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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 6:53 pm
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It's not just the pickups and the wiring and things like fret dressing that make the difference. What it comes down to is the wood that the guitar is made out of. The fit and finish can be vastly different also. There's nothing wrong with Squier guitars, and if you were looking to buy spend the extra money and get a Standard Series. They have thicker bodies and usually are better finished than the Affinity Series. You'll know the difference, the cheaper guitars say Strat, or Tele on the headstock.

That said, Fender owns Squier lock stock and barrel. Squier used to be a string maker. Epiphone is owned by Gibson outright. So it's kind of like GM. You can buy a GM with the Cadillac badge on it, or the Chevy badge on it. Either way, it is GM.


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:27 pm
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Fenders are made in Fender owned factories in California and Mexico, using Fender made and sourced parts.
Squiers are subcontracted to factories in the Far East/Asia using materials and parts sourced locally. They are most likely made in the same factories, by the same people as other brands of guitar.
It follows that retail prices reflect the manufacturing costs (labour and materials) of each location.
Fenders are made BY Fender, Squiers are made FOR Fender.

By the way, ONLY an American would say this - "Squires are the Hondas and Toyotas. Fenders are the Lincolns and Caddys"!
If Fender ever used that as an advertising slogan outside the USA, they would go bankrupt in a matter of weeks.

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 7:57 pm
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I'd describe a Squier as a Danelectro on steriods. They've got all the vibe of the upscale Fender models combined with the economies of materials and labor available abroad. I certainly wish we had had such an opportunity 50 years ago, Jimmy Page notwithstanding.

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:18 am
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somebodyelseuk wrote:
By the way, ONLY an American would say this - "Squires are the Hondas and Toyotas. Fenders are the Lincolns and Caddys"!

The EU version might be:
"Squier -> MIM -> MIA" equals "Skoda -> VW -> Audi".
:lol:


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 9:26 am
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jmattis wrote:
The EU version might be:
"Squier -> MIM -> MIA" equals "Skoda -> VW -> Audi".
:lol:


Not quite, as then Squiers would be rebadged older US Fenders. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:17 am
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jmattis wrote:
somebodyelseuk wrote:
By the way, ONLY an American would say this - "Squires are the Hondas and Toyotas. Fenders are the Lincolns and Caddys"!

The EU version might be:
"Squier -> MIM -> MIA" equals "Skoda -> VW -> Audi".
:lol:


Try Ford Mustang>Jaguar XK8>Aston Martin DB9

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 12:57 pm
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These comparisons are all apples and oranges. These vehicles are not same/design/same platform. Comparing the mass block of a Squier vibrato in a '57 Classic Vibe, with the same unit provided in an MIM, MIA or Custom Shop Stratocaster guitar representing the same vintage, or the body wood used in these guitars and you have a better measure of difference.

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:00 am
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I think the Classic Vibe guitars are a nice and are comparable to Fender. I've owned several MIM Fenders in the last year and sold or traded them but kept my CV Duo-Sonic as it sounds good, has great action, nice frets, machine heads, sheilding, etc.

Fenders have better feel and electronics usually as are thus Fenders. MIM Std Fenders usually sell for the around the same cost as Classic Vibes. They are similar quality and both good guitars. For $225-250 a Classic Vibe or MIM Std would both be good deals though in the long run the Fender will have better trading potential if you like to trade guitars on CL. I got about 6 guitars on CL this year through trading and am in negotiations for a Epi SG Custom, Fender Jazzmaster, Gibson Les Paul Special and Squier 51.


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:12 am
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If you are going to buy your first guitar I would suggest a legit Fender. I bought one of the Squier "starter packs" for $250. I didn't know anything about guitars and bought the black Strat because I liked Buddy Holly and thought that's what he had but his was sunburst.

The Affinity doesn't have much resale value. I sold 3 Affinitys together on eBay last year all stock for $180. That's less than $60 per guitar after eBay takes their cut.

A Fender will make you want to play better and if you are like me you'll always be thinking about the Fender name and wanting to get one eventually so you might as well start with one. You can get used MIM Std Strats for as low as $199 which is better than a Squier pack and something you can hold onto. The Squier Frontman 15 amp is junk. I see them at Goodwill all the time for $9.99.


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 1:57 am
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Squier is an affordable version of Fender with cheap materials.


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:20 am
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Squier is a less costly to manufacture Fender product in terms of materials and labor but retains the 'vibe' of it's parent company and, if you shop carefully, you can find yourself a winner. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 8:14 am
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The difference does boil down to differences in materials, cost of labor, the electronics (which are cheaper, but quite adequate), the finish (Nitrocellulose laquer (fender) vs. Polyurethane (Squire).

I don't have any experience with the cheaper Squiers, but I currently own a CV 60's Strat, and am happy to say that out-of -the-box it offers a satisfying playing experience. Feels good, sounds good, looks good. Compared to the American Made Fender Standard Strat, the Squier comes up a little short in the pickup department (the Squier doesn't seem to have th "oomph" of the Standard), but the difference is not enough for me to be dissatisfied with the Squier. For the most part, the CV 60's looks like a strat, feels like a strat, and sounds like a strat. I have no problem recommending it, and the entire CV series has been getting thumbs up from players around the world.

I have a similar opinion of the Epiphone Les Paul Standard models. Although the Gibson made guitars are better, the Epi's are more than adequate for many (myself included). I think the price difference is only justified if you are recording or gigging, or just have the money to burn.

There will always be those quick to disparage "budget" guitars, and hold their high end reference models as the baseline of quality for all players, but this is not more than brand snobbery. Do you get a better guitar if you go with the brand name or boutique guitars? Yep. No doubt. Are the bargain lines like Epiphone and Squier, quote, "unplayable junk?", not by a long shot (but take this on a case by case basis). These brands can be good, even great instruments.

Some are also quick to trash the Made in China" instruments as shoddily made junk. The the current consensus with brands such as Cordoba, Epiphone, and Squier are that the production quality and QC from China is quite good these days. You can't top a hand crafted instrument, but the Chinese factories are churning out consistently good product.

Final note: Tone snobs are often fairly well educated regarding the technical details of how good tone is achieved via a combination of materials, electronics, and construction, but miss the point that every instrument does not have to be made to Olympian standards. As long as the gear is "good enough", the music and tonality is largely determined by the player.


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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:00 am
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I've just bought a Squier CV50s and can't fault it for the money, great bang for the buck. I 'ummed' and 'arred' for ages, tried out a few and found I like the skinny neck and sound of the thing. I may go up to an american fender in the future, we'll see how it goes with this Squire, but so far, I'm a happy camper! :lol:

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 6:05 am
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Lefty Addams wrote:
.......we'll see how it goes with this Squier, but so far, I'm a happy camper! :lol:

When they finally put the same V-neck used for the Road Worn '50's on the Squier CV '50's, :idea: I might be a happy camper too! Meanwhile, I'll 'jes keep a'holler'in 'fer it. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: What are the actual differences between a Squier and Fen
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 7:56 am
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he he it sounds like the usual hollering I give Fender every time they bring out yet another incarnation of the Tele and NOT offer it as a lefty

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