Project Summary – Bullet Strat
Squier Bullet Stratocaster Mods
My first project was a 2010 Squier Bullet Stratocaster in Daphne Blue, which I customized extensively with upgraded components and a few cosmetic changes.
My mods include:
Vintage Kluson-Style Split-Post Tuners
Aged Pearl Pickguard
Fender Aged White Accessory Kit (knobs, pickup covers, switch tip)
Fender Mexican Vintage 6-Screw Steel Saddle Bridge
Fender Tex-Mex Pickups with Jimmie Vaughan Wiring
CRL (USA) 5-Way Selector Switch
CTS 250k Ohm Volume and Tone Pots
NOS “Mustard” Tone Capacitor, .022 uf
Switchcraft (USA) Output Jack
Vintage Style Cloth Wiring
Copper Cavity Shielding
All of the upgrades are documented in these posts:
Beginning my first guitar “modding” project:
Deciding whether the project is over the top:
http://amateurluthiery.wordpress.com/2011/07/08/a-few-words-on-out-of-control-mod-budgets/
Practicing soldering skills for the upcoming electronics upgrade:
http://amateurluthiery.wordpress.com/2011/09/04/soldering-practice/
Upgrading the stock Squier tuners:
Shielding a Stratocaster to reduce electrical noise:
http://amateurluthiery.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/shielding-a-stratocaster%C2%AE-body/
Rewiring a Stratocaster and changing pickups:
Finishing the Stratocaster Project:
wow! Am I glad I found your site. I just picked up a Daphne Blue from China and was looking to do almost the EXACT same mods. Course I’ve only done a few minor mods on guitars before, so I will definitely be referencing your guide. Thanks!
I hope my posts will be of some help. I think I eliminated almost all the Bullet’s minor shortcomings. I may yet fit a bone nut someday, but I haven’t had any issues with tuning stability since I installed the new tuners.
This was the first time I did any mods at all to a guitar, so with any previous experience you should be ahead of the game.
Can you let me know the exact model of TUSQ XL for Strat you installed? There are two different kinds: 1 with a “male” notch at the bottom, and the other is a flat bottom? See this link: http://www.graphtech.com/products.html?SubCategoryID=91
thanks!
Geoff – The “curved” bottom nut (PQL-5000-00) is something of a “universal” Strat/Tele nut; it can be used in both flat and curved nut slots. If the slot is flat, use the nut as-is. If it is curved, file or sand the small piece from the center of the arch to fit the curve.