OK, Fender vs Squier. . .What's the REAL difference??

[Trippalot]

OK, I just got a mid-nineties Fender Squier Stratocaster that I was not too impressed with. Somebody give me some real stuff that's different between the real Fenders and the Squiers (even the Rogues). I'm looking for a good strat, but the Fenders are just too damn expensive. Give me some thoughts. . .anybody.

[Gidge]

Ive got two words for you...pawn shop....

also, what exactly is your budget?.....

[Gidge]

and when you are talking differences, your looking at things like type and quality of the wood used, hardware such as frets, tuners, bidges, and also things like quality control....now if you look long enough and know what to look for, you can score a good Mexican strat for a few bills....

[Hard2Hear]

Especially with Fenders...the biggie is the hardware. American models have nice things like the bi-flex truss rod, nicer string saddles, much better pots and smoother tuners. The pickups are always a toss up, cause you can find good and bad import ones and good and bad american ones. You can get the same wood type on a Fender inport if you are careful. But alot of squiers are basswood. And many are lots of pieces of wood. I hang out at the fenderforum for Fender details and experts, it may enlighten you a bit.

H2H

[Trippalot]

OK, I like where you are going with the Mexican Strat thing. Here's what I've got: The Squier I talked about previously (to trade or sell) and fifty to a hundred bucks. Most Squiers I've played fingered unbelievably; how come that's usually not the case with Fenders? And I am mainly inquiring in this thread about playability and sound. So you think the pawn shops carry decent guitars if you know what to look for??

[Emeric]

The electronics are what I've found to be most lacking on cheap guitars, whether fender squiers or model X. Replacing the pickups, pots are a good starting point to improve.

Good thing about buying half-decent pickups is you can always swap them around into different guitars, so not a total waste of money.

[Gidge]

Well the Mexican Strat can be had new for under $350....pawn shop route, Ive seen people practically steal some beautiful American strats for $300-$500.....If you can find a new Mexican one with a good playable neck, as the years come on and you can afford it you can go for things like new tuners, a good fret job and those kind of things......

[getuhgrip]

I've been seeing some mexican strats go for less than two bills on Ebay. Be patient and bid strategicly. Check it out.
Good luck

[jrlemonz]

You'll probably get more for your Squire if you sell it in pieces on eBay. You'd be lucky to get $100 for the whole thing together, but you have no idea how often I see Squire necks go for $60 by themselves on eBay.

Jake

[psmith66]

Just purchased a mid-eighties JAP Strat on ebay.

Anyone want to bite?

No one?

Ok, how about:

"85/86 Jap Strats (the Contemporary 22 fret with Kahler) are better than any USA Strat built in the past twenty years."

Anyone want to comment? (Come on! This should be like blood to a shark!).

[Gidge]

Please call them Japanese made instead of Jap......

Also, I dont know about the whole 20 years, but the Japenese Strats during the mid-eighties were, in my opinion, far better than the American made ones......

[psmith66]

Sorry man - guess my political etiquette needs some work. At least I didn't refer to American Strats as Yankees. Actually, "Japanese" sounds much grander.

Anyway, I'll probably remove the Kahler when I get it, unless it doesn't get in the way - I'm not fond of wang bars (what's the point after you've heard Hendrix?).

[twist]

I get the impression from this discussion that a Mexican Strat and a Squire are two different things, and that the MIM Strat is a better instrument.

I've got a guitar that says "Fender Stratocaster made in Mexico" on the headstock. But it also says "Squire series". I thought I was buying a Mexican Strat. Is this not the case?

Twist

[Hard2Hear]

but Gidge, they're known world wide as the infamous "japstrat"!
And yes, they are great guitars from what I have heard. I almost had one last week but the guy sold it out from under me. AArgh! I would not hesitate to buy one I found for a fair price.

Did you guys also know that there are Squiers from around 1993, 1994 that are all american made with american parts? It was because the mexico factory burned down. They are mostly the ones with Fender on the headstock and Squier on the small of the headstock ball. They say Made in USA and have strange serial numbers, but they are something else to keep an open eye out for!

H2H

[psmith66]

Originally posted by twist
I get the impression from this discussion that a Mexican Strat and a Squire are two different things, and that the MIM Strat is a better instrument.

I've got a guitar that says "Fender Stratocaster made in Mexico" on the headstock. But it also says "Squire series". I thought I was buying a Mexican Strat. Is this not the case?

Your first comment is correct. Squier's are essentially built for the ultra-econo market. They are currently manufactured in Korea. Mexican Strats are basically the "Fender Standard Stratocaster" built in Mexico (obviously) and are not related to Squier. I'm no expert on strats, and personally have never heard of the guitar you describe in the second paragraph. I would guess that, due to the "Squier" label, it isn't a "Mexican Strat" in the traditional meaning of the term.

[twist]

thanks psmith,

I'll bet you're right. Oh well, it still sounds like a strat.

What a coincidence, I just started reading "The Shipping News"
which is set in Newfoundland

[psmith66]

Twist,

Kevin Spacey and the rest of the cast apparantly were here recently filming the movie based on that book. We don't get too many celebrities in this neck of the woods.

In case you're curious or don't already know, Newfoundland is a Province of Canada and is essentially an island on the east coast (also includes Labrador which is on the mainland bordering Quebec). Population of approx 500,000. We get quite a few American tourists during the summer, but I'm sure many Americans probably would not even recognize the name.

As for your strat, only thing that matters is how it plays, sounds, etc. If you like it for what you paid for it, it doesn't matter what the headstock says (under than for curiousity - which I can understand).

Rgds
"the Newfie"

[Trippalot]

I've come to realize (for what it's worth) that the type of wood doesn't make enough difference for the average listener to catch as far as sound goes, the electronics (except for the pickups) don't make enough difference for the average listener to catch, and if you have a guitar that you like, soup it up. Doesn't matter what's on the headstock (as stated by psmith).

But one question: do the tuners (economy vs specialty) make that much difference in intonation and staying in tune while you play?

[jrlemonz]

Depends on how "economy" they are. Upgardign t some Grover's, Schallers or such will probably improve your intonation and tuning no matter what. The one you're upgrading from will determine how much of a noticable change there is. I upgraded my LP copy (sierra made), which cost e just under $200, to Grover Deluxes, and it plays SO Much better, has more snap, and stays in tune much better. Only cost me $30, and it was well spent.

Jake

[twist]

yes definitely! The strat from my previous post came with really crappy tuners. I have to struggle with them to get and keep the guitar in tune. I am going to replace them as soon as possible. It's easily the best place to make an improvement on a guitar like this. Maybe the bridge next.


Hey psmith thanks for the geography lesson. All I knew about Newfoundland was "its up north". Sounds like an interesting place to visit.

Twist

[Trippalot]

OK, so where do I get these components for a good price. I've checked a few places on the web; I'm not impressed with Musicians Friend. Anyone know where I can get tuners and a good bridge (any suggestions on the bridge?) for a decent price from a place you've checked out before? Thanx.

[psmith66]

Try ebay

[foo]

Try going to www.stewmac.com

Stewart Macdonald's guitar parts website. Been in business since before The Edge was near the middle.

Enjoy.

foo

[trebles]

Hello all


Now for my few cents worth


1954 to 1964 were the fender GOLDEN YEARS 1965 TO 1974 before
staggered
pole piece pickups became flatpole

you could gamble on what was going to be ok it was pretty hit and miss but from 74 to 77 in my opionion it seems many many
B I G companies lost the plot an manufactured pretty average instruments78 to 80 some ok instruments again there was also a short time in the early to mid 80,s were alot of junk came out as well the begining of the custom shop and fender making guitars in japan was one of their high points in my opionion but customshop guitars come at a price

And fender stopped making guitars in japan i wonder why ?? :-)
Seems the japanese Fenders were better then alot of the us fenders around the same period dont believe me just ask the shops who know the facts they will tell you heres a site you might want to do some reading at

http://www.edromanguitars.com/vintage.htm

The best value for money fenders in my opionion were the japanese built stratocasters the ones you want are the ones with made in japan printed under the clear coat finish this is located at the end of the skunk tail rear of the neck just above four bolt neck plate wear the neck joins the body

Play it safe want a decent fender if you got the dollars 54 to 64 are the years one wants

Custom shop guitars purchased on ebay as long as they check out should be a good deal also considering all that cash you save not buying it new.


The early Tokai and Fernandes guitars are the real bargins some were alder basswood and some even ash the ones you want are the guitars they got taken to court for when they were replicating Fenders guitars it would seem way to close

One of the cheapest guitars i own is a Fernandes ST7 it is a dakota red 58 stratocaster copy with correct eary headstock basswood body with yes a birdeye maple neck all i changed was as follows i fitted fender 54 custom shop pickups clothwired the guitar fitted a gotoh steel bridge and block replaced the cast one that was in it. changed the 5 way switch to a genuine crl 5 way both tone and volume pot are the genuine us item the jack plug is switchcraft i run ghs nickle rocker strings on the guitar 9/46 and the bridge floats i tell you this guitar gives any fender ive owned a run for its money it cost me 90usd for the guitar add on the mods and your still under 500usd show me any other new guitar as good as this for the price.

the guitar is also rare to drop out of tune as well


Another consideration is 60,s epiphone solid body guitars original
olympics,coronets,wilshires, crestwood customs or if your real lucky a three pickup large batwing headstock crestwood deluxe way cool but hard to find i own one of these and it took me many years to track this guitar down it has patent applied for mini humbuckers and it screams :-) 1961 to 1969 for these beauties look on ebay or guitarbase just enter in the model and brand into guitar base and in ebay just type in epiphone then search

heres the tip on these epiphones Kalamazoo made them same people who made those expensive early les pauls the same attention to detail went in all you got to do with early epiphones is have them set up right and please leave them all original dont butcher original factory instruments by what you think is improving them believe me on this they are worth more left alone. with the right guitar tech setting the guitar up you will be more then happy second hand epiphones early us ones can set you back from anything from 200 to 1650 plus but 300 to 600 should get you a nice one a good starter might be a coronet with a p 90 onboard run through a little ampeg jet or reverb rocket these lil amps rock very underrated.

Final word on fender want a good one ditch korea mexico china or any of those countries early japanese models as described above are the go usa stratocasters well as long as they are customshop or are from fenders earlier years you should be ok though i hear recently fender are lifting their game again :-))

OHHH FORGOT my country Australia has some dam fine guitar makers and with the state of our currency you are set to get a real bargin i can even assist you with good sound contacts here if anyone is intrested :-)

o well thats what i think i rushed this a bit and probably made a few gramatic and spelling errors along the way im sure you all will forgive me :-)

have fun


kind regards wayne

Melbourne Australia

[garychirg]

I have both and the playability of the Squire with a rosewood neck is in my opinion is far better and most importantly faster than my Fender I woust add this when I first bought the Squire the pickups, tuning pegs and bridge were not the best. so i replaced them with noiseless pickups and 1 meg pods new bridge rollerball nut new 5 position switch and locking tuning pegs for about 200 dollars put them in myself and now i find when i a not playing with the band I always chose the Squire. when playing I use both. my opinion i'll take the rebuilt Squire

Gary