blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Jan 26 2018 09:44 PM
Anyone here using a Squier or Fender "Standard" Stratocaster with 2-point bridge/tremolo unit and stock pickups/pots/3-way switch? What do you think about the model overall?
I have a line on a 2003 Squier "Standard" Stratocaster with 2-point bridge/tremolo unit and three (3) factory single coil pickups, I like the idea of the 22 fret neck but don't have any experience with the two-point bridge/tremolo units. Are there any drawbacks with the 2-point trem units?
I don't do heavy "dive-bombs" just mostly light trem use my question is:
Are the 2-point trem units as prone to damage ie. cracking the wood in & around the mounting studs of the body as some claim?
Are the 2-point trems difficult to set up?
Any comments on the stock Squier "Standard" Stratocaster pickups/pots/3-way switch?
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 05:02 AM
I really like the 2-point Stratocaster bridge it's a nicer fabrication and feels more comfortable, it took me a little while to get used to the flatter saddles, palm position. Setup is no more problematic than the vintage 6 screw.
From memory I think SG101 has only one reported issue of stud failure.
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stratdancer
Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 07:35 AM
All my American Standards use the two point. Never had a problem with it. Very easy to set up and use.
— The Kahuna Kings
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447
https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 07:53 AM
crumble wrote:
From memory I think SG101 has only one reported issue of stud failure.
Was that Staredge's Squier Strat? I've seen one or two other pics of that kind of failure besides that, but I think it's rare enough that it shouldn't be much of a concern.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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SinNombre
Joined: Nov 14, 2011
Posts: 79
San Diego
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 09:48 AM
I bought a Squire Standard Strat a few years ago to keep at a summer home. It is a very servicable guitar and has not had any problems, including the bridge. With its two point bridge and 22 frets it is sort of a poor man's American Standard/Pro. Another anology might be that a Squire Standard is to a Mexi Standard as a Mexi Standard is to an American Standard. They will all play well but when you spend more money you will get better electronics and other fine touches and maybe better resale value depending on what you spent.
The pickups in the Squire are alnico but I found them very weak and the guitar sounded much better when I put the pickups from my Mexican Standard in it.
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Redfeather
Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 03:56 PM
Having just spent some time studying up on the G&L Legacy and S-500, I'm wondering about the functionality of the 2 point layout. It seems that the one thing a regular 6 screw Strat bridge might have on it is that it can be decked flat against the body if you don't need or want the option to upbend and prefer a bit more stability. Is this the case?
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Jan 27 2018 05:26 PM
Thanks all.
I'm still waiting on answers from the shop before I commit to the purchase.
asked by "Richard":
"Was that Staredge's Squier Strat?"
No it's not, it's that I saw some of the pics online of some owners complaining of cracked wood and/or pulled out anchor posts in the bridge areas, some of whom likely abused the 2-point tremolo and damaged the body doing heavy dive-bombs. I've also seen a number of damaged 2-point trem Strat bodies for sale on Ebay over the years.
There are very few songs that I play which require a 22nd fret one of them being Penetration thus my desire for a Squier "Standard" or "Deluxe" Strat as the Fender profile necks are a bit "thinner" (not "Affinity 'thin'") than the one on my SX Liquid (which has a 22 fret neck). I did have a used Squier Deluxe Stratocaster for a short time, I picked it up on a whim, a deal too good to pass up, not long afterward someone made me a great offer on it so I sold it making a $125 profit, I don't think I played it more than twice before parting with it.
Last edited: Jan 27, 2018 20:31:39
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SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jan 29 2018 06:44 PM
Hi blackheartsfan, My strat is a '05 Squier Standard with a 2 point tremolo, and I am very fond of it. The pickups on it are very quiet. I've never had any problems with noise. They are not "hot" pickups, but I've found them to be very serviceable for surf music.
It is also a great guitar for modding. Because I got it cheap from a pawn shop ($55 USD, 3 years ago), I've been very bold trying things with it that I would be reluctant to try with an expensive Fender.
I do use the tremolo and I keep it in a floating position. No problems with staying in tune and the mounting studs are very sturdy.
And now I'm going to go off topic, but it might be of interest to anyone interested in modifying a Squier Standard 2-point tremolo.
My most recent mod was related to what crumble mentioned above, "...it took me a little while to get used to the flatter saddles, palm position." While I found the standard style alloy block saddles to be OK, I began to long for bent steel saddles. I just came to feel that I could get the edge of my palm down over the saddles better for muting by going "old school."
To accomplish this I bought the Fender Vintage-Style Standard Series Stratocaster Tremolo Assembly (Part 0071014049). This is the tremolo used on most Standard Series, Deluxe Roadhouse/Lonestar, and Blacktop Series Stratocaster models (Mexico) manufactured '06-Present.
This also allowed me to upgrade to a larger sustain block. The block is an alloy, but for now I'm subscribing to the theory that mass is more important than material (steel, brass, or titanium). In any event, it came with the trem assembly and I was curious as to whether it would work with the 2-point trem plate.
What I did was to remove the block saddles from the standard's tremolo plate and replace them with the Mexican's Fender stamped bent steel saddles. These will work because they have the same 2 & 1/16th string spacing. While I had the saddles off, I swapped out the sustain block. It fit with no problem, but I did have to purchase a Fender Tremolo Arm for Mexican Standard Strat to work with the block.
I'm happy with the final result, but the change is completely reversible should I ever change my mind.
Here are the old and new assemblies side by side.
Here's the final results.
And since this started with a question about the mounting studs, here they are.
— -Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
SSS Agent #777
Last edited: Jan 29, 2018 18:45:21
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Redfeather
Joined: Jul 30, 2016
Posts: 896
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Posted on Jan 29 2018 07:20 PM
I'm going to take this post a little farther out there and mention that I'm considering the creation of a custom 2-point vibrato system using those posts pictured above inserted through the outer holes of a Toronado bridge.
There would be no sustain block involved, though. The strings would simply go through the bottom of the piece and their ball ends would be pulled up against the underside. Then a Jazzmaster type spring arrangement would work on the raised ledge at the back.
The one issue I foresee is that it isn't a hardened steel stamping so the post holes might wear rapidly.
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Jan 29 2018 07:32 PM
SilverFlash wrote:
Hi blackheartsfan, My strat is a '05 Squier Standard with a 2 point tremolo, and I am very fond of it. The pickups on it are very quiet. I've never had any problems with noise. They are not "hot" pickups, but I've found them to be very serviceable for surf music.
It is also a great guitar for modding. Because I got it cheap from a pawn shop ($55 USD, 3 years ago), I've been very bold trying things with it that I would be reluctant to try with an expensive Fender.
I do use the tremolo and I keep it in a floating position. No problems with staying in tune and the mounting studs are very sturdy.
And now I'm going to go off topic, but it might be of interest to anyone interested in modifying a Squier Standard 2-point tremolo.
My most recent mod was related to what crumble mentioned above, "...it took me a little while to get used to the flatter saddles, palm position." While I found the standard style alloy block saddles to be OK, I began to long for bent steel saddles. I just came to feel that I could get the edge of my palm down over the saddles better for muting by going "old school."
To accomplish this I bought the Fender Vintage-Style Standard Series Stratocaster Tremolo Assembly (Part 0071014049). This is the tremolo used on most Standard Series, Deluxe Roadhouse/Lonestar, and Blacktop Series Stratocaster models (Mexico) manufactured '06-Present.
This also allowed me to upgrade to a larger sustain block. The block is an alloy, but for now I'm subscribing to the theory that mass is more important than material (steel, brass, or titanium). In any event, it came with the trem assembly and I was curious as to whether it would work with the 2-point trem plate.
What I did was to remove the block saddles from the standard's tremolo plate and replace them with the Mexican's Fender stamped bent steel saddles. These will work because they have the same 2 & 1/16th string spacing. While I had the saddles off, I swapped out the sustain block. It fit with no problem, but I did have to purchase a Fender Tremolo Arm for Mexican Standard Strat to work with the block.
I'm happy with the final result, but the change is completely reversible should I ever change my mind.
Here are the old and new assemblies side by side.
Here's the final results.
And since this started with a question about the mounting studs, here they are.
Thank you for the run down on the "Standard" Strat it is appreciated. I'm sure the factory pickups will suffice for my purposes. Now it's time for a decision, either the Squier "Standard" Strat or a used "Like New" Affinity Strat (which my blown out back will thank me for) that popped up locally in a bright Blue (yeah I'm a sucker where "nice" blue guitars are concerned actually all blues save for Baltic Blue).
Does anyone know if the 2009 Affinity Strat body with 3 single coil pickups is routed for a humbucker in the bridge position or if it has a "pool" rout (I know they offered a bridge humbucker version that year)?. I ask because I have an unused set of GFS Lipstick pickups ie. single coil neck, single coil middle, and bridge humbucker that need to be put to good use just like the 22 fret rosewood Squier "Standard" Strat neck that's also sitting in a box.
Last edited: Jan 29, 2018 19:35:53
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Jan 31 2018 05:49 PM
Well I've made my decision and placed my order, I went with a "Like New" 2009 Squiet Affinity Strat (black headstock logo) in beautiful "Metallic Blue" with maple fretboard neck. The guitar was a great deal, $100 with stand and strap, guitar was bought "New" and the girl quit after a few lessons. Body (paint) like the rest of the guitar in superb condition, the only drawback is it appears the owner left the sticker on the pickguard which left a spot as the plastic aged, a simple enough fix (I have a Brown Tortoise pickguard sitting in an envelope in addition to a White Pearloid one).
Though I would have preferred a Lake Placid Blue the Metallic Blue (a color I didn't know was available in the Affinity line) looks gorgeous, my back will appreciate the reduction in weight from a standard thickness body.
Upgrades will likely be minimal, a set of GFS all-steel saddles, an .047 cap, some 250k pots (we will see what it sounds like first) and I may mount the Squier "Standard" Stratocaster 22 fret rosewood neck that's been sitting in a box to my new acquisition.
Last edited: Jan 31, 2018 18:18:08
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SilverFlash
Joined: Jul 14, 2015
Posts: 478
Near Atlanta, GA
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Posted on Jan 31 2018 08:26 PM
Congrats on the new strat, blackheartsfan. There's a lot of value in the Squier line up and it sounds like you got a beauty. Post a picture when you get it setup the way you like it.
— -Tim
MyYouTubeChannel
My Classic Instrumental Surf Music Timeline
SSS Agent #777
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Feb 01 2018 07:14 PM
SilverFlash wrote:
Congrats on the new strat, blackheartsfan. There's a lot of value in the Squier line up and it sounds like you got a beauty. Post a picture when you get it setup the way you like it.
Here's a link to the original listing https://www.ebay.com/itm/332534939869
That "Metallic Blue" looks fantastic, hopefully it will look as good once it arrives. I typically don't buy from first time sellers on Ebay but have had good luck when I've done so. This seller was great communication-wise, she answered all questions in a timely manner (quite quick actually) providing serial etc. which allowed me to date the guitar and narrow down it's color and other specs.
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Feb 04 2018 12:06 AM
The 2009 Metallic Blue Squier Affinity Stratocaster (black logo) arrived today (Sat), appearance-wise she's one sweet beeatch, the color can best be described as "brillant" and "vibrant". The rest of the guitar is "Like New", no corrosion on metal save for the strings (I've had worse strings on guitars direct from the factory), frets will need a polishing to brighten them up.
I'll bet the girl who owned it played it less than three times before giving up, there's not a scratch or scuff on it anywhere. Cosmetic-wise the pickguard is shot, she left the Fender-Squier Affinity sticker on too long and it discolored, I'm already looking at replacement eight (8) hole pickguards on Amazon (haven't decided whether it will be single-ply White, Aged White, White Pearloid, Aged White Pearloid, or Mint Green) and it'll need a trem arm too in addition to Fender/Schaller-style strap locks. The guitar stand is one of the "high-end" ones and the strap is nice too.
Give me a few days for the weather to clear here in NW N.J. and I'll post some pics, right now we have snow and ice outside. It will have to be "natural" sunlight for photos as the indoor lighting won't do the finish justice. All-in-all a fantastic value at $100 for guitar, strap, stand, and shipping.
Last edited: Feb 04, 2018 00:10:06
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blackheartsfan
Joined: Jun 13, 2009
Posts: 274
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Posted on Feb 05 2018 05:17 PM
Thanks to all those that answered my questions on the 2-point trems.
For those who want to see the 2009 Affinity Strat in Metallic Blue I started it's own thread.
link: https://surfguitar101.com/forums/topic/30499/?page=1#p410942
Last edited: Feb 05, 2018 17:17:37
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