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Post subject: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 1:20 pm
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Hi all,

I'm a considering buying my first stratocaster, and as a "les paul man", it is a whole new experience for me to play a strat-type guitar. I bought a 2nd hand Squier (Bullet, i think) that hasnt been played, probably at all, and it took me around 3 months to get used to the shape, neck and weight, and i really like playing it. In comparison to my Gibson LP Custom '68 reissue, the pickups on that Squier sound goddamn awful, so recently i went to a local music shop that stocks some fine Fender/Squire models so i can hear what the other models sound like. I was lucky they stocked all the models i was interested in, that is: Classic Player 60's, MIM Standard (SSS, HSS), MIA standard (SSS, HSS), MIA Special HSS... and i also tried a couple of FSRs.
I don't really care if the headstock says Fender, Squier or Squirrel as long as i like the guitar, and it helped me to totally ignore the seller telling me how the Fender deluxe models are what i need. Btw, I tried 2 Deluxe models too, not impressed.... but the CP60's sounded by far the best of them all, to me. i remember asking about CP in some other shop and the guy said "...but the neck is 12'' radius on it :shock: " like its a disease on that guitar.
Anyway... the thing is, i've been playing that Squier regularly for 7 months now, and the fretwire is proudly showing massive grooves, so deep you could plant potatoes there, and i have never seen a fretwire wear out so quickly.
the question here is, what type/quality of fret wire is used on the models i mentioned above? i dont want to pay 300-1000£ on a guitar that will be rendered useless in less than a year. Heck, i spent 60£ on that squier and i feel ripped off.
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thanks for help and advice


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:29 pm
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Squier are a low end quality guitar , don't be surprise if some parts don't last life time .

You have for what you pay .


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 3:25 pm
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stratele52 wrote:
Squier are a low end quality guitar , don't be surprise if some parts don't last life time .

You have for what you pay .


+!

It's an entry-level instrument, ie: a Ford Pinto.

:wink:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:30 pm
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Unless you are buying a guitar for a child who is an absolute beginner... do not buy a Squier.

If you own a US-made Gibson Les Paul, then you will never be satisfied with a Squier guitar. Even if you play an Epiphone you would probably not be satisfied with a Squier. Buy a higher-end MIM Fender or a US Fender. A few months with a US Fender and you will probably no longer be satisfied with your Gibson Les Paul! :mrgreen:

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Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
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Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 2:31 am
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Don't own a MIA Les Paul, but I've played some. Still I do like (many) Squiers...

The Bullet series is the cheapest in the Squier line. For ~100€ brand new you get what you pay for. Thinking positively, that guitar would be perfect for practicing how to do a DIY fret job :wink:

Go recheck that Classic Player 60's, it's actually 9.5" radius. Or try the CV50's if you like the maple neck.


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Sun Feb 09, 2014 4:09 am
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Tiger J wrote:
Unless you are buying a guitar for a child who is an absolute beginner... do not buy a Squier.

If you own a US-made Gibson Les Paul, then you will never be satisfied with a Squier guitar. Even if you play an Epiphone you would probably not be satisfied with a Squier. Buy a higher-end MIM Fender or a US Fender. A few months with a US Fender and you will probably no longer be satisfied with your Gibson Les Paul! :mrgreen:



+1


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:30 am
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jmattis wrote:
Go recheck that Classic Player 60's, it's actually 9.5" radius. Or try the CV50's if you like the maple neck.

i did, and it says 12'' radius
http://www.fender.com/en-GB/guitars/str ... apple-red/

the Classic Series 60's has 7.25'' neck.....

when i played it, i didn't feel the neck to be any different from 9.5'' though, but i real liked how it sits in my hand :)

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:12 am
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Tiger J wrote:
A few months with a US Fender and you will probably no longer be satisfied with your Gibson Les Paul! :mrgreen:


i could almost agree with that. When i got my Les Paul as a present, new, it was less than perfect: the lower screw of ABR bar was not screwed in all the way (1.5mm gap), the lacquer on the bottom of the neck started peeling off after few weeks, the wiring of the volume control was seriously faulty, E string was buzzing like crazy. 2700£ WTF?!
I don't believe in "made in USA" at all. I picked up a MIA standard the other day and the edges of the fretboard were not profiled (sharp enough to cut the skin) and of scratchplate screws by the neck was drilled in on a nasty angle.
i was not satisfied with my Gibson until i fixed all the faults, so i don't expect miracles from an expensive American guitar. overall i think Fender's QC is generally better and i wouldn't hesitate to pick one up the next time I'm shopping. that Classic Player strat was absolutely flawless and it sounded awesome, so i will try to find it on a deal somewhere.
i read a lot of comments on Squier forum how they don't stand out that much in terms of quality, thats why seeing how quickly my squier disintegrates made me think twice about robustness of fretwire (it also made me question the validity of claims that squier makes good guitars....).

thanks for the replies, and one more question: which tuners are are good quality (except the locking tuners)? would i want to upgrade those on a CP60's ?

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 6:58 am
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Kluson Deluxe vintage, will drop right in and match the old vintage fender tuners..
As Much as i enjoyed reworking the Squier Bullet, it still falls short when the narrowness of both the neck and body are considered..

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:45 am
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That's the other thing about a Squier... beware spending huge stacks of cash on upgrading parts. Better to save your cash and upgrade the whole instrument when you can afford to!

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my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:08 am
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It's really about going and spending time to lay many different models and deciding on what appeals ....

edit.... :roll: I'm sure I typed " PLAY " not what is up....
So much for spellcheck... :roll: :lol: :lol:

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 8:59 am
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Marianeq wrote:
i did, and it says 12'' radius

Yep - my mistake, had the Classic Player mixed with Classic Vibe; this one:
http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocas ... apple-red/

Tiger J wrote:
That's the other thing about a Squier... beware spending huge stacks of cash on upgrading parts. Better to save your cash and upgrade the whole instrument when you can afford to!

Cheaper to upgrade a Squier than a MIA Stratocaster... which also seems to be a quite common habbit (addiction..?) according to the forum. :wink:

But seriously, you seem to have a very strong opinion against Squiers - have you ever played a Squier above Bullet/Affinity level?


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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 11:38 am
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jmattis wrote:
have you ever played a Squier above Bullet/Affinity level?


to be honest i have no idea what model my squier is. there are no serials no stickers no nothing on it except "Squier strat (by Fender ;) )" and the tuning machines have Squier logo on them. everything on it looks damn cheap so i assume it's the cheapest model, ie. bullet.
no i haven't played any other Squiers recently. I have played Squiers on two occasions, years ago, but they weren't mine and i was too inexperienced to tell the difference if the guitars were any good....

Normally, when i spend some serious money on, say, a guitar, i dont want to immediately think what i need to change in it. it has to have the components i desire already. if those components are inherently of low quality and need replacing (eg. tuning machines) on an otherwise well put together guitar, then fair enough, i will change them. I certainly would not invest in a cheap guitar, Squire, to then pump real money into making it a playable instrument. you could argue that this is part of the fun and i also learn the technical side of guitar use, but this is not my case (i have neither tools nor interest [yet] in "building" a guitar).
I think i am bashing Squiers too much than they deserve, and i welcome to be educated and corrected that they are indeed good guitars, if certain models are taken into consideration.

My Gibson plays fantastically, but it was a tough tough love at the beginning and if i was to spend so much money on a guitar like this, i'd probably buy 2 Fenders instead... but Gibson is not Fender, it's almost a different instrument, and i'm glad i have one. Now i look forward to own a proper Stratocaster, be it Fender or Squier. these guitars are so comfortable to play and offer different tonal range to LP humbuckers, so I'd like to have a great time "exploring that alley", but perhaps MINUS frustrations with crappy fretwire and tuners that hold tune for only few minutes.

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Post subject: Re: looking to buy my first strat, but...
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 12:35 pm
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Squier Bullet's and Affinity's will have a thinner neck. But the real ID to them is a body thickness of 1-5/8" instead of a MIM or MIA or the Vibe Classics which are the standard 1-3/4" thick..

I used to have a 60's Les Paul Custom so I can understand the adjustments from one to the other, however since I continuously switch between a classical guitar, a Violin and viola, a GC acoustic and Strat's or Tele's it just becomes a quick readjustment.

Do go out and sample the options, MIM's, MIA's, Classic Vibe Tele's etc...
You will be surprised as to what is in your ballpark...

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