Turning a Squier Affinty into an Esquire (w/ Bigsby??)

[roth]

I was at the old Guitar Center yesterday and they were having their big sale - I was able to pick up a brand new in the box Squier Affinity in butterscotch for $99. They had about 20 of them - I almost picked up a couple.

Anyways - I am sitting here staring at this virgin guitar thinking how am I gonna modify this (I recently put a vintage bridge among other things on my MIM Standard) - and it hit me - ESQUIER!!!

I pulled the wiring diagrams off the Tele Resource section of this site and am now looking for a few parts, and need some advice:

1. What is a good traditional p/u to use for that classic ESQ sound?

2. Will a standard 5 hole guard fit the Squire 8 hole layout (not using 3 holes of course)?

3. Is there such a thing as a 3 saddle top loader bridge that will be a direct replacement for the existing modern bridge?

4. Are all of these questions answered in some magical "Converting your Squier" website?

Thanks for any help...

[ntasca]

I'm not sure whether any of those parts will be direct replacements or not, but since the guitar only cost you $99, i don't think i'd be scared in drilling a few extra holes to make things fit

[jwsamuel]

Not sure about the pickup, but I can answer the rest:

Originally Posted by roth

2. Will a standard 5 hole guard fit the Squire 8 hole layout (not using 3 holes of course)?

Yes. I put a 5-hole on my BSB Affinity and it fit fine. One or two of the holes were a bit off but it was no problem getting it on.

Originally Posted by roth

3. Is there such a thing as a 3 saddle top loader bridge that will be a direct replacement for the existing modern bridge?

Not a direct replacement. However, GFS sells a vintage bridge that can be used as string through or top loader. It will fit on the BSB body. You will have to drill new mounting screws and a small part of the outside existing holes will be visible at the edge of the bridge. You won't notice unless you look carefully.

Originally Posted by roth

4. Are all of these questions answered in some magical "Converting your Squier" website?

I wish.

Jim

[roth]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

Yes. I put a 5-hole on my BSB Affinity and it fit fine. One or two of the holes were a bit off but it was no problem getting it on.

Not a direct replacement. However, GFS sells a vintage bridge that can be used as string through or top loader. It will fit on the BSB body. You will have to drill new mounting screws and a small part of the outside existing holes will be visible at the edge of the bridge. You won't notice unless you look carefully.

Thanks for the great info - I am looking at the guards on allparts - they seem to be the only ones that advertise a black esquire style.

I am not familiar with GFS - is that guitarfetish.com?

EDIT: is this the bridge: http://store.guitarfetish.com/wicotebrbrsa.html

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by roth

Thanks for the great info - I am looking at the guards on allparts - they seem to be the only ones that advertise a black esquire style.

I am not familiar with GFS - is that guitarfetish.com?

EDIT: is this the bridge: http://store.guitarfetish.com/wicotebrbrsa.html

I used an AllParts Esquire pickguard.

GFS is Guitar Fetish

The bridge you linked to is not the one I used but it will work fine.

Jim

[roth]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

I used an AllParts Esquire pickguard.

GFS is Guitar Fetish

The bridge you linked to is not the one I used but it will work fine.

Jim

Just placed orders for the bridge from GFS and the guard from allparts... :D

Now I just need to find a pickup...

[Durtdog]

You'll get lots of opinions on pickups, thought I'd offer mine. I'm a fan of the Seymour Duncan Broadcaster. But my all time favorite vintage-wind pickup is the OC Duff "Nancy". Twaaaaangy.

[roth]

I think that Duncan Broadcaster is looking pretty good...

I was thinking of maybe adding a bigsby to this as well. Will this work with the vintage bridge I just ordered? And if so, should I string through the back of the bridge (top loader style) or over the back of the bridge?

[roth]

Looks like in the gallery here there are a few vintage bridges with bigsby's ...

Can anyone elaborate on how this is done?

Do the strings go over or through the back of the bridge plate?

[jwells393]

Is it just me or is the Bigsby crooked on the pink one in the above post?

[elgorgon]

Originally Posted by roth

Can anyone elaborate on how this is done?
Do the strings go over or through the back of the bridge plate?

Typically a dremel is used to grind down the back edge area of the bridge where the string passes from the bigsby. How much you want to grind away is up to you - from a slot to everything but the saddle mounting screw areas.
A few have the strings run through a hole in the rear bridge lip (like a toploader). I would imagine these would require something to prevent string breakage - plastic tubing or modified string savers.

[roth]

Originally Posted by elgorgon

A few have the strings run through a hole in the rear bridge lip (like a toploader). I would imagine these would require something to prevent string breakage - plastic tubing or modified string savers.

I just ordered a top loder style vintage bridge for this project - as the squier is top-loading.

Can you tell me more about the string breakage prevention - what is a string saver and how would I modify it?

[jwells393]

You're going to be better off grinding notches in the back lip so the strings pass through with no friction at all.

[roth]

Originally Posted by jwells393

You're going to be better off grinding notches in the back lip so the strings pass through with no friction at all.

Yeah - I think I will try a Bigsby on my Squier 51 instead - I just bought this kit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWN%3AIT&rd=1

Leave the mods on the affinty to just making it an esquire...

[elgorgon]

Originally Posted by roth

Can you tell me more about the string breakage prevention - what is a string saver and how would I modify it?

I didn't use the correct term as after googling String Saver I see it's a line of GraphTech saddles. Not sure what exactly they were called, but essentially it was graphite (or graphite lined?) tubing that you ran the string through and would sit on the existing saddle or string through hole, depending on where you were breaking strings. They were about a 1/8" long. I recall being pushed towards them by a salesman at Veneman's many moons ago. I cannot recall seeing these any time in recent memory so they may not exist anymore.

I did try a similar idea out on a Strat with a saddle burr but didn't like the effect - deadened the string (this is before I had the confidence to do my own work). However with your setup that likely won't matter as it will be behind the saddle and my application had it just up to the leading edge of the saddle.

You could roll your own by stripping a length of insulation off some spare wire. I'd make it a little bit longer than the width of the bridge's rear lip.
That said, dremeling out a V groove to each string-through hole in your bridge wouldn't be that difficult.

[jwells393]

I wouldn't have bought that one.......... but then that's me. That has a plastic plate and it's a "licensed" B-50 Bigsby.
A Fender "F" B-5 all metal kit is available for a little more ......... actually maybe $40 more.

[roth]

Originally Posted by jwells393

I wouldn't have bought that one.......... but then that's me. That has a plastic plate and it's a "licensed" B-50 Bigsby.
A Fender "F" B-5 all metal kit is available for a little more ......... actually maybe $40 more.

Oh well - live and learn - the squier 51 was only $100... and I am just learning to do these mods myself... it looks like I can buy the metal plate for $20-30... will that make a difference?

[jwells393]

Actually, on second thought, a $140 Bigsby on a $100 guitar doesn't make a lot of sense. The Bigsby on the Squier 51 should be cool. Here a '51 I modified a while back.

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[roth]

I love that color!!!

I also would like to compliment you on this beauty:



You are a master!!!

I think I will learn a lot turning my affintiy into an esquire and adding the bigsby to the 51, then maybe start a more ambitious project...

While I have your attention, can you point me to a good thread or website for tinting a neck - I was thinking of using the KIWI on both of the squiers....

[jwells393]

Thanks.......... but I'm just learning as I go. Others here can tell about the Kiwi method. It didn't work that well for me. I tint my necks with ReRanch Butterscotch lacquer followed by Deft Clear Gloss lacquer. The color on my '51 is Krylon Jade. It's a discontinued color but you might be able to find some remaining stock at Walmart or other Krylon dealers.

The Squier 51 and Affinity Tele are great guitars to develop your skills on. The Squier Mini-Strats are also great for refinish practice.......... and you end up with a great gift for a young player.

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