Squier Guitars

[BarryS]

I'm thinking about buying a Squier Stratocaster. This will be my first electric guitar. I'd rather have a Fender, but it's just for practicing purposes, so I figured the extra $200 wasn't worth it. I will probably upgrade to an American Fender Strat someday when I get more experienced and start performing. Does anyone know anything about Squier guitars? I know at least a couple of people here have them. I tried one out at the guitar shop, so I'm pretty sure that it will serve my purposes nicely. Any input will be appreciated.

I'm also looking at a Peavey Blazer amp. Just a small practice amp. I don't know the model or number or anything. Is that a good choice?

[This message has been edited by BarryS (edited 09-30-2000).]

[Jon68]

I bought a Squier Strat a few years ago and real enjoyed the guitar, which had excellent sound and played fine. The longer I had it, though, I started thinking that maybe I'd install an American Standard Bridge and tuners to help stay in tune a little better. When I started looking at the price of the mods, I decided to trade the Squier in on an American Standard.
I had the Squier for more than a year and traded it in at the dealer where I originally bought the guitar. Since the Squier was in excellent condition (no scrapes, marks or dings), the dealer gave me full trade-in (what I paid) against the American Standard. I realy liked the American Standard - the guitar played better than the Squier, but I preferred the sound of the Squier.
I ended up selling the Strat after a couple of years and continued playing my 1968 Les Paul Custom which I bought new. I have wanted another Strat for a long time, and bought an American Standard Deluxe last February. That Strat is my guitar of choice now.

[Fender1165]

A friend of mine owns a blazer amp. I've looked its specifications up and it seems pretty nice for such a small amp. He says it's a very good amp but I know he is a novice to guitar equipment. I believe he paid around $94 for it if I remember correctly. I'm assuming you're talking about the small practice amp but I think the blazer also comes in a larger model. I don't remember where I put my Peavey catalog so I can't tell u the model number. If I find it I will let you know. http://www.guitarforums.com/gtubb/smile.gif

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[Rat520]

the one thing i dont like about squires is the stocky neck, if i were you i would but a new neck and get in put on, after you have played a better guitar for a while the neck on these things feels terribile, anyway the guitars have decent gear on them etc, just replace the neck.

[Luke]

WEll since your just starting, I'll say this.

Get the guitar ,and in six months, if your still playing, then get the "real" strat.

What I did was start low then bought higher end models.

MY first guitar was a Squier Tele,next I bought a Fender American Standard Strat,then I bought an Ibanez Jem7VWH.

The Jem7VWH is the best guitar I've ever played, but if I would have played it after the first six months of playing the Tele, it would have felt like ****.

YOu see, your feel will change as your technical ability changes.

Hope it helps http://www.guitarforums.com/gtubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Luke (edited 09-30-2000).]

[Zeppelin]

I have squier strat for a year now, and somehow it feels more comfortable to me then original fender... but there is one annoying thing in squiers... when you use the swith of the pick ups while the amp is on it make noises, also i dunno why i have alot of feedback noise when guitar is on but i'm not playing...

[BarryS]

Thanks for the input. Sounds like I should go for it.

Zeppelin, are you sure that's because of the guitar and not your amp? Have you had this problem with a different Squier guitar or with a different amp?

[Zeppelin]

actually it could be cause of the amp
cause when i'm playing with good amps in other places it rarley happens... anyway those guitars dont have good setup when they come from the factory , so if you buy one make sure the shop owner or your teacher will make a good setup to this guitar, like my teacher done to mine

[RAC5150]

I haven't played that many of the Squier Strats, but those that I have, I enjoyed. They may not be the best guitars ever made, but they are great for beginners. My first guitar was a Peavey Predator. Predators are basically Peavey's answer to the Squier line, and I have never had any complaints. The only thing that ever went wrong with it was the input jack, which is easily replaceable for under $25.00. Congratulations on your first electric.

[Zeppelin]

Squier guitars are not that bad... when i say to people that i use this guitar they laugh me... but actually i dont know why... ok it's not gibson sg, but for a beginner like me this is a great guitar... i'm playing through zoom 707 and small 10 watt amp, and it sounds better than my friend's original strat on fender bullet amp

[jake sommers]

To me squier's are decent, but in my opinion if you got talent and can play it don't even matter if you're playing on a 2X4 with rubberband strings. I hear a lot of people say that a high end guitar will make you sound like a god, that ain't so. In my opinion,what you do with what you have is what makes you you. Yo what i'm saying is that a fresh faced kid ain't gonna pick up a guitar for the first time and sound like Clapton just because they have a $1200 fender strat. And i feel having cheaper guitars really makes you appreciate all the time and practice and how good you have gotten and how you have progressed on the road to getting that expensive guitar. Can yall dig what i'm saying

[James]

I totally agree Jake, the guitar doesn't make the player. My guitar is is a yamaha somethin' or other... not sure the exact model name. Anyhow, it's in real bad shape. So many scratches and dings and stuff you wouldn't believe. The action is incredibly high too. So usually when I play for people, the first thing they think when they see my guitar is "this guy is doesn't know what he's doin'" or something like that, but when I play I prove them wrong. Not to mention the fact that when I do play a sweet guitar, my fingers fly over the strings because of all the extra strength I've got from my high-action guitar. I definatly plan on getting a new one once I get a job or something, but until then I'm not too concerned...

[Rat520]

One thing thought,
a good guitar will make a good player sound even better, but you still have to have the natural tallent i admit. When i brought my new guitar, I started to improve heaps because i just wan't to keep playing it.

Anyway squiers make a decent begginers guitar, and good luck what ever you get.

[winghoong]

SQUIER!!! Its my first electric guitar...i bought it 2nd hand from my campus senior... the sounds...kinda sucks...hehehehe...but for beginner..you wont bother the sound that much anyway... almost 10 months...i am playing with the squier... my squier really sucks...sounds horrible...although very cheap//compare to other branded guitars... the pickups and the sounds not really that sensitive... the neck sucks...and all..also..sucks..hehehe...but..after all././this squier..had went thru with me so many hard times... thank god...after i bought my new guitar ..an IBANEZ PGM30..i still keep my squier... not for sale..hehehe...
....if you think you are going realyl serious...into guitar..then buy a more expensive or better guitar...or you still unclear of your mind..go get the squier...i heard...there are some package..THE SQUIER pakage that comes with a guitar amp...straps...gig bags..cabble...rite?
wat u all think???

Wing Hoong

[PonyOne]

Most people I know who start playing guitar go for a Squier of some sort. And while yes, it is true, that your gear doesn't make you play better... there are some way better choices out there to start off with. I have an SG Special; it cost me $180, and while it's no LP or anything, it's hands down way better than all the squiers I've tried.
My suggestion would be to go to pawn shops and used music stores and check out some of the stuff they have; a lot of the time you can find a three or four year old Fender, Epi, Gibson, etc. for $75/$150, when you'd normally pay like $400 for them (I got a Yamaha bass from the late 80's for $95... it listed for like $500 new and is now worth $700 or so).
For a starter amp basically anything will do, just make sure it can accomodate your style (playing metal over a Gorilla amp isn't easy). I'd recommend the Vox Pathfinder or Cambridge; they cost about $150/$170 respectively, and the Cambridge is a tube amp. They have great distortion for their size and sound a lot more individual than most amps in that range.
Also check out http://www.musicyo.com They have some REALLY cheap stuff, inexpensive that is... if I would've known they were around whin I started I woulda bought from them. Their package deals are pretty good, esp. the Pacer packs, which have Kramers. Also look at the Steinbergers... those are AWESOME guitars and I don't know how the hell these guys are hawking them at $250.

[Zeppelin]

Well ponyone second hand is a good idea, but in my area even if you can buy second hand something , it will still cost you alot... here gibson sg costs at least 1000$
and only the rich people or those who play more then 3-4 years buy one...
but actually i think like most of you that if you are good people will here with any guitar... although when i'm playing in other places with good amps i can tell i have better sound...

[James]

Yeah I think the amp is the more important factor, that and distortion. Well, that is if you're playing rock or metal...

[PonyOne]

It depends... I play metal, hardcore, and Tool-like stuff, but am still a tone freak. This is the main reason I despise Squiers.
Look for an Epiphone SG Special... they are pretty cheap, they list at like $300, but most places sell them for closer to $180.
And yes, the amp is definitely important... again, if you want a really warm tone, get a Vox and for thicker distortion than it comes with, get a pedal. If you want heavier distortion built-in, get a Crate. Personally, I like the Vox's distortion; it's not too heavy and not too light, just perfect for what I play, and again it has a very different tone to it.
Also look at the Marshall Micro Stack (about $179). That thing has killer distortion, and there's the added bonus that it's a stack.

[howie50]

I play a Line 6 Flextone - you can get any tone you want out of that baby, from clean jazz tones to wild over driven metal distortion it's all there in one box at the turn of a dial ! It's 60w output but I've never played anywhere close to full on. It's got several good on board FX too. At just under £600 (Sterling) it was a good buy. Thats maybe about $750 US. I don't work for Line 6 but, if you Line 6 guys are reading this you could send me some cash or freebies for the ad. Although in America you tend to pay the the same amount of dollars as we in the UK would pay in pounds sterling, (that's because of our high taxes I believe).

[PonyOne]

I love Line 6's... I really want to get a Spider (I don't have enough for a Flextone, which I would absolutely love), and will, as soon as my fiance lightens the hell up about my music.

[chrisramguitarman]

The squier was my first ever guitar and i dident regret buying it. They have a really unique sound and are very versatile. My mate kept dissing my squier because he was getting a mexican for almost double the price of the squier, they both almost play look the same.
BUY THE SQUIER BUY THE SQUIER

[PonyOne]

Squiers have no soul or cajones behind them. For the price you could get an Epiphone SG that has waaaay better tone than a squier. Squier Teles are okay, but their strat models are sub par. If you're dead set on the strat design, go to http://www.musicyo.com and get one of the Kramer Focus strat ripoffs. They are better than a squier and cost $70. Or shell a little more and get a Beretta. Plus everybody who is starting out seems to flock to the Strat design. Do something a little more individual.

[chrisramguitarman]

Fenders are too hyped up. Most unrecognised makes produce better sound and construction than fenders for the same price. I first bought a Fender Squier because I knew of no other makes, so look around.
Fender walk the walk, but they dont talk the talk.

[PonyOne]

The main reasons that Fenders got so big were Hendrix and Wayne's World. When people think Hendrix they think Strat. Well, he also played SG's Les Pauls and Flying V's, I'm pretty sure that he recorded a lot of his songs with Gibsons. I heard from someone that the main reason he played Strats was so he could destroy them and not feel too bad. I'm not a huge Hendrix fan so I'm not sure if this is true or not.
Remember in Wayne's world when he and Casandra are in that music shop, and there's (for whatever reason) an American Strat in a glass case, and he kneels before it and says, filled with awe, "EXCALUIBUR!" and then casandra goes over its stats? Then he gets payed for his show, rushes out, and buys it. When I first saw it, I was like 8 and cared more about toy cars and kickball than guitars. The concept of there being multiple types of electric guitars never occured t me; I knew my uncles had electric guitars, but didn't remember what they were called. So then I see this movie, they're all drooling over this Strat, and so I assume that the Stratocastor must be the most awesome guitar ever devised.
When I'm about ten, I go to a music store to sell my trombone. While I'm waiting to get a quote, I take a couple guitars, plug them into amps, and pluck strings to see how they sound. One was a Hohner Rockwood, the other was an American Standard Strat. The Honer sounded better, which shocked me.
Go and look at different types of guitars. Got to used music shops and pawn shops and look at their wares. You can find loads of Ibanez, Epiphones, Yamahas, Hohners, Arias and Kramers for very cheap. SOmetimes you can even find Gibsons, or occasionally even a halfway decent Tele. Hell man, Email me, send me the money, I'll go to a Pawn Shop or something and get you something good and ship it back to you. I'll give you my Social Security number and whatnot to ensure that I won't just take it & run.

[James]

hmm...

are you saying that because you've done actual research to prove it or because your defensive about your squier? Not trying to be abbrasive, but I'd have to disagree with you. Tele's have an instantly recognizable twang to them, which is probably why just about every modern country player in the world uses one. Squiers I'm not to sure about tone wise, but they aren't legendary for nothin'. I do however feel that some of the low end strats out today aren't worth the fender hype. Anyhow, I would discourage anyone from buying a guitar just on it's brand name... you need to try them out to find that one that suits you.

[Zeppelin]

Hey james!
the squiers are defentley not best guitars out there... but they cost less than some lousy mexican fender, so i really do think that people with low budget like me should try out those guitars... it doesnt mean that i wont buy a gibson as soon as i can , but for a beginning it's a very nice guitar

[jake sommers]

Is anyone familiar with the term "you get what you pay for"?
A squier is not a fender and therefore you should notice a drop off in quality between fender and it's subsidiary. Just like you wouldn't expect a epi lp to sound like a gibson, would you? If that were so i could go out and buy three gibsons couldn't I? I agree that fender squiers aren't the best guitar to start out on i know there are better companies that make better entry level guitars. i agree with pony, I'm sure the tone on an sg special sounds better than a squier strat probally cause it has humbuckers and humbuckers sound better than sings for rock hands down.

[PonyOne]

I'd much rather have a Gib than an Epi. I mean, my first guitar was an SG Special that I bought after about two months of living at all the guitar stores in my area and really pissing some clerks off (especially when I discovered the wonders of feedback), so I have a soft spot for them. But the only Epi I'd buy for serious playing or recording would be a John Lennon Casino, which costs like $3000.
Again, the SG Special is NOT a pro-type instrument. SG's can run for up to about $2500, like any top-of-the-line new guitar, but those are only the Gibson models, and you'd be hard pressed to find an SG Special for MORE than $200 anywhere.
Telecasters are really good guitars. I'd like one someday but since I'm not into blues and don't have the $500 at the moment for a nicer one AND I play rock, I'd much sooner spend that $500 on an ESP F-series, lower-end LP, or some used higher-end guitar (there's an abundance of them here in Boston for less than $200).

[Pantallica1]

I still have my squier strat and i love it. It feedsback a little when i use it with certain effects, but other than that its awesome. I like playing it better than my friends American California Stratocaster. I got my guitar for about $200 bucks and he paid about $1100 for his. I guess its all in your opinion.

[Raskolnikov]

I've played some squiers that really blew, I played some that were fairly nice (as in I would probably end up changing pickups on it and maybe getting a better bridge). Even though these things are mass produced, they're all a little different. The little variations add up in the end. Just go with what feels right, and you'll never go wrong.

[robrules]

I suggest http://www.route101guitars.com they are great guitars for the price.

[iamthe_eggman]

hey rob, have you ever actually played a Route 101 guitar? I have heard some good things about them, but i've never actually played or even heard one. Isn't it possible that at least some of the comments about its quality could be hype?

[loner92]

Originally posted by PonyOne
Squiers have no soul or cajones behind them. For the price you could get an Epiphone SG that has waaaay better tone than a squier. Squier Teles are okay, but their strat models are sub par. If you're dead set on the strat design, go to http://www.musicyo.com and get one of the Kramer Focus strat ripoffs. They are better than a squier and cost $70. Or shell a little more and get a Beretta. Plus everybody who is starting out seems to flock to the Strat design. Do something a little more individual.

Yeah, Squiers suck. Get a Kramer Striker, Vanguard, or Baretta. I guarantee they are at least 10 times the guitar of a Squier. I own two Kramers, and I love them. But if you get a Kramer with a Floyd, keep in mind that it'll probably need a good setup.

[Zeppelin]

Yo ponyone!
i don't think that people like fender only because of hendrix and wayne's world...
i myself wanted to play one because of richie blackmore and that guy from police, but actually there are alot of good guitarists playing on fenders...
blackmore
andy summers
clapton
jeff beck
hendrix
and this is only the few i can remmember now...
although i myself prefer gibson i think that fender is producing the best guitars , except for gibson...

[PonyOne]

I don't think people only buy fenders because of wayne's world and hendrix... anyone worth their salt in guitars would buy one more for the latter and also because of guys like Clapton; the visionary artist types. And then there's always cause you like the sound... But then you've got all of the bands that use Gibson (I agree, they are difinitely the best mass-produced axes).
I'd rather use a Tele for blue or shredding than an LP, but then I'd rather have a Gibson hollowbody of some type for blues and an ESP LTD F300 for shredding. I think that the situation boils down to this: it's not what you play it's how you play it. Granted if you're good you'll sound better on a custom shop LP than a $99 squier, but then the guy from Sugar Ray has a '59 Gold Top Les Paul, and you've got bands like Tool that have a way more intricate sound and play a wide variety of guitars, some of which were bought for really cheap at places like Mars Music. Tool's guitarist would sound better on a $70 Focus than Sugar Ray's on a $30,000 vintage LP.
I think what's deterred me so much about Fenders is that every snotty, pretentious, holier-than-thou guitarist (you know the type, the ones who listen to old 'Stones, Zepplin, Hendrix, Doors, King Crimson and Sabbath and then go "huh, I could'a done it better") all tend to play Strats, and more often than not a black one with a white pickguard.
Funny thing... I seem to recall Hendrix recorded most of his music with either an SG, LP or Flying V.

[PonyOne]

I don't think people only buy fenders because of wayne's world and hendrix... anyone worth their salt in guitars would buy one more for the latter and also because of guys like Clapton; the visionary artist types. And then there's always cause you like the sound... But then you've got all of the bands that use Gibson (I agree, they are difinitely the best mass-produced axes).
I'd rather use a Tele for blue or shredding than an LP, but then I'd rather have a Gibson hollowbody of some type for blues and an ESP LTD F300 for shredding. I think that the situation boils down to this: it's not what you play it's how you play it. Granted if you're good you'll sound better on a custom shop LP than a $99 squier, but then the guy from Sugar Ray has a '59 Gold Top Les Paul, and you've got bands like Tool that have a way more intricate sound and play a wide variety of guitars, some of which were bought for really cheap at places like Mars Music. Tool's guitarist would sound better on a $70 Focus than Sugar Ray's on a $30,000 vintage LP.
I think what's deterred me so much about Fenders is that every snotty, pretentious, holier-than-thou guitarist (you know the type, the ones who listen to old 'Stones, Zepplin, Hendrix, Doors, King Crimson and Sabbath and then go "huh, I could'a done it better") all tend to play Strats, and more often than not a black one with a white pickguard. In all honesty, in all genres of music there are better guitars, like ESP, PRS, Kramer, Steinberger, Aria, even Epi.
Funny thing... I seem to recall Hendrix recorded most of his music with either an SG, LP or Flying V.

[Elmo45]

If you all will excuse me but I just skipped alot of the replies after the initial query. Just because on other forums, alot of people just love to bash on the Squiers, just to read themselves thinking they are cool on bagging on a product. But not me.
For the money a Squier is a good place to start, there are other Premium guitar makers that put out entry level gits so take a look around. Nowadays it's pretty tough to find a crappy guitar because alot of the guitar makers are vying for a entry level guitar market.
I know plenty of die-hard Strat guys that still have thier old Squires and still love them!

[Zeppelin]

That's Right!!!
i love my squier and im proud at it !!!!








altough it's a bit anoying to have pickups feedback all the time

[Elmo45]

The good thing about the Squires is that you can soup them up with modifications like locking tuners, improved electronics, whammy units, and best of all there's a ton of replacement pickup options to help with noise reduction and improved tone.