NGD, Squire '51 to mod the hoohah out of... experience/advice?

[AprioriMark]

Last night, after trolling Craigslist ads during the day at work and replying to everyone selling a Squire (offering them 25-50 bucks so I can build guitars with W necks for friends, teehee), I was contacted by a guy who sent me pictures of his guitar.  According to him, no one else had contacted him.  Gee, I wonder why no one else had wanted to buy his $100 Squier with no pictures.  Long story short, it was a Squier '51, the TV yellow sorta colored one, and it was in absolutely perfect condition.  I wonder if he kept it in the original packaging.  It had the protective plastic still on it, which looked untouched.  50 bucks is what I ended up paying.

This is what it looks like, for those who don't know:

So, a few things.  I want to slap Roadhouse pickups in it for sure.  The neck is the worst neck I've ever seen on a Squier.  It's a comfortable weight, and looks cooler than I expected.  The hardware is decent, and I won't be replacing it (probably).

Questions:
1) Do any of you have experience with this guitar?  What have you done to it?  I know lots of people mod'd these cause they're weird, cool and cheap.
2) What neck should go on this?  Im thinking either birdseye/birdseye or all rosewood, but I'm open to thoughts.
3) Pickups?  I'm inclined to keep the humbucker/single combo, as I have P-90 guitars I'm happy with.
4) Other mods?

-Mark

 

[m4rk0]

cool! yes that is supposed to be the ultimate modding guitar! there are a bunch of websites dedicated to it!

is this the actual guitar/color ?

 

[kboman]

That guitar is really growing on me. Possibly the first time ever I've liked the str*t body shape - shame about the front cutout though.

 

[AprioriMark]

cool! yes that is supposed to be the ultimate modding guitar! there are a bunch of websites dedicated to it!

is this the actual guitar/color ?

I've spent most of the morning reading through some of those sites, and there are some great resources and ideas.  That's the actual color, but not the actual guitar.  It looks just like that, though.

-Mark

 

[AprioriMark]

I'm looking at these two necks in the showcase:

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?i=TN2355&Body=1&Path=Neck

or

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?i=vmt2178&Body=1&Path=Neck

-Mark

 

[JaySwear]

i'd be worried those two necks would be too heavy. the squier '51s are just light basswood. anyway, i've got one too! been thinking more and more about selling it now though. i'd rather have a new warmoth in a few months than a new squier in a couple weeks when i'm done modding it, so i think i'm going to put it back together and sell it. really cool guitars though!

 

[AprioriMark]

I wondered about that too, but it's a S shaped body with the strap button at the 12th fret.  And yeah, without a Warmoth neck, I'd never play this.

-Mark

 

[dbw]

I have an Indonesian squier and the body/neck is not compatible with standard Fender/Warmoth parts.  The heel of the neck is too thick.  YMMV!

 

[AprioriMark]

I have an Indonesian squier and the body/neck is not compatible with standard Fender/Warmoth parts.  The heel of the neck is too thick.  YMMV!

Really?  I've taken probably a dozen Indonesian Squiers and put Warmoth necks on the bodies, and never had that problem at all.  I had to redrill neck holes for 3 of them, but the necks always fit snugly.  Which model is your Squier?

-Mark

 

[JaySwear]

i think you should be fine with the 51 and fender parts because... mine came with an aftermarket mighty mite neck. i know mighty mite isn't exact fender specs, but it's pretty damn close. that being said, it definitely is true that some squiers will have trouble fitting fender parts depending on the model, when it was made, and where. i want to say it's the old popular MIJ squiers that have some trouble (along with some other models) but i can't say that and be 100% sure.

 

[AprioriMark]

Necro-bump!

Ok, so I am seriously torn here.  I'd sorta wanted to keep all the original parts just in case I ever wanted to return it to stock (in 50 years or whatever), but I'm really feeling the urge to have a mini humbucker in the neck, which would require routing.  What would you guys do?

Oh, I have a neck coming that I think will be very, very cool for this guitar... or else really bad.

-Mark

 

[RobR]

Drill, rout, paint, distress.... I'd pop another Full sized (splittable) bucker in the neck.... have fun!

 

[OzziePete]

I'm looking at these two necks in the showcase:

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?i=TN2355&Body=1&Path=Neck

or

http://www.warmoth.com/Showcase/ShowcaseNeck.aspx?i=vmt2178&Body=1&Path=Neck

-Mark

I'd be more inclined to look for a nice flame or bird's eye maple/maple neck...finished in vintage gloss I  reckon that would look sweet.

Also I'd look for a  vintage PAF style / chrome covered humbucker and a  half decent Strat pickup for the neck position.

Replace the tuners if they feel cheap too. Also maybe find a control plate to match that has some switch options or part out the pots and put push/pulls in?

 

[JaySwear]

I'd be more inclined to look for a nice flame or bird's eye maple/maple neck...finished in vintage gloss I  reckon that would look sweet.

now THAT would be sweet! a nice flame maple neck with that butterscotch color...

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

USAG is making 51 bodies now, so it's coming full circle.  Of course, the bodies cost more than what the whole guitar cost when Fender was making them, but you get to change your routes, and use different woods.