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So, on a complete, and frantic impulse, I bought this very Squier Paranormal Super-Sonic:




It is currently on the way, and I'm biting my nails in anticipation.

Has anybody around here picked one up yet? I'm not too sure what to expect, and after many years of playing, I just realized this is the very first new guitar I've ever bought!

I had a few Mustangs bitd, so I already know I'm gonna like the short 24" scale, and thin neck

I'll probably replace the mudbuckers with something that will twang, maybe some cheapo GFS, and start my adventure into Strat trem adjustment


Any thoughts/experiences?....

Nice!

I think they look cool as hell, but I don't like playing mustangs, short scales or thin necks so I'm stuck looking at other people playing and enjoying them.

Está bonita.

Oh those look fucken great. I’d rock one. Super d in the bridge and a hum sized p90 in the neck if I was changing the pickups

fcknoise wrote:Oh those look fucken great. I’d rock one. Super d in the bridge and a hum sized p90 in the neck if I was changing the pickups

Might go with some lipsticks to get some twang...

I've had the same guitar for maybe 2 months now.

Hoping you don't have a hard time with it but generally the tuning stability on these is hellish. I upgraded all the hardware and spent yonks setting it up and it still wouldn't stay in tune with trem use, so I have it blocked off.

The neck pickup is actually pretty great but the bridge is way too hot and muddy so I would upgrade that for sure. I went for GFS Surf 90s but they're in postal limbo still..

The body shape and neck are very comfortable, way better than a mustang IMO. I do have qualms with it but I play the thing every day cos it's so darn comfy and smooth. It'll be a great guitar if you put some work into it.

backwardsvoyager wrote:I've had the same guitar for maybe 2 months now.

Hoping you don't have a hard time with it but generally the tuning stability on these is hellish. I upgraded all the hardware and spent yonks setting it up and it still wouldn't stay in tune with trem use, so I have it blocked off.

What is likely to be the cause of the tuning problems? I've got one of the Mexican Pawn Shop models that was released a few years ago. I've not had tuning problems but the pickups were wired out of phase, is that the case with the Squier version too? I also had to replace the switch.

I've thought about replacing the pickups with something a bit less raucous - the volume that the Atomic humbuckers produce is ridiculous compared to my single coil guitars, perhaps that's partly because there's no tone control?

I've heard about the tuning issues on these. They come with 9s from the factory, which is way too light for a short scale. I don't have much experience with strat trems, so it will be an adventure. I will probably add some springs underneath, graphite the nut, fit some 11s, and go from there.

Backwardsvoyager, note that the the pu routes are rounded, which limits what puckups you can use without breaking out the dremel for the pickguard. I think I'm gonna go for the GFS lipstick hb's, and go for some push/pull/parallel/ coil tap scheme. The question is black or chrome?

I hope some aftermarket pickguards show up for it, I'd like an anodized gold on this.

It arrives Wednesday.....

penelope tree wrote:What is likely to be the cause of the tuning problems? I've got one of the Mexican Pawn Shop models that was released a few years ago. I've not had tuning problems but the pickups were wired out of phase, is that the case with the Squier version too? I also had to replace the switch.

Tuning problems are mostly a result of light strings, fairly crappy tuners, not being properly set up from the factory, contact points not having any lubrication.
The pickups aren't wired out of phase on the Paranormal. The switch works fine but it's probably worth replacing in the long term. Honestly the build quality is really really good, they just skimped on hardware and rushed the thing out too quickly IMO.

Stupor-Fuzz wrote:I've heard about the tuning issues on these. They come with 9s from the factory, which is way too light for a short scale. I don't have much experience with strat trems, so it will be an adventure. I will probably add some springs underneath, graphite the nut, fit some 11s, and go from there.

Yep, heavier strings, graphite on the nut and extra springs should make it stay in tune fine if you're not going crazy with the trem. I don't like strat trems and am evidently not very good at setting them up so I've given up on that for the time being

Stupor-Fuzz wrote:Backwardsvoyager, note that the the pu routes are rounded, which limits what puckups you can use without breaking out the dremel for the pickguard.

I was planning to enlarge the pickup routes on the pickguard and paint it (the pearloid doesn't look that nice in person TBH). The cavities have enough room for a slighter larger pickup.

Stupor-Fuzz wrote:I think I'm gonna go for the GFS lipstick hb's, and go for some push/pull/parallel/ coil tap scheme. The question is black or chrome?

One black, one chrome

duo sonic is 22.5 inches. this is like a duo-sonic light to dip the toes in the water. I have a Chinese made short scale squire I think it is 23.75. I don't have a tape measure with me. I never liked the tuning problems on strat bridges but I loved the sound. nothing sounds like a strat. there are basically two kinds of setups. one where you move the trem up or down full floating. the other way is that the block comes to rest on the body when not touching the trem. some people take the back plate off to change the sound. now think about that. if that plate can change the sound, imagine what the change in spring tension or configuration would do. imagine swapping out ever bit one by one. the strat gives you all the sounds you want if you know what gets you there. I'm not saying you need to swap anything but you can definitely mod them to be anything sound wise.

Strats come with spring reverbs built in.

Aside from the added stability, I know all those springs running right under the pickups will affect the tone (for the better)

I would like to float it, but if tuning is indeed an issue, I'll block it.

I’ve come around to the idea that a Strat vibrato is supposed to float, and that this isn’t inherently bad for tuning stability. Culprits are a poorly cut and unlubricated nut, string trees, catches at the bridge saddles, and the tuners (mostly how string wrapped around the post loosens and tightens). I would start from the nut, since, if you’re upping the string gauge, you’ll want to fix the slots so the larger strings don’t bind anyway.

Gone Fission wrote:I’ve come around to the idea that a Strat vibrato is supposed to float, and that this isn’t inherently bad for tuning stability.

some do some don't. there are a lot of strat clones floating around. fender made a lot of guitars. not all of them are exactly the same. if you setup a strat bridge for full floating it may raise the action too much to be worth it. same if you you take a full floating clone and try to rest the tone block on the body. it may be too low action. there are also two main designs. the knife edge on two bolts vs the 6 wood screws. the custom shop strats with 6 holes are great for tuning stability. the knife edge on two posts is a very obvious inspired by floyd rose. the problem is that the knife edge wears down. if you have a swimming pool route the posts pull out and the body cracks there. mustang trems are the worst. avoid the mustang trem.

Jero wrote:Strats come with spring reverbs built in.

THIS. I bought mine with 2 springs in ti then added a third one to enhace the bridge stability (i hit the strings pretty hard and I hardly use the tremolo bar anyway) and if i punch the body i got a short spring reverb which can get pretty loud if i have the appropriate pedals on, for lovely noise moments

I've been eyeing that Super Sonic too, but the thin neck is something i don't like, and i know i'd end up using it just for random noodling.