Why replace the pots, jacks, switches, etc?

[beantowntwanger]

I love to mod my Squier guitars but usually only replace pickups, tuners, and minor cosmetic things (screws, jacks, knobs, etc). I hear a lot of people replacing the electronics in these guitars and my question is why? Is there a significant difference in tone or is it just more for reliability/longevity of the guitar?

Your honest input is appreciated - Thanks!

 

[Xpensive Wino]

I love to mod my Squier guitars but usually only replace pickups, tuners, and minor cosmetic things (screws, jacks, knobs, etc). I hear a lot of people replacing the electronics in these guitars and my question is why? Is there a significant difference in tone or is it just more for reliability/longevity of the guitar?

Your honest input is appreciated - Thanks!

Better quality parts work better and last longer. I'd also replace the bridge/trem with a steel unit.

As for pots, there are plenty of threads on the subject. Here's just one:

http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/str...403-250k-500k-pots-whats-difference-tone.html

 

[Stratty]

I replace the pots and pickups, but I don't see much point in replacing the switch, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

 

[MadJack]

I not sure about the parts in a Squier, but many of the imports have some low quality parts. Usually I replace them for more reliability and quieter operation, but I've had some that will sound thicker and richer with better quality parts and better wire. Most of the import switches have been really weak easy to break switches.

 

[Henrytwang]

When changing pickups on my Squier Strats I usually change the pots and switch as a matter of course. I'm not a big fan of the mini pots usually fitted and have had a couple of the cheap "printed circuit" switches fail in the past. The parts are not expensive and the job is easy to do whilst the guitar is in bits.

 

[johnny35]

250k full size pots and a 0.047uF value Orange Drop capacitor will make a big difference even to stock pickups for a cost effective upgrade.
The stock parts typically tend to be 500k mini pots with a 0.033uF or 0.022uF capacitor and sound 'tinny' and shrill.
Try this wiring harness (below) , which I found on Ebay. It is solderless!, fairly priced and will allow you to swap out pickups as often as you like with ease. Great upgrade, so much so I have it installed in my red Affinity. Great combination of tones. Hope this helps !

Fender stratocaster 7 way upgrade wiring kit solderless contacts (import) | eBay

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Are the pots scratchy? Replace if they are. Does the switch scratch or pop when switching? Replace if it is. A cap is a cap is a cap.

The pickups are everything. Nice thing with quarter sized pots is that you can clean them with contact cleaner or brake cleaner and they don't fall apart like the dime sized ones do.

 

[OwnYourTone]

The "wrong" value pots bother me in some imports. 500k pots with ceramic SC pickups is an invite for harsh IMO. 250k would be my main upgrade to the components you mention.

 

[MrPoppa2]

While the pickups will give the biggest sound improvment, they are not the place to start modding. So many times I read on this forum that a person buys some really expensive pups and it did not change much! I for one, upgrade the electronics and tuners, bridge if needed, quality strings are essential, a pickup swap is always the last thing I consider, and often, I feel that the base improvments are enough. After all, I am a couch player and don't need a mega-buck pickup just to make me feel better.

..........poppa

 

[MadJack]

My first guitar rewire was on my SX Furrian (Tele copy). It had the dime sized B250kΩ volume pot, a dime sized A250kΩ tone w/.047µF green Chicklet cap and PCB lever switch. It had the correct values on the components and sounded okay. I rewired it with the CTS full size pots, CRL switch, Switchcraft jack and a .047µF Orange Drop cap. I replaced the tiny wires (26 ga?) with slightly bigger 22 ga. wire. There was a noticeable difference in the articulation, especially the bridge p'up, while it's no name-brand/boutique p'up, it actually sounded decent. The neck p'up while it sounded better, was still muddy sounding. For me the rewire turned out to be more about the articulation/clarity of the sound coming from the pickups.

 

[numbfingers]

A well indoctrinated new owner will take it apart as soon as they get it. Dont play it for a while first that will only confuse you. Then they trash all the guts, then toss the body out and then decide the neck is crap as well. After replacing it all with premium parts, they have a so-so, pretty good guitar that only cost them about $1200
A year later its on Craigs list at $100

 

[dynosaur]

A well indoctrinated new owner will take it apart as soon as they get it. Dont play it for a while first that will only confuse you. Then they trash all the guts, then toss the body out and then decide the neck is crap as well. After replacing it all with premium parts, they have a so-so, pretty good guitar that only cost them about $1200
A year later its on Craigs list at $100

Hehe..

 

[Stratty]

A well indoctrinated new owner will take it apart as soon as they get it. Dont play it for a while first that will only confuse you. Then they trash all the guts, then toss the body out and then decide the neck is crap as well. After replacing it all with premium parts, they have a so-so, pretty good guitar that only cost them about $1200
A year later its on Craigs list at $100

Yep....

 

[vgp001]

The "wrong" value pots bother me in some imports. 500k pots with ceramic SC pickups is an invite for harsh IMO. 250k would be my main upgrade to the components you mention.

While the pickups will give the biggest sound improvment, they are not the place to start modding. So many times I read on this forum that a person buys some really expensive pups and it did not change much! I for one, upgrade the electronics and tuners, bridge if needed, quality strings are essential, a pickup swap is always the last thing I consider, and often, I feel that the base improvments are enough. After all, I am a couch player and don't need a mega-buck pickup just to make me feel better.

..........poppa

Seriously, guys. This is the best advice.

In my MII Squier Affinity Strats, the pickups have DC resistance readings of about 3.5 kOhms. This has to be them using a lot less magnet wire for the pickups. Couple that with the 500K mini pots and you have a shrill sounding guitar.

Although, this setup works and is a viable sound if that's what you want or can deal with.

IF the basis of the guitar is good - structurally sound and stays in tune, changing the electronics will warm up the sound. Pots, then pickups. I'm contemplating changing out the bar magnets and slugs with alnico rods (along with the pots) to see what that's like.

The switches are pretty lightweight (in the cheap sense), but they're quiet and work. Replace them when they break.

As for the tuners and bridges, I deck my bridge and don't use the fulcrum vibrato much. What come stock is ok with me.

 

[nmorales30]

Hi in my Squier II Stratocaster I replace the pickups for three American Strat, tuners, pots, knobs and selector switch (you can see it in http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/squier-strat-forum/223103-strat-ii-s9-korea-3.html ) and the way It sounds now is by far much better.

Original circuit

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New circuit (all Fender)

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Original Pot and new a little difference.

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[Rockape]

I changed my pots and switch for higher quality items, because I get a good feeling from knowing this is what the inside of my guitar looks like:

Instead of this:

One pic is from a CV 60's and the other from a CV 50's but I modded both in the same way.

They don't sound a whole lot different, but it is good to know the higher quality internals now (at least) match the quality of the parts you can see.

 

[Def Jef]

A well indoctrinated new owner will take it apart as soon as they get it. Dont play it for a while first that will only confuse you. Then they trash all the guts, then toss the body out and then decide the neck is crap as well. After replacing it all with premium parts, they have a so-so, pretty good guitar that only cost them about $1200
A year later its on Craigs list at $100

You seem to have described the situation perfectly. Just think of all the playing time wasted on mods. David Gilmour was interviewed with the statement, "No matter what guitar you play you always seem to sound like you." I can imagine his slow smile as he replied, "I've noticed that." Mind you, he's one of the most afflicted modders going so perhaps a bad example.

 

[Jfernan]

My CV Simon Neil came with high quality materials except for the cheap electronics. So i upgraded the electronics, bridge , switch and put in a new rail pup ( wanted bigger bridge balls) and now the guitar is all equal in quality parts. On my avri all i did was change out the cap and new pups, just beacuse i like D.Allen pickups.

 

[Rockape]

I always vowed not to mod any guitar that 'worked'...and CV's 'work' well, but so impressed was I with the overall quality of my first CV model, that I decided to inspect the internals; Pickups?...excellent! (not overly impressed with the wires mind), but when I saw those mini pots and the switch, I had a very rare desire to 'upgrade' those parts.

I didn't much care for the tort guard either, so that went (replaced with a mint one).

The thick bevelled pickguard had to go on my 50's CV models too.