Squier Stratocaster Maintenance

Question

It's not that complicated to change the pickup covers and pickguard on the Squier Strat, is it?

Answer 1

Hello!  Absolutely not!  Just take your time, and it should take you between 1 and 2 hours to complete.  The process is simple:

1. Remove the strings.  Make sure to block the tremelo assembly, by placing a folded piece of heavy paper between the underside of the bridge and the top of the body.

2. Loosen the 6 screws holding the pickups to the pickguard, so that the pickups drop down into the body void.

3. Pull the 3 control k***s off.  Position your fingers on both sides of the k**b, as close to the pickguard as possible, and pry upward.  Remove the retaining nuts.

4. Pull off the selector switch tip, and remove the 2 screws holding the switch in place.

5. Remove the pickguard screws.  There will be 10 or 11, depending upon specific model.  Lift off the pickguard, which should leave all the electronics behind in the body cavities.  You may need to slide the pickguard slightly out from under the neck, depending upon the fretboard design.

6. Carefully lift up the exposed electronics, and place a piece of foam or heavy cloth underneath, supporting them off the body cavities.  This makes assembly easier, and reduces the chance of scratching the body or pulling wires loose.  There will be wiring attaching the control circuitry to the input jack, so be careful not to stress the solder joints.

7. Remove the old pickup covers.  They just pull off; however, be very gentle here, as the delicate wires at the base of the pickups can be broken if not treated with care.  Put the new pickup covers in place.

8. Put the pickups, control potentiometers, and the pickup selector switch in place, and reattach them to the pickguard.

9. Lift the pickguard assembly up, remove the foam or cloth, and carefully put the pickguard back in place.  As mentioned earlier, you may need to slide the pickguard under the neck; just hold it at an angle, and bend it slightly to allow it to slip into the pocket.  Make sure all of the wiring is routed through the cavities in the body; you do not want any wires clamped between the pickguard and the body top surface!

10. Replace the pickguard screws.  To avoid stripping the wood threads, always turn the individual screws counterclockwise first, allowing them to drop into the thread properly before tightening.

11. Replace the switch tip and the control k***s, restring the guitar, remove the paper block under the bridge, adjust the pickup-to-string height, and admire your work!

Remember, the key to success is patience!  The best way to s***w up your guitar is to rush a modification job.  Just think, the next time you do this, you will be an expert!  Sorry for this long-winded reply, but there are many important factors to be considered here.  Best regards, Dana