I really love the bullet series, especially recently. Every one I’ve pulled off the wall lately has played so nice. They’ve got it where it counts, i.e., really nice necks. I own a bullet tele in lake placid blue. I swapped the pickups for fender Yosemite pickups, and it is annoyingly good, even compared to my US teles.
It’s only six months I play guitar almost everyday, but since I only have an acoustic I’d love to buy an electric, I think I’m really going to buy this one, thank you so much for the video
@@MrSpeed-lt8gr same here. Mine screams.. lightweight for sure. I went and bought the tele bullet I liked it so much. But. The tele aaaaahhhh the Stratocaster is a way better. Tele is a Lil heavier
Top-loaders are fun for beginners to easily string and still have good sustain. HT guitars are less frustration since cheaper models typically have poor quality tremolos. Love the Fiesta Red and the Turquoise color choices!
I loved the intro with the mini guitar in the case. I thought that was hilarious! I’ve been considering getting a Bullet in that same finish, strictly for practice, to leave out all the time at home. Thank you for the video. It was very helpful. You get a sub! 😎👍
@@BrandonKJohnson I reckon. 3,356 views yet only 323 thumbs up (and 5 down for some unfathomable reason). That's less than 10% or watchers giving feedback.
It's a pretty good starter. Looks great (Fiesta Red is awesome), decent neck/fretboard wood, basswood body is good, tolerable electronics, pickup sounds Straty. Body is thin, light for younger folks. If a young beginner teen player has a limited budget it's pretty good value. A small or pre teen player could start on a shorter scale guitar like a Bullet Mustang. Are there budget alternatives at that price, yes, Yamaha Pacifica, and you get a bridge humbucker and more consistent build quality. An older teen or adult beginner with some disposable income ought to shoot no lower than Squier Classic Vibe or even used MIM Strat since you can be proud enough of that for years but it's cheap enough if you don't commit to playing long term the cost won't bother you and you can still get some value selling it.
From Leo: I have two top loader Squier guitars and all the rest are string through. I really cannot tell any difference in feel, tone or sustain. The Tele even has the holes already in the bridge plate, but I just do not see a reason to drill and add ferrules. When you think about it, all Les Pauls and SG's are top loaders and people will argue that they are best. You are absolutely correct, the the Classic Vibe series is a far superior instrument, but they cost double compared to the bullet, and when the bullet is on sale, the Classic Vibe is 3 times the money. The bullet will get a guy playing even if his budget is pretty lean.
I recently just purchased a '84 MIJ Squire SQ Stratocaster 70's reissue, It's fantastic, superior to all those other Squire's. I'm in the process of buying a '82 Fender JV ST62 Stratocaster, the best!
Well maybe I am getting old and weak but I find Classic Vibes to Heavy and so much BS attached to guitars from the media, the bullets sound great and are lighter which enhances the vibration factor or resonance. The only CV I have kept is a 70's HSS strat and my bullets and lots of others bla bla. Check out Jack Pearsons interview with Marty Shwartz.
Good review as always. I'm glad you pointed out how some of these Squier within the same model are better than others. You may be the only one that does this. I played one of these at GC and the neck was bowed and the fingerboard was rough. 2 of the same model can be side by side and 1 could be considerably better.
Yeah for guitars at this price point I think it’s a good idea to play them at the store. I found a really nice Bullet with no sharp frets and good tuners and light weight. But I had to try probably a good for or 5 Bullets before I found a really good one.
My first guitar was a 2001 Indonesian Squier Bullet in navy blue. All the Bullets were hard-tail back then, so there was no HT designation, but it's almost the same guitar as this. Squier discontinued it for a while and made their low-end Affinity the new Bullet, so for about a decade, there was no full-size HT Strat model in the Squier line-up. Then they brought this guitar out a few years ago.The main difference between this and the old one is that the old one had a swimming pool route and rosewood fingerboard, but it seems like some of the appointments are also upgraded on this one (plastic vs synthetic bone nut, gloss vs satin finish, tuners, etc...). Otherwise, this was a fantastic guitar to start out on, and to this day, I regret letting the internet convince me that Squiers were trash and that I needed to sell my Bullet and get a better guitar.
My first guitar (which I have on my lap as I write this) was a 2002 Squier Bullet Strat in Black. You're correct, it's hardtail because that was all they made back then. I have spent the better part of 20 years thinking this guitar was shit. The electronics leave a lot to be desired, but the guitar feels like home to me, especially the neck.
Guys it is what it is. It’s a strat style guitar. You can literally change everything out on it. That’s the genius of the original design. This is a great starting point guitar. If there’s anything you don’t like about it just change it. Strats are the ultimate modifiable guitar. Have fun and enjoy the journey
Especially since fender is fucking allergic to making hardtail strats aside from the mod shop ($1700) or a few other higher priced options like the signature ones and the noventa with the p90s. This looks like the perfect cheap option to customize for someone who doesn't bother with the trem bar.
@@Jasontheguitarist87 These things are probably the best value bodies for a hardtail strat build. I was originally gonna buy a warmoth body, but why would I, when I can get one of these loaded bodies (trem and pickguard/electronics) for less than 150 bucks. Took the dremel and made a swimming pool route and voila you have a perfect modders guitar
These modern Squier Bullets made in Indonesia (pretty sure by Cort) are quite good. I purchased one a couple years back, HSS version, wish it had been available in hardtail. Even with the cheaper tuners on mine, it's fine. There is only one modification that I think is essential on ANY low end (usually Asian) guitar, regardless of brand: replace the output jack. The stock ones simply aren't very good and will break your heart when you least expect it. put a Switchcraft in there, it'll last forever. Everything else on the guitar is decent. The pots and switch are fine, and likely will be unless abused. I've been pretty surprised by those stock pickups with the cryptic part number stickers. They're pretty good. They're dual ceramic magnet, surprising strong output, low DC resistance, indicating they're underwound to compensate for the steel polepiece effect on inductance. However, the magnets seems strong enough to provide for good output. Their inductance measures about the same as alnico strat pickups, around 2.1 H. I've seen different specs on the wood used for the body, but the very light weight makes me think they're pawlownia rather than basswood or poplar. How does it compare to the American Standard I bought brand new in 1988? Pretty well. Seriously, had I owned the Squier Bullet at the time, the only significant improvement the American Standard would have offered would be resale value. Which is a serious consideration for some, though not for me, as I still have it, more than 30 years later and was never an issue for me. BTW, I've come to appreciate top loaders over string through body. That'll happen when the string breaks, you need to change it fast, and the ball end is stuck in the damn ferrule. Difference in tone needs a better ear than I have.
quick correction, older Squier Bullets and the older Affinity series were made in China, the Standard and Deluxe and vintage series were made in Indonesia, but in 2015 they moved all the Squier stuff to Indonesia. then in 2019, they moved the Classic Vibe, they cut the Vintage and Standard series, and moved the Affinity series back to China in early 2020. i don't know what yours says on the back, but the Bullet series was the only one that didn't get moved, the Bullet Series is the only one that's still made there, but the Bullet Series did get updated in 2021. Cort has there own separate thing, but they used the same factories, it's just that Fender owns it or atleast did own it.
I love your reviews. For the humor as well as for the honest reviews of the products. I'm a beginner hobbyist guitarist who seems to spend almost as much time watching these videos as playing. That's probably sacrilegious in some way.
@@landonbailey Cool! Thank you for the quick reply. I actually edited and deleted that part of my comment because you say at the end of the video that the classic vibe is worth it. I asked before I watched. I really think I am going to chill on buying all these cheapies and just save up on something really good. I do have a really good Ibanez hollow body, which is probably the most expensive guitar I'll ever own at $450. I also need to stop buying guitars and spend more time actually... Playing them.
I bought an HSS version of this HT Bullet Strat used for $60 - it still had the plastic peel on it. They are wonderful modder guitars. I had to replace the plastic nut and upgraded the tuners. It's my take on vacation guitar, I love it.
Good review, I have the same model hard tail in black color. the neck and frets are pretty good, I did polish up the frets, everything else is as you described. I would choose this over an off brand in the same price range.
I bought the SEA FOAM GREEN bullet stratocaster... And I have to tell you.. at the guitar center. Workers and people were like what the hell are you playing in a great way BTW.. the manager brought a 4000 fender custom shop Stratocaster and put it next to me to play as well. No joke. I went right back to bullet sea foam green (great color) and the pickups scream.. at least mine did . I changed the pickguard only . But be careful not to over tighten the knobs or switch to tight . I had a slight problem when I did that. Fix it with some cleaner. But damn it screams and sounds incredible.. no joke. And I'm a player for over ,40 years.. it's a great buy and guitar
I've been playing guitar since 2007 and I would buy this for moding it :D the reason for buying it is bcz its a Hard Tail.. I'm not a tremolo fan and the cheapest hard tail strat other than this one is the Robert Cray strat for 900$ this only needs a loaded pickguard and a good setup
I bought this exact model today and it's seems good for the money, price was awesome for an entry level guitar right out of the box and as you said upgrades as I go along. Stretched the strings and tuned her up. Definitely would benefit from a different set of tuners though. It has the distinctive strat sound in my opinion.
"It's not awe-inspiring." Any guitar in the right hands that plays and holds tune can be awe inspiring. Ever heard of Jack Pearson? Squier player that will blow your mind.
i have the artic white trem version of this guitar and as a beginner , its a extremely great model . like even though there are tonal differences ( which can be solved by switching the pickups ) , the feel and playability makes it sooooo good . sure its not an actual custom shop but this model is horribly underrated compared to the affinity also i preffer the thin headsock of the bullet so yeah
Well Jack Pearson uses them (ex Allman Bros. ) check out his interview with Marty Schwartz folks. I own a couple they are great funny how I have kept em and sold my classic vibes !
I had an American Strat for about 20 years and was heavuky ibto guitar. Then life got in the way. I gave that Strat ro my son. Now I have retired and am looking to fill some time and relive my past. So I bought a Bullet HT. I also got lucky. It is just a wonderful guitar for what it is, an entry level Strat. I think that your expectations of an instrument should be way higher than a Bullett Strat. But your reccommendation should be based on whether the instrument accomplishes what the manufacturer intends it to do visa vie other instruments like it. Was I better off spending and extra $50 for the Strat or did Donner have something cheaper and better? Your reccommendation should be based on market segment. The Bullett is not the qoeld's best guitar. But is it a great entry level guitar? That is what I think people that want to know.
To me, the HT Strat is like getting the sportier version of the Telecaster. If one were going Epiphone, the LP & SG are basically 24.75 versions of 25.5 Squier Tele & Strat. I don't think I'm selling the 2005 Bullet SSS HT Strat that I have anytime soon, plays pretty good for an affordable guitar. As for the string thru body vs the top loader. The top loader has a strange saddle design. It's a cast & chromed hybrid of a modern & vintage bent steel saddle. The way the string & saddle spring tension screws go thru the end of the fixed bridge plate and the Bullet saddle has to be somewhat modern design like the chromed block shaped saddles. With a Fender thru body fixed bridge, the string doesn't go thru the back of the bridge base plate obviously. So the spring tension screws are lower to the body. Which is why they use the vintage bent steel saddles. For the top loader, the saddles can angle downward and that changes the downward force of the string break angle considerably vs what it is with the string thru body. That changes the feel of the strings for the break angle. The top loader has less of a fight against the string thru. A string thru bridge plate will have fewer screws, by the count of the 2 at the leading corners of the bridge plate. The Squier top loader has 5 screws (3 behind the saddles, 2 at the front corners), the Fender thru body has 3 screws behind where the strings go thru the body. The top loader will be easier to bend the strings because of the string break angle. The HT Strat is definitely the Telecaster of Strats. I like to think of the Bullet as Squier's affordable Robert Cray MiM.
I've had this guitar since like 2004 when I was 12 or 13 and this year I decided to mod it so I could learn how an electric guitar works but also breath in new life into basically my childhood strat. It was an awesome project. Sanded it down and painted it white sooo many coats of paint, sealant, etc since I was battling paint drips ugh. Eventually I realized no one will notice these scuffs but me and my wife was tired of me painting in the backyard so I replaced the entire pickup guard with a cooler sparkly fully equipped pickup guard and learned how to solder by changing out those shitty pre-equipped pickups with some bad ass recommend seymour duncans pickups which cost more than this guitar annnnnnnd what do you know!! the guitar sounds....... the same hahaha ahhhhh oh well the important thing is I learned a lot of about how a guitar works and it looks cooler now! Def recommend if you want to futz around with painting a guitar and swapping parts.
I got mine used a couple of years ago locally for $60 USD. I put in a zero glide nut and hip shot locking tuners. It has beautiful grain on the neck and plays like butter. It still had the plastic peel on it. The HSS pickups on mine are not great but I will be upgrading those soon. IMO fantastic bargain guitar if you get a good example and know how to do a basic set up.
I own an arctic white sqiuer bullet strat trem, and I do plan on modding it, ive polished the frets and put new slightly heavier strings onto the guitar, placed a 4th spring (thats including in the box) on the trem to increase tuning stability, I think its a really good guitar to learn alot about looking after a guitar, I think my first mod is definitely a better quality trem block, then imma go for new electronics (the pots first definitely, they kinda annoy me now) then new pickups, I dont mind the stock pickups at all, but they can lack attack at times but I play more finger style stuff so im fine for now, and then I'll go for for new tuners but the stock ones don't bother me a lot, I find with the slightly heavier strings they feel better than when the stock strings were on, the heavier strings make the tuners feel a bit more stiff which I prefer, I do recommend conditioning the fret board cause it does appear dry and plain when you first unbox the guitar(doesn't show up on camera) and you'll see the Indian laurel is actually a really nice fretboard material and has a nice grain pattern when its not looking so dry, kinda prefer it over my rosewood fretboard on my classical guitar
The first Strat I had was a Squier Strat with a plywood body... there were no any other markings whatsoever except "Squier stratocaster" and of course "Fender" printed with small font, and the country where it was made in - which I don't remember. It sounded good and was fun to play. Later I thought it was some sort of Bullet series - I tried to google with the minimal information I had, but it seems that in the 90s Squier had some kind of "Bullet"-text somewhere in the headstock which my Squier did not. EDIT: One possibility could be that someone had changed a Squier neck to other guitar's plywood body. But that's hard to tell, it's a long time.
The ONLY way to check pickup DCR is to UNSOLDER their leads then apply the meter. Anything less will not give correct readings, which for Strat pickups will be no lower than 5k resistance.
pros- $179.99 US, light, nice C shaped neck, sounds great. hardtail is so much better on a strat. the pots actually have a great taper. Versatile tone wise. Good enough for Jack Pearson. Cons? The nut is really high. Action is ridiculously high.
Wow Landon a magical case !!! What is a Fretboard made of Yani? We're millions miles away from the Bullets with the star on them. Cool demo, thanks Mr. Plastic. remover
I just wann thank you for weighting guitars... I am in my 20s :O yet I cannot handle the weight of those 9 or 10 pounds Les Pauls as when I was 13 (14 seconds of sustain! But I never play it because is tooo bloody heavy! May buy a cheaper Squier just because they are lighter , not even Sweetwater weights those,yet you do!)
I live in Indonesia, I can guarantee you, its cheap price is not because it's made of craps, but purely because my country's worker wages which is low, it's about 300 bucks per month for each worker, so the company can reduce the wage cost greatly. So I do believe it can match any 500 bucks guitars which are made in US.
This and the Fender Noventa are the only hardtail strats across the entire range (except CS). Really wish Fender would offer more hardtail strats. Nice review 👍
Nobody else's Strat copy has the correct headstock shape ,so for a beginner that might be appealing ! I can't remember sharp fret ends being a big issue on Asian import guitars in my early guitar days . I wonder if it's down to poorly "seasoned", kiln dried timber that's not been left in long enough due to impatience and money rather than poor finishing.
I found a used one for $80 . Do you think thats a good deal??. Thank you so much for sharing. Great video. I really like a light guitar . That's cool..
Recently got one of these - I really didn't like the fingerboard at all. The frets kicked my ass too, surprised I wasn't bleeding after playing some blues. It almost feels like the fingerboard is not finished at all... not sure if that's some kind of style but I'll be sending it back. - Also I had no idea what an HT was (Hard Tail) - I wanted a tremolo but as you mentioned a tremolo would probably add to the guitar's inability to stay in tune. Thanks for the video, thanks for making it interesting!
Even so, it’s difficult to find ball park weights online and I’ve found so many of your videos helpful. That’s how I first found your channel and I’ve been a subscriber ever since. Only just getting around to thanking you. Even just knowing that the affinities are usually lighter than a fenders for instance. We get a decent amount of stock in some of the bigger stores in Australia but your videos have helped me research the models that are at the stores close to me. I appreciate the metric weights too. I ended up getting the Affinity Tele Deluxe recently. Where do you end up selling the guitars you don’t keep?
I guess for the money, but the cheap parts, if you were to upgrade the pots and , graph-tech nut Iron Gear pickups just for example your looking at extra 100 bucks plus or so, that's if you can do it yourself would I recommend it , if your a modder fine maybe, but I would agree classic vibe or if your in the UK or anywhere that sells Vintage the V6 they are well built and come with Wilkinson hardware,
Nice video Landon, again, Very true what you say , get what you can, I mean obviously one would buy a CV over this , but reality is , where I am for example,the CV is three times plus. It's the difference for a good amp to some people so, it's a big part of the old decision, cheaper guitar and good amp. Reminds me of a song, if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you with. Anyway I have older bullets with trem , and one of them is my favorite player. I haven't tried the HT but they get good reviews generally. Thanks for this, keep them coming, and don't worry about the dumb comment below, obviously doesn't understand the vibe here.
And here we have the swan dive video , nice. That seems ok for the money pal. If I were looking for a low cost strat as a gift I'd buy it , but not for myself, although I do like bangtails , bangtails ? no , sorry hardtails yes . So good to watch these swan dives I just laugh and laugh 😁
The problem with the Bullet Strat HT is mainly the crappy, badly designed bridge. The Fender hard tails are designed better and they are string through the body. If you can, change the bridge and drill it out for a string through body setup. I did it with mine and it changed the guitar completely. No more dead sounding strings or buzzing at the bridge. You will have to drill for the ferrules in the back. Just order the Fender Tele ferrules. If you have a drill press, that will help. I did mine by hand and now the ferrules don't line up. But that's just cosmetic and in the back. This mod is a must, in my opinion. It turns this little HT into a different guitar.
@@landonbailey Sorry I completely missed your response to my comment, Landon. The one I used was the: "Musiclily Ultra Chrome Brass 52.5mm Fixed Hardtail Bridge For Strat Tele Guitar." On eBay. The seller I got it from has raised the price from $32.00 USD to about $45.00. I'm sure you can still find a good replacement for about $30.00 more or less.
just discovered this comment going for a comment dive, ive been obsessively looking up simple mods in the last 45 days in case I want to return it (even got some polishing erasers and a fret end dresser), but the buzzing at the saddles only got worse once I got the action better (still need to get the nut slots for the newly installed tusq down right), but if your claim is true I might attempt this since my father has a drill press, and it would make my bullet even more unique as i’ve already begun modding it. I figured if I returned it after all the work it would be a learning experience, but that saddle buzz is really the main thing bugging me now…
@@Explivious First, I love Squier Bullet Strats. The Indonesian necks have always worked well for me. Smooth, thin and fast. Wilkinson makes a few hard tail bridges that can be adapted to the Bullet Strats. I just liked the look of the Music Lilly bridge. But Wilkinson offers either bent steel saddles or solid steel saddles. I would stay away from the dual purpose bridges. Like the ones you can use for either top loading or string through body. The reason is, these dual purpose bridges have the saddles installed at a downward angle like the original bridge that comes with the guitar. Just my opinion, but the grub screws that adjust the string height are contacting the bridge plate at an angle. Look at the bridge from the side and you can see that. I'm not sure if that dulls the sound, but I like the grub screws to sit as flat as possible on the bridge plate. If you want to keep it a top loader, find a bridge assembly that has offset intonation screws. The saddles sit flat and the strings go cleanly through the back of the bridge plate. So, find a dedicated string through body bridge. If you find one that uses the original mounting holes, great. But, if you have to drill the body to install the new bridge, drill and fill in the original screw holes with hardwood dowels. Make sure you use a good quality rule, like a 36" rule from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. They cost about five $5.00 USD. Make sure you use a "rule" not a "ruler" like a yardstick to check the position of the bridge for intonation. A rule is accurate from the very end. A ruler is not. Look it up. Have the bridge saddles all the way extended when you measure for the mounting holes. Measure from the front of the nut to the exact point where the strings sit on the saddle. Usually, right between the grub screws. There are plenty of videos about this on RUclips. Highline Guitars has a good one. Once it is mounted, center punch for the string holes through the bridge plate with an appropriate tool. Remove the bridge, tape the back of the guitar and use a flat scrap of wood under it to minimize chip out. Use a brad point drill bit to help drill a straight hole. A regular drill bit has the tendency to wander. Then drill the holes for the ferrules. I like to make them a tight press fit. Some tape on the drill bit will help you with depth. I love these Squier Bullet Strats. I have four. But try to play before you buy. I know they started using Laurel fret boards around 2018. Mine are all prior to that with rose wood fret boards. I was in Guitar Center a few weeks ago. They had a poor selection, and none I cared to buy. The older ones used wider frets, which I like. The new ones use tall, narrow frets. Try used. You can get a decent mod platform for an affordable price from someone who gave up trying to play his/her Bullet Strat. Best regards, John...
@@johnbrady1211 thank you very much for this, mine is a newer indonesian with indian laurel wood, but the intonation seems right on after I have adjusted it and I don't have too much of an issue with the pickups. To be honest I wasn't too impressed with any of the used in my area, and I did end up returning one of these bullets for the display one they had at a guitar center because I could play that one and it had no issues playing besides saddle buzz. None of the affinitys stood out, player fenders are too expensive to buy along with tools gear and strings and what not, and I did a pretty good novice job polishing up the frets and dressing them. Can't wait to follow the instructions, I have the video ready to go. Thanks!
Almost 2 years ago I bought a squier standard HSS electric guitar. When I was taking the plastic off of the pick guard I took a couple screws out of the big card putting them back in I cracked the pick guard because it's a mirror pickguard it's made of plastic but it's like a mirror. I was told by someone that I could directly order parts for squire from fender. But I didn't even know that you could order directly from fender without being a dealer. If you know how to get a hold of fender or older squire parts could you please tell me how. I love the guitar it's got this compound radius neck they didn't put on everything it's a lot flatter it's almost like a Ibanez type of fuel to it. I want to change the pickups out but I need a new piccard thank you Landon . I don't even know if they're still making square standard electric guitar now They quit making one series a startup something new frankly I find fender and squier very irritating because of that. So like the guitars I just don't like the company
This guitar is bought mostly by newbies so pluging it to "decent" amp is bad choice cause new player probably won't buy good amp to cheap guitar. I'm planning to buy hss HT (harder to get but exist ;) ) and most likely will get cheaper amp cause I can't afford better one. Other than that, great video.
Thanks for the video Landon. Man those pickups are low resistance! I'm sure you'd checked already so I assume the volume and tone controls were all the way up?
I've toyed with the idea of building a hard tail Strat. We'll see how long I toy. 🤔 Sometimes I just buy pickguards so I can peel the plastic off! That's a complete lie. Although I do love that for some twisted reason. 🐉💀👽🎸🎶🎵🧠
10:10 ...you're telling me I've left plastic on my tuners for a year?! I thought they were just not polished that well... Pulling it off was satisfying tho lmao
Im in the process of hardtailin an old Affinity which has a lovely neck. Now this has came out I think I'll buy one swap the necks, drill out string through on the Affinity body & buy a pre loaded HH scratchplate. I got the Affinity for £20 cos the scratchplate was cracked but it all works. That way I got 2 hardtails one HH one single coil. Anybody got any ideas?
please play the Michael kelly strat...cheap and incredible sounding! Beats the entire new american fender line...I did the comparisons yesterday at sam ash!
Cool video again! I am curious if this really is shielding paint in the cavaties... would be nice if you would measure that too. I have a Squier body that only has black paint in it.
@@landonbailey yeah, what ever you call it what you do with the little device to check conductivity. English is not my mother language that's why I sometimes use words that would fit if I spoke in my language...
This actually sounds surprising good, both clean & O/D. Not much difference between the pickup positions tho, except for the solo bridge pup. Why don't FENDER make a HT?!
I come for the dry wit, I stay for the plastic peel
I leave for the bathroom
Lol
almost as good as dry wit & emma peel
sorry, I don’t do fist bumps during covid
If this isn't already on a t-shirt...
I really love the bullet series, especially recently. Every one I’ve pulled off the wall lately has played so nice. They’ve got it where it counts, i.e., really nice necks. I own a bullet tele in lake placid blue. I swapped the pickups for fender Yosemite pickups, and it is annoyingly good, even compared to my US teles.
🎸👍
It’s only six months I play guitar almost everyday, but since I only have an acoustic I’d love to buy an electric, I think I’m really going to buy this one, thank you so much for the video
cheers! have fun!
This would be a great beginner guitar. I gig with it as an advanced level guitarist. Very lightweight, sounds and feels nice
It's great guitar and buy. Sea foam green I picked up. And I'm a pro player over 40 years . It's a great guitar
@@MrSpeed-lt8gr same here. Mine screams.. lightweight for sure. I went and bought the tele bullet I liked it so much. But. The tele aaaaahhhh the Stratocaster is a way better. Tele is a Lil heavier
Top-loaders are fun for beginners to easily string and still have good sustain. HT guitars are less frustration since cheaper models typically have poor quality tremolos. Love the Fiesta Red and the Turquoise color choices!
I loved the intro with the mini guitar in the case. I thought that was hilarious!
I’ve been considering getting a Bullet in that same finish, strictly for practice, to leave out all the time at home.
Thank you for the video. It was very helpful. You get a sub! 😎👍
cheers!
I see Landon, I click. Thats the rule
same
Don't forget the thumbs up too 👍
@@BrandonKJohnson I reckon. 3,356 views yet only 323 thumbs up (and 5 down for some unfathomable reason). That's less than 10% or watchers giving feedback.
Me too!
Fiesta Red.
Or, as it's known in Spain.
Tomato.
pylon orange too?
@@landonbailey Pentatonic Persimmon?
Your voice is so calm and relaxing 😭
Oh thank you!
It's a pretty good starter. Looks great (Fiesta Red is awesome), decent neck/fretboard wood, basswood body is good, tolerable electronics, pickup sounds Straty. Body is thin, light for younger folks. If a young beginner teen player has a limited budget it's pretty good value. A small or pre teen player could start on a shorter scale guitar like a Bullet Mustang. Are there budget alternatives at that price, yes, Yamaha Pacifica, and you get a bridge humbucker and more consistent build quality. An older teen or adult beginner with some disposable income ought to shoot no lower than Squier Classic Vibe or even used MIM Strat since you can be proud enough of that for years but it's cheap enough if you don't commit to playing long term the cost won't bother you and you can still get some value selling it.
That sony walkman and discman on the window ledge. Memories.
From Leo: I have two top loader Squier guitars and all the rest are string through. I really cannot tell any difference in feel, tone or sustain. The Tele even has the holes already in the bridge plate, but I just do not see a reason to drill and add ferrules. When you think about it, all Les Pauls and SG's are top loaders and people will argue that they are best. You are absolutely correct, the the Classic Vibe series is a far superior instrument, but they cost double compared to the bullet, and when the bullet is on sale, the Classic Vibe is 3 times the money. The bullet will get a guy playing even if his budget is pretty lean.
I recently just purchased a '84 MIJ Squire SQ Stratocaster 70's reissue, It's fantastic, superior to all those other Squire's. I'm in the process of buying a '82 Fender JV ST62 Stratocaster, the best!
Well maybe I am getting old and weak but I find Classic Vibes to Heavy and so much BS attached to guitars from the media, the bullets sound great and are lighter which enhances the vibration factor or resonance. The only CV I have kept is a 70's HSS strat and my bullets and lots of others bla bla. Check out Jack Pearsons interview with Marty Shwartz.
Good review as always. I'm glad you pointed out how some of these Squier within the same model are better than others. You may be the only one that does this. I played one of these at GC and the neck was bowed and the fingerboard was rough. 2 of the same model can be side by side and 1 could be considerably better.
ya, I can only judge the one I have, and I’ve seen bad guitars in stores too. Just trying to keep it real. :) cheers
Yeah for guitars at this price point I think it’s a good idea to play them at the store. I found a really nice Bullet with no sharp frets and good tuners and light weight. But I had to try probably a good for or 5 Bullets before I found a really good one.
My first guitar was a 2001 Indonesian Squier Bullet in navy blue. All the Bullets were hard-tail back then, so there was no HT designation, but it's almost the same guitar as this. Squier discontinued it for a while and made their low-end Affinity the new Bullet, so for about a decade, there was no full-size HT Strat model in the Squier line-up. Then they brought this guitar out a few years ago.The main difference between this and the old one is that the old one had a swimming pool route and rosewood fingerboard, but it seems like some of the appointments are also upgraded on this one (plastic vs synthetic bone nut, gloss vs satin finish, tuners, etc...). Otherwise, this was a fantastic guitar to start out on, and to this day, I regret letting the internet convince me that Squiers were trash and that I needed to sell my Bullet and get a better guitar.
My first guitar (which I have on my lap as I write this) was a 2002 Squier Bullet Strat in Black. You're correct, it's hardtail because that was all they made back then. I have spent the better part of 20 years thinking this guitar was shit. The electronics leave a lot to be desired, but the guitar feels like home to me, especially the neck.
Guys it is what it is. It’s a strat style guitar. You can literally change everything out on it. That’s the genius of the original design. This is a great starting point guitar. If there’s anything you don’t like about it just change it. Strats are the ultimate modifiable guitar. Have fun and enjoy the journey
Especially since fender is fucking allergic to making hardtail strats aside from the mod shop ($1700) or a few other higher priced options like the signature ones and the noventa with the p90s.
This looks like the perfect cheap option to customize for someone who doesn't bother with the trem bar.
@@Jasontheguitarist87 These things are probably the best value bodies for a hardtail strat build. I was originally gonna buy a warmoth body, but why would I, when I can get one of these loaded bodies (trem and pickguard/electronics) for less than 150 bucks. Took the dremel and made a swimming pool route and voila you have a perfect modders guitar
Your video shows its color better than most the red looks darker in most videos
so much improvement compared to previous videos. I liked how you've included animation with the descriptions. Great job!
cheers! what was the last video of mine you’ve watched before this one?
Landon Bailey oh nothing in particular man! Your videos are all great 👌 just like the new presentation
cool thanks!
These modern Squier Bullets made in Indonesia (pretty sure by Cort) are quite good. I purchased one a couple years back, HSS version, wish it had been available in hardtail. Even with the cheaper tuners on mine, it's fine. There is only one modification that I think is essential on ANY low end (usually Asian) guitar, regardless of brand: replace the output jack. The stock ones simply aren't very good and will break your heart when you least expect it. put a Switchcraft in there, it'll last forever. Everything else on the guitar is decent. The pots and switch are fine, and likely will be unless abused. I've been pretty surprised by those stock pickups with the cryptic part number stickers. They're pretty good. They're dual ceramic magnet, surprising strong output, low DC resistance, indicating they're underwound to compensate for the steel polepiece effect on inductance. However, the magnets seems strong enough to provide for good output. Their inductance measures about the same as alnico strat pickups, around 2.1 H. I've seen different specs on the wood used for the body, but the very light weight makes me think they're pawlownia rather than basswood or poplar. How does it compare to the American Standard I bought brand new in 1988? Pretty well. Seriously, had I owned the Squier Bullet at the time, the only significant improvement the American Standard would have offered would be resale value. Which is a serious consideration for some, though not for me, as I still have it, more than 30 years later and was never an issue for me. BTW, I've come to appreciate top loaders over string through body. That'll happen when the string breaks, you need to change it fast, and the ball end is stuck in the damn ferrule. Difference in tone needs a better ear than I have.
quick correction, older Squier Bullets and the older Affinity series were made in China, the Standard and Deluxe and vintage series were made in Indonesia, but in 2015 they moved all the Squier stuff to Indonesia. then in 2019, they moved the Classic Vibe, they cut the Vintage and Standard series, and moved the Affinity series back to China in early 2020. i don't know what yours says on the back, but the Bullet series was the only one that didn't get moved, the Bullet Series is the only one that's still made there, but the Bullet Series did get updated in 2021.
Cort has there own separate thing, but they used the same factories, it's just that Fender owns it or atleast did own it.
I like what he plays for the clean tone cuz it doesn't remind me of anything
I love your reviews. For the humor as well as for the honest reviews of the products. I'm a beginner hobbyist guitarist who seems to spend almost as much time watching these videos as playing. That's probably sacrilegious in some way.
Anyone's opinion is welcome, not just Landon's.
I totally think the classic vibe is worth it. huge step up!
@@landonbailey Cool! Thank you for the quick reply. I actually edited and deleted that part of my comment because you say at the end of the video that the classic vibe is worth it. I asked before I watched. I really think I am going to chill on buying all these cheapies and just save up on something really good. I do have a really good Ibanez hollow body, which is probably the most expensive guitar I'll ever own at $450. I also need to stop buying guitars and spend more time actually... Playing them.
I bought an HSS version of this HT Bullet Strat used for $60 - it still had the plastic peel on it. They are wonderful modder guitars. I had to replace the plastic nut and upgraded the tuners. It's my take on vacation guitar, I love it.
nice!
Good review, I have the same model hard tail in black color. the neck and frets are pretty good, I did polish up the frets, everything else is as you described. I would choose this over an off brand in the same price range.
I bought the SEA FOAM GREEN bullet stratocaster... And I have to tell you.. at the guitar center. Workers and people were like what the hell are you playing in a great way BTW.. the manager brought a 4000 fender custom shop Stratocaster and put it next to me to play as well. No joke. I went right back to bullet sea foam green (great color) and the pickups scream.. at least mine did . I changed the pickguard only . But be careful not to over tighten the knobs or switch to tight . I had a slight problem when I did that. Fix it with some cleaner. But damn it screams and sounds incredible.. no joke. And I'm a player for over ,40 years.. it's a great buy and guitar
Magic at the beginning!😊
Jimi Hendrix Would Be Very Proud To Play This Excellent Guitar . Thanks Landon .
I've been playing guitar since 2007 and I would buy this for moding it :D
the reason for buying it is bcz its a Hard Tail.. I'm not a tremolo fan and the cheapest hard tail strat other than this one is the Robert Cray strat for 900$
this only needs a loaded pickguard and a good setup
I bought this exact model today and it's seems good for the money, price was awesome for an entry level guitar right out of the box and as you said upgrades as I go along. Stretched the strings and tuned her up. Definitely would benefit from a different set of tuners though. It has the distinctive strat sound in my opinion.
Thanks for sharing!
"It's not awe-inspiring." Any guitar in the right hands that plays and holds tune can be awe inspiring. Ever heard of Jack Pearson? Squier player that will blow your mind.
👍🎸
i have the artic white trem version of this guitar and as a beginner , its a extremely great model . like even though there are tonal differences ( which can be solved by switching the pickups ) , the feel and playability makes it sooooo good . sure its not an actual custom shop but this model is horribly underrated compared to the affinity
also i preffer the thin headsock of the bullet so yeah
Well Jack Pearson uses them (ex Allman Bros. ) check out his interview with Marty Schwartz folks. I own a couple they are great funny how I have kept em and sold my classic vibes !
Hey, im looking for buing exact same guitar, you have. Is it good? Is the body too thin or is it good? It looks dope
I had an American Strat for about 20 years and was heavuky ibto guitar. Then life got in the way. I gave that Strat ro my son. Now I have retired and am looking to fill some time and relive my past. So I bought a Bullet HT. I also got lucky. It is just a wonderful guitar for what it is, an entry level Strat. I think that your expectations of an instrument should be way higher than a Bullett Strat. But your reccommendation should be based on whether the instrument accomplishes what the manufacturer intends it to do visa vie other instruments like it. Was I better off spending and extra $50 for the Strat or did Donner have something cheaper and better? Your reccommendation should be based on market segment. The Bullett is not the qoeld's best guitar. But is it a great entry level guitar? That is what I think people that want to know.
To me, the HT Strat is like getting the sportier version of the Telecaster. If one were going Epiphone, the LP & SG are basically 24.75 versions of 25.5 Squier Tele & Strat. I don't think I'm selling the 2005 Bullet SSS HT Strat that I have anytime soon, plays pretty good for an affordable guitar.
As for the string thru body vs the top loader. The top loader has a strange saddle design. It's a cast & chromed hybrid of a modern & vintage bent steel saddle. The way the string & saddle spring tension screws go thru the end of the fixed bridge plate and the Bullet saddle has to be somewhat modern design like the chromed block shaped saddles. With a Fender thru body fixed bridge, the string doesn't go thru the back of the bridge base plate obviously. So the spring tension screws are lower to the body. Which is why they use the vintage bent steel saddles. For the top loader, the saddles can angle downward and that changes the downward force of the string break angle considerably vs what it is with the string thru body. That changes the feel of the strings for the break angle. The top loader has less of a fight against the string thru. A string thru bridge plate will have fewer screws, by the count of the 2 at the leading corners of the bridge plate. The Squier top loader has 5 screws (3 behind the saddles, 2 at the front corners), the Fender thru body has 3 screws behind where the strings go thru the body. The top loader will be easier to bend the strings because of the string break angle. The HT Strat is definitely the Telecaster of Strats.
I like to think of the Bullet as Squier's affordable Robert Cray MiM.
I've had this guitar since like 2004 when I was 12 or 13 and this year I decided to mod it so I could learn how an electric guitar works but also breath in new life into basically my childhood strat. It was an awesome project. Sanded it down and painted it white sooo many coats of paint, sealant, etc since I was battling paint drips ugh. Eventually I realized no one will notice these scuffs but me and my wife was tired of me painting in the backyard so I replaced the entire pickup guard with a cooler sparkly fully equipped pickup guard and learned how to solder by changing out those shitty pre-equipped pickups with some bad ass recommend seymour duncans pickups which cost more than this guitar annnnnnnd what do you know!! the guitar sounds.......
the same hahaha ahhhhh oh well the important thing is I learned a lot of about how a guitar works and it looks cooler now!
Def recommend if you want to futz around with painting a guitar and swapping parts.
🎸👍
what amp do you play out of? I read that theres almost no point to upgrade pickips if youre playing out a 15w modeler like me
@@Explivious very true
I really wish my bullet strat came with those tuners
Andrew P. Roberts me too !
I got mine used a couple of years ago locally for $60 USD. I put in a zero glide nut and hip shot locking tuners. It has beautiful grain on the neck and plays like butter. It still had the plastic peel on it. The HSS pickups on mine are not great but I will be upgrading those soon. IMO fantastic bargain guitar if you get a good example and know how to do a basic set up.
Bargain Guitar for Sure if $60, if $179 on Amazon NO
Hey Landon. Another great video. Thank you
Hey, thanks!
Sounded like it had buzzy frets, at least on the D string. Maybe it just needs a truss rod adjustment. The classic vibes are pretty outstanding.
even this a entry level guitar, im pretty sure that you will be happy on this one.
😀
"Bulletcaster" has a nice ring to it
just wish it was string thru like the Tele version ☹
I own an arctic white sqiuer bullet strat trem, and I do plan on modding it, ive polished the frets and put new slightly heavier strings onto the guitar, placed a 4th spring (thats including in the box) on the trem to increase tuning stability, I think its a really good guitar to learn alot about looking after a guitar, I think my first mod is definitely a better quality trem block, then imma go for new electronics (the pots first definitely, they kinda annoy me now) then new pickups, I dont mind the stock pickups at all, but they can lack attack at times but I play more finger style stuff so im fine for now, and then I'll go for for new tuners but the stock ones don't bother me a lot, I find with the slightly heavier strings they feel better than when the stock strings were on, the heavier strings make the tuners feel a bit more stiff which I prefer, I do recommend conditioning the fret board cause it does appear dry and plain when you first unbox the guitar(doesn't show up on camera) and you'll see the Indian laurel is actually a really nice fretboard material and has a nice grain pattern when its not looking so dry, kinda prefer it over my rosewood fretboard on my classical guitar
Thanks for sharing!
Congrats on 25k subs!!
Thank you so much 😀
I come for the pros and cons of the guitar plus the examination of the guitar
cheers! hope it helped
Cool. I love hardtails Strats. Problem with cheaper Squiers is that the bodies are not full USA/Mex thickness. This bugs me.
The first Strat I had was a Squier Strat with a plywood body... there were no any other markings whatsoever except "Squier stratocaster" and of course "Fender" printed with small font, and the country where it was made in - which I don't remember. It sounded good and was fun to play.
Later I thought it was some sort of Bullet series - I tried to google with the minimal information I had, but it seems that in the 90s Squier had some kind of "Bullet"-text somewhere in the headstock which my Squier did not.
EDIT: One possibility could be that someone had changed a Squier neck to other guitar's plywood body. But that's hard to tell, it's a long time.
Great and very comprehensive review. Loved this one.
cheers!
The ONLY way to check pickup DCR is to UNSOLDER their leads then apply the meter. Anything less will not give correct readings, which for Strat pickups will be no lower than 5k resistance.
My dream guitar
pros- $179.99 US, light, nice C shaped neck, sounds great. hardtail is so much better on a strat. the pots actually have a great taper. Versatile tone wise. Good enough for Jack Pearson. Cons? The nut is really high. Action is ridiculously high.
Never thought a guitar review commentary would make me laugh so much
keep it real with some improv commentary :)
I purchase this guitar, very clean hardtail, very light weight, no hardware at the back, the sound is awesome ya👍👍👍
Great to hear!
Wow Landon a magical case !!! What is a Fretboard made of Yani? We're millions miles away from the Bullets with the star on them. Cool demo, thanks Mr. Plastic. remover
The input - output jack voice over was so unexpected 😂
I do it in all my deep dive reviews :)
I just wann thank you for weighting guitars...
I am in my 20s :O yet I cannot handle the weight of those 9 or 10 pounds Les Pauls as when I was 13 (14 seconds of sustain! But I never play it because is tooo bloody heavy! May buy a cheaper Squier just because they are lighter , not even Sweetwater weights those,yet you do!)
No problem!
The bullet tele is string through body
I live in Indonesia, I can guarantee you, its cheap price is not because it's made of craps, but purely because my country's worker wages which is low, it's about 300 bucks per month for each worker, so the company can reduce the wage cost greatly.
So I do believe it can match any 500 bucks guitars which are made in US.
thanks for sharing!
Just ordered the Squier Bullet Stratocaster in blue for 150. can't wait
Edit:I got it and it sounds great!
Lets go! I'm getting mine in 2 days, red.
@KhakiShark How do you like it?
@@tannerteevsb8963 it's amazing man it really is worth the buy.
@@tannerteevsb8963 pretty dope
This and the Fender Noventa are the only hardtail strats across the entire range (except CS). Really wish Fender would offer more hardtail strats. Nice review 👍
That first strat you put in the case really had a short scale length...
😆
Bullet Mustang next! It will be your last guitar!
I think that the retailer recognize you and they send you the best example!!! I likes the ht strat! You can't find a real Fender ht cheap!
Nobody else's Strat copy has the correct headstock shape ,so for a beginner that might be appealing ! I can't remember sharp fret ends being a big issue on Asian import guitars in my early guitar days . I wonder if it's down to poorly "seasoned", kiln dried timber that's not been left in long enough due to impatience and money rather than poor finishing.
I found a used one for $80 . Do you think thats a good deal??. Thank you so much for sharing. Great video. I really like a light guitar . That's cool..
sounds like a good deal
Recently got one of these - I really didn't like the fingerboard at all. The frets kicked my ass too, surprised I wasn't bleeding after playing some blues. It almost feels like the fingerboard is not finished at all... not sure if that's some kind of style but I'll be sending it back. - Also I had no idea what an HT was (Hard Tail) - I wanted a tremolo but as you mentioned a tremolo would probably add to the guitar's inability to stay in tune. Thanks for the video, thanks for making it interesting!
ah that sucks! I’ve been pretty lucky with lower priced guitars and the fret work
Thanks for weighing the guitars. It’s surprisingly difficult to find weights out
this is just one sample, weights can vary a lot :)
Even so, it’s difficult to find ball park weights online and I’ve found so many of your videos helpful. That’s how I first found your channel and I’ve been a subscriber ever since. Only just getting around to thanking you. Even just knowing that the affinities are usually lighter than a fenders for instance. We get a decent amount of stock in some of the bigger stores in Australia but your videos have helped me research the models that are at the stores close to me. I appreciate the metric weights too. I ended up getting the Affinity Tele Deluxe recently.
Where do you end up selling the guitars you don’t keep?
hey thanks! locally or on Reverb
@@landonbailey Reverb must be great when you live in North America. The shipping is a bit silly getting things down to Melbourne near the South Pole.
Can you do a budget strat build? Like "for the cost of a classic vibe"
hey that’s not a bad idea! hopefully in the future
9:52 You did it again you dirty boy. I feel used and abused!
I guess for the money, but the cheap parts, if you were to upgrade the pots and , graph-tech nut Iron Gear pickups just for example your looking at extra 100 bucks plus or so, that's if you can do it yourself would I recommend it , if your a modder fine maybe, but I would agree classic vibe or if your in the UK or anywhere that sells Vintage the V6 they are well built and come with Wilkinson hardware,
I wish Vintage was available in Canada
@@landonbailey I found your Facebook group , so I posted a picture of my Vintage for you,
Nice video Landon, again,
Very true what you say , get what you can, I mean obviously one would buy a CV over this , but reality is , where I am for example,the CV is three times plus.
It's the difference for a good amp to some people so, it's a big part of the old decision, cheaper guitar and good amp.
Reminds me of a song, if you can't be with the one you love, love the one you with.
Anyway I have older bullets with trem , and one of them is my favorite player.
I haven't tried the HT but they get good reviews generally.
Thanks for this, keep them coming, and don't worry about the dumb comment below, obviously doesn't understand the vibe here.
Great job in depth.
For me, the problem with most cheap guitars is that they never seem to be completely in tune.
The necks dive from string tension. If youre having tuning issues it could be the neck/body are too weak to hang in there.
Or a poorly cut nut made in a soft plastic material...The strings eat through the slots causing friction and consequently tuning issues...
It's the strings. They usually come with 9s and they are out of tune as soon as you pluck them. 10s and heavier stay in tune better
This is the best beginner guitar in my opinion.
Beautiful guitar
And here we have the swan dive video , nice. That seems ok for the money pal. If I were looking for a low cost strat as a gift I'd buy it , but not for myself, although I do like bangtails , bangtails ? no , sorry hardtails yes . So good to watch these swan dives I just laugh and laugh 😁
The one I ordered has really sharp fret ends. But it was also damaged so it went back.
Love these videos
I have one in sun burst
I'm actually going to have this exact guitar except it's black 😂
have fun!
I enjoyed this video man. Subbed
Thanks for the sub!
The problem with the Bullet Strat HT is mainly the crappy, badly designed bridge. The Fender hard tails are designed better and they are string through the body. If you can, change the bridge and drill it out for a string through body setup. I did it with mine and it changed the guitar completely. No more dead sounding strings or buzzing at the bridge. You will have to drill for the ferrules in the back. Just order the Fender Tele ferrules. If you have a drill press, that will help. I did mine by hand and now the ferrules don't line up. But that's just cosmetic and in the back. This mod is a must, in my opinion. It turns this little HT into a different guitar.
thanks for sharing. What kind of bridge fit in place?
@@landonbailey Sorry I completely missed your response to my comment, Landon.
The one I used was the: "Musiclily Ultra Chrome Brass 52.5mm Fixed Hardtail Bridge For Strat Tele Guitar." On eBay.
The seller I got it from has raised the price from $32.00 USD to about $45.00. I'm sure you can still find a good replacement for about $30.00 more or less.
just discovered this comment going for a comment dive, ive been obsessively looking up simple mods in the last 45 days in case I want to return it (even got some polishing erasers and a fret end dresser), but the buzzing at the saddles only got worse once I got the action better (still need to get the nut slots for the newly installed tusq down right), but if your claim is true I might attempt this since my father has a drill press, and it would make my bullet even more unique as i’ve already begun modding it.
I figured if I returned it after all the work it would be a learning experience, but that saddle buzz is really the main thing bugging me now…
@@Explivious First, I love Squier Bullet Strats. The Indonesian necks have always worked well for me. Smooth, thin and fast.
Wilkinson makes a few hard tail bridges that can be adapted to the Bullet Strats. I just liked the look of the Music Lilly bridge. But Wilkinson offers either bent steel saddles or solid steel saddles. I would stay away from the dual purpose bridges. Like the ones you can use for either top loading or string through body. The reason is, these dual purpose bridges have the saddles installed at a downward angle like the original bridge that comes with the guitar. Just my opinion, but the grub screws that adjust the string height are contacting the bridge plate at an angle. Look at the bridge from the side and you can see that. I'm not sure if that dulls the sound, but I like the grub screws to sit as flat as possible on the bridge plate. If you want to keep it a top loader, find a bridge assembly that has offset intonation screws. The saddles sit flat and the strings go cleanly through the back of the bridge plate.
So, find a dedicated string through body bridge. If you find one that uses the original mounting holes, great. But, if you have to drill the body to install the new bridge, drill and fill in the original screw holes with hardwood dowels. Make sure you use a good quality rule, like a 36" rule from Lowes, Home Depot, etc. They cost about five $5.00 USD. Make sure you use a "rule" not a "ruler" like a yardstick to check the position of the bridge for intonation. A rule is accurate from the very end. A ruler is not. Look it up. Have the bridge saddles all the way extended when you measure for the mounting holes. Measure from the front of the nut to the exact point where the strings sit on the saddle. Usually, right between the grub screws. There are plenty of videos about this on RUclips. Highline Guitars has a good one. Once it is mounted, center punch for the string holes through the bridge plate with an appropriate tool.
Remove the bridge, tape the back of the guitar and use a flat scrap of wood under it to minimize chip out. Use a brad point drill bit to help drill a straight hole. A regular drill bit has the tendency to wander. Then drill the holes for the ferrules. I like to make them a tight press fit. Some tape on the drill bit will help you with depth.
I love these Squier Bullet Strats. I have four. But try to play before you buy. I know they started using Laurel fret boards around 2018. Mine are all prior to that with rose wood fret boards. I was in Guitar Center a few weeks ago. They had a poor selection, and none I cared to buy. The older ones used wider frets, which I like. The new ones use tall, narrow frets. Try used. You can get a decent mod platform for an affordable price from someone who gave up trying to play his/her Bullet Strat.
Best regards, John...
@@johnbrady1211 thank you very much for this, mine is a newer indonesian with indian laurel wood, but the intonation seems right on after I have adjusted it and I don't have too much of an issue with the pickups. To be honest I wasn't too impressed with any of the used in my area, and I did end up returning one of these bullets for the display one they had at a guitar center because I could play that one and it had no issues playing besides saddle buzz. None of the affinitys stood out, player fenders are too expensive to buy along with tools gear and strings and what not, and I did a pretty good novice job polishing up the frets and dressing them. Can't wait to follow the instructions, I have the video ready to go. Thanks!
You have a magic case!
Robert Clark I need a case like that. 🎸
@@ccjmusic heheheheh. Right????
Robert Clark you need a case for a Les Paul.
If that's the case... huhuhu, well.. The case is pretty much more expensive than the guitar itself!
it’s a Black & Decker Hydrator case (BTTF 2)
I planning to buy this guitar tho.
I just got one today for $60 it's like new. Only difference is it has a double pickup at the bridge
good deal!
I got a practically new one from Facebook Marketplace last week for 90 bucks
good deal!
Almost 2 years ago I bought a squier standard HSS electric guitar. When I was taking the plastic off of the pick guard I took a couple screws out of the big card putting them back in I cracked the pick guard because it's a mirror pickguard it's made of plastic but it's like a mirror. I was told by someone that I could directly order parts for squire from fender. But I didn't even know that you could order directly from fender without being a dealer. If you know how to get a hold of fender or older squire parts could you please tell me how. I love the guitar it's got this compound radius neck they didn't put on everything it's a lot flatter it's almost like a Ibanez type of fuel to it. I want to change the pickups out but I need a new piccard thank you Landon . I don't even know if they're still making square standard electric guitar now
They quit making one series a startup something new frankly I find fender and squier very irritating because of that. So like the guitars I just don't like the company
Love the dry humor.
Have the same one,for the price,not bad
Am I the only one who nerded out when he showed that it was routed hsh?
it's always fun to see under the pickguard
This guitar is bought mostly by newbies so pluging it to "decent" amp is bad choice cause new player probably won't buy good amp to cheap guitar. I'm planning to buy hss HT (harder to get but exist ;) ) and most likely will get cheaper amp cause I can't afford better one. Other than that, great video.
I have an HSS HT. It's beautiful . Only thing I'm going to change are the tunners.
Thanks for the video Landon. Man those pickups are low resistance! I'm sure you'd checked already so I assume the volume and tone controls were all the way up?
volume always at 11! :)
I've toyed with the idea of building a hard tail Strat.
We'll see how long I toy.
🤔
Sometimes I just buy pickguards so I can peel the plastic off!
That's a complete lie.
Although I do love that for some twisted reason.
🐉💀👽🎸🎶🎵🧠
Why isn't Fender making one of these. It's stupid that only Squire has them as if seasoned players some how want that never used vibrato to deal with.
the only hardtail Strat option I see is in the Fender Mod Shop
@@landonbailey right, I think its crazy to pay more for less. I think they would sell a ton on them if they made them.
my guess is they don't make them because they wouldn't sell a ton of them
10:10
...you're telling me I've left plastic on my tuners for a year?!
I thought they were just not polished that well...
Pulling it off was satisfying tho lmao
🤣🎸😝
Im in the process of hardtailin an old Affinity which has a lovely neck. Now this has came out I think I'll buy one swap the necks, drill out string through on the Affinity body & buy a pre loaded HH scratchplate. I got the Affinity for £20 cos the scratchplate was cracked but it all works. That way I got 2 hardtails one HH one single coil. Anybody got any ideas?
Buy used mim parts, bridge $30 , pickups and guard $35, and locking tuners $50.
thanks same here fiesta red?
please play the Michael kelly strat...cheap and incredible sounding! Beats the entire new american fender line...I did the comparisons yesterday at sam ash!
The clean sound doesn't remind me of anything 🤔
same 🤪👍🎸
Cool video again!
I am curious if this really is shielding paint in the cavaties... would be nice if you would measure that too. I have a Squier body that only has black paint in it.
measure the shielding paint?
@@landonbailey yeah, what ever you call it what you do with the little device to check conductivity. English is not my mother language that's why I sometimes use words that would fit if I spoke in my language...
Imma buy one of this in Sunburst, and do the mods from Philip McKnight's vid for that smoother fret, and "American pro" feel. Thanks bruh
cool have fun!
i have this i love it so much i named it carrie after the horror movie
This actually sounds surprising good, both clean & O/D. Not much difference between the pickup positions tho, except for the solo bridge pup.
Why don't FENDER make a HT?!
I just got this as my first guitar in pink with a humbucker even tho it is light it’s still too heavy for my weak noodle arms 😂
I’m getting the same one but it’s sold out currently, how do you like it?
This is the lightest one there is haha
Hey awesome video i enjoyed it. 🎉
Hey, thanks
Does this look as orange in person? Hoping it does