Upgrading a cheap Squier. But its made in Japan - Irish Tours Maybe?

[Monkeyzak]

I bought a Fender Squier Strat the other day.  Its a 1993 made in Japan.  It was only £130 but I may have been done.  I have no idea of the value.  I just liked it. 

Anyway, I restrung it, and it buzzes like cr@p now.  SO I took it into Jimmy Egypt in GLasgow for a set up.  The guy in there loved it and thought it had a great neck and classic vibe.  I said I probably wont keep it coz I always promised myself an American Strat.  THe lad said keep it and upgrade the pickups to Irish TOurs. 

Anyway.....................I can get my head round putting £165 pickups in a £130 guitar.  Is it nuts to even consider this??:?  I'm getting it set up and I'll play it with the stock ones and see what its like.  THe lad said ditch the US strat idea, get these pickups and I'll have something that plays and sounds better than a US strat.

Anyone got any thoughts on it????

[Twinfan]

The Japanese Squiers are very good, and if you like it it's worth the investment.

Me?  I'd be watching eBay for a set of used BKP/Fralin/Lollar/Fender pickups....

[Monkeyzak]

THe shop its getting set up in, said if I buy them there they install for free, so that really would make it worth not buying new as I'd never be able to do it myself!!!

[CaptainDesslock]

THe shop its getting set up in, said if I buy them there they install for free, so that really would make it worth not buying new as I'd never be able to do it myself!!!

DO IT
 
its Christmas, the best time of year to buy gifts for yourself!!!!

[Brow]

I have the same guitar as you (93/94 MIJ Squier Strat) and it seems I may've been done as I paid a fair bit more than that for mine!  :lol:

Mine just feels 'right' if you know what I mean? And after a set of Apaches and a good setup, it's now my most played Strat, and that's over both MIA and MIJ Strats I own  :D

[gwEm]

Secondhand is a really good idea, but you're getting a free install, which will be helpful in justifying the cost if you don't do it yourself.

Pretty sure it will have a basswood body, call tim to advise on the best pickups for your favoured tone.

[Philly Q]

its Christmas, the best time of year to buy gifts for yourself!!!!

Ha, I'm not the only person who does that then?  :lol:

If it's a good guitar it's worth putting decent pickups in.  If it's a good guitar you got cheap, so much the better!  :D

[BigB]

I bought a Fender Squier Strat the other day.  Its a 1993 made in Japan.  It was only £130 but I may have been done.  I have no idea of the value.  I just liked it. 

mid 80's / early 90's MiJ Squiers can be pretty good guitars. I remember a couple MiJ Squier Telecasters that where really worth much more than the price.

Anyway.....................I can get my head round putting £165 pickups in a £130 guitar.  Is it nuts to even consider this??:? 

How much you paid for the guitar is not the question IMHO. If it sounds good unplugged and plays nice, it deserves good pups - and good pups can make a world of difference.   

I'm getting it set up and I'll play it with the stock ones and see what its like.  THe lad said ditch the US strat idea, get these pickups and I'll have something that plays and sounds better than a US strat.

Anyone got any thoughts on it????

I've tried US, MiM and MiJ Fenders, and except for a couple collector ones (specially a L serie strat...), the variations in quality didn't seemed that related to where they came from nor the price tag.   :?

wrt/ this particular guitar, you should perhaps play it unplugged for some times, so you can get a feel of the guitar itself. As I said, if it plays nice and sounds good unplugged, then it's a good guitar, period.  8)

[BigB]

THe shop its getting set up in, said if I buy them there they install for free, so that really would make it worth not buying new as I'd never be able to do it myself!!!

Swapping pups is actually dead simple, it only requires a screwdriver and a soldering iron, and doesn't take more than couple hours if you're soldering abilities are as bad as mine.

[Monkeyzak]

I have the same guitar as you (93/94 MIJ Squier Strat) and it seems I may've been done as I paid a fair bit more than that for mine!  :lol:

Mine just feels 'right' if you know what I mean? And after a set of Apaches and a good setup, it's now my most played Strat, and that's over both MIA and MIJ Strats I own  :D

You what.  I know exactly what you mean.  I picked it up and thought.  Yes.  THis feels right.  Only ever had that with my Matons I brought home from Australia when I lived there.    its got a cracking neck, and it has no Fret wear.  Its rarely been played but it still needs some work

[Monkeyzak]

THe shop its getting set up in, said if I buy them there they install for free, so that really would make it worth not buying new as I'd never be able to do it myself!!!

Swapping pups is actually dead simple, it only requires a screwdriver and a soldering iron, and doesn't take more than couple hours if you're soldering abilities are as bad as mine.

I can see the headlines now.......................Family Heartache at Christmas Soldering tragedy in Glasgows South Side........Wife sells guitar collection to homeless man.....i am cr@p at all these things.  Would rather pay a man that knows!!!!

I dont know if I got the guitar for a good price or not.  At the end of the day, its a Squier so never going to be worth as much as a Fender MiJ.  I thought I paid too much for it at £130?????  I thought a £100 was fairer, but maybe I'm not a realist.

I'll get the setup done.  I get it back on Saturday.  Then i'll have a play with it, and if I still like it, I'll get the pickups in the New Year.  I thought the pickups are quite weak and "toppy" though.  To be fair its playing like a dog since I tried to adjust it.

I guess I just cant get round the idea of putting pickups in that are worth more than the guitar.  I know that may seem foolish, but i really got my heart set on a MiA Strat.  A guitar I aspired to as a kid, but now I'm wondering if I'll have something just as good sounding for a damn site less. 

I moved back from Oz a few months ago and said to the Mrs that if we dont go back in the New Year that I wanted to get myself a US Strat, US Tele and US Bass (tax rebate when I left). 

I'm seriously now considering just sticking with the cheap strat and upgrade it, keep an eye open for a Highway One Tele or Jap Fender or Squier Tele and give the rest of the cash to her for a new kitchen!!!!  Clearly a sexist comment, as she'd not buy a kitchen.  She'd buy shoes.

I am treating my other guitars to a setup.  Long over due. 

If you've never heard of Maton, a Melbourne based company, check them out.  They dont sound good clean, but are amazing for classic rock and indie

I have and acoustic I bought there too, and the quality is amazing, plus the electrics

http://www.maton.com.au/acoustics/325-series.html                mines the C.

http://www.maton.com.au/electrics/ms500.html

http://www.maton.com.au/electrics/ms503.html

[Monkeyzak]

DO IT
 
its Christmas, the best time of year to buy gifts for yourself!!!!
[/quote]

I've already played that card wi the Mrs.  i bought a copy of Reason 4 and Record.  I'm a school teacher so got a huge education discount.  I just need to find where I can hide the huge keyboard controller I ordered too.  So...........canny play that card again!!!!!   :(

[BigB]

Swapping pups is actually dead simple, it only requires a screwdriver and a soldering iron, and doesn't take more than couple hours if you're soldering abilities are as bad as mine.

I can see the headlines now.......................Family Heartache at Christmas Soldering tragedy in Glasgows South Side........Wife sells guitar collection to homeless man.....i am cr@p at all these things.  Would rather pay a man that knows!!!!

:lol:

No, really, I'm just impaired when it comes to soldering, and I still managed to change pups, pots and whatnots on a LP-like guitar. By comparison, a strat is easy-as-pie. But I'd feel rather bad to actually read the aforementioned headline  :?

[closetrockstar]

I bought a Fender Squire from the Obey series because I loved the graphics on the body.  I then yanked the neck and bought a gorgeous birds eye maple neck off Ebay and installed that along with a Duncan JB Zebra in the bridge and Duncan stacks in the mddle and neck.  This of course was before I knew of BKP.  Other wise I would have done the VHII / Irish Tour set for HSS Strats.  If your Squire has three single coils I'd do Irish Tours.

Good luck!!

[badgermark]

DO IT
 
its Christmas, the best time of year to buy gifts for yourself!!!!

I've already played that card wi the Mrs.  i bought a copy of Reason 4 and Record.  I'm a school teacher so got a huge education discount.  I just need to find where I can hide the huge keyboard controller I ordered too.  So...........canny play that card again!!!!!   :(
[/quote]

Odd, I'm a teacher and have recently moved OUT of the southside of Glasgow. I say get the pickups if you like the feel of the guitar, and get the BKP team's advice on what will sound best for you.