Cheap Guitars for modding recomendation part 1

Recently, I've written about how getting a cheaper guitar for the sake of modding can not only get you an instrument with quality but at the same time also a very rewarding experience. You can read about it here

If I were to presented with the question what guitars I will recommend for this, the first that will come to mind is the Fender Squier Stratocaster series. It doesn't matter which version of the Squier Stratocaster but most of them are generally decent for it's price. For example, the Squier Affinity series is a good platform to start with. Even though it may be a beginner's guitar, the QC of the instrument is generally decent (looking in terms of only the neck and the body). The parts are easy to replace and guarantees a very positive end product.

The neck has a C shape narrow neck, measuring 41mm at the nut with a radius of of 241mm. This sound radius although doesn't allow for low action, it however allows easier chord works (think Jazz Chords).

The body although Basswood is however deemed usually an "inferior" wood, I can assure to all my readers that Basswood in by no means inferior and in fact basswood is tonally similar between different pieces. Basswood has also been used by many well known artist such as Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, John Petrucci and Steve Vai.

The main problem with the guitar however is the inferior tremolo bridge that it comes installed with. This is usually one of the main things that kills off the tone of the guitar, considering the strings go through the Tremolo block, which is anchored on the body of the guitar. However, the good news is, the tremolo is easily replaceable and in fact, Guitar Fetish actually made a custom Brass Block Tremolo that is a direct drop into Asian or Mexican made Stratocaster.

The pickups however are below par which is expected of guitars of that price range. It is thin sounding and has too low an output for Rock lovers out there. However, as per majority of the guitars, all of the electronic hardware can be easily swapped out and in our age of the guitar parts that are available to us, we can easily replace the stock pickups with more than satisfying substitutions. Guitar Fetish once again has more than satisfying pickups in the price range that won't leave a hole in your pocket. For the tone purist, you can also consider Dimarzios or Seymour Duncans into the guitar. These branded pickups can definitely leave it's listener contemplating on the quality of the instrument.

Lastly, although the radius of the neck leaves the guitar unable to achieve that low and sick action, however that can be easily rectified by flattening the radius of the frets from 13 onwards. This is known as compound radius. It may seem daunting for first timers but I assure you it isn't as hard as it sounds.

For aspiring DIY-ers or just players who wants a hand in customizing and modifying guitars, do consider the Fender Squier Affinity Stratocaster as a starting platform and a gateway to a guitar you call your own.