Paranoid Squire

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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hanskung
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Paranoid Squire

Post by hanskung » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:32 am

I have a Squire Paranormal Supersonic that I really like. These guitars have no tone control, there are two volume controls, is it possible to put in a tone control? ,so one volume control and one tone control.

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Ceylon
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by Ceylon » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:49 am

Nope, can't be done.
Science Friction burns my fingers
Electricity still lingers

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HNB
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:50 am

It is likely that it does have a volume and tone control but the tone control isn't working right. There is a toggle right? Did someone rewire it? If so you it is just some rewiring to put it back to stock.
Christopher
Lilith Guitars

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HNB
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:52 am

This diagram would be what you want it to look like when finished. Both pickups going to the toggle. Output of the toggle goes to the volume pot. Tone pot is connected to the volume pot. :) Jack output is connected to the volume pot.

Image
Christopher
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s_mcsleazy
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by s_mcsleazy » Wed Sep 15, 2021 7:49 am

yeah i did it because squiers stock wiring sucks and it died on me 2 weeks into owning the guitar
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hanskung
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by hanskung » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:14 am

Ceylon wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:49 am
Nope, can't be done.
Impossible?

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hanskung
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by hanskung » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:14 am

HNB wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:50 am
It is likely that it does have a volume and tone control but the tone control isn't working right. There is a toggle right? Did someone rewire it? If so you it is just some rewiring to put it back to stock.
No, that's how they were made.

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hanskung
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by hanskung » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:16 am

HNB wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:52 am
This diagram would be what you want it to look like when finished. Both pickups going to the toggle. Output of the toggle goes to the volume pot. Tone pot is connected to the volume pot. :) Jack output is connected to the volume pot.

Image
Well, since I don't understand this but will take to diagram repair guy...but it can be done?

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threewordname
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by threewordname » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:25 am

Yes, it can be done.

Following the Seymour Duncan diagrams is as difficult as building a Lego set, as long as you take your time and move step by step. Wiring this circuit (but with a tele switch) was my first guitar project.

All of that being said, if you don't feel comfortable taking things apart or soldering electronics, you might want to take it to a tech.

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HNB
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:53 am

hanskung wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:14 am
HNB wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:50 am
It is likely that it does have a volume and tone control but the tone control isn't working right. There is a toggle right? Did someone rewire it? If so you it is just some rewiring to put it back to stock.
No, that's how they were made.
Trust me, it can be done. :) You just need to rework the wiring. It is pretty easy if you make sure the wires connect like shown in the picture. :) I have wired hundreds of guitars. It is totally doable. :D
Christopher
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Ceylon
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by Ceylon » Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:36 am

hanskung wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 8:14 am
Ceylon wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 6:49 am
Nope, can't be done.
Impossible?
No, it can totally be done. Sorry mate, I'm just having a long day and went for some unfunny sarcasm. It is more in Line with how most guitars are wired so doing it ought to be a piece of cake and I'm fairly sure the schematic posted here above should work fine.
Science Friction burns my fingers
Electricity still lingers

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LVC
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by LVC » Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:38 am

I've just done that to my own Paranormal Super-Sonic, after changing the pickups (thanks again HNB! :))

It's not difficult at all, just a matter of de-soldering and re-soldering a few wires. You'll need to add a capacitor to turn one of the volume controls into a tone control though; .022 µF is the usual preferred value for humbuckers but anything close will work (some people prefer .015 µF for instance).

What could make the operation slightly more complex if you're not used to wiring/rewiring guitars is that on the Super-Sonic the switch is located on the upper "horn" (well, it's not much of a horn), away from the other controls. So Squier have used a multi wire cable, very much like a humbucker cable, to connect the switch to the pots. This means that while functionally similar the wiring in your guitar will look slightly different from the schematic above. Of course, if you've got experience, that won't be a problem at all.
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by HNB » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:04 am

LVC wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:38 am
I've just done that to my own Paranormal Super-Sonic, after changing the pickups (thanks again HNB! :))
No problem! :D
Christopher
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pacemaker
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by pacemaker » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:27 am

If you want to go over the top and have volume and tone for both pickups, you could use stacked pots, similar to what you'd find on a Fender Jazz Bass. I did this with a basketcase Mustang in the mid-90s; it was pretty cool to have the added options.

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hanskung
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Re: Paranoid Squire

Post by hanskung » Wed Sep 15, 2021 11:48 am

LVC wrote:
Wed Sep 15, 2021 10:38 am
I've just done that to my own Paranormal Super-Sonic, after changing the pickups (thanks again HNB! :))

It's not difficult at all, just a matter of de-soldering and re-soldering a few wires. You'll need to add a capacitor to turn one of the volume controls into a tone control though; .022 µF is the usual preferred value for humbuckers but anything close will work (some people prefer .015 µF for instance).

What could make the operation slightly more complex if you're not used to wiring/rewiring guitars is that on the Super-Sonic the switch is located on the upper "horn" (well, it's not much of a horn), away from the other controls. So Squier have used a multi wire cable, very much like a humbucker cable, to connect the switch to the pots. This means that while functionally similar the wiring in your guitar will look slightly different from the schematic above. Of course, if you've got experience, that won't be a problem at all.
Ok great! It can be done! I'm very encouraged! Of course I'm not going to do the work, I'll have to find someone. Curious.....what pickups did you use? I love this guitar....it's the best neck I've ever played, I'm small, the 24 " scale and narrow nut is fantastic. I like it so much I bought two, I'm selling my strat.

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