Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 8

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Finishing Touches

The upgrade job on Blackie is nearing completion. These are the completed mods at the time of writing:

• Aluminum foil shielding
• CTS 250K pots
• Oak Grigsby 5-way selector switch
• 0.022µF and 0.047µF capacitors
• Fender Tex-Mex pickups
• Switchcraft #11 output jack
• Ground lug from volume pot to body cavity shielding
• Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod
• Five tremolo springs
• Wooden tremolo block

The Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod incorporates two wiring schemes: the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and "Gibson ‘50s wiring on a Stratocaster," the brainchild of guitar guru Dirk Wacker. By the way, I'm going with a .022µF cap for the neck pup tone pot and a .047µF cap for the bridge pup tone pot. Now, on to the pics.

Vaughan-Wacker Strat Wiring Mod

Pots and Switch Wired In

Closer view of the switch and pots.

After wiring in the pickups.

Fender Tex-Mex Pickups

Closer view of the pickguard wiring.

Wiring Completed

Five springs and a wooden tremolo block.

Awaiting Aged White Fender knobs

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Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 6

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Replacement Parts

Many thanks to YusTech for his invaluable advice concerning the appropriate replacement parts for the Squier. Muchas gracias to Mei Ling and Kenny of Bentley Music, as well as PosLaju; for making it happen. Oh yes, a big fat thanks for nothing to the two major guitar stores in Kuantan. Isn't it time you guys stocked what players really need instead of what you THINK we need?

Parts Have Arrived

Fender Tex-Mex Pickups

Switchcraft #11 Mono Output Jack

Oak Grigsby Five-Way Switch

CTS 250K Potentiometer

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Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 5

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Aluminum Foil Shielding

Thanks to the absence of any kind of conductive shielding tape in Kuantan, we have been forced once again to undertake an aluminum foil job. Thank you K****** Music and M***** Music for not bothering to stock guitar shielding supplies. I know, this is Kuantan and not KL. Bravo, way to go guys!

Body cavity shielding checks out OK.

Aluminum foil and 3M Spray Mount Adhesive

Pickguard shielding completed.

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Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 4

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Down to the Nuts and Bolts

Yup, have finally gotten down to the nuts and bolts of Blackie. For those of you who love stuff like this (as I do), enjoy :)

One of the tuning machines.

One view of the tremolo assembly.

Another view of the tremolo assembly. 

Pickups and electronics.

Neck pickup minus the cover.

Closer view of the selector switch and pots.

Output jack assembly.

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Squier California Series Strat Upgrade | Part 3

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Blackie Taken Apart

These pics were taken after Blackie was disassembled.

It says "Squier" on the neck plate.

Wood sliver shim in the neck pocket.

Tremolo Cavity

Pickup Routing

Control Cavity Routing

Output jack cavity, jack socket and jack plate

Ceramic Pickups

Mini 500K Pots and PCB Selector Switch

Closer view of the electronics.

2 tone capacitors!

Neck Heel

Neck heel from the side.

Fretboard Extension

Note the figured wood.

Truss rod adjustment nut at the headstock.

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