Going to look at this Bullet, please help ID

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 01:43 AM

I am going to look at this Squier Bullet early tomorrow. I have an older Bullet, but don't recognize where this one was made or what year. Can anyone help?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1826168891.html

YeahDoIt · 07-10-2010, 08:34 AM

You might check the neck, make sure it's straight.

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahDoIt

You might check the neck, make sure it's straight.

Yep, I'll take a long straight edge with me. I may pull the pickguard as well. I will also check the nut, frets and fretboard, too.

squierjosh · 07-10-2010, 09:31 AM

Hmm...doesn't look THAT old, like the seller describes. Some of those Bullets I've seen pictures of have the input jack in the pickguard, this one is in the normal place. See pic below:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...tratBody_2.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by tensleep

I am going to look at this Squier Bullet early tomorrow. I have an older Bullet, but don't recognize where this one was made or what year. Can anyone help?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/msg/1826168891.html

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 09:42 AM

I would bet plywood body. $30 for the guitar and $30+ for the repairs. You can do better.

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squierjosh

Hmm...doesn't look THAT old, like the seller describes. Some of those Bullets I've seen pictures of have the input jack in the pickguard, this one is in the normal place. See pic below:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-...tratBody_2.jpg

My '84 has the jack in the pickguard, too. The seller says it is pre 2000. He must be young to think that is an older guitar

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

I would bet plywood body. $30 for the guitar and $30+ for the repairs. You can do better.

I had thought of that and am hoping it is not a plywood guitar. If it is plywood, I am definitely going to pass. Is there a way I can tell if this guitar is, in fact, plywood?

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 09:56 AM

I have one exactly like that and its a thin ply body. I actually stripped the pickguard yesterday and put in a humbucker and 1 volume only. The guitars itself plays incredible and sounds great but it is plywood. The tuners are complete garbage and they need replaced so thats another $30 so all in all you could buy a brand new Bullet from musicians friend that is worthy of modifications. Thats just my opinion though. If you have other parts laying around for it I would say go for it. then again it's only $30.

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 09:57 AM

Remove the pickguard and you can tell if it's real wood. I believe if the body is thin it's probably ply.

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 10:09 AM

There's an unloaded '51 near me. More money, but $30 will go a long way towards a better guitar. I think I'll pass.

squierjosh · 07-10-2010, 10:35 AM

Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? If it plays incredible and sounds great, why the hell does it matter if it's plywood or some cheap soft wood that they sell now?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

I have one exactly like that and its a thin ply body. ... The guitars itself plays incredible and sounds great but it is plywood...

wickedtools · 07-10-2010, 11:01 AM

The neck alone is worth 30 bucks

Just saying

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 11:02 AM

I spoke to the guy. He is hard up for cash (aren't we all?) and will sell me the Squier and an Ibanez for $75. I think I will go see. I really don't need another project.

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wickedtools

The neck alone is worth 30 bucks

Just saying

Thought about that. The loaded pick guard has some value as well.

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 11:52 AM

Here I go..............

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squierjosh

Do you know how ridiculous that sounds? If it plays incredible and sounds great, why the hell does it matter if it's plywood or some cheap soft wood that they sell now?

SO now i'm ridiculous. It's just some people don't want to spend much on upgrades when a body is really a piece of sh#t.
$30 for the guitar
$30 for a new bridge
$30 for new tuners because they are worthless and will not hold tune
$20 for new pots, wires, capacitors, etc... because those are also crap plus it's used
for a grand total of $110.

Brand new Squier Bullet that is totally playable with a real wood body $119. w/ free shipping for a difference of $9.00
Now you tell me, Is the extra $9 worth the difference for a brand new guitar? While most things on the Bullet should be upgraded, It is not a necessity because they do play fine as is.
But then again, I make any guitar sound good.

motoman45 · 07-10-2010, 01:41 PM

we will be waiting....

wickedtools · 07-10-2010, 02:19 PM

The plywood guitars are made with different ply's of tone woods not what you see at the lumber yard. Most Semi and Hollow body guitars Gibson ES 335 are made out of laminate (plywood). So if it has a good tone and you like it why not play and rock it! Don't fall into the snub plywood-phobia, you will miss out in some great sounding guitars

tensleep · 07-10-2010, 02:25 PM

Well, I REALLY wanted to like this guitar. I love Squiers, first of all, and I really like tinkering with guitars. I enjoy taking "sleepers" and making them play above their price point. I am not a good player, so an expensive guitar would be wasted on me.

However, this guitar had absolutely no redeeming qualities. I mean, it was junk. It was an Indonesian model. The neck was bowed back, maybe 1/8", and I wasn't sure the truss could take it up. The nut was broken and loose and the body was plywood as well. There was lots of rust present on the screws and on the pickups. I pulled the pick guard and all of the pickups had just one wire going to them. This may be common for these Squiers, but I have never seen this before. I am used to two wire pickups. The switch and pots looked oxidized as well. I kept my $30 in my pocket - I would rather buy strings.

motoman45 · 07-10-2010, 02:38 PM

there ya go..... no harm no foul

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 04:04 PM

I'm not snubbing anything. I actually own 3 guitars made from ply. Not what I would consider top quality though but they all sound good. If they didn't I wouldn't have them. I've been told that ply or laminate is actually stronger than solid wood due to the multiple layers of glue. I'm just giving my opinion as everyone has one, am I right? My point was if you are going to spend that much on mandatory modifications you might as well buy something new for around the same price.
And 1 more thing .
Would anybody in there right mind spend $1400+ on an American made Fender Strat if the body was made out of laminate or PLYWOOD ? I didn't think so.
And to compare a Squier Bullet to a Gibson 335? Really?
Remember Gibsons motto. If we charge the most people will THINK we are the best.

squierjosh · 07-10-2010, 08:52 PM

From reading this site, you're going to be spending money on most of those parts for a new Bullet too, bringing the total over $200...

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

SO now i'm ridiculous. It's just some people don't want to spend much on upgrades when a body is really a piece of sh#t.
$30 for the guitar
$30 for a new bridge
$30 for new tuners because they are worthless and will not hold tune
$20 for new pots, wires, capacitors, etc... because those are also crap plus it's used
for a grand total of $110.

Brand new Squier Bullet that is totally playable with a real wood body $119. w/ free shipping for a difference of $9.00
Now you tell me, Is the extra $9 worth the difference for a brand new guitar? While most things on the Bullet should be upgraded, It is not a necessity because they do play fine as is.
But then again, I make any guitar sound good.

dannyvawn · 07-10-2010, 10:05 PM

Do you really think everybody upgrades their Bullet? Read what I wrote.
With the $30 guitar upgrades are mandatory. With a brand new one is actually PLAYABLE without them. Sure most of us do mods and enjoy upgrading but that doesn't mean everybody does or has to. I have a new one that is 100% original and will stay that way. It sounds good and stays in tune. Maybe you are taking what I am saying the wrong way. I wouldn't have any problems buying it myself and upgrading it but I would definitely want to weigh my other options first. I have bought way too many guitars at the spur of the moment later wishing I would have thought about it first. I just bought 2 new /used guitars this week that I have absolutely no use for. Go figure.