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Post subject: Squier Stratocaster Dilema
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 8:38 pm
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OK, This is my dilema, my kids bought me a Squier Strat for Father's Day a couple years ago.Since then I have purchased other guitars, Epiphones, Ibanez, etc etc. . But my favorite guitar is the Squier. I love the single coil sound and how down right comfortable it is to play ( I am 54 years old and a 10 lb Les Paul is just too much). So I later purchased a pickguard with Seymour Duncans off of a Koa Strat and had my guitar tech at Guitar Center install it and set up the guitar. I've played real American Strats and my guitar is not just equal to, but better than some of the ones I played. The only difference is my guitar says "Squier" on the headstock. At Guitar Center they put the value of my guitar at 100 dollars! Come on!!! A hundred bucks. Well, this bothered me so bad that now I have been trying to find a neck for my guitar that says "Fender Stratocaster" So I can up it's value. I also love the neck that's on it. Are real Strat necks really that much better? Should I look into buying a real Strat neck. I need help. Tim in Oregon


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Post subject: Re: Squier Stratocaster Dilema
Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:17 pm
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twa90 wrote:
OK, This is my dilema, my kids bought me a Squier Strat for Father's Day a couple years ago.Since then I have purchased other guitars, Epiphones, Ibanez, etc etc. . But my favorite guitar is the Squier. I love the single coil sound and how down right comfortable it is to play ( I am 54 years old and a 10 lb Les Paul is just too much). So I later purchased a pickguard with Seymour Duncans off of a Koa Strat and had my guitar tech at Guitar Center install it and set up the guitar. I've played real American Strats and my guitar is not just equal to, but better than some of the ones I played. The only difference is my guitar says "Squier" on the headstock. At Guitar Center they put the value of my guitar at 100 dollars! Come on!!! A hundred bucks. Well, this bothered me so bad that now I have been trying to find a neck for my guitar that says "Fender Stratocaster" So I can up it's value. I also love the neck that's on it. Are real Strat necks really that much better? Should I look into buying a real Strat neck. I need help. Tim in Oregon


First beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You Squier is more comfortable to you, hence it is a better guitar in your eyes. This doesn't have any impact on the retail price.

Overall, the new Fender American Standard is in a different league in relation to the quality of the components. From the selection, type and grade of the wood, hardware, electronics, and craftsmanship.

I know a strat is a strat. The differences are sometimes subtle as you move up the line.

Feel is another story. If the guitars neck type isn't comfortable or isn't set-up the way you like it, it will not matter if it is a Master Built Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster. The neck has to feel good to you or the equations variable is unsolvable.

Lastly, when you trade anything into a retail store, you not going to get the going price because they have to re-sell for a profit. Otherwise, know matter how much you dig the Squier (and they make some nice ones), this will have not have impact on it's bluebook value.


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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 9:25 pm
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Hello twa90,

Listen... Guitar center SAYS they will give you a hundred bucks, but because you seem very comfortable in playing your axe, and your children gave it to you, and it sound better than some other big buck guitars...it's value to you
(to coin a phrase)...is Priceless
:D :D :D

If you want a made in America, or whatever just buy one, If I were you Id just keep and enjoy the Squire

Bill


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 6:14 am
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I had a Squier Tele, and although it was very nice to play, I sold it and upgraded to a MIM Strat. I have a MIA Strat also and thats my favorite guitar of the 4 that I own. If the Squier logo bothers you that much then save up for an MIA or MIM Strat. Theres plenty of used ones on Ebay and Craigslist in good condition. Being that the guitar was a gift to you from your kids, I would keep it and enjoy the guitar. I wouldn`t want to hurt their feelings. A second guitar is always an option.


Last edited by JPD on Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:57 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:16 am
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Keep the Squire as is. Play it, love it, leave it alone. Spend any money you would have spent on the Squire on a Fender MIM or MIA Stratocaster. It is always nice to have different guitars. I too have several Strats, and I must say that my 2004 Squire Deluxe Fat Strat gets played quite a bit, when I could reach for my other MIA and MIM Strats. I just like to play different guitars. I am not a "this is my one and only" kinda guy.


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:21 am
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I agree keep the Squire trade in all the other guitars and buy an MIA.

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 9:49 am
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If your Squier is what you like then who cares about the price? You probably won't sell it anyway if it was your first guitar, especially if it was a gift.

Every guitar has its own "soul" - some will be perfect for a given person, some absolutely awful, hence stick with what works for you.

Don't be ashamed of the fact it says "Squier" on your headstock - it could say Fisher Price for all I care as long as it sounds the business. Admittedly it's a bit different if you're trying to hit the big time, as then you need to show you're serious, so a big name may help, but if you're just playing for yourself, be happy in the knowledge you got lucky and got the right guitar for you.


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:13 am
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Okay, I have some thoughts on this subject...

1) The value of a guitar is not equal to how well it plays. Don't get hung up on that. Even though there is an air of snobbery that permeates certain areas of this forum (ahem ... you know who you are), there are some fine Squier guitars. I have test drove many, many guitars over the last six months and ... in my opinion ... there is a lot of overlap between Squiers, MIMs, and MIAs (and even more so for Telecasters).
2) Don't buy another Strat just because it is an MIA. Buy another guitar because it can do things your current Strat can't. Maybe a Telecaster? Maybe a hollowbody? How about a Gibson Firebird or a V? Maybe even a fat Strat? For me, I could not live without a Gibson SG in conjunction with my SSS Strat. But my next guitar will be a Thinline Telecaster (a "vintage modified" Squier, btw). After that, probably a lightly used Les Paul Standard. Hmmm ... I'd also love to get a Fat Strat and modify it out to double-fat ... that would be severely cool. But - for me - another SSS Strat? Ummm, no ... I already got that covered in spades.

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:19 am
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Don't worry about the cash value of your Squier. Remember your kids bought it for you and you really like the way it sounds and plays. That to me would make it priceless!

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:09 pm
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Hi:

I'm a working musician and I have Several Squier pieces and even though I have more expensive gear I will NOT sell any of my Squier guitars or basses.
They look play and sound great, On a couple I have swapped out pickups and tuners but that's it
I have a 1980's Squier Tele, I would put up against any MIA, It plays and sounds THAT good.
On last weeks gig I took 3 guitars on Saturday night, My Squier 51 My CP Jazzmaster (MIM) and my CS 69 Strat Relic. The Jazzmaster got the most playing time, then the Squier 51 and then the Strat.

When I get a new guitar I just add it to the collection, I never sell or trade my gear.

If your Squier does what you need it to, by all means keep it.

I love blowing away gear snobs. I get some great sounds from my Squiers, That's why I bought them to begin with 8) 8) 8) 8)


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 2:45 pm
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Dude changing out your Squier neck for a Fender neck to "up the value" is dishonest, unethical, wrong, and oh yeah ILLEGAL. You would be stepping into dealing in counterfeit goods.

If you don't intend to sell it, then there is no reason to falsify it's make.


1) If someone doesn't like your Squier because of the name on the headstock . . . to heck with them.

2) Your kids bought it for you so it's value is . . . PRICELESS.

3) Guitar Center in general is not the place to value or sell your instruments (I worked for them back in the 80's so I know their practices). They'll buy it from you for $100 and then sell it to someone else for $250.

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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:51 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
Dude changing out your Squier neck for a Fender neck to "up the value" is dishonest, unethical, wrong, and oh yeah ILLEGAL. You would be stepping into dealing in counterfeit goods.

If you don't intend to sell it, then there is no reason to falsify it's make.


1) If someone doesn't like your Squier because of the name on the headstock . . . to heck with them.

2) Your kids bought it for you so it's value is . . . PRICELESS.

3) Guitar Center in general is not the place to value or sell your instruments (I worked for them back in the 80's so I know their practices). They'll buy it from you for $100 and then sell it to someone else for $250.


I don't think you can get a genuine Fender neck anywhere, although you can buy a Warmoth Strat-designed neck without it being so much illegal. But I'll agree 200% with Mt here when he says that its just absolutely priceless that your kids got it for you. :)


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 3:59 pm
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I played in a working band for almost 8 years, and it was my sole source of income for 7 of those. During this whole time, my primary guitar was a no name Les Paul clone (made during that period where Gibson let the patent lapse). My backup was a stock Mustang.

So if your Squire plays just the way you want it, then your fingers will provide all the answer anyone needs. Back in the day, most of the people having to make comments about my "no name" were paying to see me, not the other way around. The serious musicians I know key on the player, not the brand name, etc. You don't go to listen to a guitar!


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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 7:03 pm
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I had a Squire that I modded a long time ago. I had put a Warmoth neck and Floyd Rose tremelo on it (long story). That guitar could keep up with any "name brand" guitar out there. I wish I never got rid of it. So even with putting $450 dollars into this guitar, I only recieved a 200 dollar trade in. (Dude wanted the neck and I knew it.) I was told that if it had a "name brand" on the neck I could have gotten a lot more money. I say if they are only going to give you $100, keep it. If you like it then its worth more to you. Al ot of us have more than one guitar.

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Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:28 am
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OK, Guys, I will not ever sell my Squire just because my kids bought it. Actually, the Squire was given to me by my oldest daughter's boyfriend who is a professional musician. He also still plays his Squier Bass on gigs and loves it. He has some other nice guitars too. I have a Tele knock-off I bought online for 200.00 new and guys, I know it's not a Fender ( It's an "Xavier".....I know A WHAT ?} But I also love the pick ups on and play it at my church every Sunday. I get more compliments on the sound of that guitar. Anyway, I am only a Bookeeper, and School bus driver, I buy what I can afford.......... I still hope to someday be blessed with an American made HSS Strat ......Should I buy some spandex pants too? OMG


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