Loaded Pickguard

Posted in Guitar Parts by admin

Loaded Pickguard
can a squier be as good as a fender?

So here's the deal. I have a decent Fender Stratocaster that I love. However, sitting away in storage for years, I have a Squier Stratocaster that my mother bought my shortly before she passed away. It is approx. 1998 year. It is of sentimental value, and I know squier is fender's cheap beginners brand. But I just bought a vintage 1950s fender strat neck for it, and plan to put in a new loaded pickguard with lace sensor pickups in it. I know this may seem silly but this guitar is special to my just because it's from my beloved mother. I want to make it all that it can be. So assuming I put in good pickups and with the 50's genuine fender neck, what else do I need to upgrade to make it a true fender and not a squier? Thanks!!!

J.J., you are probably not going to like this answer, but if the guitar really has a special place in your heart, you should leave it alone. By changing the neck and the entire pickguard assembly, you have effectively lost the special intrinsic nature of the instrument. You would still need to replace the bridge assembly and the tuners with better components, if you truly want to make it into more of an upgraded instrument; but really, what you would have left of your original guitar is essentially just the body! Nope, I would recommend leaving it exactly as is, and take it out to play occasionally to honor your mother. Best regards, Dana