Squier Mustang Sonic series hardware upgrade recommendations?

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Bukiegoblin

Squier Talker
Sep 17, 2023
3
Wilkesboro, Noth Carolina
Hey, I’m brand new to modding and upgrading guitars and I’m not really finding the exact answers to my questions and I’m hoping y’all can help. First of all I’m looking to get locking tuners for my sonic mustang does anyone know what exact locking tuners I can get that would work without having to bore the holes bigger? I’m also looking to upgrade the pickups, pickup toggle switch, both pots, input jack, and the wiring for all of it. Can anyone recommend some good (affordable but also superb quality) brands/models for the other hardware I’m changing (mostly meaning pickups, pots, switch, and wiring)? For the toggle switch would I need a certain type of size for it to fit and work? I know some say it’s overkill to replace it all but I’m also doing it for the experience so I’m more confident about mods for future projects. (I put a tape measure up to the tuners in the pics mostly for reference sorry it’s not perfect)
 
Victor C Squier

Victor C Squier

Squier-Meister
Jul 20, 2023
164
Battle Creek, Michigan
If you don't have any idea what pickups you want, then it probably isn't a good idea sidegrading to other cheap Chinese made pickups, such as Wilkinson or GFS, that aren't actually "better." You can still learn from desoldering everything and reassembling it as it is the same steps as replacing the components. But no doubt a ton of people here will help you with very specific recommendations as this is a subject that has been popular on these forums for many years. Speaking of which...

I do think before doing anything else, you should review this thread in its entirety. It is for the "previous" version of the inexpensive Mustang, the Bullet, which is only slightly different than the one you bought. I really think you'll know what you really want to do after reading it. It is not always easy, by the way, to find locking tuners that don't require some type of drilling on a Squier neck, even if that is just for new screws to hold them in place. Hipshot makes a bracket that allows their own tuners to be held in place without any additional screws. Virtually any other brand of 6-inline locking tuners can be used with varying degrees of difficulty. You might even be able to find someone on Youtube installing some on a similar Squier or even one like yours.

Good luck and welcome aboard the modding train.
 
Wound_Up

Wound_Up

Squier-Meister
Jan 28, 2020
327
Shreveport, LA
Victor C Squier said:
If you don't have any idea what pickups you want, then it probably isn't a good idea sidegrading to other cheap Chinese made pickups, such as Wilkinson or GFS, that aren't actually "better." You can still learn from desoldering everything and reassembling it as it is the same steps as replacing the components. But no doubt a ton of people here will help you with very specific recommendations as this is a subject that has been popular on these forums for many years. Speaking of which...

I do think before doing anything else, you should review this thread in its entirety. It is for the "previous" version of the inexpensive Mustang, the Bullet, which is only slightly different than the one you bought. I really think you'll know what you really want to do after reading it. It is not always easy, by the way, to find locking tuners that don't require some type of drilling on a Squier neck, even if that is just for new screws to hold them in place. Hipshot makes a bracket that allows their own tuners to be held in place without any additional screws. Virtually any other brand of 6-inline locking tuners can be used with varying degrees of difficulty. You might even be able to find someone on Youtube installing some on a similar Squier or even one like yours.

Good luck and welcome aboard the modding train.
Click to expand...

Being that it's a Sonic series, which is Squier's lowest cost guitar, I suspect even Wilkinson pickups would be an upgrade. Unless you've got experience with multiple Sonic series guitars, it's not really logical to presume that one has to actually spend some money to get an upgraded pickup for those guitars. Wilkinson has alnico 2 & 5 pickups available as well as ceramic so one even has choices. Theyve also got different levels of pickups that you can buy. Some made in China. Some made in Japan that cost more.

Without direct experience and something to back it up, you can't just make generalized statements like that. Especially on a new series of guitars that haven't even been out that long. IMO, it's much more likely for Wilkinson pickups to be an upgrade than to not be an upgrade for Fenders cheapest line of guitars.
 
C

Cycleops

Squier Talker
Aug 16, 2023
73
Ghana
Hello and welcome 😊.
Good luck with your project but I think there's some things you need to think about before surging ahead replacing pretty much everything as I see it. You need to have specific aim in mind.
The ceramic pickups really aren't 'bad' at all. Are you trying to get a certain sound? I should spend some time using the existing and if you really don't like them change by all means. Replacement pickups won't sound a world of difference away, even very expensive ones. Look on YouTube to listen to reviews. Pickups are very simple devices and there's only so much makers can to alter the sound. If you want some Alnico there are plenty on Amazon for about $30, they're not going to sound much different to those specialist ones at ten times the price.
Likewise I'd say there's no advantage in changing out the new pots they'll work just fine. I don't think you'll have enough depth in the body to fit a better quality rotary 5 way switch but if the 'import' one is working okay that's fine. Same problem if you want to put in a Fender tremolo block.
You don't mention changing the strings but that'll change the playing experience, and the tuners are well worth doing. Also just giving it a proper set up will yield benefits. Level the frets, adjust the action and the neck relief. After all that play it for a while and then decide where you want to go.
Good luck.
 
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B

Bukiegoblin

Squier Talker
Sep 17, 2023
3
Wilkesboro, Noth Carolina
Victor C Squier said:
If you don't have any idea what pickups you want, then it probably isn't a good idea sidegrading to other cheap Chinese made pickups, such as Wilkinson or GFS, that aren't actually "better." You can still learn from desoldering everything and reassembling it as it is the same steps as replacing the components. But no doubt a ton of people here will help you with very specific recommendations as this is a subject that has been popular on these forums for many years. Speaking of which...

I do think before doing anything else, you should review this thread in its entirety. It is for the "previous" version of the inexpensive Mustang, the Bullet, which is only slightly different than the one you bought. I really think you'll know what you really want to do after reading it. It is not always easy, by the way, to find locking tuners that don't require some type of drilling on a Squier neck, even if that is just for new screws to hold them in place. Hipshot makes a bracket that allows their own tuners to be held in place without any additional screws. Virtually any other brand of 6-inline locking tuners can be used with varying degrees of difficulty. You might even be able to find someone on Youtube installing some on a similar Squier or even one like yours.

Good luck and welcome aboard the modding train.
Click to expand...
I like the Seymour Duncan single coils but also love the sound of the neck single coil and humucker bridge and I’m really thinking about doing that. I’m thinking about changing the pickguard and other hardware (bridge, tuners, etc.) to match it with the black pickguard if I decide I really like the look.
I changed the strings as soon as I got it too. Can’t stand the stock ones lol I like heavier bottoms at least.
And lastly about the setup, I never knew so much went into just properly setting up a guitar with the string height and intonation and all. I think I’ve about found everything im planning to use for my modded squier. Only thing I’m having trouble with is finding a better all black hard tail top load bridge that has the 5 mounting screws like the one on it. Thanks for the reply and advice tho!
 
MAS Tequila

MAS Tequila

Squier-holic
Platinum Supporting Member
Nov 22, 2021
1,584
south FL
Bukiegoblin said:
I like the Seymour Duncan single coils but also love the sound of the neck single coil and humucker bridge and I’m really thinking about doing that. I’m thinking about changing the pickguard and other hardware (bridge, tuners, etc.) to match it with the black pickguard if I decide I really like the look.
I changed the strings as soon as I got it too. Can’t stand the stock ones lol I like heavier bottoms at least.
And lastly about the setup, I never knew so much went into just properly setting up a guitar with the string height and intonation and all. I think I’ve about found everything im planning to use for my modded squier. Only thing I’m having trouble with is finding a better all black hard tail top load bridge that has the 5 mounting screws like the one on it. Thanks for the reply and advice tho!
Click to expand...
This is the one you want.

Yes, I know it has gold rollers, they have them both ways.

I'll get you a link, I bought it through Amazon.

I would send you this one, but it's scratched.


IMG_4520.jpg
 
B

Bukiegoblin

Squier Talker
Sep 17, 2023
3
Wilkesboro, Noth Carolina
Ahhh yeah if you could find the link I’d appreciate it so much thank you so much. I looked for a long time this morning and couldn’t find anything in black that I knew 100% would fit without plugging and drilling holes (I’d rather save something like that for a future project when I’m more comfortable with modifying). When you say the gold rollers have them both ways you mean they have them in black right? If not I might try to switch them out if that’s even possible. I really wanna switch the pickguard for a black one but I can’t find it with the 9 screw holes and cut outs for two single coils and the circle pickup switch hole. I found one seller on eBay I’m guessing custom makes them to order and you can actually choose the color, choose 9 screw holes like the bullet and sonic has or the actual fender one with more, and then choose whichever pickup holes you need, and it was like $30 but when I tried to check out it said “seller is on vacation” or whatever so I’m a little bummed about that. Hopefully it will be available soon though or maybe I can find a white pearl one or something nicer than the stock one until a black one is available.
 
Diavolo

Diavolo

Squier-holic
Jan 3, 2022
1,659
California, USA
It needs to be a top load.
The one @MAS Tequila posted won't work.

@Bukiegoblin
This is the one you want!

Allparts SB-0190-010 Non-Tremolo Top-Load Bridge Chrome https://a.co/d/5txNX9T

The design is an upgrade, you won't run into issues with strings hitting the saddle adjust screws. If you look around you might be able to find one in black.
 
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MAS Tequila

MAS Tequila

Squier-holic
Platinum Supporting Member
Nov 22, 2021
1,584
south FL
Diavolo said:
It needs to be a top load.
The one @MAS Tequila posted won't work.

@Bukiegoblin
This is the one you want!

Allparts SB-0190-010 Non-Tremolo Top-Load Bridge Chrome https://a.co/d/5txNX9T

The design is an upgrade, you won't run into issues with strings hitting the saddle adjust screws. If you look around you might be able to find one in black.
Click to expand...
Ok, the Amazon won’t.

Look at the eBay link.

I have these and they will string through and top load.
 
S

Socal-Al

Squier Talker
Aug 14, 2015
18
Not to be a kill joy. What you don't want to do is turn a couple hundred dollar guitar into a 6 hundred dollar guitar that is worth a couple of hundred dollars. Play it for a while to see what's up. If it stays in tune and sounds good that is what you want. Really good sound comes from a (well setup guitar). Also if you don't have a decent amp all is for nothing. You can get most mileage out of raising or lowering pickups and dialing in amp to the guitar. A eq pedal can do wonders and maybe a Timmy type pedal to add some depth. Or just do what everyone does, buy expensive everything chasing a sound that only comes from a recording studio. We've all been there.
 
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