Squier Bullet FSR Tele upgrades (from Page 2)

Gear_Junky · Sat Sep 12, 2020 11:49 pm

RENAMED from "So, fess up... who ordered a Squier Bullet Tele?" thread.

I kept running into videos on YT and also seeing it on MF, started reading up on teles and for some reason I couldn't resist. I went with the sea motiff and I'll have to wait (backordered), but I'm ok with that. I figured I wouldn't do better on a Rondo b-stock and I've always felt that on a telecaster I would want a telecaster shaped headstock, while I actually like the regular SX headstocks (not the pointy ones).

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... er&index=1

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... er&index=2

Made in Indonesia. From what I gather these are better than the MIC affinities. Still about 3 hours left on the sale...

Gear_Junky · Sat Sep 12, 2020 11:51 pm

Seems wrong without pics

Gear_Junky · Sat Sep 12, 2020 11:52 pm

pratteman · Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:46 am

Didn't see that and thankfully too. I'm too guitar heavy as it is.

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ILuvTeles · Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:50 am

I remember not too long ago they were selling bullet teles & strats for $99, sometimes $89. I wish my pay would have jumped 40% in that short time.

Gear_Junky · Sun Sep 13, 2020 12:21 pm

ILuvTeles wrote: ↑Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:50 am I remember not too long ago they were selling bullet teles & strats for $99, sometimes $89. I wish my pay would have jumped 40% in that short time.

How long is "not too long ago"? I was always weary of Squiers, especially the cheapies. But the Classic Vibe convinced me to rethink this. And also what I learned about who makes guitars in Indonesia (Samick, Cort) and some examples of their work that I've seen. And experience with SX instruments from Rondo. So I hope I am not disappointed.

BatUtilityBelt · Sun Sep 13, 2020 1:45 pm

Nope, no lefty love.

Gear_Junky · Tue Sep 15, 2020 12:08 am

Interesting... I noticed today that the colors that were back-ordered yesterday are now "in stock and ready to ship", while my order is still in "back order" status. Then I noticed that there was something else - an open box FSR for $83.19 (shipped). So I called them up (they didn't have any info on what's wrong), but I cancelled my first order and placed an order for this (I had wanted a maple neck). We'll see how it turns out but these are also made in Indonesia, which is what I wanted. This is now much more agreeable, assuming it works out. I've had pretty good experiences with MF/M123/GC with open box and b-stock items. Two of my acoustics are "open box" and are great. And I think I have a hard shell case or three that were b-stock. And if things are more serious, you can usually call them up and talk them down some more.

Gear_Junky · Tue Sep 15, 2020 12:10 am

P.S. From some real photos that I've searched the "butterscotch" is not so "overcooked" on these and some people's photos even show a more yellowed maple neck (that would be my preference). Telecaster to me is a milestone in guitar history, so I dig a "historic" look.

nomadh · Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:37 am

I like the bsb for 130
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... re|ClickEV

dearlpitts · Tue Sep 15, 2020 5:55 am

Gear_Junky · Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:35 am

nomadh wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:37 am I like the bsb for 130
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... re|ClickEV

Yep, that's one, only in "open box" - that's what I ordered.

nomadh · Tue Sep 15, 2020 12:03 pm

Gear_Junky wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 8:35 am
nomadh wrote: ↑Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:37 am I like the bsb for 130
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... re|ClickEV
Yep, that's one, only in "open box" - that's what I ordered.

For $83??? Thats killer. I have an older affinity bsb I got used in a package deal probably about 130. And thats used. So now they are out there for 130 new and 89 open box? Didnt think that was going to happen. Mine had a saddle drop on me. The neck pickup went all howly on me and the vol works more like an on/off. But it plays like a motha and I love the trash tele twangy tone. So it needs a few tweaks. Good luck on yours.

Gear_Junky · Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:58 pm

Well, it's "Level 3" (perhaps a "C stock"?) so we'll see if it's not salvageable or merely "pre-relic-ed" or mint.

Gear_Junky · Tue Sep 15, 2020 2:13 pm

On the bright side: the "sale" didn't end with Labor Day (there was even a count-down counter, which just disappeared), so all 4 colors are available - "limited edition" sparkle red, lake placid blue, surf green (all with rosewood-like fretboards) and the "FSR" Butterscotch with maple fretboard. I like how the blue and the green appear to have "mint green" pickguards. I really truly hate those anemic white plastic pickguards, they just look cheap and fake. Maybe if they yellow from light exposure...

Gear_Junky · Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:01 pm

Well, the "open box" order was cancelled by MF, I called them and the agent said that the headstock was broken. Ah, well. I was ordering something from GC, so I had them match the price and ordered the same tele in new condition. That'll teach 'em

At least this way I'll be able to return to the local Guitar Center if I need to. Also grabbed a used Crate Palomino V32 1x12 (the bigger brother of the V16 in my avatar). For some reason I really like these amps, ever since I heard them back 20 years ago. They are described as very similar to Vox AC15 and AC30 (which I've never played, so I wouldn't know).

Gear_Junky · Sat Sep 19, 2020 12:51 pm

Now that I think about it, would be nice if they'd let someone buy that body (and maybe keep the tuners) on the cheap - would make a nice quick project with a neck from eBay. But they'll probably dispose of it through back channels.

nomadh · Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:38 pm

Gear_Junky wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:01 pm Well, the "open box" order was cancelled by MF, I called them and the agent said that the headstock was broken. Ah, well. I was ordering something from GC, so I had them match the price and ordered the same tele in new condition. That'll teach 'em At least this way I'll be able to return to the local Guitar Center if I need to. Also grabbed a used Crate Palomino V32 1x12 (the bigger brother of the V16 in my avatar). For some reason I really like these amps, ever since I heard them back 20 years ago. They are described as very similar to Vox AC15 and AC30 (which I've never played, so I wouldn't know).

Killer. I have the black tolex ver v30. 3112 crate. Been my gig amp for years. I was pissed when I learned gc closed out the palomino. I bought the pig peavey c50 410. Then the palomino blowout. Later I still wanted a 112 30 I lucked out and got the c30 black on a closeout. It was some sort of killer deal. I show ref to $260
But I think I had some type of second stackable coupon to get it close to 200 iirc.
There is a great thread by the crate series designer about these amps. A great read. https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... st-4653392

Gear_Junky · Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:09 am

nomadh wrote: ↑Sat Sep 19, 2020 9:38 pm
Gear_Junky wrote: ↑Wed Sep 16, 2020 6:01 pm Well, the "open box" order was cancelled by MF, I called them and the agent said that the headstock was broken. Ah, well. I was ordering something from GC, so I had them match the price and ordered the same tele in new condition. That'll teach 'em At least this way I'll be able to return to the local Guitar Center if I need to. Also grabbed a used Crate Palomino V32 1x12 (the bigger brother of the V16 in my avatar). For some reason I really like these amps, ever since I heard them back 20 years ago. They are described as very similar to Vox AC15 and AC30 (which I've never played, so I wouldn't know).
Killer. I have the black tolex ver v30. 3112 crate. Been my gig amp for years. I was pissed when I learned gc closed out the palomino. I bought the pig peavey c50 410. Then the palomino blowout. Later I still wanted a 112 30 I lucked out and got the c30 black on a closeout. It was some sort of killer deal. I show ref to $260
But I think I had some type of second stackable coupon to get it close to 200 iirc.
There is a great thread by the crate series designer about these amps. A great read. https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... st-4653392

Ah, awesome! I'm glad that I found someone who knows about these! Yes, I know that the regular black tolex are the same amps, i.e. the V15 is the same as my Palomino V16, same schematics, people do same mods, etc. Palominos were just Guitar Center exclusive version and IMHO they were a great combination of looks, features, tone and value.

I also just checked my V16 and it's US-made. I can't recall, but I grabbed it used for a song.

Crate later did another V-series, with a more matte looking tolex and matte aluminum (vs. chrome) looking accents. They were cheap and moddable, I talked a friend into getting a 15-watt version, but they were too dark sounding in stock config, nothing like Palominos and their black tolex V-counterparts.

Have you done any mods on yours, nomadh? There's a guy that leaves lengthy comments on YT videos to these with details about what helps clean it up more (the V16 and the dirty channel of V32), like removing a gain stage. Anyway, I love them stock, so I may not really ever go beyond speaker changes and maybe tubes. Have you found a way to re-bias (if it needs it)? Manuals are a little ambiguous on this, like they are on tubes - they describe various OTHER tubes and their sounds, while never going into El84's.

nomadh · Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:46 am

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... st-4653392
[/quote]

[mention]Gear_Junky[/mention]

The link I mentioned above actually has suggestions about mods and the different models from the actual v series designer, Obeid Khan. Interesting to hear from the horses mouth. He talks about how it was designed to run the power tubes hot and power tubes will just be the cost of doing business on this amp.
I was going to mod but at the time I had a 5 yr warranty and now I have no idea what it was that I would have wanted to change

andrewsrea · Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:04 pm

All priced at $179 today. Guess the sale is over

Gear_Junky · Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:33 pm

andrewsrea wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:04 pm All priced at $179 today. Guess the sale is over

Wow, that was quick! For a while, when the price didn't expire after Labor Day, I thought this was just a tease to get people to buy, that it was the permanent price. I'm glad I clicked in time, I can always return it at that price (within what, 45 days or whatever)

Gear_Junky · Sun Sep 20, 2020 2:35 pm

nomadh wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 10:46 am https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index ... st-4653392

@Gear_Junky

The link I mentioned above actually has suggestions about mods and the different models from the actual v series designer, Obeid Khan. Interesting to hear from the horses mouth. He talks about how it was designed to run the power tubes hot and power tubes will just be the cost of doing business on this amp.
I was going to mod but at the time I had a 5 yr warranty and now I have no idea what it was that I would have wanted to change

[/quote]

I've heard this recently - that the amp is designed to run the power tubes hot at all settings (I don't know how much sense that makes electronically). I will start a thread when the V32 arrives (and is hopefully up to snuff). It really deserves a thread. I don't play often enough, I think I can justify the extra tubes, I'll just have to order a few extra sets.

nomadh · Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:48 pm

Yup I guess class a run a very consistent hot and this amp even more so for the tone. Khan said if you back it off much the tone really suffers. I have an ac fan I keep in the bottom of mine I used to use it alot and the tubes did fine long term. I do t use it so much now and haven't bothered w the fan.

Gear_Junky · Sun Sep 20, 2020 6:29 pm

nomadh wrote: ↑Sun Sep 20, 2020 4:48 pm Yup I guess class a run a very consistent hot and this amp even more so for the tone. Khan said if you back it off much the tone really suffers. I have an ac fan I keep in the bottom of mine I used to use it alot and the tubes did fine long term. I do t use it so much now and haven't bothered w the fan.

Sounds like my situation. Did you run the fan off the circuitry or just a totally external little fan that you put inside and pointed up? Any noise issues from it?