Mod/fix or buy new...?

[bpdeem]

I've got a 2000 affinity squire strat. The electronics went out... Bad switch, input soldering etc and I'd like better pickups anyway. Better to just buy a new strat or get new electronics?

Likely the electronics I'd get are Klein jazzy cats or epic 59's. Vs American Standard.

Savings would be around $800 ish if I just did a fix up.

Might just be myth but has anyone done something like this and the pups not agree with the guitar?

 

[wattage]

do you like the guitar?

that's really all that matters when it comes down to it. you can always move the new guts to another guitar if you ever decide to change things up

 

[StratoCraig]

If you like way the guitar feels and your only issue with it is the electronics problem, then fixing it up makes sense. You can always move the pickups to another guitar later if you want. You don't even have to get new pickups, though it sounds like you want to change them since you have to open it up anyway to fix the connections.

I've never worked on (or owned) an Affinity, so I don't know exactly what's in them or how compatible they are with standard Strat components. I wouldn't be surprised if standard Strat pickguards didn't fit it, but I suppose the pickups are probably the same size and mount in the same way.

 

[bpdeem]

I opened it up a while ago and was simply going to change out the 5way switch but I'm not experienced with a soldering iron and really haven't had any time to mess with it. Klein sells the electronics pre-wired so all you have to do is connect the input and ground, which is easy for someone like me with no experience. As far as I can tell, everything fits in the same as any other strat. The pick guard doesn't concern me much, since it's a squire, I have no problem just drilling new holes.

As far as the guitar itself, it's kind of sentimental; it was my first. I remember liking it but it's been quite a while since I played it last.

Anyone have any suggestions for a stock squire strat?

 

[sshan25]

I opened it up a while ago and was simply going to change out the 5way switch but I'm not experienced with a soldering iron and really haven't had any time to mess with it. Klein sells the electronics pre-wired so all you have to do is connect the input and ground, which is easy for someone like me with no experience. As far as I can tell, everything fits in the same as any other strat. The pick guard doesn't concern me much, since it's a squire, I have no problem just drilling new holes.

As far as the guitar itself, it's kind of sentimental; it was my first. I remember liking it but it's been quite a while since I played it last.

Anyone have any suggestions for a stock squire strat?

If you don't mind the fact that the pickups are worth more than the guitar itself, why not? Just bear in mind, if you ever want to trade it or sell it, you will never get your investment back. I might consider fixing the current problem in addition to the pickup upgrade so you can swap the stock setup back in if you decide to move on from this guitar.

 

[bpdeem]

I think the deal is sealed, ha! If I try to sell, I'd only get about $25 bucks for it. It's almost like my crate vc5310: it's worth way more as a part of my musical tools than I could ever sell it for (if I could get the amp to work).

It doesn't really bother me. What does bother me is buying a 1k guitar and spending more on pickups after. But then I'd have a sweet pup set in both and likely swap the fat 50's in an American for the jazzy cats or 59's from the squire... Makes sense now that I've typed it all out. Of course that's assuming that my wife doesn't kill me for trying to spend more on music than I already have.

Thanks y'all!