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Post subject: Squier/Fender vs Gibson/Epiphone
Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 5:57 pm
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So, I've heard lots of talking about the diferences, but I don't know them exaclty, can someone explain me the exact diferences (in terms of sound) between squiers/fenders and gibsons/epiphones?


thx ;)


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:02 am
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Well, both are smaller branches and make more affordable guitars for more beginner type players (or just great guitars to mod.) Their craftsmanship and quality may not be as high as their parent companies, but they aren't bad by any means. For the money, most can usually give you some pretty good tone. Of course the pickups put in the Fender/Gbison models will give you much better tone in most cases, but still, good for the money.


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:23 am
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Squier and Epiphone used to be separate companies...Squier made strings, Epiphone made guitars and other instruments (I think). Then at some point, Fender acquired Squier and Gibson acquired Epiphone. I know Fender eventually started making Squier guitars because they needed to compete with all these Asian factories making non-licensed Fender style guitars, so Squier was the Fender approved and licensed versions of Fender guitars made overseas because there was no middle ground between the prices of a real Fender and an import copy. Squier was and is Fenders way to get a piece of the pie of the market of those individuals who like Fender guitars and designs, but may not necessarily have or want to spend the money to get an all Fender made product. That is essentially the main difference. Fender makes guitars using their designs, in their own factories with Fender parts, while Squier makes guitars using Fender designs, but are made overseas in factories that are not necessarily owned by Fender, but have licensing and manufacturing agreements with Fender, but do not use Fender parts. Which is why at times Squier and Fender parts are not as compatible as one would hope they would be.

I am not sure of Epiphones story or reason for existing, but I am under the impression it is similar to the reason why Squier exists.

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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:21 am
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The only Squier I own is a bass (and it's the only bass I've ever owned so I can't compare), but I have a Gibson and a couple of Epiphones. Humbuckers give you a warmer tone but some do it better than others. The BurstBucker Pros I have in my Gibson sound much better than the Epi HBs which are noticeably muddier. As I've said elsewhere, the $2,600 Gibson ES-335 sounds better than my $400 Epi Dot, but not 6 times better or even twice as good. I consider the Korean-made Dot a bargain.

For decades Epiphone and Gibson were competitors. If you're interested, you can check out the Epi story at . . .

http://www.epiphone.com/history.asp


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:39 am
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I feel that the Squier-guitars are made a lot cheaper, but so are Epiphones. Although some Epiphones are quite top-notch, I own a Les Paul Std. that really gets the job done, has grovers and pretty decent pups. I've never owned a Squier though, but like Epiphone, Squier has higher-quality guitars like, oh what is it called? The Espirit? The Jagmaster? Even some of their Strats and Teles are fairly decent.

I'd say they're both made for the student-audience, and both do just about the same thing. :roll:


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 2:52 pm
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I wouldn't compare Epi to Squire. To me, Epi is more like the MIM line of Fenders. Sure they make a couple of cheapies, but they have a full line of high quality electrics and acoustics for the working musician.

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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:06 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
I wouldn't compare Epi to Squire. To me, Epi is more like the MIM line of Fenders. Sure they make a couple of cheapies, but they have a full line of high quality electrics and acoustics for the working musician.


I guess I would agree . . . and so would Harrison, Lennon and Sir Paul.


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:23 pm
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Ok, what you've got in a nutshell, is Fender and Gibson slaping their names on a budget brand. I think that Epiphone has better quality than Squire, but I wouldn't buy an Epiphone, because I like Fenders. Their both good, but if you can, go for the real brands budget model which will be better than Squire or Epiphone.


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:28 pm
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I think the real difference (I play a Squier Bass) is that as someone else mentioned the Epi's are also Gibson's equivalent to the MIM Fenders. From what I can tell, from what every dealer and trusted musician friend has told me the only real difference between a Squier and a MIM is the pickups. Perhaps the luck of the draw is a little better on some of the MIM, I don't know.

Epi's tend to go a little bit high end and the price tag reflects that.

Squiers seem to be eaking slowly towards that with the classic vibes, etc... but haven't gone there yet.


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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:28 pm
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Squier was a name of a company that use to make strings. Fender bought the name so that they could use it to make a budget line of guitara to compete with overseas budget guitars. Epiphone has been making instruments for over a 130 years they were Gibsons main competition and when they had money problems Gibson was able to aquire them in the 1950s. They do make the budget guitars but they also continue to make high quility guitars as well some of which I think are better then any MIM Fenders. You can spend a $150. or $1000. on a Epi. I have owned both Gibson and Epi. and think my Epi Custom Plus that I have now is better then my Gibson I had and it only cost 699.

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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:31 pm
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Yeah, Epi is much more then just cheaper versions of Gibsons.

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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 10:47 am
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I have had good experiences with both Epiphone, and Squier guitars. Both companies provide less expensive, yet quality guitars that resemble their top quality guitars. There are differences in materials, and they are manufactured off shore. Epiphones can go from very inexpensive guitars to the very high quality Elitist models. There is a range of prices also on the Squiers. I own an Epiphone Les Paul Custom Flametop which is very nice in looks and playability. I did change the pickups to Gibson Burstbuckers and will also change the pots to a higher quality product.
I also had a Squier Affinity Telecaster which most dealers sell for under $180.00 and it looked and played great. It also sounded much better than I thought it might. Both companies make decent products that are more affordable to the masses than their big name products. No complaints here about either one.


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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:02 pm
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"guitars for the massse"... I love it!

In a non-Hitler-esque Germany sorta way does that make the Squier the Fender equivalent of the Volkswagon?


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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:07 pm
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bowlfreshener wrote:
I am not sure of Epiphones story or reason for existing, but I am under the impression it is similar to the reason why Squier exists.
Epiphone was a major guitar company in the early 20th century, and was Gibsons' biggest rival'. Epiphone went through a sudden slump, while Gibson went through a sudden spike in sales. Gibson bought out Epiphone, and used the companys' name to make budget-level versions of Gibsons.

Squiers' story is almost the same, 'cept Squier was just a small string company, never was a major guitar maker.

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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:15 pm
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cryingstrat wrote:
Yeah, Epi is much more then just cheaper versions of Gibsons.


In some cases, they're even much better (my epiphone elitist is better than a handful of Gibsons I've played)


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