It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:10 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:17 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 4:57 pm
Posts: 97
Would you feel confidence performing with a lower range instrument ( i.e a squier instead of a american fender ) .

here my quick story :

Ive always feel confortable with 3/4 size squier mini , i have small finger , when i play standingup , i dont feel the guitar is heavy and i dont have any problem reaching the higher frets and dont feel my wrist is broken . and the guitar feel perfect on me as im a skinny guy .

my squier mini is heavyly modified , new bone nut , new fender tuners , new bridge , seymour duncan humbucker , new 500 k cbs pots , new hardtail bridge .

but sometimes i wonder if i could perform with it, simply because its a "child" guitar , its the lower range of guitar that ever existed , cause its a 80 $ guitar ( although with update is now a 200-300 $ guitar .




anyone here is a performing artist with a lower range of guitar . do you think that some musician perform with their squier ???

its a bit same as combo vs halfstack , simply cause they saw performing artist having a halfstack and half stack look cooler ,a lot of musician probably wouldnt buy a combo but get the halfstack .

in your opinion: if you got decent pickup and electronic and a great amp .. does the guyitar fabrication ( wood ) would stop you from performing with it .


do you feel confident with your guitar ???


my post probably sound crazy or stupid , but im sure some musician have had the feeling about confidence and how important it is .

we are often sale squier as begginer guitar that are good for newbie , beginner, but guitar that you will update in your career when your getting more skilled and serious performer .

thx for your comment and reply . share your thought on that


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Sat Jan 01, 2011 6:21 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:17 pm
Posts: 1292
Location: Halifax Canada
Not going to find a better example than this I suspect. Jeff Healey used his original Squier guitar throughout his career.

http://www.squierguitars.com/news/index ... rticle=104

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikHI7_PMFNc

I suspect no one ever said great blues guitar player, great tone, but he's only playing a Squier.

_________________
CREDO ELVEM IPSUM ETAIM VIVERE


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:27 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:23 pm
Posts: 1009
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
We do it all the time my friend. Doesn't phase us at all.

These are my 2 latest ventures:

Image

Of course, they're not without modification.

The guitar on the right is a brand new $99 Squier Bullet HH heavily modded. I wanted the body more than anything else. It's an extremely lightweight Basswood body. I wasn't too fond of the neck (larger C shape), so I stuck a Hamer Slammer neck on it. This is how it looked right after making the neck swap.

Image

Not too long afterward, I bought another red Squier Bullet HH. I didn't really like the red with all white look, so I swapped the pickguards (white on black, black on red). After setting everything up, I decided that I REALLY liked the way the Bullet body and Slammer neck felt together. So I pimped it out further.

Grover tuners, Dimarzio Super Distortion (bridge) and Tone Zone (neck), vintage brass saddles, volume/tone shift. LOVE this guitar!!



The one on the left is a Glen Burton lower level guitar. I really like this guitar for a couple of reasons. The finish for one, it has what's described as an Asian Maple body, strangely lightweight for Maple.

But interesting to me is the neck is just slightly over 2 1/4 at the heel, yet still has import string spacing at the bridge. This is really cool for the added space from the first string to the edge of the fretboard. It let's me bend downward a little further doing a vibrato without going over the edge. The neck feels great, frets have no buzz or high/low spots, very straight. Cost me $60 out the door from a Pawn Shop.

I swapped the loaded pickguard from a previous project. Duncan cool rails at the bridge, Ibanez INF middle, JB jr. at the neck. Love this guitar as well.

I would have to say, both guitars were good enough to play live without the mods. I just get that way, and did my thing to them. Both of these will get heavy use this year.

We played both of these guitars last night at a New Years show on the Strip in Las Vegas at Circus Circus. They sounded great, and the show was a success. We've been asked to come back. 8)

_________________
Image
HaleAmano- House Of Sharks (Now On iTunes)
http://www.reverbnation.com/haleamano
http://www.haleamano.com


Last edited by Shredd6 on Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:39 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 9:25 pm
Posts: 1162
Location: In a house....unless I'm at work....then I'm in a shop.
If your really worried about the guitar, have a luthier give it a tune up and reset it up.

You have already replaced most of what might give you and issue on stage.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 9:48 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
Well, here's my take on it...

"Confidence" is about your skills and your ability as a musician, -NOT- the brand of guitar or amp you use or how much it may have cost. I know some folks around these forums tend to get pissed when I say this but a guitar (and amp, effects, etc) is a tool...and it's only as good as the person using it. I've known guys who quite literally own thousands of dollars worth of top shelf equipment who quite simply can't play a freakin' note. On the other hand, I've known a few guys over the years who play the rattiest pieces of crap you can imagine...mainly because it's all they can afford...who just make those slabs of crap sing like the angels!

Now to answer your question directly, -yes- I would play an inexpensive guitar on stage. I have a number of times in the past and I would most certainly do it again. In fact I've even used my old $100 Memphis LP copy on stage from time to time (and ya don't get a hell of a lot cheaper than Memphis!). There are however a couple of things to remember in my case however. First and foremost, while I've not only been playing for close to 30 years now, I've also been doing virtually all my own guitar repair work over those years as well. I -know- how to set up a guitar...even a cheap guitar, so that it plays well. If it's got a twisted neck or something, yea...that's different, but for your average inexpensive instrument, I can usually get it to do what I want/need. Also because of my level of experience, let's just say that I don't get too hung up any more on trivial crap. I -know- that when people come to hear me play, they are there for the music, NOT what guitar I happen to be playing that night. Consider this; let's say your playing an average gig at an average club. There's maybe 150 people or so in the bar that night to hear you/your band. Now of those 150 people, how many of them do you really think are "guitar players" who are actually going to know the difference between a $100 Squire and a $1000 American Standard? 1....maybe 2? Chances are that -most- of the people who come to see you play live...the people that you are playing for...are -NOT- musicians. Most of them don't even know the difference between a Strat and a Les Paul...it's an "electric guitar" and that's about all they really know (hell...for as many years as I've been playing, my own father -still- doesn't know the difference! LOL!). They don't give a damn how much your guitar cost or whether or not you're using 4 Marshall stacks or that you had your pedal board custom made to match David Gilmores rig! The -only- thing they really give a damn about is whether or not you/the band sounds good. Think about this very carefully...if -you- were to go see a live band, even if they have hundreds of thousands of dollars of gear on stage, are you gonna hang around long if they sound terrible (unless of course that's why you went to see them...kinda like the Grateful Dead! LOL!)? On the other hand, if you happen to wander in to a bar and you hear a good band playing...let's say a really good band...does it really matter whether the guitar player is using a $4000 Les Paul or a $100 Squire? No...of course not (I find it hard to believe that EVERYONE is really -that- shallow). If the musician/band sounds good, you're gonna stay and listen.

Here's a simple fact; in all of the years I've been playing both on stage and in the studio, I have NEVER...not even once...NEVER had a single person walk up to me and say, "Gee dude...that solo sounded really awesome, but it would have sounded so much better if you had of been playing thru a _____________". The truth of the matter is that 9/10ths of your sound comes from your fingers. Eric Clapton would -still- sound like Eric Clapton even if he was playing thru a $100 guitar and a $200 amp. Why? Because he -is- Eric Clapton! On that same note lemme give you another little tidbit...I've -never- had a single bar/club owner invite me back because of how much my gear cost! If I bring people in the door...and keep them entertained (not to mention drinking there all night), then yes, a bar owner will have me back REGARDLESS of how much my gear cost.

Another thing to consider is that again we're talking about playing "on stage" here...live...hopefully in front of an audience. If we were talking about studio/recording, then in my always and ever so humble opinion, things are a bit different there however in your average bar/club, you need to remember that chances are you are not playing in...let's say an "acoustically designed environment". Even if you should happen to have some experienced listeners in your audiences, chances are they're not going to hear a lot of difference between a $100 guitar and a $1000 guitar when you're playing it in that bar! If you blow the solo or the whole band stops mid song because someone screwed up and the band fell apart...-that- people will notice. But in your average venue with an average crowd? Dude...nobodies ears are -that- good (despite what some folks may try and tell you).

Now that all said, the guitar I've used most over the years is my '96 Mexican Standard. Out of the 20+ guitars I own, Ol' Blue's my fav...my #1 if you will. She's certainly the guitar I've done the most work on over the years and she's the guitar that I can get exactly the sound I want from, night after night. My #2 at the moment is my '85 E series MIJ Squire...all stock. -Very- sweet instrument. My #3? An '08 Crafted in China Squire Standard (with Duncan pickups)! And she's probably the prettiest lady in my harem! LOL! When I'm doing a show...give or take any acoustic stuff I may be doing that night (which obviously requires the inclusion of an acoustic guitar or two), while I may bring other guitars for special purposes, those 3 guitars are the instruments that come with me every time.

Dude...seriously...when you're on stage, you want the guitar that you're the most comfortable playing that's gonna allow you to play your best. If that guitar happens to be an $80 Squire, that is what you use. If you're more worried about what other people think about your using an inexpensive instrument, you're worrying about the wrong thing there...

Peace,
Jim


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:00 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 5:56 pm
Posts: 105
lomitus really summed it up and if I might add,
There is nothing sweeter than having that one musician in the crowd come up to you during a break and say, "That's a Squier!!?, love the sounds you were getting."

and then I get to tell him, "Yeah thanks, and before you ask, She's Stock."

It happens almost every gig I bring her out.
8) 8) 8)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:41 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 1:09 pm
Posts: 19
Location: Richmond, VA
I perform with my Squier CV 50's Tele the majority of the time. She's my number one, and I don't see that changing any time soon. Yes, I have more expensive guitars with "better" names on the headstock. The CV 50's is the one that gives me what I want when I'm performing.

It's the RIGHT guitar for me, and that's the ONLY thing that matters in performance.

The only people that actually think brand name matters are the cork sniffers and gear junkies that don't have the chops or cojones to get up on stage and play.

If they sniff at your Squier, just ask where they're playing and listen to them mumble, "um . . . nowhere really."

Play that Squier loud and proud, baby.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 10:05 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:07 am
Posts: 1
i still preform with my purple squier strat there is no reason to feel embarrassed if its wat ur comfortable with


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:37 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Tue Apr 20, 2010 1:59 am
Posts: 189
Location: On the sofa
I totally would gig with the squier, if it's what you feel comfortable and familiar with, then you should go for it. Also, I'm sure the audience would be there to see you and hear your music, and only a small minority of the audience (probably other guitar players) would notice what kind of guitar you are using. I have 2 Squiers and a Fender MIM strat, and I would quite comfortably gig with either :)

Drew :)


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 5:29 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star

Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 2:55 am
Posts: 4017
Location: Australia, VIC
the squier is a awesome guitar, i'd gig with it with a lot of confidence.

_________________
riley


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:57 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:16 am
Posts: 86
Has someone made negative comments about you or your guitar to make you doubt your equiptment or your ability, I hope not. If so, that's a very rude an unkind thing to do. It appears that your doing what you can to upgrade your gear. As we all know that's a never ending process. There's been alot of good advice given here. I bought a '94 Squire Series Strat new and have been playing it ever since. I have several other guitars (Tele's) but the Squire always goes with me every night. I've had some comments about my "Squire", SCREW'EM, it just makes me dig in harder. I paid about $200+/- for mine and I've stood next to players with Custom Shop Strats worth about $2,000. Honestly I didn't hear $1,800 of difference. Get all your gear set up and working well, keep you head down, turn that guitar up and kick some serious $@!. Most of all HAVE FUN!!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 5:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Nov 30, 2013 9:27 pm
Posts: 18
lomitus wrote:
Well, here's my take on it...

"Confidence" is about your skills and your ability as a musician, -NOT- the brand of guitar or amp you use or how much it may have cost. I know some folks around these forums tend to get pissed when I say this but a guitar (and amp, effects, etc) is a tool...and it's only as good as the person using it. I've known guys who quite literally own thousands of dollars worth of top shelf equipment who quite simply can't play a freakin' note. On the other hand, I've known a few guys over the years who play the rattiest pieces of crap you can imagine...mainly because it's all they can afford...who just make those slabs of crap sing like the angels!

Now to answer your question directly, -yes- I would play an inexpensive guitar on stage. I have a number of times in the past and I would most certainly do it again. In fact I've even used my old $100 Memphis LP copy on stage from time to time (and ya don't get a hell of a lot cheaper than Memphis!). There are however a couple of things to remember in my case however. First and foremost, while I've not only been playing for close to 30 years now, I've also been doing virtually all my own guitar repair work over those years as well. I -know- how to set up a guitar...even a cheap guitar, so that it plays well. If it's got a twisted neck or something, yea...that's different, but for your average inexpensive instrument, I can usually get it to do what I want/need. Also because of my level of experience, let's just say that I don't get too hung up any more on trivial crap. I -know- that when people come to hear me play, they are there for the music, NOT what guitar I happen to be playing that night. Consider this; let's say your playing an average gig at an average club. There's maybe 150 people or so in the bar that night to hear you/your band. Now of those 150 people, how many of them do you really think are "guitar players" who are actually going to know the difference between a $100 Squire and a $1000 American Standard? 1....maybe 2? Chances are that -most- of the people who come to see you play live...the people that you are playing for...are -NOT- musicians. Most of them don't even know the difference between a Strat and a Les Paul...it's an "electric guitar" and that's about all they really know (hell...for as many years as I've been playing, my own father -still- doesn't know the difference! LOL!). They don't give a damn how much your guitar cost or whether or not you're using 4 Marshall stacks or that you had your pedal board custom made to match David Gilmores rig! The -only- thing they really give a damn about is whether or not you/the band sounds good. Think about this very carefully...if -you- were to go see a live band, even if they have hundreds of thousands of dollars of gear on stage, are you gonna hang around long if they sound terrible (unless of course that's why you went to see them...kinda like the Grateful Dead! LOL!)? On the other hand, if you happen to wander in to a bar and you hear a good band playing...let's say a really good band...does it really matter whether the guitar player is using a $4000 Les Paul or a $100 Squire? No...of course not (I find it hard to believe that EVERYONE is really -that- shallow). If the musician/band sounds good, you're gonna stay and listen.

Here's a simple fact; in all of the years I've been playing both on stage and in the studio, I have NEVER...not even once...NEVER had a single person walk up to me and say, "Gee dude...that solo sounded really awesome, but it would have sounded so much better if you had of been playing thru a _____________". The truth of the matter is that 9/10ths of your sound comes from your fingers. Eric Clapton would -still- sound like Eric Clapton even if he was playing thru a $100 guitar and a $200 amp. Why? Because he -is- Eric Clapton! On that same note lemme give you another little tidbit...I've -never- had a single bar/club owner invite me back because of how much my gear cost! If I bring people in the door...and keep them entertained (not to mention drinking there all night), then yes, a bar owner will have me back REGARDLESS of how much my gear cost.

Another thing to consider is that again we're talking about playing "on stage" here...live...hopefully in front of an audience. If we were talking about studio/recording, then in my always and ever so humble opinion, things are a bit different there however in your average bar/club, you need to remember that chances are you are not playing in...let's say an "acoustically designed environment". Even if you should happen to have some experienced listeners in your audiences, chances are they're not going to hear a lot of difference between a $100 guitar and a $1000 guitar when you're playing it in that bar! If you blow the solo or the whole band stops mid song because someone screwed up and the band fell apart...-that- people will notice. But in your average venue with an average crowd? Dude...nobodies ears are -that- good (despite what some folks may try and tell you).

Now that all said, the guitar I've used most over the years is my '96 Mexican Standard. Out of the 20+ guitars I own, Ol' Blue's my fav...my #1 if you will. She's certainly the guitar I've done the most work on over the years and she's the guitar that I can get exactly the sound I want from, night after night. My #2 at the moment is my '85 E series MIJ Squire...all stock. -Very- sweet instrument. My #3? An '08 Crafted in China Squire Standard (with Duncan pickups)! And she's probably the prettiest lady in my harem! LOL! When I'm doing a show...give or take any acoustic stuff I may be doing that night (which obviously requires the inclusion of an acoustic guitar or two), while I may bring other guitars for special purposes, those 3 guitars are the instruments that come with me every time.

Dude...seriously...when you're on stage, you want the guitar that you're the most comfortable playing that's gonna allow you to play your best. If that guitar happens to be an $80 Squire, that is what you use. If you're more worried about what other people think about your using an inexpensive instrument, you're worrying about the wrong thing there...

Peace,
Jim


This just made my day, I was feeling down because of what they say about Squier guitars, and I just bought a new one since Im just an new guitar player. I think the sound that you are gonna be making is 98% you, 2 % equipment quality.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 8:13 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 6:07 am
Posts: 1747
Location: Central WI
Lots of good advice here, the guitar, the amp, the time you spent on minisule amp settings and adjustments.....none of that matters as long as you sound good.

I play my Squier Musicmaster bass at every gig, sharing time with the Fender Musicmaster. Except for the pickguard paint the Squier is stock, and in fact the Fender has gotten some upgrades to match up with the way the Squier is built. Never let me down, love them.

Have faith in what you can do and rock on!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:39 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:16 pm
Posts: 894
Agreed with what has been previously said. I think the only people who even pay attention to your gear is other musicians so it gives them something to talk about on forums or hanging around somewhere. The average non-musician listener will probably not even have a clue about what you're playing, other than the colour of it. As long as you put on a good show and have good songs, that's what really matters.

I remember before I even started playing bass over 25 years ago, I didn't really even know what one really is. I thought it was just another guitar but with 4 strings. If I saw a band on TV or in concert, I had absolutely no clue about their gear. I didn't until I actually started playing and getting into the whole thing. I just loved the music and the songs.

Now after playing for so many years, that really seems strange to me not to play an instrument. Imagine not being a musician when you've dedicated most of your life towards it. I can't think of what I'd be doing if I never did that. I can't imagine not being able to play a bass or guitar.

_________________
ImageImage


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Performing live with a squier and guitar confidence
Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 2:34 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 7:33 am
Posts: 1
I've performed with a stock Affinity Squier strat.
Nobody knew the difference. The only musicians who would care are the gear snob types who aren't really listening anyway. No one gives a hoot what they think, they aren't worth the trouble.
Actually, a great number in your audience couldn't tell if you muffed a note, left out a verse, or even played in tune. That's okay, you gotta love the audience, but that's just how it is.
If you set the guitar up right, play well and pay attention to your tone, a Squier is just fine for performing.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 17 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: