Just a quick note on the Tuners ,If you have the 8.5mm holes don't worry you don't have to enlarge to 10mm ,Hipshot and Graphtech do Tuners for the 8.5mm using their conversion kits ,Granted these days 99% of tuner holes are 10mm ,but was just letting ppl know there are kits out there that do not require you to ream the holes ,They are direct drop in replacements
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input Michael!
@choimdachoim9491
3 жыл бұрын
Watch this in double-speed setting...save lots of time.
@voornaam3191
2 жыл бұрын
Why not simply buy a better guitar? What is wrong with those cheap dudes? Upgrading a cheap strat? Why? You are stuck with that cheap thing. Build something you really want. Duh!
@MrMisterChiliPepper88
2 жыл бұрын
@@voornaam3191 because it’s cheaper to upgrade and if you upgrade a cheap guitar with good pick ups tremolo etc it increases the value
@ivorharden
2 жыл бұрын
Because some of us wanna keep our first guitars in our arsenal.
@choimdachoim9491
2 жыл бұрын
@@voornaam3191 I completely rebuilt mine, replacing everything that wasn't wood including the frets and I feel like I not only understand guitars better but I feel like I really "own" this one. I've tried hundreds of guitars and orchestral instruments in my 74 years and many times a cheap instrument plays easier or better than an expensive one. But, the bottom line is that we form love-affairs with our instruments, regardless of their brand.
@christrouten9606
Жыл бұрын
@@voornaam3191 so, spend $850 on MIM Strat and an additional $200-$300 on the pickups you want along with other upgrades to suit your desires and have a guitar that's worth $500-$600 on the used market (net loss $450-$650) vs a used Bullet for $100, add the same upgrades and have a Bullet that plays just like the MIM Strat and cost about a third of the price. The Bullet on the used market would still only fetch about $100 for a total net loss of only $200-300.
@willb3534
4 жыл бұрын
Gotta say, this is very helpful. Getting a Squier Strat soon and I’m very excited to mod it
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and best wishes with your Strat mods!
@markmillham483
4 жыл бұрын
I love my squir strat. I did a couple of upgrade, but made sure the set up was perfect for me. I love it.
@bobsaturday4273
4 жыл бұрын
exited to spend $200-300 on a $100 guitar , I get affinities in pawn shops for $50
@paigerasmussen5212
3 жыл бұрын
@Trace Keenan @adan shane you just admitted to a federal crime in the US and serious crime in most countries. Bravo.
@voornaam3191
2 жыл бұрын
@@bobsaturday4273 Yeah, it is great that people go bankrupt and you can be the vulture picking their guitar. Never felt like vomitting?
@malcolmhardwick4258
4 жыл бұрын
Safe way to install the springs in the block. Insert the end of the spring into the block, with a thin flat head screwdriver go through the eye of the spring and hook the screwdriver end behind the claw. The screwdriver will be at an angle. Lift the handel of the screwdriver making sure that the end stays behind the claw and the spring eye dosent slide up the screwdriver shaft. With my left hand i put my finger on the spring eye so it dosent slide up. As you are lifting the handel the spring will pop into place with no chance of sliping and damaging the body.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for taking the time to explain in so much detail! Very helpful. And thanks for watching.
@damoneubanks9075
4 жыл бұрын
I'm a bass player myself and do a lot of modding on my gear. A friend of mine recently gave me a Bullet Strat to give my 11 year old son who has expressed interest in learning to play. I'm gonna help him mod it up to at least Squier Classic Vibe level for now. Since people mod CV's a lot I suspect there are lots of parts out there for cheap. Looking forward to spending time with my son on this project. Appreciate your video.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
That's really cool Damon! You can make them play and sound really good. I have mine tuned to open tunings for slide work and am going to start recording with it. It sounds really good. That should be a fun project for you and your son. And you've got the makings of a good band already:) Thanks for watching and best wishes with your son's mod!
@voornaam3191
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah, cheap mods are the best. The Stones always played cheap modded guitars, huh? No?!
@cmmnsenserules4339
2 жыл бұрын
Dude, People dont modify their CV's. They're PERFECT as is. People modify Affinity Squiers and Bullet Squiers. I've literally never heard of anyone modifying their CV. Maybe they drop in some EXPENSIVE pups, Lolars or Fralins. But even that is ridiculous.
@christrouten9606
Жыл бұрын
@@cmmnsenserules4339 I agree. I bought my CV50 with a plan to mod it, but as you said, it's perfect as is. So now I bought an as-new Bullet for $100 to mod instead. I don’t get Voor Naam's hate for the Bullet. If a modded Bullet is good enough for Mike Rutherford to play on tour, it's certainly good enough for the average guitar hobbiest to play in his living room, the local coffee shop, or at his church on Sunday mornings.
@PatrickHart-p9w
8 ай бұрын
They give you 4 springs incase one of the spring tangs breaks. It's rare but it happens once in awhile. They keep you happy and return business means prosperity for them.😊
@StevenParente
8 ай бұрын
Thanks for the information... and for watching!
@PatrickHart-p9w
8 ай бұрын
@@StevenParente Thank you for posting.
@looneyburgmusic
2 жыл бұрын
I'm in the early stages of doing a total upgrade to a 20th anniversary Squier , and have been pleasantly surprised with how easy things have been going so far...
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Nice! Best wishes on your upgrade and thanks for watching!
@johnkirkpatrick1778
4 жыл бұрын
When adding copper screening foil, make sure that there is continuity between the individual pieces: adding very small blobs of solder where the pieces overlap will make sure that the screening is contiguous. (Don't rely on the 'so-called' conductive glue on the back of the copper foil!) Note also that this method can be used when screening the rear of the pickguard: small, flat solder blobs across the overlaps can be done easily, just don't use too small a soldering iron: a very brief heating time will prevent the pickguard being damaged. It is a good idea to leave 'tabs' of copper foil coming up over the edge of the pickup routing, and covering a few of the pickguard holes. This way, when the screws are fitted, there will be a guaranteed connection between the foil on the pickguard and the cavity. Although there should be low resistive continuity between the body of the volume pot (often used as the 'common' ground point in the pickup wiring) and the copper foil, it doesn't do any harm to add a small brass screw through the foil, into the body wood, and solder a ground wire from it to the back of the volume pot. And please be aware: if the screening isn't connected to the common ground point in the guitar (this is also the 'screen' of the output connection socket) the screening may not work properly!
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input John and for watching. There are so many different opinions about shielding, but I appreciate your insights.
@camiloperez1200
4 жыл бұрын
Great video! Thanks a lot. Just a minimal correction: The electric guitar has no input jack. Is an output jack. Thanks again!
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Good point Camilo! Thank you. And thanks for watching.
@sliverbox271991
4 жыл бұрын
hey, I'm modding my bullet strat in the future, so thank you for this video and for the list with links for the tools and parts you bought, I got a question, where can I find these fender guide/instructions you talk about throughout the video? very educational video btw
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Frutanegra. I get much information from the Fender KZitem site. kzitem.infovideos Also from StewMac.com and a few others. Thanks for watching and best wished on your upgrade!
@alexdelarge8772
2 жыл бұрын
As I understand it, and through experience, copper shield-taping the cavities and pick guard (or painting with shielding paint) is to create a Faraday Cage to block external radio interference that the electronics could pick up and cause noise (like when Nigel picked up air force radio noise in "This is Spinal Tap" - although he was also using a wireless unit between his guitar and amp, but it is a funny scene, anyway). This radio interference is different than noise in your amp and guitar from improper grounding or florescent lights in the circuit the amp is plugged into, etc.. But to create a full Faraday Cage the entire pick guard needs to be covered, or radio interference can leak into it through the plastic if it isn't fully covered. And, it needs to come in contact with the cavity shielding so the pick guard and cavity shielding are electronically connected. I usually let the cavity shielding (copper tape) overhang the cavity up onto the body in a couple of spots by the pick guard screws and control plate so when you attach the covered pick guard it makes contact with the cavity tape and completes the circuit. Furthermore, I always connect the shielding to the guitar ground by simply soldering a wire to the copper tape in the cavity and soldering the other end on the back of one of the pots. This is a completely shielded and grounded system. The first guitar I built like this was a Fender Tele as a gift to my brother, and he said it was the quietest (electronically - buzzing or humming) electric guitar he had ever played. He used to make guitars in the 80s and early 90s at Charvel/Jackson and later B.C. Rich, so building a guitar for him that he loved both for its play-ability and noiseless electronics was a great satisfaction for me. I have since built every guitar in that manner as far as shielding and have never had an issue with the copper shielding affecting the pick-up sound. You can trim the tape around the pick-up holes back about an 1/8" to a 1/4" to keep the tape clear of the pick-ups if you're worried about the sound being affected. One more thought on tremolo springs - though they often come this way from the factory, the outer tremolo springs on your guitar are angled. It seems to improve the tremolo bridge performance if you do not angle those outside springs. Keep all the springs straight and parallel so each spring holds equal tension. When the springs are angled on the outside, as your guitar was, the middle spring has less tension on it than the outer springs, and may affect the bridge set-up, feel of the tremolo, or cause buzzing or rattling from a spring having less tension than the others. I've even seen a case where the middle spring fell out of the claw when the tremolo bar was pulled all the way up. To reduce spring noise from vibration, I've seen several builders slip heat shrink tubing over the springs to dampen them. Don't forget, early reverb units used springs in the amp (Fender Deluxe Reverb) that vibrated to create the reverb sound. In the guitar you don't want those springs ringing! It is a nit-picky subject but if you want to cover all bases, dampen them. Good job on the upgrades on the Squier. I did the same with an SSH Squier Strat. First I played at least 20 Squiers on the wall at GC to find the best feeling guitar, then the upgrades. New bridge, new pots (CTS) and switch, Spertzel locking tuners, and roller spring trees. Turned a $130 Squier into a Strat that felt and sounded like a $1500 American-made Strat. Plus the work is fun and a learning experience!
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Great information Alex! Thanks for taking the time to comment in such details, and for watching!
@mattwroblewski5873
3 жыл бұрын
heat the nut prior to removal slides out with ease. hairdryer works well
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Cool Matt! Great idea. Thanks for that and for watching!
@pmcm-ih1ep
4 жыл бұрын
Did anyone else have a minor heart attack when he started running that scalpel along the nut right above his fingertip?
@johnbrady1211
2 жыл бұрын
Yep
@markparker9910
Жыл бұрын
Awesome video Steve! I didn't know about the QuickConnect pick-ups, cool 👍 This is my first attempt at an upgrade so, I'm gonna try to order this system and modify my cheap Stratocaster copy! Do the pickups come in black, just wondering. Thanks again Steve! 🤝
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Mark. You probably followed the links I provided in the description and see only white covers. (FYI it looks like everything is on sale at GFS) You might try calling GFS and asking for the swap. If they won't, they have a set of black for covers which should fit at: www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-Premium-and-Authentic-Black-Pickup-Covers_p_349.html Thanks for watching and best wishes on your upgrade!
@johnbrady1211
2 жыл бұрын
Another quick tip: to test if the pickups are wired correctly BEFORE you go through the trouble of screwing the pick guard down. Connect the output jack to your amplifier. Put the selector switch on whichever pickup or pickup combination and tap the respective pickup(s) with a screwdriver. You can hear the pickup if its wired correctly. You can also check volume and tone pots this way. This saves having to unscrew all 11 PG screws if something is amiss.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
That's a good one John! I found out about that when I built my tele style kit last year. I posted videos about that build on KZitem. Thank you! And thanks for watching.
@johnbrady1211
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente It’s a time saver if something is not right. I found this out the hard way. Nice job btw. I love Bullet Strats.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
@@johnbrady1211 You have a cool KZitem channel. I just subscribed.
@johnbrady1211
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Hey. Thanks, Steven. Funny, I subbed to yours also. I just started posting a few videos out of sheer boredom when the lockdowns came into being. I love working on guitars. It helps my PTSD says my VA psychologist. I don’t play as well as I fix them. My severe arthritis acts up and I feel like I’m playing with lobster claws. I just use a simple tripod and iPhone. drop by and say hi sometime. I’m fixing to make another video soon if I can think of something. Best regards, John…
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
I will do that John, I will stop by. The iPhone is really pretty good at picking up sound. I think that's a good way to go. I use it all the time myself. Keep it going, you're an inspiration. When I'm feeling a bit of that guy Arthur Ites in my fingers, I break out my slides. This Bullet is set up for slide, and building some steel guitars right now. It's never boring. :-)
@antoniovillarreal2308
Жыл бұрын
Awesome video! Thanks for taking the mystery out of DIY upgrading! I'm inspired to do it myself now! Thanks!!
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thank you Antonio! This is the guitar that got me started building and repairing guitars, including refretting, winding pickups and more! The guitar in the video is my main slide guitar and I just wound a set of vintage style single coils for it. You can upgrade your guitars. Just take your time. The difference between a good guitar and a great guitar these days (because almost all shops are using CNC milling machines), are all the little details that take time. So less expensive guitar manufacturers don't do the extra processes, like rolling the neck, finishing and polishing the fret ends, installing higher end pickups and upgrading components, including tuners. But you can! And you learn a lot about what makes a great guitar. And if something goes wrong, you fix it and you also learn guitar repair. Best wishes on your guitar journey!😃
@brysonw1956
Жыл бұрын
Saw this video and went out and bought a bullet just to mod. First time ever trying something like this
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Bryson and best wishes on your upgrade!
@hussamjamil4980
Жыл бұрын
You are correct about those early 2000's Bullets. I just picked up a 2010 bullet stratocaster, and the neck is really nice. I cleaned it up and refreshed it and it is such a pleasure to play, no sharp fret edges, they are polished (not mirror level but much more than expected).
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Nice! Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching!
@suzannavargas9738
3 жыл бұрын
You replace the pickups, the vibrato system, the tuners, the saddle, the pickguard... you replace all you can replace, you just keep the body and neck.... why don't you save the time, money and effort and buy a guitar that comes with better hardware by default from the factory?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Good question! A new Strat the way I would like it set up, is around $1,500 or more. I paid far less. Especially with all the neck work I did. I have a Strat 2012 American Special and have a good idea on the quality. It's a great playing guitar, but I still had to do neck work on it. Custom shop guitars cost more. Also, it's really fun doing this type of work and I learned a lot. I also built my own StewMac Wilkinson Tele kit. Check out: kzitem.info/door/PLAHXmw7D6hvSBd1tOUVZG8oRKya_pI11b. Thanks for watching Suzanne!
@suzannavargas9738
3 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thank you for your interesting video, I learnt a lot from watching it. Still, if you are The Average Joe who just wants the best bang for the buck, and has, other than you, not the skills, nor the tools to upgrade, I think it's better to save up money to go for a guitar that does not need to be fundamentally changed to be good to go. If you put in the money you payed for the default Squire plus the after market parts you ordered, you could buy a guitar that's good straight from out of the box. But ok, I understand you went for the experience to upgrade a guitar... that's cool, yet, like I said, not for the guitar player who just wants a decent guitar for a budget that's good to go from out of the box.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
@@suzannavargas9738 For sure. With the computer controlled CNC machines, there are several models under $500 that someone learning to play and even people performing can use mostly out of the box. My local guitar shop recently brought in some nice Gretsch models that were only $389 and needed very little set. This Fender Bullet was just fine for someone learning. Although, from my own experience, most guitars can use some fret work, smoothing and buffing. That's doesn't take much equipment and really makes the neck feel nice. The real difference between the less expensive electric guitars and the more expensive ones, are the extra work on the neck, components, pickups and hardware. I was going for a certain tone and I just replaced pickups again with Sonic 60's style Strat pickups. The other ones were too hot. The bullet in this video is set up for slide now, in open G tuning, and I'm going to start recording with it and maybe some performances. It sounds really good now!
@rliptak2
3 жыл бұрын
You need a hook tool for the springs like what you use to build a trampoline
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ray, I didn't know there was such a tool. I'll check it out. Thanks for watching!
@davea5113
29 күн бұрын
The quick connects work great, saves some time and alot of hassle. With all the work you did it will be like playing a new axe!
@StevenParente
29 күн бұрын
The quick connect harnesses work out really well. The guitar in the video is my main electric slide axe. I just installed a Mojotone Harness on another Indonesian Bullet that I'm going to use as a base to swap out and test my hand wound pickups. Gun Street Wiring has a harness I may check out in the future. Have a look at this recent video of my pickups in an Indonesian Bullet. And thanks for watching! kzitem.info/news/bejne/rKV3mmeKe3R4fH4si=78jwbMF--OPWD2-N
@HelterSkelter117
9 ай бұрын
A few years ago I picked up a Bullet Tele in surf green. It was on sale for around $130, so I snagged it. First of all, I understand these are budget guitars targeted to beginner players, but I was amazed at how awful the QC was at whatever plant this was built. The frets were not even slightly dressed. Sharp edges, expected, but not finished or polished at all. You could feel and hear the strings scratching on the frets when doing bends. It was awful! Second, whoever drilled the holes for the bridge managed to place it off center by about 1-2 millimeters. It's not noticeable at the nut down to the 12th fret, but after that, the bottom E basically rides the very edge of the fret board, resulting in that string sometimes rolling off the edge when fretting. I'm not a lead player, so I don't spend a lot of time in those frets anyway, but still. First thing I did was ditch the neck. I bought a beautiful Fender Modern Player Plus lacquered maple neck on Reverb. That neck is perfect! Then, I upgraded the terribly muddy Squier pickups to Mexican Standard Tele pickups. Sounded much better, but eventually I ditched those too and put a Seymore Duncan Quarter Pound Tele in the bridge position and a Wilkinson P90 in the neck position. That combo sounds fantastic! Now, it is one of my favorite guitars!
@StevenParente
9 ай бұрын
Maybe the older bullets had a better build quality? At least mine did, which was 2009. I only had to level and dress the frets a little, but the neck was very good and still is. That was a good choice, buying the Fender neck and installing the pickups you have in now. Very good pickups! Thanks for watching and your detailed input!
@enverunver9636
3 жыл бұрын
Very helpful. For those out there thinking of upgrading a Squier however, either use Affinity or SE or better-built models. Not only they come in better shape, dimensions are same with an original Strat, or very close. I own a SE strat built in late 90s, never thought of upgrading it except for the pickups as the quality of the guitar was already there, very close to American strats.
@guy3749
2 жыл бұрын
I’ve got a 1999 Squire affinity , I’m happy with it, maybe some day I’ll upgrade the pots and pickups, thanks for the info on the Squires.
@vayabroder729
Жыл бұрын
@@guy3749 Mine is a ‘98 Affinity. Upgrade with your eyes closed; they are great guitars and worthy of upgrades.
@dufusbug
5 ай бұрын
Great video! I am getting ready to do a few modifications to my Affinity Squier. Like replacing the tremolo block, locking tuners this video makes it seem less intimidating for a noob such as I. This will be my first mod ever, so wish me luck!
@StevenParente
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and best wishes on your upgrade! Take your time and don't worry about doing it quickly. You are going to learn a lot! When you replace your tremolo block and set up the floating bridge, be very careful with your whammy bar. Do not put any pressure on it if it isn't moving. If the block isn't moving, something needs to be adjusted. I snapped my whammy bar on the first attempt. Check out this link: kzitem.info/news/bejne/mnmh2H-aioRnkpw
@eggman1978
3 жыл бұрын
Just goes to show hou dont need to spend thousands to own a good guitar.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
You do not! I'm about to work on another upgrade. Thanks for watching Paul.
@echoes.22
3 жыл бұрын
agree with that, but the tone of a guitar is in the wood, not the mics nor any other thing. So all of this modifications can´t change the tone. It will always have a cheap guitar audio
@elmanitasdeplomo
3 жыл бұрын
@@echoes.22 The effect of body wood is negligent compared to strings, pickups, pots, tone capacitor etc and especially the player, he/she makes the biggest difference.
@nijo5427
3 жыл бұрын
@@elmanitasdeplomo I tend to agree. But don't forget bridge and nut. And I'm still not sure how much pots matter, other than their resistance rating.
@PLMart1
Жыл бұрын
Miracles happen. You are a wizard. The Bullet's body is thinner...compared to a standard stratocaster. The original pickup selector does not fit. The Fender bridge also sticks out of the body. I don't know how you did it, but something is wrong...
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Guitar Fetish offers a few options of their block bridges, made for standard and import bodies, such as the Bullet. If you order from them, be sure to make the import style bridge block if you're working on an import. Otherwise, it will not fit, as you point out. The Guitar Fetish pickup selector on their harness was tight, but it did work, especially after applying the copper shielding tape. Last year I wound a set of 60's style pickups for it and while installing, I used my Dremel to remove some wood under the pickup selector for a better fit. But I like "wizard", that's cool.😁 Thanks for watching Pavli!
@chrisbrostrom4289
4 жыл бұрын
New springs have a lot more tension than the old ones. For a strat I would recommend buying vintage springs, they come with 5 and are very affordable. Use all 5 and you will notice a much smoother action.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the advice Chris.
@vayabroder729
Жыл бұрын
Jimi used all five springs.
@TexanUSMC8089
4 жыл бұрын
You can plug in to an amp, then just tap on each pickup to make sure they're hot and wired correctly.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Texan!
@preciseaudioblog
5 жыл бұрын
Wow the guitar looks so powerful with the changes. Love that you changed the tremolo. I'm doing a similar project with a Squier Jazz Bass. Cheers!
@StevenParente
5 жыл бұрын
Cool, I hope your bass turns out well. Thanks for watching!
@andrzejostrowski1000
2 жыл бұрын
Waste time. Guitar is good or not good! If You have not enaugh money for good guitars at this moment, wait... when You will have! Andrew. Poland.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
This guitar turned out really good and I learned a lot. I use it for open tuning slide work and record with it. The tone is amazing. I installed even better pickups. I build and sell guitars now and this was the stepping stone. I recently started learning how to wind pickups, using a Mojotone winder and will be sell those, after the learning curve. Thanks for watching!
@franklinkz2451
3 жыл бұрын
The reason why 4 spings are rmto be used is so you dont go and make the 2 outside spring slanted and the middle not doing a damn thing so the bridge now now floatIng due to lack of back pressure, that sideways 3 spring thing only caught on because people are lazy
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks Frank! Good to know. Thanks for watching.
@1Rockstok
8 ай бұрын
My reason for adding a fourth and even a fifth spring to a Strat trem system is that I do not want the bridge to float. I prefer it flush against the body being able to trem down in pitch only. On my first Strat I tried to float it and found that if you break a string, especially during a gig, the guitar goes completely out of tune. Trying to tune up with only five strings is a disaster since tightening any one string loosens the others.
@StevenParente
8 ай бұрын
Thanks for the great advice Bill! You've got a cool YT channel and website. I subscribed. You've got playing, performing, singing, recording, mixing... down! I'm very impressed.
@srnuss
2 жыл бұрын
Question about drilling out the holes on the headstock. I didn't use a stepup bit and it chipped the wood and tore out some pieces. Did you use the step up on the back and then on the front? Then use the 3/8 bit tfo even it out? Is that for a 10mm hole size? Thanks for the video very informative!
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Aloha snuss72. Yes, I used the step bit and drilled both sides. Thanks for watching!
@maxsmeraldi
2 жыл бұрын
Great video! Congratulations, i don't likes a pickguard black color. For me the Top Is with pickguard Withe color! 😀🎸
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Max! A white guard would look good for contrast, but I was going with black outside burst. That's the great thing about pick guards. They aren't expensive and they can really change the appearance of your guitar.
@MrMd5555
3 жыл бұрын
If you've never done a nut replacement before, it might be a good idea to grab an extra nut just in case you sand too far or the wrong side lol or somethin, plus you'll have a spare on hand for those emergency set up/ intonation jobs we all do the night before Thanksgiving dinner at memaws to impress your hot cousin sally from wv you always had a crush on... We've all been there
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Good idea and thanks for watching!
@jmora7101
2 жыл бұрын
for fun that would be fine, but if you really want a better guitar spend all that money getting a new guitar.. for example the squier classic vibe 60 is way better than that upgraded bullet.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Aloha Jorge, this is what I had at the time and it was a great learning experience. I bought this when I was just getting back into playing again after many years. I make guitars now from parts and kits, that sound and play really nice and have sold several and my business is growing. FYI - It would have been difficult to find a guitar in Hilo that played and sounded as good as this guitar for the price, even with the the cost of parts. The quality of this bullet, especially the neck, is outstanding. I own an American made Fender 2012 Strat, so I have a good comparison to judge from. I put even better pickups in this bullet and use it for primarily open tuning slide playing and recording. Thanks for watching!
@djgaryowens
10 ай бұрын
Absolute rubbish those trapezoid tuners I have seen them on so many low end guitars from different far eastern manufacturers they are the always the first red flag and the first thing to go.
@StevenParente
10 ай бұрын
They are not so good. But the 70's style Fender tuners I replaced them with are still working very well and so easy to change strings with. Thanks for watching!
@christopheraaron8299
Жыл бұрын
You spent entirely too much time simply plugging the pickup connecters in. Dude, we didn't need all that.
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Some people have commented that they appreciate the extra detail, especially those who have never tried any of this before. Thanks for watching and your input.
@fjsolossa29
3 жыл бұрын
Very helpful. I Wish that i watch this video earlier. Now back to modding my kramer focus
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! Best wishes on your Kramer!!!
@phillipholt6005
2 жыл бұрын
It would've been cheaper and less work plus avoid shipping to buy a guitar with the same features.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
This is what I had at the time and it was a great learning experience. I make guitars now. FYI - It would have been difficult to find a guitar in Hilo that played and sounds as good as this guitar, even with the the cost of parts. I put even better pickups in this bullet and use for primarily open tuning slide work. Thanks for watching!
@frusciantegeartone
Жыл бұрын
Never heard about letting the trem rock as you screw in, then back it up. But I can see how this is a good uniform way of getting it done.
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. Check out this video from Fender: kzitem.info/news/bejne/rKx7tn6Ksox-Zqw You have a great YT channel. I subscribed!
@mboyer68
9 ай бұрын
To install the springs, put down the screwdriver and just pull with you fingers. Much easier.
@StevenParente
9 ай бұрын
Thanks for your input and for watching!
@jolkraeremeark6949
5 ай бұрын
Great video! I am, however, wondering about the mistakes you said were made?
@StevenParente
5 ай бұрын
Mistakes I had to go through to learn. You can watch videos and read books to learn something like this, but until you actually do it, you don't really know what you're doing. For me, it was not chiseling out a little wood in the cavity to make the new controls fit better, especially after applying the copper tape. I went back in and did that later. Learning how to solder properly and buying a good soldering iron with temperature controls. This made a HUGE difference. Learning how to take out the springs properly, by loosening the claw screws all the way. Mainly dumb things that I had to learn the hard way. I even broke the whammy bar (which is really easy to break and many guitarists have broken theirs), until I found videos on setting up the floating bridge properly from Fender. Check out: kzitem.info/news/bejne/mnmh2H-aioRnkpwsi=HC6gCRkke6o--pdL Since this video was made four years ago, I've made a few guitars and sold them and have talked with several luthiers. Most of them started out working in shops and learning from skilled luthiers, but all of them said they made several mistakes in the beginning. AND... learning how to fix your mistakes, is all part of being a luthier! Thanks for watching!
@thevagabond8978
Жыл бұрын
Use a reamer! Drills can crack your headstock. Reamer - not drill. Trust me. I don’t have time to read the other comments.
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input. I have a few reamers now. And... thanks for watching!
@tmeyer2022
2 жыл бұрын
Strat's, by their design, are subject to constantly going out of tune any time you use the Whammy Bar. You are missing the #1 most important fixes for Strat/S-style guitars. Locking Tuning Machines.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Yes, you are absolutely correct and I really like locking tuners. I'm using this guitar for slide, so later (after this video series) I blocked the springs and removed the whammy bar. Thanks for the input and for watching Ted.
@marcomagnoni7341
2 жыл бұрын
hello, what is the body wood of this bullett ? I have one similar but is difficult to understand - thanks
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
I think mine is made with basswood. Thanks for watching Marco!
@outsiderdf
3 жыл бұрын
Could have taken the nut out without any scoring. Just use a flat head screw driver and use it to tap it out with a hammer like you did at the end.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Maybe, but several luthier videos recommended to score with an exacto knife, just in case of finish residue that might stick to the nut, or if the factory used glue. Thanks for watching outsiderf!
@draboize9947
3 жыл бұрын
Do you need a ground touching just the bridge itself or you need the back spring bracket too?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
I'm not sure, but there was a ground wire going to the spring claw, so I set it up the same way. There's also many diagrams showing this for Strats. Check out this grounding reference from Fralin Pickups. www.fralinpickups.com/2018/11/12/understanding-guitar-grounding/. Thanks for watching Draboize!
@j.s.3297
6 ай бұрын
The four springs for the claw are to counter effect heavier gage strings.
@StevenParente
6 ай бұрын
It makes sense! Thanks J.S., and for watching!
@patriots5628
2 ай бұрын
I just bought like new if not it might be new it's been sitting in storage I think she played it a couple times it doesn't look used at all the case that it comes with the guitar bag not a scratch on it I mean it's perfect it's brand new and I just shook my head I almost passed this guitar up because it was a squire. I initially went to go buy an amp from her for $25, a line 6 iv15w because she said it didn't work she gave it to me. I had left stopped off 2 miles down the road to grab a sandwich before heading back home and she called me back and said she forgot to offer me any guitars and one of them was a squire and I thought negatively of it but then I said let me go take a look at it because at least I'd have a fender Stratocaster body and the wood alone is worth more than $50 so I went back there and it looked brand new and I took it so now I'm just going to modify it it plays pretty well too and I got the guitar I'm working it was a switch so I locked out for $50 I got a 15 watt line 6 amplifier and this fender squire is pretty freaking nice not bad at all I can't even believe people make a big deal because of the name it's still the wood and the body of a fender Stratocaster just the parts are different and they can be changed out see customize it to your own liking and that's what I'm going to do and it brought me here lol
@StevenParente
2 ай бұрын
The "cheap" guitars today (like a Squier) are 50 times better than the cheap guitars I played in the 70's. Most of them were unplayable, especially acoustic guitars. But about 20 years ago, this changed in a huge way, because of CAD and CAM. Companies like Fender, were able to send their digital drawings overseas to other countries with a workforce of lower wage workers for assembly. Computer Aided Machining (CAM) insured that the most important parts of the guitar, which in my opinion, (after upgrading and assembling several electrics and, recently a Harmony acoustic) is the neck, the neck pocket and the geometry of the bridge. If the wood is dried properly and there are no twists and defects, the neck is usually very stable. Everything has been digitally machined and almost perfect. That leaves the very end of the process where people make small adjustments, paint, sand and polish, and attach components. And this is where the biggest differences are, between a "cheap" guitar and an "expensive" guitar. The overseas guitars often have very inexpensive components, which include the tuners, the bridge material and components of the bridge, the pickups and the potentiometers (Pots), the attention to detail in fretwork... and sometimes they also use plywood for the body, although all of my upgrades have been solid wood. The main tone of an electric guitar, are the pickups, the Pots and to some extent, the way the wood vibrates, although there is a lot of debate about that. Of course your amp is a huge part of the sound. Also, Squier bodies are a little thinner than the American and Mexican made Fenders. If you are willing to spend a little extra on better tuners and maybe a better bridge, full sized pots matched with pickups and the action of the neck and intonation is good, and you level and polish the frets.... your less less expensive guitar should now have all of what the more expensive guitar has. It won't have the same resale value as an America Fender made guitar, but it will sound as good. Keep in mind that the Squier pickups are smaller, because they use a stronger ceramic magnet and sound different. Not necessarily bad, but different than a "normal" Strat pickup. And the Pots are quite small, so you need to be aware of that, because the body is a little thinner. The worst case is that you might need to chisel or Dremel some wood in the cavity for the new Pots and possibly Dremel some material in the pickuard. Best wishes on your upgrade! I just finished another Squier upgrade, installing my own hand wound pickups. Here's the link and thanks for watching!!! kzitem.info/news/bejne/rKV3mmeKe3R4fH4si=Un3ggQDFtIrVuhvF
@frankfarklesberry
3 жыл бұрын
Aloha Steve: Try as I may, I can't find a good technical answer for whether a staggered set of tuners is needed on my 2012 Squier Bullet HSS (Indonesia). Same crummy staggered tuners as your Chinese Bullet. I read many people saying that the trees aren't even needed when you have staggered, yet the Bullets are set up with 2 trees. i have my eyes on a few different choices that all match up with holes, but none of them are staggered. Some people with Bullets say they've used them, but it's unknown if they are Chinese/Indonesian Strats.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
It's hard to say, there's a lot of information out there and not all is accurate. The set of tuners vintage Fender replacement tuners I bought for this build are working great. As you can tell from the video, I just reamed the holes slightly and the replacement tuners fit. I really like the way you just poke the end of the string into the top of the post and turn. It stays in tune nicely. Thanks for watching Stan. I'll have to ask the owner of my local guitar shop. His main guitar is a Strat and he knows a lot about them. He really likes the Hip Shot tuners and we set up a telecaster build I put together with those. It still needed a string tree. I bend a lot and my E string pops out without one. I've tried without on a few guitars.
@frankfarklesberry
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente UPDATE: By the time your video came out, the "shorty" bridges were gone. I had to wait, as is typical with GuitarFetish stuff. I finally got the bridge and put it in the other day. Fit like a glove. In rewatching your video here again, I'm surprised you put in the saddles that came with the shorty bridge. I found them inferior to the originals. They don't have a V for the string in them, which I found is a problem after I loosen the strings when racking the guitar. Those saddles slide downward with gravity, and the strings don't stay in the middle of the saddle until I reset things all over again. This also then affects the intonation, which makes me check it again. On the next string change, I'm going back to a saddle similar to the one you pulled out. Those block type ones with the string V won't slide around as much.
@robertnisonoff3907
9 ай бұрын
For future reference, when you remove the springs, bridge, pickguard, etc. take that opportunity to do a thorough cleaning of the body. Clean out everything.
@StevenParente
9 ай бұрын
Good idea! Thanks for watching.
@pjo1964
2 жыл бұрын
That's a Cort 2009
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting. It could be Paul. Cort Guitars are known for their quality and do produce for major companies like Fender. They are a South Korean company, but also have factories in Indonesia and China. Do you have any more information you can share? Thanks for watching!
@thebipolarbear1
4 жыл бұрын
Guitar fetish is a cool site but I don't buy from there. It's so cheap right? There is a reason for that. They're selling you the same stuff they put in squier guitars to start with. They supply sammick and Cort. Cort makes squier guitars. If your serial number starts with IC that means Indonesia cort. Or CS would mean China sammick. If you're not getting expensive upgrades from a reputable place your just buying the same stuff you already got. Just look closely at the video. It doesn't matter at all if it makes you happy then definitely get this stuff
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your information and for watching Chris!
@thebipolarbear1
4 жыл бұрын
No problem man I just read that back I hope I didn't come off like a dick not my intention lol you did a great job. I just noticed the tuning keys you used very good choice for a bullet upgrade. They're great. I worked for kands music and learned alot of the manufacturer tricks to cut cost. The bullet is a good guitar no doubt it is truly incredible to get that good a instrument so cheap. When ppl get first act guitars or something it drives me nuts. Even Epiphone. They can't hold a candle to squier. How's she playing for you?
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Aloha Chris, I welcome information, especially from someone who's had as much experience as yourself. I'm learning. The squier plays very well, especially set up for slide. I set the action fairly high as well. The tuning keys were a surprise. It's so much easier changing strings and they stay in tune. What I was really interested in was putting a heavier trem block into it and I was very interested in the Kwik plug pickup harness and trying some hotter pickups. The Kwik plug systems works pretty well. I don't know how long they'll last, but so far so good. These type of connectors are being used in drones, which have lots of vibration. I've also been interested in winding my own pickups and have been researching that and looking at the winding machines at Stewmac. It's been quite the rabbit hole. I'm on the fence about that idea. Thanks again!
@Leo_ofRedKeep
3 жыл бұрын
Mounting the springs the wrong way around ;-) Stick them in the block first, then bring the round end over the claw using a flat screwdriver working as a lever.
@toddplager8676
11 ай бұрын
Great instructional video.. I am making my first partscaster with all my spare parts .. this helped immensely ty!!🤘Now I want a solderless wiring lol!! I can solder just been awhile lol!!
@StevenParente
11 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and best wishes with your build!🎸
@judeworth938
Жыл бұрын
Right after the S/N COB the 1st 2 numbers tell you the year is was manufactured.. I'm about to upgrade my 2008 Affinity Strat. Thanks for doing this video ! I am going to replace the cheap tuners for Hipshot or GrafTech drop in locking tuners....they are the only brand that will easily fit/drop in....then I can remove what will then be un necessary string trees. Fender tuners will not fit unless you want to start drilling. I also want to change the bridge and get a bone nut. I am curious if that Solid STEEL Block "Shorty" "Squier" and Import Compatible 10.5mm Chrome Tremolo will fit the 2008 Affinity Strat...🤔 Guess if I contact Guitar Fetish they will know...If not Maybe I'll contact StewMac. I LOVE the quick plug puck up and pots..no soldering ! yay !!!! P. S....you did a great job upgrading !!
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the s/n decoding and thanks for watching! Best wishes on your upgrade. Sounds like a good one! The block I bought is specifically for the Chinese and other imports to fit their thinner bodies. I’m not sure about the Affinity.
@judeworth938
Жыл бұрын
The Affinity, barely a step up from there Bullet (or it's newer replacement "Sonic") It's made in Indonesia. I will definite inquire prior to ordering. Thanks again !@@StevenParente
@jamesjaviermd
8 ай бұрын
Hello, sir. I'd appreciate your opinion on whether creating new holes for the pickguard and guitar tuners would impact the guitar's value. I own a similar guitar and intend to switch the tuners from 2-pole to vintage nickel lock string tuners. Additionally, I'm facing challenges finding a suitable pickguard for my Squier, possibly due to limited availability here in the Philippines. This difficulty in sourcing a pickguard specifically for my Squier is making the customization process more challenging.
@StevenParente
8 ай бұрын
A Squier is usually considered a low cost instrument, valued at around $300 to $500. It is not considered in the value for instruments that may be valued at $1,200 and $4,000... or more. Squires are considered student instruments, but are now being considered as working professional instruments with a little bit of work. The construction is very good now. In my own case, I wouldn't hesitate to upgrade my squire, which I did here, because I don't treat it as an investment. I treat it as a guitar that I use. And my guitar now plays as well as the higher end Fender guitars, with all the work I've done on it. Having said that, Leo Fender produced all Fender guitars as affordable instruments in the 50's and now they are. collector items. It comes down to what you expect out of your guitar? Do you want it to play well, or do you want it to possibly be worth a lot, 30 years from now? Personally, I alter my instruments to play as well as possible, just like Eddie Van Halen did as well as all the great guitarists. But I wouldn't do anything to an older, 50's and 60's guitar (if I had the good fortune to obtain one) Those are high value vintage guitars.
@jamesjaviermd
8 ай бұрын
@@StevenParente I value your response, sir. My goal is to enhance its playability and sound, possibly achieving a quality comparable to higher-tier brands. Your perspective on this aligns with my intentions.
@madmax13326
3 жыл бұрын
The fretboard radius gauge goes under the strings once you string it up
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
It can also be used to help set up the bridge. Thanks for watching and commenting! Check out this video by the Electric Luthier: theelectricluthier.com/guitar-diy-how-to-use-radius-gauges/
@simontemplar3359
5 жыл бұрын
Guitar Fetish is awesome. I'm glad to see you tubers using their stuff. I have a few builds where I've opted for GF pickups over Fender. My best upgrade was an Affinity Tele that I put a Surf 90 and a Nashville humbucker on it. Added some locking tuners and a push pull pot for coil tap for the humbucker. Took a decent starter guitar to the next level. I also added locking tuners (I know it isn't needed as much for stability, but quick string changes are awesome). Great guide video. if you ever need good tips, Phil McKnight puts out some great content on upgrading in his Sharpen my Axe series. Great project and a great guitar! I hope it brings you years of joy playing it!
@StevenParente
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching Simon and for sharing your own experience. It was a fun build! It sounds like your Tele came out really nice. Guitar Fetish has some really good deals and the pickups I used were "hot" but very quiet. Good products. I have been watching Phil McKnights channel. He's great. Thanks again!
@dixee6498
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing this! I bought the exact same Bullet strat, same color too lol, from a pawn shop a few months ago for just $80 because I was having the same ideas as you are now. Too bad I still don't play very much though. Maybe save this for a more indoorsy winter project when I'm not out cutting, collecting and processing firewood! Lol! Thank you again and please share more with us! Subbed! 🙂
@StevenParente
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you. This is a fun project. You get to use your hands, a few tools and make your guitar sound and play a lot better. I will post more videos. I'm looking for a place where I can crank up my amp and demo some gear. Thanks again for watchig and subbing!
@TripleMoxy9
2 жыл бұрын
Hi. Thank you for the video. I'm trying to enlarge the tuner holes for a Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster to replace the tuners with GOTOH Kluson style tuners. Would a reamer work to carry out the enlargement?
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
A reamer would work well. Just be careful not to apply a lot of pressure that could catch the hole rim and split the wood around the existing tuning hole. Thanks for watching!
@TripleMoxy9
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thank you for your reply. I'm just trying to work up the courage to begin reaming the headstock of one of my favourite guitars. 😰
@thehansongoons8975
4 жыл бұрын
This has been probably the best instructional video on modding some things I thought I would never touch. I am looking at buying a squier classic vibe and upgrading to a steel block tremolo. You made all the repairs look incredibly easy. I never would have touched the pickup selector or wiring harness before seeing this video. Well done. Would love to hear the tones you sre getting now. In the future, is there anyway you could purchase a set of the fender pickups that are already mounted and show how to replace using those?
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you HansonGoons and for watching. This guitar is my main slide guitar for open tuning. I'll have to put something together to show how it sounds. Good idea!
@vayabroder729
Жыл бұрын
Actually Classic Vibes are already there; you really don’t need to upgrade anything.
@alfiehenshall688
4 жыл бұрын
Your voice kept reminding me of Joe Bonnamassa . Good vid 👍🎸😎
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Hope to play as well some day. Thank you for watching Alfie!
@richardmorrow8077
Жыл бұрын
I'm hoping you can answer this question. I would greatly appreciate it if you could. I bought a Strat (made in Mexico) about 3 years ago. I'm new at learning to play and, I noticed that on the back of the fender, where the Fender logo is supposed to be stamped on the chrome plate, there is no logo. Is this normal for Fender strats?
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! MIM Strats don't always have the logo stamped on the neck plate. The best thing is to find the serial number and go to the Fender website and they will tell you everything about your guitar. Here's a couple of links to help you: serialnumberlookup.fender.com/lookup/ - www.andybaxterbass.com/blogs/news/fender-serial-number-guide#:~.:text=Fender%20serial%20numbers%20are%20typically,%2C%20bridge%20plate%2C%20or%20headstock
@richardmorrow8077
Жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thanks Steven! I really appreciate you helping me. At first I thought I was scammed but now, I feel a little better. Thanks again and, I'll be subscribing to you chanell.
@ettit6283
3 жыл бұрын
I'm thinking to make tremolo block out of granite...
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
That sounds like a great project. You'll have to post photos and audio links. Thanks for watching!
@fongy200
3 жыл бұрын
Some of the Chinese made Squires are built well, you seem to have dropped on as i did Steven as the build quality on my Bullet is totaly acceptable and was when i bought it. There is a difference between ours though, mine is a hardtail, no Tremolo, which doesn't bother me as i use it to play slide but in terms of build quality i've had guitars who's QC departments ought to have known better seeing as they want you to spend 4-500 pounds/Dollars. That being said there is some great competition around. The likes of Harley Benton, Reverend and other manufacturers that are breaking through are stunning in quality and asthetics. Back to the Bullet, i like my Bullet , it's light. The only modification i have made was to sheild the back of the pickguard the cavities and put Kinman pick ups and a Wilkinson replacement Jack socket, that is it. I am left handed but it's a right handed guitar, i can still play right side over but i find it uncomfortable and a little confusing when playing at speed but the Bullet is that light i can manage to keep up, plus i use it only for slide. Bullets are ok.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input C Fong and for watching. The quality of my Bullet is very high. I did a little polishing and fretwork, but the neck was straight and solid. The main difference that I made, was the components and especially the pickups. I've learned a lot about pickups in the past couple of years, but the Guitar Fetish pickups are working well for the open tuning slide work I'm using my Bullet for. Thanks again!
@antro_oner
2 жыл бұрын
I got my COB 08 for $70 at a pawn shop. Tusq nut and some wiring mods on the stock ceramic pickups. Treble bleed on the middle and a grease bucket on the neck, and I love the thing.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Nice! Many of the Bullets are good guitars. Depending on which factory they were made in, the necks can be REALLY good! That's cool that you experimented with the wiring. There are so many small improvements that can be made, that make a big difference. Just takes a little elbow grease and research. Thanks of watching!
@antro_oner
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente thanks for the great video!
@Voartist
3 жыл бұрын
I put a Tusq nut and saddles on my Squier and it made a world of difference. Also put on locking tuners, new Seymour Duncan pickups and much higher end electronic guts. It sound awesome. Playing through a monster Koch amp and it sounds so clear.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
That sound great Jug Head, thanks for your story and for watching. If the neck is good, these guitars can sound really good with a little work. I took out the GF Texas pickups and installed Sonic Strat 60's two weeks ago. I have this bullet set up for slide with flat wound strings. It sounds fantastic now. The Texas pickups were a little too hot for my tastes. I plan on making videos playing it, not that I've been practicing more.
@carpathus
5 жыл бұрын
What a great learning experience. Excellent work. Ordered a new Squier Bullet Strat yesterday and will be using this vid as a guide to install the same upgrades. Thank you very much for sharing.
@StevenParente
5 жыл бұрын
Cool carpathus! It was a really good learning experience. Let me know how yours turns out. One thing I would do a little differently for my next project, will be to assemble the wiring harness, pickups, etc. and place into the guitar cavity, BEFORE doing all the copper tape. There were a couple areas where I could have carved out with the dremel to make a better fit. Hopefully this will help you out. Thanks for watching!
@syamakhalder4646
3 жыл бұрын
What was the diameter of the original tuning head holes?8 mm or something?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
I don't remember Syamak, but I did have to ream them out a little for my new tuners to fit. Thanks for watching!
@Firemedic361
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah, Squier’s have 8mm, you have to ream out to 10mm for Fender USA tuners.
@fate2022
3 жыл бұрын
how did you fix the tuners on the backside where they overlapped and were too large?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Aloha Mark. All I did was increase the the hole size (in video) and they fit perfectly. I really like these tuners. Easy to string and they stay in tune. Thanks for watching.
@АлексейГоряшин
8 ай бұрын
Смешною Посчитайте сумму затрат. Плюс стоимость своих работ. Плюс стоимомть деталей. А качество дерева у вас отсалось от Squier ... Дешовое дерево от Squier не станет деревом от Fender
@StevenParente
8 ай бұрын
This Squier was very well made and I learned how to set-up and make electric guitars. It turned out to be a very worthwhile project for me. Thanks for watching! Here's a video of a friend of mine playing this guitar with pickups I hand wound. kzitem.info/news/bejne/t46BmaqVj3mSmqQsi=e3JkRO1CMisRHOha
@digitaldeltablues
5 ай бұрын
How much did you spend on the upgrade parts?
@StevenParente
5 ай бұрын
I can't remember, but I think around $300 for guitar parts. I was also investing in luthier tools (which was more and continue to buy luthier tools when needed), in order do all the work on my guitars. I've also built several guitars from parts and kits and sold them since this video was made, and also have done a few full fret jobs for people. This upgrade was the first step in the journey of learning how to work on guitars. If you look at the links in the description, by clicking "more", you can follow them and get an idea of the cost of various parts. Thanks for watching!
@finnkunertutube
2 жыл бұрын
I Have seen a few videos about upgrading a squier, cause I have one that I wanna upgrade. Your video ist actually the best I have seen and I will try it myself. Thx Steven..
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you Finn!
@alanleemaxwell831
5 ай бұрын
I turned mine into a Rory Gallagher tribute...🙏🇬🇧❤️🎸🤘
@StevenParente
5 ай бұрын
Nice!!! Rory Gallagher was amazing. I still enjoy watching videos with him playing and I learn a lot. Thanks for watching!
@alanleemaxwell831
5 ай бұрын
@@StevenParente you're very welcome my friend! 🙏🇬🇧🎸🤘
@shartne
2 жыл бұрын
The more springs the stiffer the tremolo bar is.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input and for watching!
@elmanitasdeplomo
2 жыл бұрын
Did you not clamp anything down when using the step drill bit? And also do those step drill bits give a round hole, because i’ve read that when using a regular drill bit the hole can end up egg shaped.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
No I didn't. I held the guitar steady and drilled as you see in the video. As you can see, the step bit worked well with no elongated holes. You have to be really careful when enlarging holes, so that the bit (any type of bit) doesn't catch and tear the wood. Been there, done that and had to fix one of my necks. Start out with very little pressure. Clamp the guitar down if you don't feel comfortable, but make sure you are on a padded surface and your clamps have foam on the clamping ends. I have yoga mats on all my tables and several types of guitar cradles. Shooting foam rests for target practice work really well, along with neck rests from Stewmac. I've also used a regular drill bit at the correct size to enlarge holes, but drilled out in reverse. That worked the best, with no tear out. I've built several guitars now and have a drill press, but I still have to be extra careful when enlarging holes. Thanks for watching!
@elmanitasdeplomo
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thanks for the reply🙏🏻
@psutter5
4 жыл бұрын
Loosen the claw screws. Way easier.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks Patrick! That is what I ended up doing. Thanks for watching.
@uria702
3 жыл бұрын
Why would you set the radius on the saddles like that? Isn't it easier to just set all the strings to the same height? That will give you the right radius every time.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Good question Synapses2K. The fretboards of strats and tele aren't as flat as some shredder style guitars, like Ibanez and Jackson. Those are around 15"-17", which is very flat. Vintage Fender necks start at around a 7.25" radius. Mine was a 9.5" radius. Setting the radius at the saddle using a radius guage, is how lutheirs start the setup process. This insures that each string is about the same distance from the fretboard. Then you start tweaking until you reach a setup that's as close to the fretboard as possible, without fret buzzing. There's many adjustments that you can make. Here's a great video from Stewmac to learn how to do a complete setup. kzitem.info/news/bejne/xH6avGZohJdkZHo Thanks for watching!
@uria702
3 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente If you set he bottom of each string to 4/64th or 5/64ths of an inch, it will match the radius of the fretboard exactly because each string will be the same distance from the fingerboard. Doing it from the saddles seems redundant. You ultimately would have to remeasure and do it again. I set the string height 2nd to last before intonation. A lot needs to be done first like the neck relief, the tremolo block float, etc. at least that’s how I like to do it.
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
@@uria702 That might be worth trying out. Thanks!
@jaimealvarez143
2 жыл бұрын
Good job! I am a luthier. My speciality is upgrading cheap guitars- There are things you can do with limited bufget (and experience). You must change the nut for tuning stability. You can save a couple of bucks buying a bone one. Be sure to buy one that fits your strat because the if nut seat is curved and you buy a flat bottomed you will have to shape it. You should work on your frets.. use sand paper according to ant of the meny tutoprials here on YT or buy a cheap set of nut files (you don't need a pro set if you only work on your guitars). Abouyt the pickups that is a matter of choice. If you are a professional player you can a buy expensive Seymour Duncans, but there's no sense in placing 200$ of pick ups on a 150$ guitar. And to really appreciate the SDs you need a Good Amp. Go for Fleor or Wilkinson pickups... they are good and cheap- Also, you can test different wirings and you will have a lot of fun. I'd change the tuners.. but again.. you can buy Wilkinsons or any other cheap and good brand (read reviews) It is about upgrading.. not about trying to make a cheap and relatively well built guitar into a Fender. Do your best with your nice Squire and you will be ready to make a superb job when you buy a Fender. Good luck and again... good job and good video my friend. Very detailed.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Great suggestions Jaime. Thanks for watching!
@billrhodes2039
4 жыл бұрын
Nice to know that rocket scientists are still inventing ways of making sealing wax.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching Bill!
@dbarnes544
Жыл бұрын
There is a nice tool for doing those trem springs. It's like a fish hook makes it so much easier. I like the Squire's because....Generally they are lighter weight. I don't worry if I scratch them and if one of my nieces or nephews want a guitar, it's not a big loss.
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the tip. I searched and found the tool and it looks like it would help a lot. Thank you for watching!
@davidjessee7701
2 жыл бұрын
Pronounced CAPE O ... NOT Cappo !!!
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Ha ha! You say tomato, I say tah-mato... (you know the song). It's originally an Italian term meaning "head" because a capo becomes your first fret or top of the fretboard when applied. The actual pronunciation is cop-oh. Americans pronounce it kay-po. I'm American Italian and prefer to pronounce the Italian way. Thanks for watching David!
@musikmanfarm1413
Жыл бұрын
Fantastic video. Tnx. I learn a lot😊
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching!
@petermeijer3019
2 жыл бұрын
Top video! Thanks for sharing,!!
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching Peter!
@DSKim-ej5uf
4 жыл бұрын
좋은영상 잘 보고갑니다.코로나가 하루빨리 사라지기를 바라면서 동시에 님채널이 하루하루 쑥쑥 발전되셔서 꼭 초대형채널이 되시기를 진심 응원드려요. I love so much this video.I like the video is the best. As develop day by day, Always follow your luck I sincerely hope that your channel will be very big.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thank you DS. Kim!
@dennisapplegate7553
4 жыл бұрын
Actually a wood reamer should be used to open up peg holes a good one run 15-20 bucks
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Yes that would be better Dennis. I have one now. Thank you for watching!
@shawnlennon1947
2 жыл бұрын
Leave it as a floating bridge ! It’s sweet!
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
I may, but I'm using this guitar for mainly slide work. Thanks for watching!
@lucasleite1441
2 жыл бұрын
I do not understood why do you switch the plastic for other plastic nut too? Sound betther?
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Aloha Lucas, Tusq nuts are made out of a different type of plastic (which I think sound better) and is self lubricating. A common tuning problem is when the strings get caught in the nut grooves, even if they are properly cut. Especially when using a tremolo system. That's why many guitarists put pencil graphite into the grooves. They are trying to lubricate the nut so the strings don't get stuck. Thanks for watching!
@lucasleite1441
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente thanks for response .. bye from Brazil ..
@1980bwc
4 жыл бұрын
You made a circle basically around the pickups with the shielding. The area you left inside that "circle" unshielded (ie under the pickups, allows interference to get to your pickups. It will travel through that plastic guard. I always shield all that area around the pickups also just to completely "cage in" all the electronics. I may be wrong on that, but its what makes since to my pea brain. Lol. Im upgrading a bullet Identical to yours right now.
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the info Bryan. I read bords that said that shielding next to the pickup will effect the sound. Right now, the pickups are almost silent, but they are also noise cancelling. I'll have to try shielding, next time I change strings and see how it effects the sound. Best wishes for your build and thanks for watching!
@1980bwc
4 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thanks bud.
@eyedunno8462
4 жыл бұрын
The idea is to create a faraday cage within the control cavity. Does not necessitate covering every square inch
@bigbasil1908
Жыл бұрын
It looks like the tuning machines you bought were for a left handed strat
@StevenParente
Жыл бұрын
Aloha Big Basil, these are right handed Fender 70s "F" Style Guitar Tuning Machines. See: amzn.to/3VPxmCz I provided links to most of the parts and tools I used if you look under the description (show more) link. These have become one of my favorite tuners, besides locking tuners like Gotoh's. They are super easy to change strings with and stay in tune. FYI, I just wound a set of single coil pickups, using vintage 50's specs, and installed about a month ago. Here's a video of a friend of mine playing this Bullet, that I posted just over a week ago and you can hear how it sounds now: kzitem.info/news/bejne/t46BmaqVj3mSmqQ It's got really heavy strings on it, because I mainly use it for slide, but Spencer was still able to play it. I'll post some videos of playing slide, when I free up some time. I've been busy winding custom pickups, guitar work and other projects. Thanks for watching!
@bigbasil1908
Жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thanks for the videos. I look forward to watching more from you
@metalmike570
3 жыл бұрын
My Mexican built Fender Strat is like the Squire, and she goes out of tune pretty easy. I'm going to get the tuners you used here. I saw them at Guitar Center so I'll go there.
@leelenlesueur8863
3 жыл бұрын
Get the fender locking tuners. I got them for my mexican fender strat and she stays in tune perfectly. Changing strings is a lot faster too because you don't have to wind them around too much. Just pull the string tight, lock it, tune it, rock it \m/
@metalmike570
3 жыл бұрын
@@leelenlesueur8863 Well I went with the cheaper tuners...... If I'm not happy then I'll go with the locking type. Keep rockin' LeSueur!
@hustlinc3540
6 ай бұрын
the cavity was already shielded
@StevenParente
6 ай бұрын
I wanted to completely shield it, including overlaps with the pick guard and screw holes. Thanks for watching!
@davidkeller8084
4 жыл бұрын
should have used that 4th spring, helps with even tension across the block
@StevenParente
4 жыл бұрын
Good to know, thank you.. Right now, it's staying in tune and I removed the tremelo bar. I don't use it. But if I do, I'll think about putting it on. Thanks for watching.
@restofthejunk01
4 жыл бұрын
Purely down to personal taste actually, all my Strats use three strings and play perfectly well.....only if I was using a heavy guage of string would I use four springs.
@blinxs99
3 жыл бұрын
@@restofthejunk01 what gauge do you use?
@restofthejunk01
3 жыл бұрын
@@blinxs99 9-42
@flintdavis2
3 жыл бұрын
The springs share the load, less springs less pull, maybe less noise too?
@jerbear1601
3 жыл бұрын
What about the weakest link, the tuners?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Aloha Jerry, didn't you see them in the video and in my links in the description? Click the "show more" link. I bought Fender 70s "F" Style Guitar Tuning Machines. I love them. They stay in tune and string changes are really easy. I like them better than the tuners on my 2012 Fender American Special Strat. I'll be putting up some videos of playing this highly modified bullet. Last week. I installed a set of Xotic 60's style Strat pickups and a set of flat wound D'addario string. I'm really happy with the tone now. The Texas wound pickups were good, but were a little too hot. I really like the quack of the 60's style pickups, but I can get some nice swampy tones from some pedals and my modeling amp. I'm working on some songs and recording and this is my number 1 slide guitar. I have it tuned to open G. Thanks for watching!
@pavel_mersin
2 жыл бұрын
I understand the video is old, but let's start with the budget that was spent on the upgrade. We can end there, as the cost will be comparable to buying a guitar one level higher than the Squier Bullet. What is the point of this upgrade? Just dig into the iron? Yes, I am also an engineer and I love this business.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Aloha Павел, this is what I had at the time and it was a great learning experience. I bought this when I was just getting back into playing again after many years. I make guitars now from parts and kits. They sound and play really good. I've sold several and my business is growing. FYI - It would have been difficult to find a guitar in Hilo that played and sounded as good as this guitar for the price, even with the the cost of parts. The quality of this bullet, especially the neck, is outstanding. I own an American made Fender 2012 Strat, so I have a good comparison to judge from. I put even better pickups in this bullet and use it for primarily open tuning slide playing and recording. Thanks for your input and for watching!
@pavel_mersin
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente Thanks for the answer. But comparing this guitar to a Fender is inappropriate. They are made of different wood and using different technologies. Whatever parts you put on a Bullet, it still won't become a Fender.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
That may be so, but I'm more concerned about playability and tone. Especially for recording. These are the two most important factors for me. If the neck is good, all the other components can be upgraded. Although the wood can be a factor, I have found (especially after building solid body lap steel guitars and regular guitars) the main tone of a solid body guitar comes from the pickup(s) and the guitarists fingers. I do like my American Fender Strat very much and appreciate the amazing manufacturing processes involved to produce so many great guitars vs. custom shop or boutique guitars. Also the collectability factor. Thanks for you input!
@sevchryst8516
3 жыл бұрын
How much did you buy all the parts in total?
@StevenParente
3 жыл бұрын
Aloha Sev. I can't remember exactly, because I also bought several tools at the same time, but guitar parts only were about $150. If you click on "Show More" above in the description, you'll see many of the links that I bought parts and tools from. For your other question about the POTS, they were included in the Standard Stratocaster Pre Wired Guitar Fetish Kwik Plug Harness system, which cost around $25. See: www.guitarfetish.com/Pre-Wired-Harnesses_c_738.html Thanks for watching!
@michaeld.mcclish
2 жыл бұрын
4 strings if you want it very stiff. I've seen videos of Hendrix playing live, and he had all 4 strings on, if that means anything.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the input and for watching Michael! Right now I have it blocked because I'm using it for slide work.
@michaeld.mcclish
2 жыл бұрын
@@StevenParente of course I meant "springs" ha! Back in 91 I bought an American Strat w. lace sensors that had the then new Trem-set on it. Two springs and a trem set in the middle. It's actually not bad. If it seems out of tune, I just give it a quick flick upbend and it goes back in tune.
@StevenParente
2 жыл бұрын
@@michaeld.mcclish I knew what you meant. The nut slots are another big consideration. If they aren't slotted properly and lubed, the strings get stuck. I'm building two StewMac offsets (like a jazzmaster) and one has a tremolo and I'm going to experiment with the nut and tuners. Maybe I'll install locking tuners. As for non tremolo guitars, the Les Paul and Gibson's are notorious for not staying in tune. There's an epic video of Joe Walsh showing how to tune a Les Paul guitar and he stretches all the strings and pulls them up quite a bit around 1:10 in. Here's the video kzitem.info/news/bejne/pW2ds6t7cKKZooI . The LP and other Gibson models have a extreme angle from the nut to the tuning posts and the strings bind if they aren't cut correctly and lubed I just recently built a StewMac LP kit and "almost" completely solved this problem with a "String Butler" with a zero fret. I couldn't believe how well it worked and how easy it was to install and it was only around $40! Before I installed, I couldn't keep the guitar in tune.
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