never made sense to me... Squire guitars are very inexpensive and from what i dealt with and heard from nor are they worth keeping or upgrading. There are Plenty of good Stratocaster's made by Fender out there that are for the budgeted person. a Decent Stratocaster MIM can go from 400-800 dollars and that's very cheap so why does Squire exist? As i said before... Squires are horrendous from what I've dealt with and heard from and a beginner player might find it frustrating and give up twice as quickly cause of all the irritation the guitar is giving them...so Squire in my eyes is a Lost Cause for all i know... and the Price Gap between a Squire and Fender isn't as Massive as it is to Epiphone and Gibson... anybody want to put some insight on this?

I own 2 Squires along side 2 American Fenders and I find them to be playable and fun guitars. I do not find the need to mod, but some folks see the Squire as a platform to mod to their specs. The price is right on Squire guitars, so beginners can get a decent instrument at a decent price. There are dogs at every price level. You need to spend the time to seek out the one that suits you.

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For some (of us), even $150 which is the difference between a Squier and a MIM, is a respectable amount of money.
It may be even a half of an amp.

Don't judge by your own financial standards.

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Alexander
AMSTD Strat RW Candy Cola +Callaham + Texas Specials +Tortoise shell pickguard/Fender Blues Junior III SN FSR
Salonica-Greece


Macedonia IS GREECE the last 2500 years

Squier exists for the simple reason that there is a market for their products. If/when that market collapses, so will go FMIC's entry-level line of instruments.

Elementary supply-and-demand economics.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Very true...when the Memphis floods were going on and the gear carnage was happening, many of the techs were picking up Squiers to modify for players who lost everything. A good example is the Squier CV and Thinline Teles. If you're in Memphis, see how many you see in the studios.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

The Squier CV Strat is a tremendous entry-level guitar......by anybody's yardstick.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Apart from the previous posts, to provide employment and in these uncertain times more power to them I say

i have a stock mim stratocaster and a stock squier vm stratocaster and my main strat is the squier believe it or not... and i'm going for a cv 50's strat when i balance myself economically...

I bought my kids Squier guitars, set them up nicely and get a great tone out of them through a Mustang I amp. If they start progressing, I will buy them nicer guitars.

Squiers are high quality guitars, easy to set up and keep in tune, in my experience. In fact, I ended up buying a Squier CV 60's for myself because I am in love with the tone and feel of these guitars. It cost about $150 less than a MIM Standard, and was a much better guitar IMO.

A good player can make a Squier sound great, as long as it is in tune and set up. A Bad guitarist will sound equally bad playing a Bullet Squier as he would a Custom Shop Fender.

Before CBS Fender acquired the Squier brand name from V.C. Squier there were Musicmasters, Mustangs, etc. From what I know, there was/is a desire to make sure that beginning players had/have a chance to buy a Fender product too. Those players are usually younger and inevitably parents are paying. Anyone thats been a kid and anyone that is a parent knows that there are certain interests that last about a minute....or a week.....or a month. So a "starter" guitar is a good thing.

Fender Musicmaster series were definately starter guitars and basses....I know this because I personally worked on many many many. They played so that was ok.
As ok as the Musicmasters were, I don't think they hold a candle to the playability and coolness of the Squier Classic Vibes. I know, I know...I work here. But still....I wouldn't call myself a Bass player....but my baby blue CV P Bass is my recording weapon of choice.
Awesome P.

So.....I'm not really seeing how one of the best selling guitar brands gloabally is a "lost cause"....but hey, we all have our opinions and that keeps life interestin, don't it?
Cheers,
rob

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rob Schwarz
Director,Fender Customer Service
Proudly serving Fender Customers
for over 30 years

400 bucks is alot some people can only afford a 100 dollar guitar. I ve played a few squiers and though they are not as good as american guitars i think they are on equal level with the mexican fenders and are far superior then starcasters in quality and playability


@Rob i sometimes play bass in my schools band and we have a red squier bronco. I have to say it is a great

Starcasters have no redeeming social value......I'd definitely ditch that line!



Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

I have an idea!!! Lets limit electric guitar sales to people who have the financial means to only buy "worthy" guitars. You know, only the "good" ones.
The original poster is in freakin LaLa land with his comments about Horrendous, not worth it, waste of time etc.
The guitar heroes we all know and love started out on Harmony, Stella, Silvertone, Danelectro, Kay guitars. All of which, I am sure, that dude would find not worthy. Are you kidding??? It is not the instrument, but the MUSIC that is important!!
Squires fill a very important niche in the music business, quality, affordable guitars that play well, sound good and look nice, for a price the average Joe can afford.

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A bunch of guitars, a few amps, some pedals and some other stuff that makes noise.

I have a friend who thinks MIM Strats are junk. I have both an MIM and a MIA and my MIM is my go to guitar.

it is not how much you pay for it, it is how well you play it and how good it feels in your hands. My MIM just feels right. Set up on both is very close but the neck on that MIM is just something special.

With Squier it's probably the same thing. If you find one that fits your hands and plays well, who cares how much it costs?

Why does Squirer exist? I believe it is to cover the entry level price point with a guitar that is a serious musical instrument vs. a toy. The Masterbuilt Custom Shop is an aspirational instrument. Many of us aspire to own one some day but few of us will ever be able to afford one.


I would challenge most of us to a blind test to be able to tell the difference between a MIM Standard and a Squirer. Sure one will play better and feel better but it could be either one for any given player.

Jeff

I have a CV 50s Telecaster and all I can say is Im amazed at the quality. Build and fretwork is phenomenal, pickups sound great and handle fuzz very very well, quarter sawn maple neck with crazy figuring... Need I go on for a 350 dollar guitar?

The lower end of the squier range also has its place. Compare an a affinity or bullet strat to any copy strat at that price point, I think its clear why Squier is so successful.