OP
Wonder why I keep messing with these old guitars....
After 30 Years, I'm Back To A 1987 Stratocaster:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
OP
......
OP
Gonna be hard to find a full size humbucker that can match this DiMarzio Hum caneclling (stacked) DP404:
OP
Funny...
Over the years I have had many good guitars...none "great," but many good enough for average bedroom playing.
The Schecter C1 Hellraiser has been consistently the only one that has not needed any modifications. Good guitar. Hundreds of hours of studio tme on it, but I don't feel the EMG's have the "character" I want in a "Daily Driver" guitar.
The old 1987 Squire continues to be the most quiet of them all...totally silent even at full gain and I still struggle to figure out why...true it has a boatload of copper in it...and that surely helps...maybe its gargantuan 11 pound weight helps too???
I'm looking to downsize..sell the Gibson SG and just get down to a good "everyday" guitar.
The Destroyer is my sentimental 'fun" guitar - it's cool to pull it out on Def Leppard songs.
The Schecter is also a great and versatile studio guitar- I will keep it.
So, I am wondering if I should go ahead and invest in swapping in some humbuckers and do a fret level on the old Squire....???
Thoughts????
Over the years I have had many good guitars...none "great," but many good enough for average bedroom playing.
The Schecter C1 Hellraiser has been consistently the only one that has not needed any modifications. Good guitar. Hundreds of hours of studio tme on it, but I don't feel the EMG's have the "character" I want in a "Daily Driver" guitar.
The old 1987 Squire continues to be the most quiet of them all...totally silent even at full gain and I still struggle to figure out why...true it has a boatload of copper in it...and that surely helps...maybe its gargantuan 11 pound weight helps too???
I'm looking to downsize..sell the Gibson SG and just get down to a good "everyday" guitar.
The Destroyer is my sentimental 'fun" guitar - it's cool to pull it out on Def Leppard songs.
The Schecter is also a great and versatile studio guitar- I will keep it.
So, I am wondering if I should go ahead and invest in swapping in some humbuckers and do a fret level on the old Squire....???
Thoughts????
OP
LOL it can only get better!
ivan H
Ambassador of Tubes & Grooves
I've got this Chinese Squier that was a pawn shop find, cheap as but plays really well.
I threw the black 'guard on it with a 16.3k ohm A5 pickup that is similar to a JB. Its my "grab & go" guitar, gets dragged 'round with me & I don't have to worry about it getting knocked around. Gets more play than any of my guitars. Cheers
I threw the black 'guard on it with a 16.3k ohm A5 pickup that is similar to a JB. Its my "grab & go" guitar, gets dragged 'round with me & I don't have to worry about it getting knocked around. Gets more play than any of my guitars. Cheers
OP
Mine is a Korean Squire with an "E7" serial number. I've had it since new. Even the cloth bag still looks good. No chips or dings, even after 30 years of gigging.
I guess because we didn't have much growing up, I treasured everything, even this cheap Fender/Squirecaster.
From 1988 until 2005, it was my main guitar and it's probably had at least 20 different pickups in it...
The old Japanese Strats were some of the best rock and roll guitars on this green earth. I started with a Strat in 1968, I had other weird guitars but my Strat with three bolt neck was my gun.Years later after a bunch of guitars I played Les Paul's but I always had this thing that a white Strat with a maple fret board was the perfect guitar. I never even owned one till last fall and it has only been in it's case to travel. I did a long list of mods like Lace Sensors pickups, a brass tremolo block, locking tuners, roller nut and saddle. The brass trem block is ridiculous so I put a titanium block and that a retard move. What was great is the 7 way switch wiring and the coil split. Those wiring mods give this once a Mexican Stratocaster a few quantum leaps over the stock 1968 Strat I keep in a case full time.
Why mess with old guitars? I know it's the best thing, the best gift I can give to the future.
OP
So am I brother. I am even tired of changing strings. I am tired of the smell of solider. I won't pay for work that I have to fix. I want to play my guitar not be a slave to it.
OP
Amen to that!
I have a bad of picks and a pack of strings. Now I have two parts cabinets. Two work benches and thoughts of dollars worth of tools. I'm haft afraid to walk in there sometimes. Out of control and my favorite amp is always in need of something. Things changed and favorite guitar? That is a great question.
OP
I guess the old 1987 squire is just so very comfortable that I keep picking it up...
Why not? Some guitars just work. Like those shoes you wear just on weekends or maybe it meets all your expectations. Stays in tune, the tone makes you happy and it looks cool. I have an ancient
Peavey T30, a Strat rip off. Plain as a mud fence, I paid next to nothing. However when my playing sucks I pick it up and it pulls me back to land when I go to far out. I just love that old guitar. Most don't get it but I think you do. Your 1987 Squier is my 1981 Peavey. We need them.
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OP
I think you are right.....
OP
This was a fun guitar...1982 Mako TB-1 Strat copy. It had some kind of plastic covered mini humbucker with a coil tap switch...photo taken in 1983!
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OP
Ok...so last night, I put 4 hours of practice in on the old Squirecaster. It's imperfections really showed....but its still a cool old relic.
So this morning I was thinking about making some changes...
I have the twin tone control vintage cloth wire harness from Gary Standefer already on hand. I ordered a blank 11 hole black/white/black pickguard so I can choose my own control layout and use trim rings if I want to.
Pickups I am still undecided on. Its either Alnico V 15.5k/7.8k or Ceramic 16k/15k.
Must do a fret level and crown for sure.
Going to put the "Thank You" lettering back on the body like I had in the 1980's.
Headstock....I'm thinking of sanding only the face of the headstock down and painting it black, and then covering it with U-Pol....but I will have to find a paint that is compatible.
So this morning I was thinking about making some changes...
I have the twin tone control vintage cloth wire harness from Gary Standefer already on hand. I ordered a blank 11 hole black/white/black pickguard so I can choose my own control layout and use trim rings if I want to.
Pickups I am still undecided on. Its either Alnico V 15.5k/7.8k or Ceramic 16k/15k.
Must do a fret level and crown for sure.
Going to put the "Thank You" lettering back on the body like I had in the 1980's.
Headstock....I'm thinking of sanding only the face of the headstock down and painting it black, and then covering it with U-Pol....but I will have to find a paint that is compatible.
OP
Some close ups of the fret wear on the Squirecaster....
