Squier '51 Vintage Modified - Yeah!

[SuperSwede]

That fender looks really sweet! I wonder what the price will be on these guitars!

 

[r_a_smith3530]

RA
Fender has done one too. I've seen a photo of it from the NAMM show. It is a quality version of the 51.
Check it out. http://www.gakkiya.jp/fender_new.html

Spudman, I'll bet that model is not available here, unless you go through someone like GuitarGai of Japan. It's a Fender of Japan model, and not all of those were imported here to the US. But, if it was at NAMM? I checked, and it's not listed at the Fender dot com website. I didn't see one at GC when I was there the other day.

Hmm, this one uses the Tele Thinline pickguard, but not a Tele neck.

I like the look of that ESP better though, and it's available locally.

 

[Justaguyin_nc]

Well, I Kinda see how the ESP looks something like the 51 with the control layout but the rosewood Gibson'ish head really throws it off... If your likes is just for a top of the line Single/Humbucker combo the Peavey Cropper Classic been around awhile which has the split coil and all going for it...http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=511353

I think the Squier_51 is what it is with a good maple tele neck to boot and at it's price adding the better pots to it with some wire and maybe even string-thru would probably be better then buying any of the above mentioned guitars... ofcourse thats just my opinion..:R :R :R

 

[Justaguyin_nc]

You know something not mentioned and might add to the sound of the 51.. the neck pickup... it actually sits back farther then a strats or tele's and has the angle of a bridge pickup on a strat or tele....

 

[Matt]

You know something not mentioned and might add to the sound of the 51.. the neck pickup... it actually sits back farther then a strats or tele's and has the angle of a bridge pickup on a strat or tele....

Thats always somehting thats mysitified me- why do they angle the neck p/up? merely to get best output or what?

regards

Matt

 

[Bloozcat]

Replacement Bridge For '51's

I haven't checked in for a while and I've noticed some discussion about the '51's less than perfect bridge (to say the least). I recently installed this bridge from Guitar Fetish and I can honestly sat that it is a great improvement over stock, and it's so cheap, it's sick.

Cost: $11.95 plus $5.00 shipping.

Here's a review of the bridge that I did for another site:

Well, yesterday was the day to install the new GFS bridge on my '51 and here's my initial impressions:

Ease of installation: Installation didn't pose any difficulties worth noting, really. Most of the holes didn't line up as noted by others, but with the old toothpick trick it was easy to guide the screws into new holes. The back middle screw hole can be made by simply starting a hole with an awl and allowing the screw to cut it's own threads. Basswood is like that...

String set-up: Stringing the guitar is so much easier with this bridge than with the stock one. The downward angle of the string path as it passes over the bridge saddle to the string end retaining hole in the back of the bridge is noticably better than with the stock bridge. The saddles themselves are very easy to adjust. With the two E string saddles having guide slots beneath the height adjustment screws on the bridge plate, there is no side-to-side movement of the saddles when playing...particularly when bending strings (* in all fairness, the stock bridge also has this feature*). Setting string height was a snap. When I got the strings to the desired 1/16" action, the adjustment screws protruded only slightly from the saddles causing no inconvenience or discomfort when resting the heal of the hand on the bridge.

Intonation: Setting intonation was very easily accomplished, with plenty of necessary travel in the saddle/screw adjustment.

Tone & sustain: This is the area where I was most pleasantly suprised. After reading the comments of others, I expected that I would lose the "plinky" sound, and the "buzz" that the stock bridge exhibited. What I was pleasantly suprised to find was that the bridge really enhanced the tonal qualities of the guitar as well. Open and fretted notes now ring clearer, with more chime and balance. For the first time I can now hear the wood's resonance in the notes and chords. Sustain is enhanced in that without the plink and buzz, the notes are free to decay more naturally. Since the strings that I replaced were less than two weeks old, I've discounted that effect on my evaluation as well. It's really the bridge!

Conclusion: This is the best $12.00 you can spend on a Squire '51. Even if you do no other mods, this one alone will make the '51 a better sounding and playing instrument.

 

[Robert]

Thanks man, that is great info! Does it really make the guitar sound a lot better?

 

[r_a_smith3530]

You know something not mentioned and might add to the sound of the 51.. the neck pickup... it actually sits back farther then a strats or tele's and has the angle of a bridge pickup on a strat or tele....

Yeah, Justaguy, that has me scratchin' my head too! It's in a kind of middle position. Maybe that's a "sweet spot" for tone!

BTW, another possible choice for a bridge, even more solid than the Guitar Fetish piece, would be either of these ones from Stew-Mac.

Schaller roller bridge

Hipshot bridge

 

[Spudman]

I think Guitar Fetish also has a replacement that strings through the body. Set it - drill - place ferrules - play.

 

[Bloozcat]

I think Guitar Fetish also has a replacement that strings through the body. Set it - drill - place ferrules - play.

I was all set to install a string through bridge until I spoke with someone who has a few '51's that he's modded. He did the string through on a couple of them, and recently did one with this GFS bridge. He said that there was negligible difference in performance and tone to the extent that he would not do another string through. He'll only do top loaders from now on, and he said that for the money vs. performance, the GFS is too good a deal not to use it. After installing mine, I concur.

Installing a string through bridge is certainly not rocket science, but you do have to be careful how you go about doing it...that is if you want the holes for your string ferrules to line up properly. A drill press is a must for starters. Then using the bridge plate as a guide, you need to drill your two outside holes from the top of the guitar through the body. Flipping the body over, you then have to use the bridge plate as a guide and mark the remaining four holes in line. Then drill out each hole to the size neecessary for the string ferrules. After this is done, you flip the guitar back over (topside), and using the bridge plate again as your guide mark the spots for the other four holes and on the drill press, carefully drill them through to the string ferrule holes on the bottom side. When you're finished, all of your string ferrules on the back side of the guitar should be perfectly aligned, and all your string holes on top should be exactly where the holes in the bridge plate are when the plate is screwed into place. It's advisable to use masking tape on all surfaces that you plan to drill through to avoid chipping, and if you have a Forstner drill bit set use it...they make cleaner holes.

Robert, the bridge does make a difference in tone, mostly because it allows the guitars natural tone to come through. The stock bridge with it's buzzing and loose plinking sounds dampens the natural resonance of the guitar. The bridge doesn't add anything that isn't already in the guitar, it just lets that which is there come through unimpeded.

 

[r_a_smith3530]

Some tonewoods lend themselves better to string-through than others. I guess that the Basswood of the Squier '51 doesn't. Make sure that, whatever bridge you use, it is securely attached to the body. That will make or break your instrument's sustain!

 

[Spudman]

Thanks for the bridge tips Blooz.

I'm not sure that I can relate to all the problems people are talking about their bridges. I have no problem with mine. The holes are at the bottom of the the back bridge plate and there is plenty of angle over the saddles. The guitar never goes out of tune or buzzes. Maybe I have a different version of the bridge where this problem got addressed? Who knows. It's a cool little axe for sure though.