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Post subject: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:35 pm
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I currently play a 1980s Hondo H76 Strat copy (got it for free off C-list). I am an intermediate guitarist who wanted an electric to play some of my favorite back in the day tunes in my spare bedroom through my high school Peavey Amp that for some reason I still have. I am 40 now.

My budget is tight and I am wondering if a stock Bullet series Strat will be an upgrade over the Hondo or if I would need an Affinity or Standard Series. Any thoughts?


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 1:53 am
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Now this is a tough question...

If your Hondo is Japanese, I'd say keep it - the 80s versions were good instruments; they were copies, but rooted deeply in the high level woodworking tradition in Japan.
Just remember to give it a good "scheduled maintenance" and setup.

If it's from Korea, things turn a bit more complicated - the quality in general was not as good as in MIJ's and variations between individual guitars seem to be bigger.
But: the same applies to Bullets and Affinities - there are good and bad ones around.
Standards seem to be a bit more constant, so of those three series it would be my choice (This is based on a few test play sessions only - haven't owned a Standard myself.).

As a general advice, taking into account that budget issue:
Don't hurry, keep your eye on the second hand market (pawn shops and yard sales, too - not only CL and ebay), wait for "the bargain", try to put a few dollars in the cookie jar every week.
And: if you happen to find a Classic Vibe series or a Mexican one in your price level, go for those - after all, the cheapest series are built the cheapest.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 7:44 am
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jmattis wrote:
Now this is a tough question...

If your Hondo is Japanese, I'd say keep it - the 80s versions were good instruments; they were copies, but rooted deeply in the high level woodworking tradition in Japan.
Just remember to give it a good "scheduled maintenance" and setup.

If it's from Korea, things turn a bit more complicated - the quality in general was not as good as in MIJ's and variations between individual guitars seem to be bigger.
But: the same applies to Bullets and Affinities - there are good and bad ones around.
Standards seem to be a bit more constant, so of those three series it would be my choice (This is based on a few test play sessions only - haven't owned a Standard myself.).

As a general advice, taking into account that budget issue:
Don't hurry, keep your eye on the second hand market (pawn shops and yard sales, too - not only CL and ebay), wait for "the bargain", try to put a few dollars in the cookie jar every week.
And: if you happen to find a Classic Vibe series or a Mexican one in your price level, go for those - after all, the cheapest series are built the cheapest.


Thank you for your response. This is actually very helpful. The Hondo is Japanese and it plays fairly well. I will keep it until Christmas when I can justify getting a Standard. I also sell at a lot of flea markets and plan to see if a deal shows up. Maybe I will get lucky.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:51 am
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Definitely put money in the cookie jar. Find something you spend $ on regularly that you don't need -- and give it up for a while. Bottled water, coffee at Starbucks, lunch at McDs, snacks from a vending machine. Save that $ instead. You would be surprised how quickly the cash adds up. Bought my kid a Squier VM Jaguar Bass this summer from doing just that. Once you save up the cash -- go for a CV Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 9:36 am
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I gotta second Martis there...I'd say what you do might depend on the Hondo. A great many of the instruments that came out of Japan under various names back at that time, were in fact very decent instruments. In fact, if that Hondo does have a solid wood body (not ply or a laminate), I might be tempted to sink a couple of bucks into it...but as always, it would depend on the individual instrument. For the cost of some decent pickups and a few pieces of hardware, you may find you're perfectly happy with the Hondo.

Now if you really do have some severe GAS here, I'd say that what might be considered "a step up", is again going to depend on your current instrument. I can't say too much about the Bullets...they're decent entry level instruments, however with some work, upgrading your Hondo -may- be in your better interest. Affinities are usually pretty decent for the money, as are the Standards, however I usually recommend that people considering these instruments should likely budget for better pickups and full size steel trem blocks as well...again depending on your Hondo, upgrading that instead may be more cost effective...but you'll have to decide for yourself just how bad the GAS is.....

With that, I would suggest that if you're budget conscious, do be watching Craigslist, flea markets or even some of the smaller retailers...sometimes you can snag a really good deal on these lower end instruments if you're willing to consider used and you're willing to put some time into them.

Alrighty, hope that helps!


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:27 pm
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Hell, the Hondo's of that era are superb instruments, the Japanese KNEW what they were doing. Just check the prices of Hondo's on the secondary market (Ebay) right now, a Squier Bullet will NEVER hold it's value like a Hondo.

You've got the Hondo, just play it, there's no reason to replace it with something newer plus the "cool factor" of playing a vintage Japanese guitar is off the charts. Rock that beeatch!

Since the Hondo is an older guitar give it a good cleaning, change the strings (I prefer D'Addario EXL-120 .009-.042, they're easy on the fingers), use toothpicks or an old toothbrush to clean any dirt/debris around the frets while the strings are off, if it has a rosewood fretboard get a bottle of lemon oil at a guitar shop and follow the instructions.

After all these years the electronics ie. pickup selector switch, tone and volume pots might be "scratchy" a majority of the time that can be remedied with a aerosol can of "Electronics Cleaner", you spray it in the small hole of the volume/tone pot "cans" and pickup selector switch (under the pickguard) while working them back and forth.

If you have any reservations about doing any of this drop it off at a local shop, tell them you want a complete "set-up" (tune-up), set action (string height), check neck relief, and check/clean the electronics and string change as others have suggested.

If you want to do it yourself there are plenty of resources online giving step-by-step instructions both in text and video and your local hardware store will have the individual allen key wrenches for the truss rod nut/bridge saddles (probably metric) and small machinists ruler used for setting "action" (string height).


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2016 3:36 am
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Keep the Hondo and if you want to get a Squier Standard on the cheap, go to www.guitarcenter.com and click on their used gear section, where you can probably get a used Standard for around $150.00 or so. Much better than wasting that amount on a Bullet or Affinity .


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Post subject: Re: Squier Bullet Opinion
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:46 pm
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Kerouac75 wrote:
Thank you for your response. This is actually very helpful. The Hondo is Japanese and it plays fairly well. I will keep it until Christmas when I can justify getting a Standard. I also sell at a lot of flea markets and plan to see if a deal shows up. Maybe I will get lucky.


Do not selling anything that is Made in Japan. Keep it for value ... Squire Bullets are good, I have 2 but, Japan made are most of the time has an excellent sound and electronics especially that yours is from 80s!!! :D

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