fender squier strats

makepeace · 2010-08-12T14:37:30+00:00

Hi guys. After I've built my 5E3, I'm going to start saving to buy a Strat shape/sounding guitar, so I thought in the meantime I would start researching. I...

fender squier strats

makepeace

PM'd ?

MIKA-the-better-one

imagine old boots made out of chipboard

makepeace

agree'd

Bob-Dubery

makepeace wrote: I don't have a huge budget as I am a student, so I will be looking at something at the low end of the scale for the meantime, ie Squiers. I have looked at the other Strat shaped guitars (corts, sx's, etc, etc, etc.. there are innumerable copies) and they don't really fit the bill IMO. I would prefer to have a Strat copy that is at least authorized by Fender and built to the same specs in a similar way.

If it were built to the same specs and in a similar way it would say "Fender" on the headstock.

Even if you buy Fender you'll find that there is no single spec. Some they build up to a standard, and some they build down to a price.

There's no particular reason a Squier should be better built than any other copy. You might get more bang per buck elsewhere because you are not paying for the privilege of having the words "by Fender" on the headstock.

MIKA-the-better-one

true like a pacifica (yamaha)

ET-Phone-Home

I owned all 3 Strats: A Mexican Standard, a American Standard and a Squire Classic Vibe 50's Strat. Now yes I realize you can't make a judgment on
American Strats as a whole or Mexican Strats or Classic Vibes based on the one you owned, but I think after owning each I can give some
helpful advice, use it or leave it, it's up to you.

The American Standard, in my eye's, are very good instruments with excellent tone from the pickups and are built to a very high standard. All electronics
are very good and solid. That being said I do feel that they are still over priced and I would not buy one again for myself. I hear that the Custom Shop
Strats are on another level completely to the Standards but I have not owned one so would not be able to say for sure.

Now I've owned a few Mexican's and had a few shocking one's but have had one very good one which could easily hold it's own with an American Standard.
As a matter of fact the body resonated better on my Mexican. The pickups are also very good however the pickups on the American were a little better
but not a few grand better. The build quality I would say was the same level however the pickup selector and pots seemed a little better on the
American, but again not a few thousand rand better. I honestly think that if you can get a good Mexican which resonates well (signs of a good guitar),
and upgrade a few components you can have something which can hold it's own to any American Standard for a fraction of the price.

The Squire Classic Vibe 50's and 60's are amazing guitars for the price. Around 3 grand cheaper than a Mexican, the price may seem a little expensive, especially
since the Squire name is known for cheap guitars. But we must not compare these Squires to the older ones as they are 2 completely different beasts. The pickups
on the Classic Vibe are better than the Mexican I owned and on par with the American (almost better to my ears, but that might just be the maple neck). The build quality
was also excellent with the best finished frets that I have ever seen. The pots and pickup selector did feel a little cheap but were still solid. They were on par with my
Mexican. The body of the Squire didn't resonate as well as the American or the Mexican and felt a bit lighter to me as well. This Strat was definitely my favourite and
was just so much fun to play. Much more than the Mex or American.

One thing you must keep in mind though is the resell value. Your American's will loose less resale with your Mexican coming in second and your Classic Vibe coming
in last. That being said if you want a good playing guitar I would go for the Classic Vibe or the Mexican and just upgrade a few things to get a hell of a player.
But always remember tone is in the fingers. I've seen guys with R30 000.00 guitars that play like their asses and make the instrument sound kak, even if it is a good guitar.

chris77

I understand wanting a squier rather than a pacifica or a similar copy, even if they represent better value and are better guitars. When you start out it's as much about what your heart tells you than your head. Fender, Gibson, Vox, Marshall. They all represent much more than just the instruments in their ranges. Its a bit of history, reputation, image, magic and fantasy rolled into one. Nobody starts playing guitar because it is the logical, most value for money, sensible thing to do. We get caught up in the mojo and then we're hooked. And if a guitar with a brand name on the headstock is what gets your mojo glowing neon, then feed it. Plenty of time for rational actions once you get past the 'OMG, I'm actually playing guitar!' phase.

makepeace

Wise words Chris, very astute. You've explained my feelings about it better than I could've. ?

Danie

pm'd

makepeace

singe, are you getting my PM's?

korn101

Squier Classic Vibe Series Stratocaster.

I have the CV 50's, and I will tell you it's one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played.