I’ve modded this Squier twice. Spent over £200 on parts. Then I put it up for sale.
And then I changed my mind.
This is a 2004 made-in-China Squier Affinity Strat. I’ve had it since around 2005. For years it just sat on the rack, completely unplayed. I wanted to turn it into something I’d actually gig, rather than something that sat there looking at me.
So I modded it. Then I modded it again. This isn’t a build tutorial. I can’t show you the before, because it’s already done. This is the honest story of what I did, what it cost, and whether any of it was actually worth it.
Round One
Three things first.
I blocked off the tremolo. I fitted high-quality string trees. Both of those were for tuning stability. And I swapped the stock Squier pickups for a set of Regentone noiseless pickups.
Honestly, those Regentones had the perfect Strat tone. They sounded great.
But there was one problem. The body on this Squier is really thin, thinner than a normal Strat. The Regentones are basically stacked humbuckers, and they sat too tall against the strings. I couldn’t lower them enough. I pick close to the strings, so I was constantly hitting them. That percussive clunk came through the amp and drove me nuts.
So I modded it again.
Round Two: The Parts List
All of this came from eBay.
- Wilkinson WVS50IIK tremolo bridge: £43.90
- Hipshot staggered locking tuners: £65
- Wilkinson 60s alnico V Strat pickups: £40
- Tortoiseshell pickguard: £11.95
- Pre-wired wiring kit with a neck/bridge blend: £50
That’s £210.85 in parts, plus whatever the tech charged to fit it. I forget his fee.
I spent more on parts than the guitar is worth. I know that.
What Worked (And What Didn’t)
The pickups. I bought the Wilkinsons because I just needed anything that would make the guitar usable again. £40 for a set, cheaper than a single Seymour Duncan or Bare Knuckle. I rate them about 6 out of 10. Neck and middle are okay. The bridge is pretty nasty. Overall they’re fine, but I don’t think they’re much of an improvement over the original Squier ceramic pickups. I’d have put the originals back in, but I lost them.
The bridge. It’s a two-point trem. I prefer that to the standard six-screw system. My mistake: I thought a two-point would drop straight in. It didn’t. The original was six-screw, so a tech had to drill the body. That was on me. But the bridge itself is a solid bit of steel, and the tremolo arm feels nice.
The Hipshot locking tuners. Great. No complaints at all.
The pickguard. The original white one cracked and was falling apart. It wasn’t a tone decision. It wasn’t even an aesthetic decision. It was necessary. That said, the tortoiseshell matches the gold hardware really nicely.
The Uncomfortable Truth
I’m not sure I’ve actually made this guitar £210 better.
I haven’t turned a £100 or £150 guitar into a £300 guitar. The pickups aren’t great, and the tuning stability isn’t amazing considering what I spent on the tuners and the bridge.
Could I have spent more? Yes: a Gotoh bridge, better pickups, a new nut. But would that have turned this into an £800 guitar? I’m not so sure.
But here’s the thing. I do enjoy playing it. So maybe it was worth it.
I Almost Sold It
I had this guitar listed on eBay. I’d decided I wasn’t going to keep it. Then I started playing it to prep this video, making sure everything I was going to say was still true.
And I actually really enjoyed it. I’ve always liked the neck. I was playing it during a guitar lesson, and right after my student left I went on eBay and ended the listing.
It’s not for sale anymore.
Here’s what surprises me. My Nick Johnston signature Schecter Strat is sitting on the rack unplayed because it needs a setup. There’s a dead spot on one of the frets. And this Squier is getting played regularly.
The cheap modded guitar is outworking the expensive signature model. Not because it’s better. Because it’s set up and ready.
The Verdict
Would I do it again? No. Not this way.
I wouldn’t buy another Squier and mod it. I’d rather buy an £800 guitar than buy a £150 Squier and throw £650 of parts at it.
But I’m glad I modded this one. I learned a lot. It was fun sourcing the parts and planning it out. If you’ve got an old Squier lying around and you want to scratch that itch, it’s a fun project.
Would I gig it? I’m not planning to. I’d rather take my more expensive guitars. But in a pinch, I definitely could. It’s reliable, and the tech did a great job on the setup.
It’s not a £300 guitar. But it’s not a bad guitar either. It’s just a guitar I enjoy playing. It cost me more than it should have.
And I’m keeping it.
Have you ever modded a cheap guitar? Was it worth it, and do you still play it? Let me know in the comments.
And if you’re in or around Colchester and want help getting the most out of whatever guitar you’ve got, book a one-to-one lesson with me. You can see all the options on my pricing page.
Until next time, take care and enjoy your guitar playing.