Squier vintage modified strat

[Ventilator]

In my guitar collection, I have a vintage modified Squier strat. I got it because it felt and sounded better than the MIM strat I was going to get. It was significantly cheaper too.

I was wondering, has anyone had experience in upgrading this specific model? I know generally what pickups should, in theory, sound good in an alder or mahogany body strat, but this guitar is made from Indian Red Cedar.

It came stock with three Duncan Designed single coils and they sound great. I have no complaints as to the sound I'm getting out of them. I've been told not to mess with the electronics because they sound great as is, but I love to tinker with things. I want to swap in some different pickups into it, especially after I found out that the bridge position has been routed for a full-size humbucker.

Anyone have any advice?

[FuseG4]

Welcome to the forum!

I'll be interested to know if anyone has any input on this, last time I was in the market for a guitar I bypassed that series specifically because they were this mystery wood, and i would have no idea how it would sound compared to an alder strat.

If, however, we maybe assume its like agathis, the commonly used wood on the lower squiers, then just think of it as like muffled alder. Thats what the 3 agathis guitars I've owned felt like. In that case, put in anything that suits you. I had an agathis strat once and I put Fender 57/62's in it and it sounded pretty much like a 'normal' strat. When I put the same pickups into an alder strat, they sounded clearer and 'glassier', but it was the same character.

Really though, I'd say you're in a good position of just go by your ears and play it enough to find what's lacking and just wing it from there.

[LtKojak]

agathis, the commonly used wood on the lower squiers, then just think of it as like muffled alder. Thats what the 3 agathis guitars I've owned felt like. In that case, put in anything that suits you. I had an agathis strat once and I put Fender 57/62's in it and it sounded pretty much like a 'normal' strat. When I put the same pickups into an alder strat, they sounded clearer and 'glassier', but it was the same character.

The Vintage Modified Series body is made of Red Indian Cedar, a very resonant wood used mostly for the top of acoustic nylon string guitars.

OTOH, my agathis-made Squier Standard Strat Special Edition sounded always "cardboardy", no matter what mod I've tried... it drove me crazy and it cost me a fortune in mods; fortunately I sold it, even though I lost a lot of dough in the process.

I've blamed the p'ups for the "cardboardy" sound until I've put'em in a PRS SE EG and sounded great! Of course, the guitar was made of "real" wood (mahogany, IIRC)!

Live and learn, Grasshopper; live and learn!

[Diocletian]

It came stock with three Duncan Designed single coils and they sound great. I have no complaints as to the sound I'm getting out of them. I've been told not to mess with the electronics because they sound great as is, but I love to tinker with things. I want to swap in some different pickups into it, especially after I found out that the bridge position has been routed for a full-size humbucker.

Anyone have any advice?

Yes. Leave it alone. You said yourself the pickups sound great - so why change them.
If you really want to tinker, buy another guitar. Maybe an old, used beat up Squier.

[WhoFan]

Squier guitars can be fun to fool around with... but everytime i have thought about buying one i always move up to the MIM line and mod them... so i have never owned a newer squier... i have a 1994 MIM Squier but it's not like the overseas Squiers... it's more like a MIM Standard with cheaper bridge and tuners

I modded a guys strat once with a Duncan humbcker in it and the wood was some sort mystery wood... it didn't sound too bad... all i can say is if you want to try a humbucker out in the bridge go for it...

but i'd suggest a Lil 59 in some ways... they fit the Squier SSS guard as is... the output of the LIL 59 is just right with Single coils in the neck and middle... it has a little boost but does not over power the singles too baddly...

many players including myself have stuck high gain pu's in with single coils and the volume boost between the PU's on the selector switch makes it uses for cleaner sounds

[Wattage]

The Vinatage Mod series has been pretty impressive from all I hear. I played a few of the Teles and I was really impressed.

[El CHupacabra]

The VIntage Mod series basses are also very well made. I love my 70s edition Squier VM J-Bass models than most American made models I've tried. Something about that one VM bass is just so perfect. Kudos to Squier for a good line.

I'd just stay away from stuff with ALnico5 magnets. I don't like how trelby they can get. Alnico 2 magnet pickups do work well with brighter-wood guitars.

[Funkfingers]

I own a Squier VM Telecaster Custom II (the one with Duncan Designed P-90s). The only parts that I have changed are the machineheads and the bridge saddles. I keep thinking about upgrading the pots but never seem to get around to it.

If you want to make your Squier VM Stratocaster more versatile, replace the neck PU Tone control with a push-pull pot and wire this up to allow the neck pickup to be switched into circuit, regardless of the position of the five-way selector switch. This will give you seven usable sounds.

My suggestion is similar to the idea illustrated in the following schematic diagram ...

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support...ic=switch_f_bp

... except that I habitually connect the neck PU to the push-pull pot rather than the bridge PU and I locate the push-pull beneath the neck PU Tone control rather than the Volume.

This is partly because I prefer a specific make/model of custom taper pot for my Volume control and a Fender No-Load tone control for the bridge/centre pickups. It is also true to say that switching in the neck PU by pulling up the neck PU tone control is easier for my tired ol' brain to remember.

[Ventilator]

The push pull pot wouldn't be that invasive and it would increase the versatility, in theory.

What kind of tone do you get out of the two new positions though? Are they distinct enough to warrant minor surgery?

[ImmortalSix]

I have a Vintage Modified Squier '51, and it's my no-sh1t #1.

Build 1

Build 2

I don't care what kind of wood it's made out of --- it's incredible! Whatever it's made out of, that's what I want my next axe build to be.

I put all sorts of pickups and switches and crap in mine, it's a lot of fun!


Here are some ideas:

[Funkfingers]

The push pull pot wouldn't be that invasive and it would increase the versatility, in theory.

What kind of tone do you get out of the two new positions though? Are they distinct enough to warrant minor surgery?

The bridge and neck pickup (parallel) combination is as near as a Stratocaster is going to get to the middle selection of a Telecaster. I find it useful for mildly overdriven bluesy tones. Played clean, this combination is distinctly Fender but also distinctly not a bog standard Strat sound.

All three pickups on together in parallel sounds like an overblown version of the position 2 and 4 sounds. With the tone control rolled back, it can be useful for slide.

[Ventilator]

Overblown humbucking tone you say? Would that distort well for the harder and heavier styles like punk and metal?

[BloodRose]

I have a Vintage Modified Tele that is one of the best teles Ive ever played. The stock pups also were Designeds, but I swapped 2 of them out and it was much better!!
I put a Jerry Donahue in the bridge and a GFS firebird mini in the neck.. the JD does it all. I know you are asking about a strat and this didnt help much, but mainly wanted to say you made a great choice, and also , the Duncan Designed pups sound good, but some reg Duncans sound great!