How To “Custom Shop” Your Squier

A few weeks ago, we shot out 5 levels of Jazzmasters, and I thought that the Squier Classic Vibe was a lot of guitar for the money. So, we decided to "Custom Shop" the Squier with some upgraded parts, some tricks from Ben at Big House, and a good setup, to see how close we could get to the real thing.

Huge thanks to Ben and all the crew at Big House Guitars for helping me out with this one, definitely check them out if you're in the Atlanta area
Instagram: @BigHouseGuitar

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Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster:

Fender '59 Custom Shop Jazzmaster:

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920D Custom Jazzmaster Wiring Harness:

Graph Tech String Saver Saddles:

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Want to get in touch?

[bobbywintle]

Rhett, I am absolutely blown away dude. I don’t even know where to begin. You and Tilly becoming family so quickly is something I will cherish forever and this guitar and video will constantly remind me of these past few months and the beautiful moments we’ve shared from eating delicious ribeye with our hands in my kitchen to producing a live recording of 7 artists in 24 hours in my bike shop. Thank you just doesn’t seem to cut it. I’ve been so busy I didn’t get to watch the whole video until tonight and I literally had no idea you were sending me the Jazzmaster until it was at my home and in my hands. Love you and Tilly forever. Can’t wait to play this guitar with you soon. ❤ Now I got me a Jazzmaster!!! Thank you my friend. I’m speechless and that doesn’t happen ever.

[Charlesbabbage]

The main take away is that what really makes a guitar sound good is the person playing it.

[chrishyde]

I'm off to a bad start: I can't hear anything wrong with the stock Squier.

[adamalexanderray]

I closed my eyes during the initial comparison and really listened. Before you did anything both sounded great in their own way anyway.

[robbiegore]

Just wanted to note for anyone who feels that the custom shop model sounds a little “warmer” than the upgraded squier… the custom shop has been using 250k pots in their jazzmasters as of late.

It’s not true to the original design, but many people prefer the sound. So it’s another switch worth considering if you find your jazzmaster a touch too bright.

All that said, great video on some truly transformative and affordable upgrades Rhett! Keep it up!

[SStudiopro]

Hey Rhett, I am a guitar technician in Los Angeles Ca, this video solidifies what can be done to “most” less expensive guitars. I say most cause some cheaper guitars are cannot be deemed playable due to a severely warped neck, frets although frets can be serviced and be very good. All in all, with a little $$ even cheap guitars can be made to play and play very well.every once in a while one slips through and only needs pick ups and there are so many aftermarket pickup brands that you can purchase pickups south of $100.00 and you be hard pressed to hear the difference. Thanks Rhett. Tim Russell Guitar.

[nohillforahighstepper]

When I was touring, I used to do this to my Squiers. Obviously, money was always tight. So, finding quality guitars at affordable prices was impossible.
You used to be able to find pawn shop deals and hotrod them to make useable stage instruments.
I haven't been in a pawn shop in decades. So, I don't know if that is still true.
My last "build" was a Squier standard Tele. I put in Custom Shop Texas Specials and added a middle Strat pup. I didn't have a router but careful use of a wood chisel worked just as well. I also replaced all of the wiring, pots, caps and replaced the 3 way switch with a 5 way. I could have installed a push/pull tone pot to get a ton of pickup selections but I chose to wire the 5 way with my own preferences of pickup combinations.
Most of my pawn shop builds found homes with young and promising pickers that couldn't afford a decent guitar.
My last Squier Tele build, I kept. I still drag it out occasionally. It still plays and sounds great.
😊😊😊

[asifasgar]

I closed my eyes while listening to the sound comparison and every time i preferred the squier

[xlankex]

Having built a few guitars with my Dad I'd take doing a custom job all day. You can make it EXACTLY what you want it to be. The bigger thing to me though is because you are doing all that stuff yourself, it really makes the guitar feel like it's yours. The ones we've built will never EVER be sold. The personal connection we have to them is something you just can't replicate and I love it.

[WilliamHaisch]

18:29 I did this trick with my 1998 Epiphone Les Paul. Every few years, I break out the 0000 steel wool and make about 4 passes over the back of the neck to make it less sticky! 😊

[Andrew_Holley]

100% what I do. Have a standard tele, an old Epiphone 335, and a player Strat that have all been “custom shopped”, and I always get tone compliments every show.

Also, Ben is the 🐐

[Duds.]

Les Paul player detected at 22:26 :P

The comparison in the end... I can keep listening to it for all day long, awesome!!!

To me, low end is something I believe cannot be achieved in a cheaper guitar no matter which component is upgraded. This is what I noticed not only on this video, but on other similar ones.

Cheers

[veljkosimovic]

I did this to Harley Benton TE-62 Telecaster. Replaced pickups with custom wound ones, replaced electronics, had a proper setup from a good luthier and some smaller neck adjustments. It sounds amazing and it is not as heavy weighted as everybody is saying. The biggest difference of course was in pickups, but the rest also does it's a part more or less. If you don't have a budget for expensive Fenders, Gibsons etc., try this. It definitely can work, you just need to find a cheaper guitar that "rings". In other words, that is made from decent piece of wood. If that is the case, these mods can take the instrument to a really good place. :)

[saltyfeet]

great sounding gotta love the "pinche way" street sign behind Ben at 13:54 !!!!

[KevinniveK]

Honestly, the stock Squier sounds pretty great.

[cheintz]

Getting the plastic wrap off in one piece - so satisfying

[bldallas]

Great job and killer gift for the Bike guy! I enjoyed watching you and Josh in the video of the gravel race and gig. The bike guy will definitely love this guitar.

[benzakonium]

That screwdriver trick on the fretboard edges is great. Just transformed my unbound BFG Les Paul neck.

[RobertNolan]

I feel like it's the most overlooked things of any jazz/jag/stang modding adventure, but a shim is basically essential for these.

You mentioned the saddles can pop out due to the shallow break angle, and shimming the neck along with raising the bridge will fix that issue.

You picked the graphtech saddles which are great, but only if you use bushing inserts on the posts to immobilize it, otherwise it can't rock back and forth as the vibrato/bridge were designed.

Still a fantastic feature, I think for all you've done, the Squier is clearly a fantastic choice for testing different parts and pickups. For someone who wants the most traditional option, a used Vintera I is not far off the price of the CV modified. Being an owner of a few custom shop pieces, I'm well aware of how fantastic the work is and so I may personally lean towards a vintage correct CS option.

[shanebolender]

I bought a Squier Stratocasters vintage 70s and it is the best feeling strat I ever owned. I did replace the pickups to the Cradle Rocks and the tuners to what is on Robin Trower strat. It is now a beast.