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Squier Stratocaster 'California' series set up - Reloved Guitars #011

2,551 views · Published 17 July 2014 · 1:47:55 · Indexed 9 October 2026

Channel: Sam Deeks · 2014 · Comedy

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This video covers the setup process of this Squier Strat 'California' (our serial # Reloved011). Based on a little research, I expected the guitar to be little more than an average strat; and we did encounter one or two problems with it (see below). However, the finished article surprised us; in terms of feel, playability and sound. This guitar has high output pickups and (to me) a very 'stratty' sound. It also has a very nice 'C' profile neck and maple fingerboard that feels really nice to play. 

The key problems on this guitar were:

• Tuners - these were all loose to some degree, creating a range of buzzes and rattles. Thankfully nothing more required here than lining them up properly and screwing them down firmly again. 

• Frets - this neck has some of the highest / most uneven frets that we've seen in a short time in the Reloved workshop. We fixed this with a solid fret-levelling, re-profiling and polishing.

• Truss rod. Access is at the body-end of the neck and an unusual sized allen key was required. I was able to adjust the neck to flat prior to the fret-levelling but was unable to get any response out of the truss rod after refitting the neck. This wasn't a major problem as the neck relief under tension was just about right for the action I wanted to set. 

I played the finished article for an hour or so and was quite impressed with this guitar. I'd rate it way above the Affinity and Bullet Squiers; up there with the Standard (which we've also got waiting for a setup in the Reloved workshop).

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