One Serious Squier!

blues_addict · 2011-11-21T16:30:47+00:00

Hi Guys, I just wanted to make a post on the quality of Squier guitars. It's about a 40% change you will get a descent one, and then there's a 1% chance yo...

One Serious Squier!

MIKA-the-better-one

Every Squire I have played has been ... a Squire!

A cheap alternative to a better produced Fender. I dont deny that there maybe nice Squire's that through the alignment of planets somehow sound better than some Fenders....

But for the most part its a cheaper guitar, with cheaper parts, and usually sounds worse. plus they look cheap to me (as do some Fenders)
They also sound cheap to me.... I work part time in a music store right now and all the ones we stock sound pretty cheap.

Thats my experience with them, rather get a yamaha pacifica

singemonkey

I think blues_addict's assessment is about right actually. Most I've played have been crap. The new ones have been better, but are still very clearly beginner's guitars (haven't played the Affinity's). I've heard very good things about the early MIJ Squiers. But in any line of basic, poor quality guitars, you'll get a few gems - that's just statistics.

The average seems to be better with the classic vibes I checked out. But still not on the level of entry-level Pacificas (there's a beginner's guitar that feels like an intermediate guitar 8 times out of 10). And the comparisons to MIM Fenders are optimistic, in my view.

Gearhead

The 1% might be better than, say, 90% of the MIA. But that's not the point, is it? The one point is that 1% of those MIA stll beats any other hands down. The other is that the search is for that one, regardless of budget.

Squonk

My brother has a Squire JV, these were made in 81 and 82 in Japan but with USA parts, now these are the real deal!!!!

racman

I had an early 80's Jap Squire as well which was pretty good in my opnion.

blues_addict

I agree, I haven't played on another squier that sounds like that one so they are very VERY rare... But they exist.

SvR65

So... being a friend of blues_addict I got to spend some time with the little Squier... and I have been surprised!!

For what it is it's really a stunning guitar. Plays and sounds like one 5, no 6, no 7 times its price. ?

BUT, these finds are extremely rare... so I reckon this one is a keeper...

Although one always dreams of that Custom Shop strat... ?

domhatch

one does not. one has a prs custom 22, and all one does from there is add to one's collection. it's the perfect workman's guitar, with the tonal range to suit just about any requirement and it comes in a range of pretty colours.

cat. pigeons. fur. feathers. fly...

shaundtsl

I have an early 80's MIJ squier. I can say its probably the nicest guitar I have ever owned.

blues_addict, when you bought it was it new? Maybe its from quite a while back and could be one of those nice ones?

mtmattan

I think comparing a Squier to American made (perhaps even MIM/MIJ) is like comparing Apples and Oranges.

My first guitar was a Standard Squier Strat. Awful guitar. Have since moved onto American-made and the difference is absolute.

The only reason I bought the Squier at the time was because of the small "Fender" logo.

SvR65

one does not. one has a prs custom 22, and all one does from there is add to one's collection. it's the perfect workman's guitar, with the tonal range to suit just about any requirement and it comes in a range of pretty colours.

cat. pigeons. fur. feathers. fly...

Haha, okay Dom, I get what you're saying... I reckon I must come clean> although I love the Stratocaster as guitar, I myself don't own one... and probably won't in the near future. My idea of the perfect working man's guitar is the Gibson/ Tokai ES range... hence I'm planning on getting one soon! ?

But one day... I'll get a Strat (that must play at least as nice as the Squier we've been talking about).

Just because... ?

mity88

Mattocaster wrote: I think comparing a Squier to American made (perhaps even MIM/MIJ) is like comparing Apples and Oranges.

The only reason I bought the Squier at the time was because of the small "Fender" logo.

Agreed!!!nothing beats the feel of a MIA
Back in the day, I thought that "little" Fender logo made it into a super guitar!!!then i joined the forum...

blues_addict

shaundtsl wrote: I have an early 80's MIJ squier. I can say its probably the nicest guitar I have ever owned.

blues_addict, when you bought it was it new? Maybe its from quite a while back and could be one of those nice ones?

I bought it new, it's I think a 2004 model... I've got a MIA strat now, I won't compare the two, I am just impressed at the sound difference in relation to the price difference. Like I said, I haven't played another squier or MIM strat that has that feel.

Just an opinion, not a FACT!! I like that SvR65 agrees, the monster is in his possession at the moment.

guidothepimmp

Of course the inverse is true too..

I have played usa strats that were complete lemons. Had the tonal qualities of a toilet seat.
So it was built well and had all the bells and whistles, good guitar? Well build wise yes, unfortuneately it had a gammy bit of wood, so it was terrible.

Similarly with jacksons, played some pro models that had dud wood, built exceptionally but the cut was a dud.

So by all accounts it is entirely possible for a good bit of tonewood to end up in a measly squire, exact same way a dud ends up in the real deal..