Squier Mini Strat and guitar setup tips
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- Review of a Squier Mini Strat along with the things I changed/fixed and why I did them. You can use these tips on any electric guitar.
12/3/22: I cannot believe that this is one of my most viewed RUclips videos!! I did this video on the spur of the moment.
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I've had a mini strat for 4 years and never learned how to play, mostly due to unhelpful RUclips videos and no actual lessons lol. Recently picked it back up and started doing research. So thank you for this
I got mine quite a few years ago... i tune it up to G and put 7 to 38 strings on it... great tension for some bluegrass stuff, and the 7 to 38s are real easy to bend. Sometimes I will tune it higher to an A,
so real nice adaptability. Love the tone.
Good idea tuning up.
@@Bryankimsey I never looked at it as a kid's guitar and got it specifically to tune it higher... real nice chime!
Thanks, I wasn't having any success with the regular Strat setups I came across but this worked out good. I wasn't sure if you were using a capo on the 1 fret when you did the .070 string height adjustment but I just adjusted until there was no more buzz. I previously found out that the height adjusting screws loosen up over time and buzz so they now all have Loctite. I used a regular Strat nut which sticks out on the sides but works fine.
I recently discovered String Joy and used their calculator to come up with a set that has105 lbs of tension, which I like much better than the floppy 74 lb set of 9s they come with because they are too easy for me to bend out of tune.
I moved the volume knob closer to the tone and also bent the pickup selector 90 degrees toward the knobs because both seemed to get in the way. I also had lowered the pickups to about 3/32 from the pick guard. It's nice to have them potentially out of the way of your fingers or pick.
I just finished dressing the frets with homemade, improvised tools and am very pleased with the results. Mostly the second fret was high, but now the action is significantly lower.
This is my learner guitar, but it's set up so well now that I don't know that I'll ever be in the market for a full size guitar.
If you have to use a capo then the nut is not set correctly. Set relief, nut, and saddles last.
ruclips.net/video/AOpZv3MC4kY/видео.html
Good point about the saddle screws.
Torino Red is the coolest red but there's too much to correct for an average player even at $129. Most folks can't recut the nut. Better to get an Affinity series. Better wood and components for just $60 more. Huge improvement.
Yeah, good point, esp if you have to pay someone to do the nut. The kid that owns this was _small_ when he got it and $129 was huge stretch for them. Full size guitar was way too much for him, size and price wise.
@@Bryankimsey NP. I get that. He's very lucky he has you or else they'd charge him another $40 to make it right. I do all my own set-up but nuts are beyond me still. I wish Squier would offer that Torino in an Affinity. But it's not available on decent stuff. I'd even tolerate a Bullet if I could get the Torino.
this makes me so 😊
Thank you for this useful video. I was debating to get a mini or full size guitar. After seeing this video I'm getting one. Any chance you can make a video showing step by step instructions on setting up a guitar?
This is acoustic based, but it'll give the idea. I suppose I could do a video... I've got the information scattered around in several different videos. Could make a new one that's short and focused. www.bryankimsey.com/setup/index.htm
Thank you! I'd appreciate it!
Check this out:
ruclips.net/video/6WEXmg0kOuw/видео.html
My parents got me a mini squier strat when I was 5. My dad also bought a Epiphone Les Paul before I was born, but never learned how to play it. Anyways, 16 years later guitar is my passion.
I mainly play the Les Paul because it sounds better than the Mini Strat, but I’d really like to start playing the mini more as it’s lighter and I have ironically small hands. However, it needs some improvements. It needs a new bridge mostly.
I was wonder though, is it possible to install a tremolo on a mini strat? Or should I install one on the Les Paul instead?
you should not install tremolo on nothing. You just need to buy another guitar. For real.
My mini also needs a new bridge 🥴
I‘m late, but I think the tuning stability, being already not stable because less string tension, will get worse on the mini strat with a trem.
You can try a „Les-Trem“ by Düsenberg for the Les Paul. I wanted to put one myself on mine few years ago, because had only two guitars, and without trem. Now I have 2 Ibanez and a Slick SL57, with wammy. Cheers😊
how did you correct the nut? do you have the distances?
so is the Nut with tighter than a normal size squire?
is it playable for the adult hand ?
sure... it's playable. It's just not _optimum_. I like wide, even, spacing and so I looked at all the available real estate between the stock E's and the fret bevel and widened the spacing. I did this for a favorite student and it didn't much effort on my part to take care of it. I don't know how it compares to a Squier.
Kinsey Lutherie. I have this exact Squire Mini. For what it is, it plays incredible. My mini has only one negative. As far as I know, the neck pocket should be bare wood. Instead it's painted red with a lot of paint. I'm assuming the paint might squelch the sustain some. What do you think? Finally, is the set up for a mini exactly the same as a full size guitar? Meaning that if on a full size you are supposed to get the 7th fret for whatever purpose. Are you to do the same on a mini? Maybe it's because my string height is way too high. But, my low E sounds very, very muddy. My pickups are high as well. But distance to the string height is the standard factory recommended distances.
At this level of guitar, I honestly doubt the paint makes any difference but you can certainly scrape it out and see. Take the finish off the neck heel, too. As for the setup... it's a mini-guitar.... I set this one VERY low for a kid learning to play. He doesn't even know what a buzz is and has such sloppy technique right now that he'll make anything buzz. For YOU... I would set it super low until it buzzes and then raise the saddle 1/4 turn at a time until it doesn't. Go another 1/4 turn if you want. THEN adjust the pickups clear down to the pickguard (if you can... might need some more spring between pickup and guard). Then raise if you want. Those are ceramic pups with a strong pull and if too close, they'll dampen the string vibration.
@@Bryankimsey BTW, know anybody that sells a straight edge for the mini. I no I can use the fretting technique to see a bow in the neck. But, a tool is easier. I'd make one my self. But I don't have a workshop for creating tools.
You mean one with notches so you can read the fingerboard? 'cause if you just want a straightedge... get a 36" metal one and cut off the excess. I just use the string most of the time, except when trying to find problems.
ruclips.net/video/6WEXmg0kOuw/видео.html
I wish they had a 12 String version because kids love 12 String Guitars
This is a joke right?
@@sonicsupersam7793 No its true
i would go with 10-11
@@parcher7867 They come strung w/ 9s because of how sharp the break angle is
The nut on the mini. Do you know if it has a flat bottom.? Or, a center notched bottom?
Kinsey Lutherie, I saw another video where the luthier said the depth of the nut slots shoukd at the same height as the first fret. Sounds very logical. But is this correct? As I have not heard other videos saying this.
That's correct. Find my video on making a nut...
@@Bryankimsey I will. So far this little mini rocks the blues very well when combined with a blues pedal. Just needs a new, not plastic, nut. I had to lower the string tree for strings 1 and 2. As the angle off the nut was so shallow, I was getting extra garbled and sharp tones. It's almost laying on top of the headstock. I suspect the truss rod is messed up though. It gets very, very loose when trying for a little bit of foward bow. I wonder what size truss rod these guys need. Right now, the neck is too. straight.
Do you recommend heavier strings on that short of a scale to help with tension and keeps notes from bending out of tune while fretting?
It's a kid's guitar.... if your kid is an accurate bender and such, sure. Otherwise, the function of the $200 guitar is just to get them playing.
I could be wrong. But I think the shorter the string, the hard it will be to bend in the first place. I think if you put 11s on this mini. You're gonna murder your fingers. It's painful enough in a full size up around fret 18 and up.
You're right... and I fixed my original reply... the shorter string tuned to the same pitch will be harder to bend BUT it also has less distance to travel, so it's a trade-off. Look at your frets... as they get closer to the bridge, the frets get closer... that's the distance you need to change the string to get the next note. Therefore as you go up, you'll have less distance to bend. Which is also why you can bend 1.5 steps up the neck and not down by the nut.
Anyway... I'm surprised at all the traffic this post has generated. This literally was a "well, I have this... I should do a video" and it's my NUMBER ONE video. Number two is the mandola vs mandolin video which, again, was just a quickie video. The videos where I sit down and explain my thought process in arranging a fiddle tune? 30 views. Sheesh.
So, again, I set this guitar up for a kid learning to play guitar. He doesn't bend (accurately... he mimics), can't make it not buzz, can't make chords and so forth. It was something for him to see if he'd stick with it. Therefore, I never pushed it 1/10th as much as you guys seem to be doing.
@@Bryankimsey I bought the mini for two reasons. The first reason was to see if I coukd spark an interest in guitar with my 7 and 10 year old boys. The 2nd reason is that I use it to practice my amateur luthier skills. RUclips educated. I've done my full size Squire Strat. But I decided if I screw up. I'd rather do it on the mini. I bought the mini and my full size for $50 each. So, for fun and for practice, I'm replacing every thing on the mini with higher quality components. As a refresher I followed a StewMac video on how to setup an electric. They set up the string height to be .040. I found that it's impossible to get the saddles exactly at that height on the Mini. As they hit the base of the bridge. And, even though the frets are leveled and the neck is straight, it buzzes. So I'm going to have to raise the saddles some anyway. This one person raised the entire bridge by loosening the screws that secure the bridge a tiny bit on their mini. That doesn't seem kosher. But it enable them to intonate correctly and the sustain was very long. Surprisingly there are a reasonable number of setup videos for the Squire Mini. I'm glad you made yours.
@@Bryankimsey I always thought that the shorter scale length meant less tension in the strings therefore they are easier to bend?
Can you put a whammy bar on one of these ? I have the same guitar and I really want a whammy bar
Bob Ross. If you are talking about the Squire Mini. I've never seen them with tremelo bars. As this guitar is meant for young students. There probably isn't a tremelo mechanism small enough to fit in the space that you'll also have to route out. But, maybe I am wrong.
@@peterharoldjanakjr2078 I think there are some newer ones with a tremolo system, actually, but I could be wrong. It's possible that they aren't fender guitars, but a different brand making strat style minis.
What gauge string do you like on these mini strats? Mine has 9s and it’s too wobbly. I think I might need 11s
I only had the guitar for 2 days. I strung it with 10's. It was for a kid. He just needed to learn to put his fingers down, in the right place, at the right time. I thought it was fine with 10's.
@@Bryankimsey I like the kid guitars for some wild bending and for taking camping - plug it into the aux of the truck through a tube screamer lol
Do these guitars accept full size tuners and pickups?
Dunno! I can check next time I see this one, though. They LOOKED standard.
@@Bryankimsey no you will need to drill new holes, for the 2 pegs under the tuners. I checked regular fender locking tuners and they were too big. Cannot seem to find drop in locking tuners for it.
Stewmac has a cheap set of drop ins no drilling required. They hold tune, are not locking. www.stewmac.com/parts-and-hardware/tuning-machines/solid-peghead-guitar-tuning-machines/economy-covered-gear-6-in-line-tuners.html.They are full size, identical to what comes on the guitar. Except they work.
Is there a way to actually make these play and stay in tune for adults?
Get the intonation set, wind the strings and snug them down, and it should be as good as any super short scale guitar can be. Intonation is always going to be very picky just as any short scale will be
@@Bryankimsey I’ve had a full set up including cutting the nut and lubing it. The intonation is fantastic, (I haven’t noticed any problems with intonation on any of my short-scales) but it goes out of tune when bending. Im also using 12s 🤔 I’ve bought some locking tuners, a better nut and roller string tree’s.
I thought you were asking for help. Sounds like you have it figured out.
@@Bryankimsey if you think that’ll work then, I just didn’t know if there was something particularly right that you had to do to get it to work.
This was a student's guitar. I just set it up, did this quick little video on the spur of the moment, and then the guitar was gone. Somehow... I have no idea WHY... but this video is on the top 3 of ALL my videos for ALL time. Nuts.
What about the small guitar with the tuning stability? I don't need the vibrato lever and could attach the string block with an additional spring ... would that help in terms of tuning stability? I'm looking for a guitar like this because I'm looking for a small, light guitar because of back problems.
And small Hands.
There is no vibrato on the mini
I have the same guitar and it worked when I plugged it in but I wanted to remove the bridge when I did the wire wasn't even soldered to the bridge.
After getting it soldered I realized why they didn't do it , cause it wasn't easy getting the wire soldered in the right place to keep the bridge from rocking.
No solder was on the bridge.
I also found the saddles had two different Allen heads screws, so I had to use two Allen wrenches to lower/raise the action. Another thing I found was mine had different tuners
than what I've seen one these guitars, Mine didn't have the two screws holding the tuners to the head . These only have the one nut in front and two pegs , like Fender tuners but they are still
touchy tuners.
Way to go Indonesians
what did you expect from a toy guitar?
I bought one. Does not stay in tune. Frets buzz. Not happy
Ya the buzz is sucky but staying In tune is a mater of a set up do it your self or bring it to s shop and get different tuners
90% of "can't stay in tune" problems are due to the way you string up. One string wrap over, one under, pull tight. Done.
What string gauge did you use? Also, can you put locking tuners on it?
I used .010-.046. I suppose you could put locking tuners but they'd cost 30% what the guitar cost and can a kid operate them?
@@Bryankimsey Thank you, man. Appreciate it.
Super glue and baking powder mixed drys instantly
It can dry TOO instantly, leaving pits in the material. And it can also break loose at the worst time. To do it really right, I prefer to cut the slots really deep, inlay new material, and re-slot on top of that. That's useful for 1 or 2 slots. Anymore and I'll just make a new nut.
May I please ask the overall length? I cannot find this spec anywhere online. Thanks
No idea. The guitar doesn't live here. Someone who has one will have to chime in, I guess.
I think it is between 35 and 36 inches.
His voice sounds like Joe Walsh.