The Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster SSS,so here's the story, back in 2011 the Squier was all huge with this Classic Vibe thing. People are buying this guitar like nuts! Why? cause it has a great build and feel, and of course... TONE!! so... I want one for myself. The problem is.. I cant find any on my local dealers... out of stock they say... while I was craving for the strat tone, I just cant hold myself.. so I decided to buy the other TOP OF THE LINE that squier made, The Vintage Modified Stratocaster.
The Vintage Modified Stratocaster supposed to have the same quality as the Classic Vibe line, well pricetag-wise they should be better, cause at that time the Vintage Modified Stratocaster was the most expensive on the squier strat line, while the Classic Vibe strat sits on the second spot. so I put my money on it..
I bought the Vintage Modified Stratocaster used, mint condition. Bought the red metalic color, this thing strike you in the eye!! my friend even thought this is a Fender artist series or something cause of the color. lets talk about specs:
Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster SSS:
Body: Red Cedar
Neck: Maple with Rosewood fingerboard (21 medium jumbo frets)
Pickups: Duncan Designed SC101 set (neck - middle - bridge)
controls: 1 volume - 2 tone - 5 way switch
other features: H - S - H pickup cavity, shielded cavity
so my first impression was.... I LIKE IT!!it does need a good setup though to make it shine. did it and it plays well, the neck are quite slim, similar to the classic vibe. I sand the back of the neck to get that satin feel finish, easy to slide your thumb now. The Vintage Modified Stratocaster is great in it class, for the price I'd say it's better than the Fender Standard Strat (made in Mexico). Although in my opinion the Classic Vibe still beats the Vintage Modified out of the box, without modifications done.. the only thing that the vintage modified has a winning chance is on their striking finish! hahaha...
although I like the way the Vintage Modified Stratocaster in stock, I decided to make some upgrades on it. Here are some that I did:
1. Changed the nut with a graphtech Black TUSQ XL (matched the rosewood perfectly)
2. Changed the string tree with a graphtech string tree
3. Changed the pot and switch using CTS 250k pots and Oak 5 way switch
4. Changed the pickups!! using custom wound pickups from Ganee Pickups (he's a great Indonesian custom pickup maker) on the neck and middle I use a custom wound that is similar with John Mayer's Big Dipper, basicly a scooped mid sounding pickups, while on the bridge I use a custom wound similar to Seymour Duncan's SSL-5. all pickups with cream cover.
5. Send it to a luthier for a profesional set up includes fret leveling and dressing (this made the guitar a whole lot different)
after the mods, this thing is surely MY stratocaster. I've played an American Standard that my church has and this thing can hold it's ground against it. sure the american standard is a great guitar, but it's also an expensive one! the vintage modified stratocaster + mod doesnt even come close to that high of a price range. the tone it delivers of course is different than others, probably would be similar john mayers strat but not quite since the red cedar body is more of a brother to mahogany tonewise. anyhow I love my vintage modified stratocaster, in this age you could get a great guitar for a great price, you just have to bear the brand squier on it. I'm wearin it proud!
bless ya!
The Vintage Modified Stratocaster supposed to have the same quality as the Classic Vibe line, well pricetag-wise they should be better, cause at that time the Vintage Modified Stratocaster was the most expensive on the squier strat line, while the Classic Vibe strat sits on the second spot. so I put my money on it..
I bought the Vintage Modified Stratocaster used, mint condition. Bought the red metalic color, this thing strike you in the eye!! my friend even thought this is a Fender artist series or something cause of the color. lets talk about specs:
Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster SSS:
Body: Red Cedar
Neck: Maple with Rosewood fingerboard (21 medium jumbo frets)
Pickups: Duncan Designed SC101 set (neck - middle - bridge)
controls: 1 volume - 2 tone - 5 way switch
other features: H - S - H pickup cavity, shielded cavity
so my first impression was.... I LIKE IT!!it does need a good setup though to make it shine. did it and it plays well, the neck are quite slim, similar to the classic vibe. I sand the back of the neck to get that satin feel finish, easy to slide your thumb now. The Vintage Modified Stratocaster is great in it class, for the price I'd say it's better than the Fender Standard Strat (made in Mexico). Although in my opinion the Classic Vibe still beats the Vintage Modified out of the box, without modifications done.. the only thing that the vintage modified has a winning chance is on their striking finish! hahaha...
although I like the way the Vintage Modified Stratocaster in stock, I decided to make some upgrades on it. Here are some that I did:
1. Changed the nut with a graphtech Black TUSQ XL (matched the rosewood perfectly)
2. Changed the string tree with a graphtech string tree
3. Changed the pot and switch using CTS 250k pots and Oak 5 way switch
4. Changed the pickups!! using custom wound pickups from Ganee Pickups (he's a great Indonesian custom pickup maker) on the neck and middle I use a custom wound that is similar with John Mayer's Big Dipper, basicly a scooped mid sounding pickups, while on the bridge I use a custom wound similar to Seymour Duncan's SSL-5. all pickups with cream cover.
5. Send it to a luthier for a profesional set up includes fret leveling and dressing (this made the guitar a whole lot different)
after the mods, this thing is surely MY stratocaster. I've played an American Standard that my church has and this thing can hold it's ground against it. sure the american standard is a great guitar, but it's also an expensive one! the vintage modified stratocaster + mod doesnt even come close to that high of a price range. the tone it delivers of course is different than others, probably would be similar john mayers strat but not quite since the red cedar body is more of a brother to mahogany tonewise. anyhow I love my vintage modified stratocaster, in this age you could get a great guitar for a great price, you just have to bear the brand squier on it. I'm wearin it proud!
bless ya!
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