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Started By
Message
FretShack and others. Another question. Loaded pickguards
Posted on 4/5/22 at 7:51 pm
Posted on 4/5/22 at 7:51 pm
I mentioned trying to upgrade a MIM Fender Strat with a $100 budget. You guys including Fret were helpful and honest in telling me "nope not possible" double the budget and you're close.
Well that got me thinking about my sons Squier Bullet Strat. Also, Stratosphere was discussed and Fret spoke well of them. His Strat is an HSS configuration. Stratosphere has $40 offerings that fit the bill and make my sons guitar the guinea pig that it has become.
My question is..... Is a $40 loaded pickguard from Stratoshere an actual upgrade from stock PUPS that an Indonesian Squier from about 2017 has installed.
Thanks in advance.
The pickguard in question
Just a Reverb link
Well that got me thinking about my sons Squier Bullet Strat. Also, Stratosphere was discussed and Fret spoke well of them. His Strat is an HSS configuration. Stratosphere has $40 offerings that fit the bill and make my sons guitar the guinea pig that it has become.
My question is..... Is a $40 loaded pickguard from Stratoshere an actual upgrade from stock PUPS that an Indonesian Squier from about 2017 has installed.
Thanks in advance.
The pickguard in question
Just a Reverb link
6
Posted on 4/5/22 at 8:59 pm to LSU alum wannabe
That seller has nearly 60,000 sales on reverb with 99% positive reviews. I bet they know all about what you have and will shoot you straight, if you call them and ask them.
Then again it's just 40 bucks give it a shot.
Their phone number is 603-785-9878.
I notice that the same guys have a loaded stock 70s classic vibe strat pickguard for 90 bucks. So, is the other 1 less than half as good?
Then again it's just 40 bucks give it a shot.
Their phone number is 603-785-9878.
I notice that the same guys have a loaded stock 70s classic vibe strat pickguard for 90 bucks. So, is the other 1 less than half as good?
This post was edited on 4/5/22 at 10:02 pm
Posted on 4/5/22 at 10:51 pm to auggie
Not an upgrade.
I tap out. Uncle.
I tap out. Uncle.
Posted on 4/5/22 at 10:59 pm to TheFretShack
I think he should just get the loaded stock classic vibe pickguard (looks to be from a parted out new blemished guitar). It will be a definite improvement over the stock squier bullet.
Sooner or later, he's just gonna have to try stuff and learn about it.
Sooner or later, he's just gonna have to try stuff and learn about it.
This post was edited on 4/6/22 at 5:19 am
Posted on 4/6/22 at 9:11 am to LSU alum wannabe
Here is my suggestion on what you could do. Order a Bridge pickup from Fretshack for your mexican strat. Install it yourself, next month order the neck pickup, then the middle. While all of this is going on, work on your set up skills. Watch videos, get your intonation right, get your pickups adjusted right. Then controls.
I know you are interested in this stuff, and it's a good hobby. I love messing with the guitars, even though I'm not a pro, I can keep mine playing and sounding decent.
I know you are interested in this stuff, and it's a good hobby. I love messing with the guitars, even though I'm not a pro, I can keep mine playing and sounding decent.
Posted on 4/6/22 at 11:06 am to auggie
Yes I’ve tinkered with all of mine and love it. I am willing to do anything. Up until a soldering iron comes out.
It surprises me when I talk to my few guitar buddies about set up and truss rod tweaks and they do nothing. One is the guy who leaves strings on until they break. Because he can’t change strings. I actually enjoy it.
Acoustic truss rod and replacing a cracked acoustic saddle were as advanced as I’ve gotten. Unless you consider intonation adjustments of saddles on an electric “advanced”. My LP Agile has the tune-o-matic.
It surprises me when I talk to my few guitar buddies about set up and truss rod tweaks and they do nothing. One is the guy who leaves strings on until they break. Because he can’t change strings. I actually enjoy it.
Acoustic truss rod and replacing a cracked acoustic saddle were as advanced as I’ve gotten. Unless you consider intonation adjustments of saddles on an electric “advanced”. My LP Agile has the tune-o-matic.
Posted on 4/6/22 at 11:25 am to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
Up until a soldering iron comes out.
That's not difficult either, it might just require a little practice, but once you get doing it, you won't think anything of it. It's also a handy skill to have for lots of other things too.
Posted on 4/6/22 at 12:23 pm to LSU alum wannabe
you get what you pay for
Posted on 4/6/22 at 1:14 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
You get what you pay for
This is absolutely accurate when it comes to pickups, particularly loaded pickguards. While there are sometimes deals on great used gear or expensive boutique pickups that aren’t really worth the extra premium, pickups typically are tiered in price according to quality.
DO NOT IGNORE PICKUP QUALITY. After your amp and pedals, the next most important part of your tone is the pickups. Pickups are where almost ALL of a guitar’s tone comes from. While the neck, frets, tuners, nut, bridge, body etc all are important from a tuning stability and comfort standpoint, the pickups are EVERYTHING when it comes to tone.
MiM strats already have midling pickups, so you’re probably going to have to go to a higher price point to get a real upgrade in tone.
This post was edited on 4/6/22 at 1:25 pm
Posted on 4/6/22 at 1:21 pm to LSU alum wannabe
I think Stratosphere just parts out guitars. Sometimes you can make more than the price of the guitar by doing that. I think at that price point, you are probably getting about the same thing you already have.
Posted on 4/6/22 at 8:48 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
Yes I’ve tinkered with all of mine and love it. I am willing to do anything. Up until a soldering iron comes out.
Soldering is a simple skill that can learned from one YouTube video and about 15 minutes practice with some scrap wire, and a old volume/tone pot. Will save you a good bit of money by doing your own work.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 5:44 am to LSU alum wannabe
Are you located in BR? Why not support a local business like the fret shack and buy some pickups from him and have him install them? You won’t be disappointed.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 8:06 am to monsterballads
quote:
Are you located in BR? Why not support a local business like the fret shack and buy some pickups from him and have him install them? You won’t be disappointed.
I think the OP is located a little bit west of Houston. First things first though.
Don't start searching for a sound, when you don't even know how you play yet.
Get your playing right first. You can do that with an acoustic guitar, You can do it with an electric and a 3 watt amp.
If you think you need effects, go back to step one.
Use effects to accentuate what you do. Don't rely on them to build what you do. Be a player first.
This post was edited on 4/7/22 at 8:19 am
Posted on 4/7/22 at 9:06 am to kingbob
quote:
Pickups are where almost ALL of a guitar’s tone comes from.
agree somewhat, but the tone is honestly in the hands of the player.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 9:59 am to monsterballads
I appreciate you guys promoting my shop and my pickups but scroll up and you'll see I have gracefully bowed out of this discussion.
Don't take this as mean or spiteful, but OPs track record indicates he seeks Ferrari-grade solutions on a Kia budget. I don't think my pickups or any of my products, my services or even my advice are a good fit, and it's not fair to waste his time or mine.
Don't take this as mean or spiteful, but OPs track record indicates he seeks Ferrari-grade solutions on a Kia budget. I don't think my pickups or any of my products, my services or even my advice are a good fit, and it's not fair to waste his time or mine.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 1:23 pm to monsterballads
quote:
Why not support a local business like the fret shack and buy some pickups from him and have him install them? You won’t be disappointed
Next poster is right. I’m west Houston. If I were in BR fret would have had a couple of mine already.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 1:32 pm to TheFretShack
quote:
Don't take this as mean or spiteful, but OPs track record indicates he seeks Ferrari-grade solutions on a Kia budget. I don't think my pickups or any of my products, my services or even my advice are a good fit, and it's not fair to waste his time or mine.
It is kind of mean. I honestly did not know if $100 pickguards were better than MIM Fender. Nor did I know if 40 bucks from a known seller (Stratosphere) were better than Squire PUPS when talking about non Classic Vibe models.
I did not expect you to hand wind 3 single coil boutique PUPS for me for a hundy. I simply wanted your expertise on price points and if I should just stay with what I have.
That’s all I wanted. If you took offense to that? I apologize.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 2:01 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
It is kind of mean. I honestly did not know if $100 pickguards were better than MIM Fender. Nor did I know if 40 bucks from a known seller (Stratosphere) were better than Squire PUPS when talking about non Classic Vibe models.
He's just helping you out, and telling you straight up. Except for unique applications, price will be an indicator of quality almost every time.
I, on the other hand, encourage you to jump down that bargain basement rabbit hole, because I have a sadistic streak, and it might make for more interesting discussion on this forum.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 2:12 pm to auggie
quote:
He's just helping you out, and telling you straight up. Except for unique applications, price will be an indicator of quality almost every time.
I know. I said thanks or something like that with my previous MIM Fender Question.
The upgrades that I have gotten were on a previous owners dime. Slash PUPS on one guitar and 920D PUPS on a Tele classic Vibe.
Now I have the guts of a Squire 50s classic vibe and no body to put them in. So I want to start tinkering. Just had questions of what was garbage and not garbage.
Posted on 4/7/22 at 2:19 pm to LSU alum wannabe
quote:
Now I have the guts of a Squire 50s classic vibe and no body to put them in. So I want to start tinkering. Just had questions of what was garbage and not garbage.
Order this
LINK
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