Hot Wired My Squire

fitz

fitz

Ambassador of DIY
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The hazards of perusing Craigs List...
I have a Squire Strat that I got cheap and have since modded multiple times.
It started out like this - HSS junk fixed pole pups, 6 screw trem.
01 stock.JPG

After I did the Explorer build, I had the FR router templates, so I got a cheap FR "licensed" copy and proceeded to start the Squire mods.
Also tossed in a set of junk rail pups for an all HB set-up - looked kinda like it had 30 frets...
02 sq-rails.jpg

Was on a P90 mod kick and redid the beater Squire with a bathtub rout, cream pickguard and triple P90's.
Super-Strat style switches and just 1V, 1T.

03 sq-p90-1.jpg

04 sq-p90-2.jpg
Not my first attempt to bond with P-90's, but it will probably be my last.

So, I've been looking for a deal on some humbuckers to make the ol' Squire an HH.
Came across a CL listing a few days back for an EMG 81/85 set.
Seller had a custom shredder that he upgraded to Fishman's.
Here's a pic he sent me of the donor.
05 donor.jpg

...
 
Started the mods with a bit of disassembly.
06 prep1.jpg

Had to do some repairs from the butcher job I did on the P-90 mods.
Located where the battery rout was going.
07 prep2.jpg

Got an Ambazon HH pickguard that needed a little trimming for the Floyd.
08 pg1.jpg

Test fit the pg waiting for the pups.
09 pg2.jpg

Picked up the EMG's today.
No switch with the deal, so I scrounged the old 3-way blade from my dragon tele.
10 guts.jpg

...
 
Out to the workshop for some battery cavity surgery.
Start off with a Forstner bit so there's less work for the router.
Made a template from an old template and held it in place with some screws into the spring rout cover holes.
11 drill.jpg12 drill2.jpg

Quick clean up with the router.
13 router.jpg

14 battery.jpg

Test fit the battery cover.
15 battery2.jpg

...
 
EMG plug n play wiring is fairly straightforward, but the bag-o-parts I got didn't quite have everything I needed.
Had to wire up the 3-way, and kinda rig up the battery and jack connections.
Decided to just do the 1V, 1T even though the stuff came with 2 vol pots, so just a 3/8 metal cap in the extra hole.

16 test.jpg

Kinda surprised everything worked on the first assembly.
Still have some details to fuss over, but it's functioning.
17 front.jpg

Back view.
18 back.jpg

Had to do an "outie" on the jack to fit the TRS and all the wires.
19 close.jpg

I like the EMG's way better than those junk P-90's.
Crisp cleans and this beater is now a gain monster through a dirt pedal...
 
DirtySteve said:
Awesome job, looks great! So, how do you like the actives? I've always been curious, but I've never tried them.
Click to expand...
Thanks,

I've only played the EMG's through my O20 so far.
Actives and a dirt pedal makes that amp breath fire.
The 81 ceramic in the bridge is kinda bright for me.
I'm thinking of swapping the 85 alnico to the bridge position.

I've had EMG actives before in a Schecter Hellraiser Tempest.
That was a 57/66 set with the alnico in the bridge and ceramic in the neck.
I think it was more of a balanced tone.
Great guitar, but I got it for a steal, and it turned into a trade in for the Page Dragon Tele.

I've been wanting to HH mod that Squire and got a good deal on the EMG's, so I'm glad I held off on spending just as much on some GFS imports.
 
fitz said:
EMG plug n play wiring is fairly straightforward, but the bag-o-parts I got didn't quite have everything I needed.
Had to wire up the 3-way, and kinda rig up the battery and jack connections.
Decided to just do the 1V, 1T even though the stuff came with 2 vol pots, so just a 3/8 metal cap in the extra hole.

View attachment 98407

Kinda surprised everything worked on the first assembly.
Still have some details to fuss over, but it's functioning.
View attachment 98408

Back view.
View attachment 98409

Had to do an "outie" on the jack to fit the TRS and all the wires.
View attachment 98410

I like the EMG's way better than those junk P-90's.
Crisp cleans and this beater is now a gain monster through a dirt pedal...
Click to expand...
Full on shredder now, did I miss the part where installed a Floyd Rose?
Never mind I see it now.
 
Session 5 said:
Looks very nice well done!
Click to expand...

Thanks.
I've always liked the neck and action on this cheap Strat, but it always sounded like $#!+.
Got it on sale plus some GC gear cred and brought it home for about $80 new.
I try not to think about how much more I've dumped into it vs. what I could have just bought off the rack for that amount...

Super stoked with how it sounds now.
Swapped the pups around today and it sounds even better.
The alnico in the bridge and the ferrite in the neck still has discernable neck/middle/bridge tones without being so drastically bright and dark.
Here's a gut shot before it went back together.

20 guts.jpg

Tried it on a few more amps with pretty much similar results.
Crystal cleans and crushing gain on the 800 boost channel or through the JTM45 with a clean boost SD-1.

21 amp.jpg

A couple of daylight shots.

22 bench.jpg

Spent a Franklin on the EMG's, and I have no regrets.
This guitar is finally a keeper.
A month ago, I'd have given away that P-90 mess if you asked me for it.

23 close.jpg
 
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