Is it possible to improve a squier strat?

Lestratcaster · June 2019

Can't remember if I've asked this before so apologies if I've repeated myself.

Got a 1998 Fender squier strat, was my first ever I got from mum and dad when I was 13/14. About 7 years ago I put a Seymour Duncan "Everything Axe set" into it and although it plays better than the stock pickups I'm still not 100% happy with how it sounds. I can't sell it as its got sentimental value.

What else can I do to improve the sound a bit? Might put BKP's in there but don't know what one to get. Also I may change pots and I've been advised to put a base plate as well, how does that affect/improve the tone?

Cleans aren't shimmery enough and lack warmth. Dirty tone the sound is brittle and lacks low end.

If you imagine the David Gilmour/Eric Clapton custom guitar tones and the Green Day "Dookie" album dirty sound that's the kinda sounds I'm after! Jut without spunking thousands on the actual guitars. Haha.

Grumpyrocker · June 2019

Have a look at Iron Gear pickups. They are inexpensive but sound fantastic.

JD50 · June 2019

What don't you like about the sound at the moment?
Seymour Duncan have a tone chart on their website which may help.

Rabs · June 2019

Put a humbucker in it

Lestratcaster · June 2019

JD50 said:

What don't you like about the sound at the moment?
Seymour Duncan have a tone chart on their website which may help.

Lack of warmth on cleans, and weak dirty sound, brittle and no balls/bite

Lestratcaster · June 2019

Rabs said:

Put a humbucker in it

My temptation was to put a JB in the bridge, the full size one, not the Jnr.

viz · June 2019

You could try a set of fender lace sensors - or one in the bridge to fatten it up

Rabs · June 2019

You can also buy preloaded guards... AxesRus do some nice stuff...
https://www.axesrus.co.uk/Loaded-Pickguards-s/2249.htm

Lestratcaster · June 2019

Grumpyrocker said:

Have a look at Iron Gear pickups. They are inexpensive but sound fantastic.

Any particular one? They got some good reviews on there, I'm tempted to whack one set in there as they're not really expensive!

Rabs · June 2019

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-USA-Stratocaster-HSS-Pickups-on-Loaded-Pickguard-Black-CTS-CRL-Strat/293117042736?hash=item443f232030:g:TJoAAOSwul9c~jGX

Fez · June 2019

If replacing the pick ups again is an option I would look at Oil City pick ups. The Stone tones are great and you could have an overwound bridge pick up with a base plate. A steel tremolo block might help a bit. Better quality pots might also be worth a go.

Lestratcaster · June 2019

Fez said:

If replacing the pick ups again is an option I would look at Oil City pick ups. The Stone tones are great and you could have an overwound bridge pick up with a base plate. A steel tremolo block might help a bit. Better quality pots might also be worth a go.

Yeah if I can't achieve anything by leaving the pickups in there I will change them out again. I only got the SD set just to get something else in there instead of the crappy stock ones.

scrumhalf · June 2019

Practice more, it'll sound better.

HerrMetal · June 2019

Apart from your choice of pickups and pots (250K vs 500K etc) for not much money you can potentially add the Fender Mex Bridge with bigger block and bent steel saddles - check the dimensions on string spacing and screws holes on your guitar. I used Fender 0071014049 .. sourced from Rich tone if I remember right. A definite improvement on the standard Squier unit on my guitar. Some folks swear that tremolo springs have an impact too so given the sentimental value you may as well do those too. My Squier ('97) is much more 'stratty' with those things done. Mind you I have cloth ears and would find it hard to articulate it better than 'stratty-ness'. There is loads of further reading on the subject on the dedicated Squier talk forum.