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Post subject: Fender and Squier Strats advice?
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:42 am
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Hobbyist
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Joined: Sun Jul 14, 2013 7:32 am
Posts: 11
Hey guys, I'm new to this forum! Nice to meet y'all!

My first guitar ever was a Squier Affinity Strat and I haven't played it for years. Only recently got it out and started playing it and realized it sounded actually quite good (last time it was probably my skills and not knowing how to set amp that made it sound sucky).

I've been thinking to upgrade its pickups and parts but a friend of mine told me it was more worth it to get a new Fender Strat instead.

I've never tried a Fender Strat before but I've heard my friend play one and it doesn't sound too far off my Squier. Right now I'm honestly thinking I can probably match the sound of his Fender with my Squier, even though I need to adjust a bit here and there on my amp and guitar. I'm relatively inexperienced with gear and equipment so maybe I can't really hear the differences, what do you guys think? Should I just use the Squier as it is, upgrade it, or get a Fender?


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Post subject: Re: Fender and Squier Strats advice?
Posted: Sun Jul 14, 2013 11:58 am
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Rock Star
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Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Hi, welcome to the FF.

Here is what I'd do based on my previous experiences.

You have a decent starter guitar. There is no need to "upgrade" anything on it. If it ain't broke then don't fix it. It is a Squier. You can throw all the money you want at it and it will still be a Squier. But then there are far worse guitars.

If you stick with it for a set time period, say for example 6 months, you WILL start getting better while you are playing an hour daily or at least every other day. Once you get that far and reach that arbitrary "Time Requirement" only THEN would I think about a Fender Stratocaster.

Once you get the Fender Stratocaster, you should keep the Squier for a backup. (Rule 2 of Musicianship: You should never gig without a backup plan!)

Ok so that's my opinion. I think the difference between a Squire Strat and a Fender Strat is not really all that big a deal. Maybe about the same difference as between a Lexus and a Toyota. Both get you where you want to go. Both ride and drive OK. But everyone knows you paid more for the Lexus. Sure there is some tonal differences and the hardware isn't exactly the same.

I saw a guy who was a fairly well known player around here in a regional act called SUGARCREEK. (They played in Myrtle Beach and Charlotte areas in the 80's.) He was doing a trio thing with a drummer and bassist on his own at an outdoor festival about 2 years ago. Sugarcreek does reunion things now and then but this was not a reunion show. I always thought he was pretty good. At this outdoor festival gig he was playing a Stratocaster to within a smidgeon away from being the best electric guitar set I ever saw. I got close enough and he was playing a sunburst Squier Strat. Probably nobody in the crowd at Gaffney, SC's Peach Festival even noticed it was a Squier or cared, except me and I don't think I would have enjoyed his work any more if he'd been playing a Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster. If anything, him doing that amazing set on a Squier made me respect him more. He has some really nice guitars because I've seen them, but he brought this Squier to this outdoor gig. Don't know why, and it doesn't matter.

If you want a Fender set a goal of sticking with the Squier for a while. No sense in buying another Closet Queen. Don't worry about "upgrades" on it either, unless it needs something done for sure. You'll never recover any further investment in it. Drop in $200 worth of pickups and it is still a Squier and will still only be worth what a Squier is worth without the upgrades.

While a Squier is not really a "pig," a statement President Obama made in his first presidential campaign is appropriate here. "You can put lipstick on a pig. But, it's still a pig."


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