Squier Strat as project guitar?

Hey guys dont know much about the aspects of a guitar but I am very interested. I was thinking of picking up a used Squier Strat for $50 and making it a project. Sanding it down, repainting it, possible custom inlays and change the pickups and electronics.

I look at this as a good opportunity to learn about building and customizing a guitar. My question is what is the main reason squier strats dont get much love? Meaning is it just the pickups and electronics that make them not so great. Or is the wood and just generally everything about the guitar not so great.

My thought is if the shell of the guitar is fine, electronics can always be changed.

Basswood or agathis bodies are usually a bit of a turnoff. I'm not a fan of agathis myself. Basswood is fine, but dents easy.

I pretty much gutted a Peavey predator and replaced everything, save the paint, jack plate, and the string tree. It has a poplar body, a wood Fender used in the '70s when there wasn't any alder. Sounds fab with toneriders in it.
Could be another possible avenue for you.

If the neck is straight, I think a $50 Squier Strat is a good chassis for your project. The neck feel is the make-or-break for me, gotta be sure you'll end up with a guitar you like to play after the work is done.

If the neck is straight, I think a $50 Squier Strat is a good chassis for your project. The neck feel is the make-or-break for me, gotta be sure you'll end up with a guitar you like to play after the work is done.

yeah i havent checked it out yet, but he claims '"it has an amazingly great neck for a squier"

and thanks audiohate i will look into that

yeah i havent checked it out yet, but he claims '"it has an amazingly great neck for a squier"

and thanks audiohate i will look into that

I think that's just sales talk, as Squiers (in my experience) tend to have pretty good necks anyway - it's the body wood, electrics and tuners that could potentially be areas people are less keen on (but they could all be fine).

Because of the potential soft wood under the original finish, I'd do the new finish over top of the old.

I've modded a Squier Strat with great results. Mine has the "rosewood" fingerboard and is a pretty nice neck (may be the nicest feature of the guitar). If you want to work on electronics, then yes, go ahead and spend the $50.

The bodies have a real thick coat of poly and you never know what is underneath. They're not real good refinish or relic candidates. Have fun!

For a Franken-caster project I think $50 sounds like a bargain. I have a (horror horror) Affinity Squier Strat that I bought just because I wanted the quacky inbetween pickup sounds and I love it. I know the pickups are possibly weak, I know the electronics are possibly cheap, but it plays really nicely (great neck) and sounds the business to these ears (I only play at home). Infact the only thing I don't like about it is it has a thinner-than-usual body. Makes the guitar very light though. I think most other (non-Affinity) Squier strats have the standard thickness body. I'll replace it one day I imagine.

Go for it!

If you want to learn to work on stuff, a $50 guitar is a great place to start. If you totally screw it up, you're not out much. I think a $50 Squier would make a great platform for learning how to do finishing, reapairs, mods, etc.

As far as overall quality, they just don't have it. Not that they are bad guitars for the prices they sell for, but they are just not high quality instruments. I do not understand the interest in buying a Squier, and spending so much on mods that you could have just bought a better guitar to begin with, and not be left with a Squier that you've put $200-$400 into, that is still only worth $100 if you decide to sell it. That I do not get, and never will.

However... If one were to buy one with the intention of using it as a learning platform, and did tons of mods, upgrades, and a refin for that purpose, it would make a ton of sense. Much better to do that learning and experimenting on a $50 guitar than a $500-$1000 piece. If you ruin a $50 guitar you really haven't lost much. If it turns out great, you can confidently use your new skills and knowledge on whatever you want.

My only experience of buying Squier is my tele - 1997 Korean model, black/white with maple neck. A great guitar in its own right - it's been played through a decent sound system to hundreds of people and when anyone's commented on it I've always proudly declared that I got it for £50 on eBay.

In comparison to my Aria strat (a massive step up at £75!) it's quite heavy and the pickups are quite weak. I needed to replace the loose jack socket but that's due to a general telecaster design flaw. Otherwise I think it's a fantastic guitar and if I had the room and didn't need the money it'd definitely be one of my two guitars. It may still be, but I'm loving the strat a bit too much.

I love Squier Strats, I must, I have three. All of them Fender Japan instruments, but I've gotta say, the Chinese ones are pretty nice. More than good enough for a practice guitar.

If you want to learn to work on stuff, a $50 guitar is a great place to start. If you totally screw it up, you're not out much. I think a $50 Squier would make a great platform for learning how to do finishing, reapairs, mods, etc.

As far as overall quality, they just don't have it. Not that they are bad guitars for the prices they sell for, but they are just not high quality instruments. I do not understand the interest in buying a Squier, and spending so much on mods that you could have just bought a better guitar to begin with, and not be left with a Squier that you've put $200-$400 into, that is still only worth $100 if you decide to sell it. That I do not get, and never will.

However... If one were to buy one with the intention of using it as a learning platform, and did tons of mods, upgrades, and a refin for that purpose, it would make a ton of sense. Much better to do that learning and experimenting on a $50 guitar than a $500-$1000 piece. If you ruin a $50 guitar you really haven't lost much. If it turns out great, you can confidently use your new skills and knowledge on whatever you want.

awesome advice, and for the record i would not be dropping huge money on it, my goal would be to get the best parts that i can, for the best price that i can. either on e bay or CL. I will probably set myself a cap limit and try to stay under it. I want it for more of a learning platform like you said and if it turns out great, then awesome i got another guitar to kick around! and if it doesnt well then i have a guitar to kick around ;)

I have a Squier Standard Strat that I bought for the same reason. It now has a set of Dimarzio Area 58/61 pups, a proper American Strat switch and pots..... I have an American Strat and a Gibson LP...... The Squier is still one of my favorites.

Just try to stay away from the Affinity series.