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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 347
Location: Reno, NV | I decided to take advantage of the "Stupid deal of the day" at Musicians Friend. I picked up the Squier Standard Strat in SilverBurst for the bargain price of $139. Im planning on using it as my "Travel" electric, which I can just throw in the back seat, leave laying around the house, not worrying about it getting abused or stolen.
So, to the point...
Im kinda wondering why Squier has a bad rap. This thing is actually made pretty nice, considering the price. If I was a student or someone that just wanted to play, regardless of prestige or sound, this wouldn't be a bad choice. I set it up just like my Hwy1, and aside from it having standard frets and the Hwy1 having Jumbo frets, they play 99% the same. Granted the finish is not as good, but If I didn't know the difference, I wouldn't be disapointed. It actually has a really nice fretboard, no bad frets, no buzz, nearly perfect.
OK.. so for $139 where do this thing fall short?
1. this guitar is for playing notes, it's not for getting that tone to die for. Quite honestly it has very little "Tone". Its a noise maker, plain and simple.
2. The hardware is CHEAP! Mostly the Pickups, switches, and tone knobs etc. Tuners aren't too bad, and the trem/bridge is decent, although I dont hardly ever use a trem. The pickup selecter switch feels like I could bend it like a paperclip... cheap!
I guess what Im trying to say is, for $139 this is a fantastic value, and I think people need to realize that for what you pay (10% of an MIA strat) Squire isn't as bad as they have been made out to be. I don't mind playing this guitar one bit.
Most buyers will probably add another $100 and get something better, but I had a purpose for going as cheap as possible, withough getting into department store brands. (First Act ..no thanks) | |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Your logic is sound, Yak, particularly if it is only for your personal use (no performances). I'm still considering how to solve my desire for a personal travel guitar, and size is the most important consideration. I saw a Traveler Pro on eBay a few weeks ago with a maple fret board that matched the body stock. If I saw another, I'd have to make a run at it. | |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1138
Location: CT | The hardware and pups drive down the price. I'm not a great player, even though I've been playing a while and that would drive me nuts after all the USA Les Pauls and Strats I've had. Excellent for a beginner, but like you say, 'no tone'. Also, most of the bodys on these are either some kind of pressboard, or a bunch of leftover bits glued to gether before made into a guitar shape, rather than 1-3 nice pieces of wood joined properly - which is why they are solid colors rather than transparent. | |
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Joined:
April 2007
Posts: 225
Location: Stow, Ohio | Actually I have a couple of squiers and the bodies are solid, not press board.
still $100.00 in pickups brings you in way under what an over priced US strat costs.
I have a Squier51 and Stagemaster and they are fun to play, and sound great. oh wait I put a Bartolini in the Stagemaster :D | |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 208
Location: Illinois | Originally posted by Yak:
...Most buyers will probably add another $100 and get something better, but I had a purpose for going as cheap as possible, withough getting into department store brands. (First Act ..no thanks) Odd thing is your new Strat0copy and a FirstAct are, probably, made under the same roof!
I heard WalMart is picking up a Kaman like product this Christmas Season. Bowl backed it will be called "Cheer". Guess it beats being called the "Clap". :rolleyes: | |
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Picked up another "beater" electric..