red sparkle + $100

[bottlenecker]

I couldn't resist a red sparkle squier bullet tele for $100 on my local craigslist. I really like the extra slim body and the (difficult to photograph) red flake. It's hard to get a pedal for that anymore.
I might even use this body with a good neck some day. For now this will be a B bender test mule.
The neck is straight, frets are gritty. It's pretty ok, for the price.
Body is top loader, which is nice because it will probably get an ashtray bridge. I think I have to try a spoon handle bender on the stock bridge first, and I'll convert it when I put a hipshot on it. A hipshot will quadruple it's value!

 

[Midnight Wine]

I like the thin/light bodies on those, though one frustrating thing is those dang 5-screw bridges aren't interchangeable with like, anything unless you get the drill out.

 

[bottlenecker]

I like the thin/light bodies on those, though one frustrating thing is those dang 5-screw bridges aren't interchangeable with like, anything unless you get the drill out.

I don't mind drilling. I could also just make a bridge to fit anything if I wanted to. A tele bridge is a pretty easy thing for me to make.
I'm not sure this body is light, but it is slim.

 

[bendercaster]

That's a great color. Is the fretboard rosewood? It looks nice from the pictures.

 

[bottlenecker]

That's a great color. Is the fretboard rosewood? It looks nice from the pictures.

No idea. I assume it's not, just because it's such a cheap guitar.

 

[d barham]

Yep, I’ve got one too. Couldn’t pass it up. Thought I’d convert it to a three saddle bridge plate and drop some hot pickups in it, etc.

In the end I just put it all back together as it was new. It’s really surprisingly good as is.

 

[bottlenecker]

I had a 5 hole mint guard around. A little easier on the eyes now, like it got it's braces off. 3 barrel bridge soon.

 

[John Stephen]

View attachment 1252812

I had a 5 hole mint guard around. A little easier on the eyes now, like it got it's braces off. 3 barrel bridge soon.

Where are you getting the 3-barrel bridge, if you don't mind my asking? I tried to find one for my Bullet Tele and I couldn't find one.

 

[bottlenecker]

Where are you getting the 3-barrel bridge, if you don't mind my asking? I tried to find one for my Bullet Tele and I couldn't find one.

I'm just putting the regular "fender pat. pend." bridge on it. Requires drilling.

 

[John Stephen]

I'm just putting the regular "fender pat. pend." bridge on it. Requires drilling.

Gotcha. Thanks.

 

[Lonn]

I like the looks but the thin bodies is what has kept me away from most Squier products.

 

[bottlenecker]

I like the looks but the thin bodies is what has kept me away from most Squier products.

Do most squiers have thinner bodies? I thought that was just the bullet. I don't like cheap guitars that are just less-good copies of something better. That's mostly what this is, but the slimmer body gives it a reason to exist. I wish they'd make the 80s bullets. Fender used to design cool cheap models that had their own thing.

 

[kris ford]

I like the looks but the thin bodies is what has kept me away from most Squier products.

Try a Squire Standard, full width! CV quality, modern featues. A5 pickups.

 

[Lonn]

I’ve owned over 100 Squiers so I know which ones have full thickness bodies, but there’s just not enough of them.

 

[kris ford]

I’ve owned over 100 Squiers so I know which ones have full thickness bodies, but there’s just not enough of them.

Yeah silly me..just read about the one you had with the black headstock paint that you removed.

It's hard to keep up with what you've owned Mister!

 

[bottlenecker]

Just mocking up a three barrel bridge. I still have to drill top loader holes in it. Or through holes in the body. Four holes to drill in the body to mount the bridge. Three very small holes will be left visible behind the new bridge.

@John Stephen

 

[John Stephen]

Nice project, and nice work!

 

[Matt Sarad]

I'm converting mine to an Esquire.

 

[groovemastergreg]

I converted mine to an Esquire. Hoagland Eldred wiring harness and custom shop bridge pu. Forget what year. Rocks and is light.

 

[elihu]

You've got a lot to live up to with that red Tele!

And you made the same changes I would have made.

Keep pickin'