help me before i smash my guitar threw my amp

squiresmasher

Yes my name is Tim,
i have a problem...

i have been playing guitar for 4 years now...
right now i am playing on a squire strat.
i am wondering how i can get a better sound out of it, its not worth putting new pickups on it due to the cracks around the bolt on neck, the horrible fret buzz, the insainly high action.
i tried adjusting the truss rod before (i probably only f****** it up lol) but i dont think it would really matter because the action is so high to kill off fret buzz and the cracks on body wouldnt seem to have much improvement.

but i am wondering....

if i can raise or lower the pickups to get a better sound out of it, not only that i have this problem with them, the magnet (or whatever you call it) on the pickups for the G string are higher than any of the other magnets...
this is giving it a horrible sound, when i play clean stuff it is rather diff, as far as picking and such because i have to pick the g string alot softer than the others, but the main problem is with power chords, when i strum them the g string stands out like a sore dick... and seems to destroy my overall tone...

can you take apart the pickups and mess with the magnets? that dosent
seem healthy but if it will work

i am currently running my guitar threw a :
-Randall RG200 combo amp
-a boss CS-3 compression sustainer
-a boss CE-2 chorus pedal
-a boss Hm-2 heavy metal pedal ( i dont use much because i can get a good enough distortion out of my amp)
-a crybaby
-a volume pedal
-a boss bcb-6 pedal board (more of a pedal carring case lol)

i am embarresed to have a fortune in equipment and a $99 dollar guitar (exaggerated price-unsure of actual price)

I also am in a band as a rythem guitarist, i havent giged with them yet, but they want me to for the first time, next weekend.

and my ****ty little squire is no match for the Les Paul our lead guitarist uses...

im a little embarresed lol!

but after all it is about how well you can play rather than the insturment

im looking to get a jackson soon...


If you think you can help me, please do so thank you

-Tim

deaddonkey

without seeing the guitar in my hands i can't help you much

if you're in dublin i'd be happy to see if i can set it up for you and get it playable. don't resort to smashing it. yet

also, uneven volume from pickup magnet heights is a common problem on strat types. what series squier is it? affinity/standard/an older japanese build?

cracks around the neck pocket in strats is very common aswell, usually they're only cracks in the polyurethane finish.

squiresmasher

deaddonkey wrote: »

without seeing the guitar in my hands i can't help you much

if you're in dublin i'd be happy to see if i can set it up for you and get it playable. don't resort to smashing it. yet

did somebody say doobies?

Dord

squiresmasher wrote: »

did somebody say doobies?

Nope.

I agree with deaddonkey, cracks in the inside horns and around the neck pocket are common in Fenders, especially the strat and tele. They're normally just finish cracks.

Post up some pictures of the guitar so we can have a look.

deaddonkey

lol, you asked for help and i offered. what more do you want?

fourmations

get some gfs pickup
cheap as chips and a big improvement
on what is in your squier

cheers

4

punchdrunk

I second pretty much everything mentioned in this thread!
gfs and a set-up,easily less than 100 quid spent and your in business :cool:

smellslikeshoes

punchdrunk wrote: »

I second pretty much everything mentioned in this thread!
gfs and a set-up,easily less than 100 quid spent and your in business :cool:

Might be just me but 100 quid seems like a lot to be spending on a squire strat. I think I would personally cut my looses and start saving up for a better guitar if money is an issue then go second hand.

Dord

GFS and a setup would not cost €100.

Feelgood

squiresmasher wrote: »

my ****ty little squire is no match for the Les Paul our lead guitarist uses...

-Tim

I know a very reputable guitarist who plays with RTE, does a lot a session work and has been on the live circuit for over 20 years. His axe of choice is a Squire strat, he swears by it. Reckons they have the nicest necks in history and all he did was stick some decent pickups into it.

You have just been brain washed... At the end of the day most guitars come from exactly the same trees, in my book making them exactly the same. Just because you see Gibson everywhere doesn't mean that its right for you. I bought a custom LP a while back, have it sitting there and to be honest I rarely even pick it up.

I've been playing a Maverick F1 for the last 8 years and love it, action is great, sound is awesome, not even a really popular guitar and they went out of business!. In fact I don't think the LP is a patch on it and it cost me €400.

Don't be fooled by big names, change the pickups and try adjusting the action on your squire and I think you will find that you can get exactly the same sound as you could in a usa strat..

Don1

Pretty much what most people have said re set-up etc. but also don't forget the second hand market. Could find a nice cheap Epi LP to tide you over until you can afford something super shiny.

Eoin Madsen

Feelgood wrote: »

You have just been brain washed... At the end of the day most guitars come from exactly the same trees, in my book making them exactly the same.

Honestly, you should try stripping the finish off a few 90s Squiers.

I mean... you realise that Argos furniture is just made out of sawdust and woodchippings, right?

squiresmasher wrote:

i am wondering how i can get a better sound out of it, its not worth putting new pickups on it due to the cracks around the bolt on neck, the horrible fret buzz, the insainly high action.

Since everyone else is being so reasonable, I'm going to suggest you just put it through the amp and be done with it.

I think you should buy some really nice pickups (seymour duncans or lindy fralins or something of that ilk - spend €150 - €250) and replace the ones in the Squier. The cracks around the neck joint are probably just the finish. They put so much paint on those things they usually crack the first time the neck moves. When you can afford a decent guitar, you can take the nice pickups out of the Squier and use them to replace the mediocre stock pickups in your new guitar. Then you can get rid of the Squier. I wouldn't recommend burning it though, the wood is probably a little low grade for firewood.

punchdrunk

Joe Robot wrote: »

GFS and a setup would not cost €100.

pickups are $66/€42 shipped from gfs
that new guitar place in town offered to do a setup for €40 and install pickups for €40,guys name was kevin,seemed sound on the phone
so choosing him to install em and deaddonkey to do the setup gives you roughly €82,say 90ish with a new set of strings
and with the remaining tenner you buy DD a pint and a bag of crisps...

Fingers Mcginty

Do a search for " rotren" on youtube. He plays a squire. Unbelievable tone.:)

Eoin Madsen

Once upon a time, Squiers were not made out of plywood. Not to be confused with all the ones that are.

Dord

Eoin Madsen wrote: »

Once upon a time, Squiers were not made out of plywood. Not to be confused with all the ones that are.

Yup, most of the 80's Squiers were made in Japan and are pretty sought after now. And in the early 90's there was some made in the US and then in Mexico.

Don1

Incidentally I still use my '90s Squire on occasion. Heavy strings tuned CGCFAD and loaded up with a Duncan Hotrails at the bridge. Monster for QOTSA and other stuff. Love it. I'll sink more money into in time, replace the other pickups and electrics, maybe the neck and get a G&L bolt on bridge. Have that all but locked now anyway.



Don't judge some of the stuff stuck on it too harshly please. I got it at 17 and promptly destroyed it in subsequent years. My tastes have evolved somewhat, but I still love it as it was my first geeetar.

raindog.promo

If you're gonna get your guitar set up.

GET A RECOMMENDATION FROM SOMEONE YOU TRUST AS TO WHO TO GIVE THE GUITAR TO TO SET UP.

I can't stress that enough. I've seen first hand, complete cowboys ripping people off as regards guitar maintenance. I've seen bad repair jobs too and bad set-up jobs and assh*les who might just give the guitar a wipe of a cloth and then charge you up to 100 quid for the privilege.

Be very wary.

Alanstrainor

Don1 wrote: »

Don't judge some of the stuff stuck on it too harshly please. I got it at 17 and promptly destroyed it in subsequent years. My tastes have evolved somewhat, but I still love it as it was my first geeetar.

haha, i recognise some of those stickers from a total guitfiddle edition YEARS ago, those were the days!

Dord

Alanstrainor wrote: »

haha, i recognise some of those stickers from a total guitfiddle edition YEARS ago, those were the days!

+1 I think I have that Boss one stuck on something around here.

Don1

Bingo, TG it was. A lot of them came from there. The wee stars and gibbos etc. were in the packets of Sony Minidiscs, the Saint one (Farfrompuken) was handed to me by some promo guys at the Radiohead gig in the big top in Punchestown, and that's a while ago now! Some on the back are newer and better though I have no pics of that.
My favourite is: "I don't discriminate, I hate everyone!".

Seriously though Tim, go the pickup route and when you upgrade eventually hold on to it. I know a good few people who are sorry they got rid of their first, no matter how crappy they were.