I almost don’t want to do this video. I do not want to develop competition for these great guitars! They are hard enough to find as it is now.

I have been developing what I would call a sub-collection. In this subcollection I have been focusing on two different lines of Fender Squier guitars. First, I have been purchasing what are called Squier Vintage Modified guitars of which there is a video forthcoming, and I will cover them in great detail then.

I have also been collecting older Squier guitars in general based upon the condition and specifications of each guitar.

You may ask yourself why?

Too be honest? – they are GREAT instruments. They usually have specifications like Rosewood fretboards, excellent pickups, and are just really well made. In some cases, in my opinion they are better than what is available today.

Case in point. This made in China 2014 Classic Vibe 60s’ Stratocaster in Burgundy Mist with a matching headstock. It has a beautiful rosewood fretboard and just about everything on the guitar is in excellent condition. The guitar is in a unique color and unusual with the painted headstock. This color and Lake Placid Blue both had painted headstocks and were limited run models. So as a result they are difficult to find and very collectible.

The one flaw with this specific guitar? …the electronics are shot. The volume control pot cuts in an out and one of the tone pots does not work at all. I have tried all of the usual things like cleaning the pots but to no avail. I could replace the pots individually but decided to go another path.

I was on Stratosphere.com’s eBay store and found a quick solution to the problem. They had a Fender Vintera II 60s Stratocaster LOADED
PICKGUARD Prewired Strat Mint Green for only $149.

For those of you who do not feel comfortable building out a new wiring harness and have basic soldering skills then installing a loaded pickguard is the way to go. You get a fully functional and tested wiring harness and pickups that all you need to do is remove your old, loaded pickguard and then solder a few grounds and the two leads going to the output jack and you are pretty much done.

Back to collecting older Squier guitars. Another reason to collect these types of guitar is they are available only in limited supply and not only hold their value but in most cases increase in value.

The guitar in this video falls into this category. Originally when released this guitar’s MSRP was $579. Which I was surprised by. Most of the Classic Vibe line of Squiers now the MSRP is normally less than $550. In mint condition this specific guitar will go for between $500 and $700. Even a non-working guitar like mine will go for around $400.

Normally I would not modify one of these guitars because I attempt to purchase them in working order and want them in original condition, so they hold the most collectible value. Most of my Vintage Modified guitars are in mint if not new condition. It has taken me a long time to find them. This guitar is the exception. I purchased it because I knew I could freely modify the guitar without guilt.

Now that I have replaced the electronics in this Stratocaster with an upgraded version I to be honest do not know what the resale value would be. Does not matter though because I do not intend on selling it. It is too cool looking, amazingly playable, and sounds great both unplugged and plugged into an amp. She come in at 8 lbs. and 9 ounces which is a little on the heavier side for a Strat but still very manageable.

Stay tuned for my Squier Vintage Modified videos. I have managed to collect seven of them so far and hope to snag more. They all have rosewood fretboards and Seymour Duncan designed pickups. What’s not to lov