squier guitars

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Member Since: Jan 18, 2003

please bash squier.

i own one, it's been my only guitar for 12 years, and i wasnt expecting to get another one, but today i went to sam ash, and was surprised to see a beautiful ebony natural wood grain squier, with the old style design, which i NEVER have seen since 1992--this design has no dumb plastic pick guard. the guitar is all wood and looks awesome. i also like the way squiers play, near as i can tell, and have never had a problem with the sound. this model has two humbuckers (three position switch) and i am looking for reasons NOT to get this guitar, because i think im going to unless someone stops me.

i know a lot of people dont play fenders and dont like dfenders, but no one has really ever explained thier reasons for disliking fender guitars to me.

so now's your chance. why should i buy an ibanez, or an ESP, or some other brand? les pauls are out--i just dont like them very much. the type of music i play is heavy.

go.

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Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Apr 06, 2005 11:10 pm

The reason I don't care for Fender guitars is simply I don't like the feel of their necks for the most part. I don't think there is any thing wrong with them or that they aren't a great guitar, they're just not for me.

I think the only thing that matters when you buy a guitar is that *You* like how it feels, plays and sounds period. That's why IMO you should play as many as possible before making a choice and be open to any brand.

Dan

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 06, 2005 11:19 pm

Squiers are just cheaper Fenders. I like Starts personally, and tele's in a given situation. Most Squiers are made much cheaper than real Fenders, but you can still find a decent one.

The guy leading the Sonar User Group meeting on Monday put it well, he said, if you can, go through 100 Mexican-made Fenders (Squiers apply as well) and you will still find one that just from the luck of the draw has that nice cut of wood that makes it sound good.

Personally, I would say keep you Squier, get some Q-Tuners or other high quality pickups and put in it. If the guitar feels good, keep it, the harder part is finding one that feels right...with the right work and parts, you can make it sound like anything you want...

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 06, 2005 11:35 pm

forty you allready know my answer to this one.

Heavy, get into the Ibanez or the ESP. Electronics wise that is what they were made for.

As for the Strat/Tele thing. I like the sound of a strat, just not for me, and I cant get comfy playing one. The Tele, maybe I could if I really tried. But I want more then just a twang from my guitar, that is why Frankenstien was created. I can get the twang of those single coil's, or the full on grind of the a Les Paul or SG. Or just about any other tone for that matter. That is what it was set up to do.

Not saying a bone stock ESP or Ibanez will do that for ya. But it will definately give ya the heavy.

But as stated, go play a bunch of em. And dont stop till one feels good. Then you can always do what I did. Start butchering away and modify the electronics till ya get what ya want. But the main thing is it needs to feel good before it can sound good.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 06, 2005 11:37 pm

i want a new one though. you know that feeling. it's only $250.

this is an all new version. i've played squiers that felt cheaper--theyre usually the ones with the pick guards. but this feels solid and real. like the one i now own.

i have never been able to notice differences in necks. i am not very discriminatory i guess.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 06, 2005 11:54 pm

Necks are important to me. Being a crapy player, I am at least picky about how the neck feels. I hate maple fretboards with passion. That why Frankenstien has a Jackson neck instead of an Ibanez neck. The guitar originally came with maple and I couldnt stand it. So from there it took shape.

And honestly forty, I am all for being comfy with what ya play. And if that style guitar is what fits you , then that is what you should get. Honestly!!!

All the salesmen in the world couldnt make me buy a Strat to play. I would buy a vintage one to hang on the wall, or for others to play. But not for my personal use.

So quit lolly gagin and just go out and start tryin a few out. You know that is the one you want so dont fight that feelin any more, jump headlong to the store.

But dont buy one untill you get goose bumps from holding it. Then you will know it is the one!!!


String bender
Member
Since: Unknown

Apr 07, 2005 12:26 am

I'm going to put one more vote on the "go for the feel" side. A few years ago I was looking for a cheap backup guitar for live shows and I found this Ibanez Gio for $199 at Guitar Center. Its kind of an SG knock-off. The short story is, after a few tweaks it turned into the main guitar and some of my more pricey guitars went unused. Sorry I couldnt slag squire for you Forty! :)

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Apr 07, 2005 07:13 am

Ahhhh..the Fender Strat, my first love and still, a cherished geetar in ma collection.

OK, cut to it - I have 1 Fender Strat and 1 Epiphone Les Paul. I love em both as much as I love anything and anyone else and I can say, there is nothing wrong with the sound of a strat against anything.

I guess a couple of minor heroes like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton would agree so never be blackballed into the crap that strats are gash, rubbish, noisey, etc etc - there is no need for me to explain the pedigree...they kick *** and I love mine.

The reason I have 2 of the most popular geetar types and a genuine Fender is for sound. I get a lovely clean tone from ma Fender..its unrivalled and unbeatable. End of. I get a great heavy tone from ma Les Paul so I have it all in 2 geetars - so - there in my honest opinion, the strat is EQUAL if not BETTER than any other geetar on the planet.

I PERSONALLY love Gibson Les Pauls tho due to my love of heavy rock music which puts me into the big Les Paul fan club. That said, ye get different tones and I for one, used both a Strat and a Les Paul on the one song and can say it can really alter the double tracked geetar sounds.

I also played a squier for years (at school as it goes) and played bloody well. It cost like £150 and played almost as well as my gen Fender Strat...so, there is a LOT to be said for Squier. Its a darn good make and not the pile of tosh some would have ye believe but ye'll ken that already.

I guess what I am saying is - my 2 (main) geetars are there for distinct purposes...secret is to know what sound you WANT, then go play play play til you find it. All geetarists will tell ye that...I bought a guitar via mail order to save £100 and it was crap...its a good geetar from a good manu but the actual machine itself was from a bad cut of wood.....so TRY TRY TRY...if nothing else, ye get to blast some cool geetars!!!!

Anyways, good luck to ye...I hope ye find a nice new axe. For info, I am considering a genuine Gibson SG as they can be picked up for less than £500 new - worth a look if yer no wanting a Les Paul but SOMETHING for nice smokin, heavy geetar.

Coco.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005

Apr 07, 2005 10:12 am

hilst not beeing a guitar player myself I must agree with Coco.

My brother has 29yrs of guitar playing behind him and is very accomplished. He has and still plays his Squire Strat hich has been in his arsenal for the last 15-20 of those years, it's a great sounding guitar. One of his other (7 in total) guitars is an Gibson SG, bought when playing in a doors band - now that guitar rocks!!!!! The guitarist in our band (Garage rock/Punkish) (we call it Dirt 'n' Roll) uses an Epiphone SG aswell

So there you have my two pennith worth (or should I say centimes as I live in France)

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 07, 2005 11:40 am

My friend had a Squier Strat in high school, and I never did like that thing. It just didn't feel very well put together. The action was weird and I hated those little things that hold the strings down on the headstock between the nut and the tuners...they store tension and never proved to me that they were anything more than a tuning nuissance. I've never been a Fender guy in the first place (except that I want an American Deluxe Tele sooooo bad).

If you play heavy music then you'll want those humbuckers. That's cool that Squier offers an HH model Strat, I never knew they did. Heck, throw in another $100 or $150 to put in some nice pickups and you may have a new best friend there.

But for that price you could something like a Schecter that is well crafted, more consistently built than Squier, and I think that they come with Seymour Duncan humbuckers.

Is it one of these (double fat strat)? :
www.musiciansfriend.com/s...ase_pid/510446/

If so, then $250 is a little steep unless it comes with a gig bag or something.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Apr 07, 2005 12:01 pm

i have yet to find a replacement for the "strat tone" with the neck and middle pickup....it's like heaing "i love you"....

Czar of Cheese
Member
Since: Jun 09, 2004

Apr 07, 2005 12:20 pm

I say buy the dang thing! I am a Fender lover...in the process of selling everything I own on eBay so that I can acquire a new one.

I've owned a Squier and a Mexican Tele in my time. I loved them both, and rue the day that I parted with them.

But that's just me.

Tadpui...I'm about $100 away from the American Tele Deluxe. We have a gig each of the next four weekends, so that will get me more than enough. The real question is...should I then step "up" to a '52 reissue?

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 07, 2005 12:30 pm

No way Jimbo! Go for the Deluxe! The '52 reissue has that wacky wiring situation. Don't they give you a kit to rewire the pickups into a normal config if you want? Seems like too much trouble for me. I'm fulfilling my dream of that Tele vicariously through you, so I'm just going to keep egging you on to buy it :-D

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005

Apr 07, 2005 03:22 pm

Very ironic to see this post. I asked the same question on another forum around the same time

www.guitargearheads.com/m...523&forum=1

More feedback can be found there.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 07, 2005 03:23 pm

yes, tadpui. they have HH designs, though the squier i use now has one H and two single coils, giving a 5-position switch.

THIS guitar has two H's, for a three position. i might miss that middle pickup--well, at least i'll still have my old one.

the HH in that link is not really the guitar i mean. i cannot find it online. imagine a natural wood grain body, stained ebony black: just enough so that the grain still shows through. rosewood neck, or whatever the black necks are. NO laquer whatsoever, giving a dry natural look. NO pick guard. three silver knobs, in the strat style, the pickup switch, and for pickups, two humbuckers that look like silver metal plates, with the coils inside. i dont know what you call this style of pickup, but they look like rectangles of metal. anyway, the thing looks badass with these small details. ive always loved the strat shape, but thought that the details are all wrong. getting rid of the pickguard, giving a sensible non-flashy dye job, and altering the pickup design makes the strat look cool.


i never knew really that a guitar could be so noticibly affected by a 'bad cut' of wood. i have played squiers that have felt cheap but mine always felt very solid. once i got the intonation and action fixed (and locked the tremolo bridge) it became a very sturdy thing.


i wish i understood the love of gibson some people have. i have never noticed quite how they are 'good' for heavy music. can someone please explain? is it mostly in the pickups or is there something about a gibson, in the wood or something or....

noize WHY do you hate maple fretboards? i think i do too...

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Apr 07, 2005 03:29 pm

Ah, Forty - the answer to the Gibson question - its the beast they make...its great.

Heavy *** geetar is great for sustain notes, great pick ups for lasting notes and excellent tone for power chords that suit heavy rock.

Also, when soloin, the notes ring oot for ever...then there is the general feel, fat necks and looks overall...lovely geetars man...I love the Les Paul I have and its an Epi..if I had a pile of Gibbys, Id be the happiest person alive (almost!)

Its the dream man...

Coco.

patron saint of quality footwear
Member
Since: May 30, 2002

Apr 07, 2005 03:36 pm

It's all about how it feels in YOUR hands.

I had played a few friends' Strats and I never cared much for them myself until an old bandmate convinced me to sit down and play one they had in the shop.

I now play that Mexican Strat almost exclusively while my other axes collect dust.

I don't have anything to offer you in terms of critique for the Squier, I'll just say that if it feels right to you then buy it.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Apr 07, 2005 05:01 pm

Hey Forty

Just realised...if ye wanna straight A>B a Strat and Les Paul ye can check ma tunes oot.

I recorded Dead Flowers & Candy Girl with the strat.

I recorded all my other electric tunes with the Les Paul...there, lies the difference if ye wanna hear it.

I used pretty much the same amps, just a different geetar. The strat is more punchy but you can see why I love my Les Paul on a song like Wasted Land where a strat wouldnt cut it...wouldnt have the power for the chords.

Anyways..all in my profile tho I guess ye will have heard millions of strat v les paul music in the past anyway...just if ye want an A>B.

nae worries.

Coco.

Banned


Apr 07, 2005 07:08 pm

my american strat is not necessarly the best playing guitar i have, but it has the best feel, talking about comfort here folks, to me a les paul is more akward to play, still talking comfort, but has killer tone!! i dont own a les paul but i sure would love to someday, they are just sooo damn expensive!!!

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 07, 2005 07:22 pm

ok coco i will check those out soon. thats a good idear.


Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Apr 07, 2005 09:25 pm

All my electric songs are a Gibson SG, the latest one (Too Much to Say) is pretty heavy, and that isn't even close to how heavy it will go, if you want to check that out, the link is in Music forum.

That said I think any decent guitar is capable of being used for Heavy rock, but guitars with humbuckers generally have an edge IMO. As for Gibson in particular, besides the feel of the guitar, they just have such a wide range of tone available they work well in just about any type of music you want to play, but ask a Fender , or Ibanez, or Yamaha lover, and you'll probably get the same answer for their chosen guitar. ;)

Dan

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 05:11 am

ok cool. i have never seen a strat with two humbuckers like this one. both seymour duncans, which i am under the impression are good.

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004

Apr 08, 2005 08:21 am

I have seen a few customised strats with 2 humbuckers but thats it..never an "off the shelf" with that.

As for Seymours..they are LEGENDARY!! Usually found in Gibson Les Pauls or indeed any humbucking geetar...they come in ALL shapes and sizes.

I'll tell ye this tho - everyone from Slash, Joe Perry and many more have genuine Gibsons WITH Seymours loaded...i.e. they took oot the Gibson pick ups and put Seymours in...ye canny whack the Seymours. I thought of doing that with my Epi Les Paul but I'll be keeping mine as I like the tones I get.

I may buy another cheaper Epi Les Paul with a different finish and customise it tho..thats a wee project in itself tho..

Good luck man

Coco.

Banned


Apr 08, 2005 12:24 pm

on the subject of trying out guitars to get a feel for them, a few months back i went to sam ash and played just about every guitar in there brand wise, and i swear every one of their guitars were jacked up, i mean the setups were horrible,the strings old and rusty, neck pockets loose. i played fenders(amer., mexi, korean) epiphones and gibson, ibanez and even one rickenbaker and i just couldnt get a feel for how the guitars would play with a proper setup. i guess thats were the independent guitar shop shines, half the inventory but the guitars are setup!!!! you all prolly think im b.s. ing but im serious they dont take care/keep up with their inventory. anyone else experience this?!!?!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 08, 2005 12:29 pm

I go by feel...about 12-15 years ago I walked in to a local shop, saw a bright yellow Washburn A-10, ugliest thing...had to try it...grabbed it, it melted into my hands...I walked out with it...well, been my main guitar ever since...

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Apr 08, 2005 12:47 pm

i agree, workin' in a guitar store has taught me the same.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 08, 2005 12:51 pm

yup, if you try hard enough you can make a guitar sound like anything with new pickups, bridge, nut, strings, etc...but feel, well, it has it or it doesn't.

I just put Q-Tuners (as stated in my review) in the Washburn and WOW, like a whole friggin new guitar...

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 08:04 pm

well, i bought it. looks great, but...

i didnt notice something. i brought it home, plugged it into my pod, and noticed a pretty loud buzz. no matter what the switch setting, it's there. i thought that single coils were usually to blame for buzz. i thought 'certainly with humbuckers i will have no problem.' indeed, my other squier (which has one humbucker and two single coils) is ghostly quiet.

it will be impossible to record with this guitar without changes. in a way thats ok, because i got this guitar mostly as a live performance deal, and maybe i can use a stronger noise gate setting live, or maybe it wont matter, because the buzz will be lost once a song starts? but obviously, i just want the thing wired right so i dont have to deal with this.

is it the brand of pickups? i notice now that it just says 'duncan designed' on them so they must be like lower grade seymours? or do all seymours say this on there?

anyway, im really new to buzz/hum as ive never had to deal with it before. can this be fixed through some rewiring job or do i need all new pickups?

should i take it back? i really like the look and (i guess) feel of this thing, so i'd be willing to wait, gather some info on this problem, and fix it down the line. but i dont know what to do, exactly. anyone?

i am a poor consumer.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 08:43 pm

hmmm, humbuckers that aren't bucking hum :-)

It could just be a simple grounding problem. Make sure that the pickups are grounded to the tremolo spring holder thingy on the back of the guitar. There should be a bare wire soldered to that thing.

If it's anything more complicated than that, I'd at least call the store and see if they'd have a tech look at it for nothing since you JUST bought it.

Oh, and I'm glad you pulled the trigger on that guitar! It was obvious that you wanted it reeeeeal bad :) It feels good to get new gear.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 08, 2005 09:37 pm

Forty, for sure have it checked to make sure everything is grounded good. That is usually the cause, that or a bad pickup winding.

As for the maple neck thing. I guess it is a feeling I can only describe as too slippery. Now I know that might sound absurd, but that is the only way I can think of to describe how a maple neck feels to me. I guess part of that may relate as well to the fact that so many maple necks are coated with a very thick sealer. I soooooo much feel more comfortable on a good rosewood or fingerboard. It might also be attributed to the maple necks I have played on were somewaht narrow, but thick. Frankenstiens neck is wide but thin, as I have sanded it down a lot.

Hope that answer's it for ya forty.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 10:46 pm

thanks tadpui. here's a crappy lo-res pic of the body if anyone wants to see. it's hard to see, but it's like an ebony stain, no laquer. and no pick guard (ahhh.)


http://www32.brinkster.com/placeholder/guitar.jpg



i am definitely gonna call tomorrow about the grounding thing. if that fails i will check for the ground wire. and if that fails, i will get a book on guitar electronics and see if i can rewire it somehow. i saw a couple of posts on some forums where others were complaining about buzz, but just as many from people who seemed totally pleased, so maybe sam ash will just fix it for me.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 08, 2005 11:02 pm

Ah crap forty. The page says the .jpg contains errors. I wanna see it... :-(

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:05 pm

yeah i get this message:

HTTP1.1 STATUS 403 Remote Access to this object forbidden This file cannot be directly accessed from a remote site, but must be linked through the Brinkster Member's site.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:05 pm

wha?

the link works for me...


Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:05 pm

alright hang on

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 08, 2005 11:07 pm

thats just a hotlink prevention thing...pretty common.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:08 pm

www32.brinkster.com/placeholder

click on the 'didactic' link

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:13 pm

Ah nice. Very heavy metal looking. That's one industrial-strength toggle switch mang!

:edit:uh never mind...I've apparently had too much to drink and I was looking at the switch wrong hehehe

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 08, 2005 11:24 pm

haha yeah thats the jack

it looks a bit metal, yes, but i think i like this guitar because it looks like something i built out back in the shed.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 09, 2005 06:29 pm

I got it open directly in IE but it wouldnt in FireFox except going dierctly through the link on your site. Wierd.

But ya, thas a pretty guitar. I like natural wood like that.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 09, 2005 07:29 pm

its a really ugly picture of it, though. it looks nicer in person, or head-on. anyway, thanks. the guitar manager at sam ash is going to get the tech guy (is that a luthier? or does that term only apply to guitar makers?) to take a look at the wiring for free. hope i can get that hum bucked.


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 09, 2005 09:38 pm

No, not a luthier, just a tech guy. And ya Sam Ash is usually pretty good about standing behind the stuff they sell, so you are in luck there. Good luck , and hope he figures it out.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 12, 2005 10:12 pm

what's a luthier, then?

i just had the tech guy look at it. at first he didnt believe me, seemed upset to have to deal with the prob. big, kind of scary guy. i kept saying 'no. put the amp on the high gain setting.' so he did, then he became fascinated and liked me all of a sudden.

he's like 'look at this. i'm getting hum on the north pole.' he twisted it around and in a certain position, this huge hum comes out. the closer he moved it to the amp, the worse it got, till it was incredible. the guitar manager was there looking all sad. everyone got depressed.

the tech guy said it wasnt a wiring thing, it was something with the duncan designed pickups themselves. but he didnt understand it, said they had other brands that used those pickups and they worked ok. but we tried the other two squiers in the store, and same deal.

then he goes 'i wonder what fender was thinking, putting these things on there.' the manager goes 'trust me, i bet fender is getting a lot of mail right now. if i called them theyd be like 'yeah, i know."

so that's it. another $200 to get new good pickups on this thing, knocking the total price up to $450 for a danged squier. i have to take it back. get a cobain jagstang, possibly.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 12, 2005 10:20 pm

a luthier is a guy that makes and maintains guitars (or fretted instruments)...fret work, neck work, wiring, construction, all that cool stuff I wanna know how to do.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 12, 2005 10:24 pm

then this guy is prolly a luthier. he does body work in there, and wiring. he might not MAKE guitars, but if he fixes them in all possible ways, is he not a luthier?

db, take a luthier class.




Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 12, 2005 10:27 pm

dictionary.com

"One that makes or repairs stringed instruments, such as violins."

so, ya, a repair guy would be I guess.

and I don't have time for classes, I know the wiring, I know intonation and truss rod adjustments and all of that crap, done it a lot, just never built one from the ground up.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 12, 2005 10:31 pm

Actually a luthier is the guy who can also bend the wood and shape the body. He will carve and electric guitar out of a solid block of wood. And all the stuff dB said as well. But ya I suppose if the guy is also carving guitar bodies then he would fit that bill forty.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 12, 2005 10:33 pm

in other words:

"One that makes or repairs stringed instruments, such as violins."

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 12, 2005 10:39 pm

I knew I shoulda refreshed the page before I posted that.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004

Apr 13, 2005 07:38 pm

2 cents....

I have a Squier strat. Cost me $99 new in a sale. They'll have rip that guitar from my cold, dead fingers. I love it. Tuners could be better (and are going to be replaced), and the pickups aren't what they could be (and are going to be replaced), but the neck, and feel of that guitar is amazing. I love it.

I also have a Schecter, which is fab for harder stuff (humbuckers). However, I tend to record most of my guitars with the strat.



Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 13, 2005 07:48 pm

dang maybe i should just get new pickups then. a lot of people are saying nasty things about the jagstang. frets/neck too small, and horrible, unlockable bridge that screws up intonation, and 'not suited for heavy music' (which i find hard to believe)

the feel of my squier is ideal. new pickups'll run me though. but then, hey. i'll have really good duncan pickups on a guitar i like.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 13, 2005 08:30 pm

Get the Q-Tuner...they are expensive, but damn are they clean.

Banned


Apr 13, 2005 10:10 pm

after reading your review, im thinking of getting the q-tuners for my carvin.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 14, 2005 06:54 pm

id put these in. the wacked out look appeals to me greatly. if i'm going to lose the chrome-plated pickuips i have on this thing now, i'd want something equally unusual.

but db, theyve got tobe really expensive if theyre hand made. what are we talkin' here?


I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003

Apr 14, 2005 07:13 pm

you can keep those pickup covers, they're not really part of the pickup...underneath is a regular open-coil pickup. If you buy a new pickup, I'm pretty sure that you can just put those covers back on the guitar.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002

Apr 14, 2005 07:21 pm

they are $150 a piece...and worth every penny.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 14, 2005 09:29 pm

thats really hefty, mang. thanks for the tip tadpui. im gonna do that for sure., that helps a lot.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 16, 2005 12:21 am

If you dont want to pop for that much cash, take a look at the DiMarzio Evolution's. The Bridge I use the F Spaced model DP159, and the neck is model DP158. They are very easy to control and can be coil tapped to run in either full on humbucker, Paralell, or single coil mode. They will go from a sweet clean tone to an all out grind tone. The evolution ws designed originally for Steve Via. I went through dozens of pickup combinations from several makers and finally settled in with these. As well as in the middle pickup position I have a DiMarzio Fast Trak 2, which is a single coil size humbucker that can be coil tapped as well.

I however need to go hear dB's Q-Tuners as I am getting ready to put my Washburn back together and not really looking forward to putting EMG's back in it as they are one tone only. Full on Grind!


Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Apr 16, 2005 01:57 am

I've been looking at the Dimarzio's as well, though I think if I decide to buy them I'm going to get the PAF Classic Humbuckers. My son has a Duncan pickup in His LP though that sure sounds nice, so I might go with that, just replacing the bridge pickup since thats mostly what I use anywho.

Dan

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 16, 2005 09:15 pm

OH ya, the PAF Pro's are really nice to. They dont have quite as much drive as the Evolutions or the Tone Zones, but they can be really twangy at times. And I think they can also be coil tapped as well, so it will give you a bit more versatility.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 17, 2005 04:37 am

whats coil-tapped

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003

Apr 17, 2005 12:38 pm

It lets you wire it so that in 1 or more of the switch postitions you can use a humbucker as a single coil. On a Gibson you typically wire the middle switch postion as single coil since most don't use the middle position which combines the 2 pickups anyway. On guitars with more switch positions you have even more ways to wire them, parallel, series, etc.

Dan

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 17, 2005 01:19 pm

Yep, OD gots it. As in my case, I tool out the tone control pot and the Ibanez comes with a 5 way similar to a fender. So I can do Hum, Paralell, or single in any position.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 17, 2005 08:10 pm

this gee-tar has only a three position switch. actually i think i may miss my 'neck pickup only' position on my old squier. i liked playing JUST the single coil neck from time to time. how would you re-wire this thing to have the option of 1. both hums at once 2. neck hum as single coil only 3. bridge hum and neck single.

those are the three combos i would like. is it possible?




Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 17, 2005 08:49 pm

forty, with the 3 way switch you should still be able to do neck pickup only. But as for the mod for single coil only. The pickup needs to have special wiring for it, and some factory pickups do. The center position of the 3 way should give you both hums at once as well. If it doesnt then that is a weird wiring job. As most standard 3 way switch set ups are neck, both, bridge. But many makers have done things like add a coil tap switch into the volume pot, or tone pot. Pull to tap, push for regular.

My diMarzio's are set up with 6 pole 3 way switches that funtion as closed, closed, closed. This alows more functions by the micro switch itself. I simply pulled out the 2 tone knobs and put 2 of the switches in their place, then drilled the third hole in between them for the middle pick up switch. Your set up wouldnt be that complicated.

You might look at a modification I have seen in which they use a strat style switch and one micro switch to allow those types of pickup configurations.

I personally never use a tone knob anyway. It is only a cut type EQ and doesnt really fit the what a true tone knob would be, either boosting or cuttin. That is only something for an active pickup situation. But it requires more electronics then most peeps want in their guitars.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003

Apr 17, 2005 10:16 pm

i never use a tone knob either. i will look into getting done what needs to be done by next xmas. until then, this guitar sits unused.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 17, 2005 10:46 pm

Sits unused.

Like my Washburn pointy guitar that has been hanging in the studio without its guts for almost 4 years now since its paint job. Just waitng for those shredding EMG's to be plopped into it. And all its bits and pieces of hardware screwed back onto its lifeless body. The neck is still actually masked off from them paint job. That is how lazy I have been about getting that one done.

> > > squier guitars

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