Jeff Healey played his Squier Strats to fine effect, he impressed me anyway. He didn't know what was on the headstock and he didn't care.


Snowy

Which is a Fender Custom, which is a Squier by Fender and which is a FSR?



I'm a guitar freak. If I play 'em and I like 'em, I just buy 'em. I don't really pay too much attention to what's on the (Fender) headstock. But I never, ever play out with any guitar that costs over $500. Sometimes those "cheap" guitars are just plain badass!

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

Definite evidence of a cheeze-dick!

Prolly went back to Harmony Central (from whence he came).



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 made today a 4-day holiday and spent most of it visiting all my local music stores. At my local Guitar Center I tried out 4 Telecasters ranging from a Squier CV to a 52 Telecaster Reissue (about $1500). To be absolutely truthful, I preferred the neck on my modified Squier BSB Affinity Tele to all of the others. I just don't like the shiny, sticky neck finish that most had. And I really didn't hear that much difference in sound between them all. Though I have to admit, the 52 Reissue was really sweet.

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Bill

Hey Bill!

That "sticky neck finish" you were playing on is a combination of sweat and mucus from the 22 boppers who played... er, messed around on those guitar necks before you got there. Ask your favorite rep for a moist rag and a good wiping cloth before you play.

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Dennis in CR
Rockin' since 1963

They were still sticky after I wiped them down.

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Bill

I think a better question would be: Why does Starcaster exist?

I love my strat. I bring it out when I want to record stuff or play to friends. I treat it with the reverence and love it deserves. It is a fantastic guitar, and I truly enjoy playing it. It lives in a case by my amp, and softly whispers to me, asking to be used.

But my affinity squier is within reach when I want to bang out some riffs, practice, or whatever. I've bung some nice pups in it, and it sounds great, plays brilliantly and is not ashamed to be treated like the strumpet it is.

I know I've personified my guitars a bit too much here, but to follow Screamin' Armadillo's analogy, my MIA Strat is the underpants my mother would like me to be wearing when I'm hit by a bus, clean, new and comfortable. My squier is the underpants I put on despite having new clean comfy ones, because, well.... because I have them and I like them. Not as stylish as a name brand (like who cares? they're undies!) but they are just as comfortable, and I'm less worried about farting in them, heh.

Good question ChrisNJ especially when they took the name of a discontinued classic and dashed all hopes of resurrecting it.A reissue of the 70s-80s Starcaster would be a great 335 fighter.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Now THAT is TMI!

I'm sorry the OP didn't come back. He might actually have had some good points to make. I sometimes wonder about other people's purchase decisions, like PT Cruisers or Chevrolet's clone the HHR (simply the worst designed and engineered car I've ever driven).

And the more obvious point is worth considering: If you can get a really nice Strat "lightly used" for $365, paying that much for Squier may seem crazy.

But, OTOH, the much better point is the underwear point. I've ridden motorcycles for 35 years and I've been asked two things:

Isn't it dangerous? Yes, but so's crossing the street. You never know when a bus driver running late is going to run the light.

What's the best motorcycle? The answer to THAT is the one you sit on that makes you smile and KEEPS making you smile as you go down the road. It could be an exotic MV Augusta Brutale, or a 250cc Kawasaki Ninja.

I think it's a great idea for Fender to have a low-priced brand with "imitation" (I loathe to use that word) models. That way Fender can control what they are and stand behind them. Authorized knockoff copies! Makes it tough for the bootleggers, doesn't it?

Also, in an environment where a musician's instrument can be lost, stolen or damaged, it's clearly better to have two inexpensive tools, than one pricey (and also attractive) Custom Shop. My wife and I have been on many cruises and one has to think about the musicians who work on board. They play every night on the ship. If an instrument fails for any reason, be it lost, stolen or broken, that inexpensive backup may BE what keeps them in a job. Last February, I watched an on-board Caribbean band with a MARVELOUS bass player, on a 6-string Yamaha bass. The band was only OK (and I'm being kind) but this guy made his inexpensive Yammie bass sing like an angel was playing it.

I don't have to buy Squier guitars, and neither do you. But you and I MUST respect the people that buy them, play them, love them, and record with them.

As a final word, entry level guitars are light years where they were 10 years ago. I bought my 6 year old, who wanted to try a guitar, a Carlo Robelli 3/4 size for $60. He's not quite ready for it but I would never have bought it if I hadn't been impressed with just how good a bargain it is. Lovely tone, nice light action (I remember my older brother's Silvertone acoustic he got in 1962(?) where you could put your fingers under the strings....ugh), even fun to play. I'm not a kid, I don't have to drive a beater with 4-60 air conditioning, and worry about digging up the rent every month but I've been there when I was young. I can really appreciate that for some people, $200 for a Squier Strat is a really big stretch. All power to 'em!

Only on this forum can we begin a thread on Squier guitars, and end up talking about underpants..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

I know people who cant afford $1,000 guitar need a cheaper guitar to turn towards for a starter or for kids and thats fine.I personally though dislike Squier with a passion but thats just my opinion. I dont even feel they are worth the money they are being sold for.Id much rather buy my kid a $200 Fender acoustic with a slightly bigger neck to learn on to build his finger strength a bit and save little bits of money over time and if he/she likes playing and sticks with it and when they are ready upgrade to a $500-$800 electric or acoustic guitar use that bit I saved up and whatever they have save for a slightly better guitar. Like I said that just my opinion though

Oh Lord, here we go again!

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Nah Im not starting anything lol it all comes down to a matter or opinion thats all and people just have to learn to be accepting of other people opinions just as they wish for theirs to be respected and not flamed

That's just an opinion and you've got your right to it. If you have never played or seen a Squier that you wanted to play or take home, it's reasonable to pass on them...and others can enjoy. I've yet to see a Shecter or Ibanez I liked. Doesn't mean I won't, just haven't.