feed. Available in Black or Imperial Blue with a natty metallic finish, this is certainly an attractive little guitar. Your email address will not be published. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Many guitarists look for simple ways to upgrade or modify their Squier Stratocaster in an effort to get it playing like an American Fender. For a better experience on Gearnews, we recommend JavaScript to be enabled, Source: Any help would be awesome! Try seymour duncans, mighty mite, or something off the fretwire. Quick Look & Upgrades video on my Fender Squier Bullet Telecaster FSR. Original pickups, just changed the wiring on a couple of knobs. The bullet is a better placeholder than I expected, but an upgrade will eventually be needed! I'd start here amd see what you can find. Jack Pearson is one of the best guitarists on the planet and he plays an almost stock Squier Bullet. Keep in mind this is nearly a $500+ Upgrade but if you really dig the neck and body of the current squier, then do it! Hello! For my own Strat, I ended up going with all DiMarzio (SDS-1 in the bridge, True Velvet RWRP in the middle, FS-1 in the neck). Squier certainly thinks so, judging by this new budget, HH-configured Bullet Mustang. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. I am buying a used squier bullet strat today as I need a cheap guitar fast, but I was planning on giving it a few upgrades. It's in the fingers. So where to start? Or you can buy a drop-in wiring harness and take out all of the guesswork.