I've got one. I love how the neck is short scale but they've made it 21 frets instead of the usual 22, all Jags should have 21 anyway, people out there like me with small hands can actually play things scales that little bit easier, I find anyway.
Anyway it shreds, the neck looks unfinished but it has some kind of smooth epoxy coating, not caked in satin clear so it's rather fast and you won't hate it when you sweat. I got the last one in this state I think (Australia) At first I wasn't keen on it because it was black and the white pickguard made it look a little cheap. But then I looked into them and found out how unique and versatile (and a bit kooky) of an instrument it was, so I rung up the store and told them to hold it for me till payday. I will probably put guitar fetish pickups in it, as the bridge is too muddy to really be of any use to me. It has a 6 screw vintage trem, but I see that as a plus as they put them in $6000 custom shop vintage reissues don't they? I might put locking tuners on it cause i found genuine fender schaller ones for $50 on amazon and change the nut to an LSR (still need to research how they stand up and what the tone is like) or a graphtech xl, but that's about it. This one's a keeper, I mean I doubt they are going to go up in price much in coming years but If mine were stolen or broken I would find another. There's 3 models, the original japanese squier vista series, then the ones with the afforementioned 25.5" scale neck and finally the chinese squires, again back to the smaller 24 inch necks. They're actually called a 'conversion neck' as you could put one on a strat or whatever fender and it would still intonate. I don't know if it's got something to do with the fretboard overhanging the neck or the pocket being routed deeper. Same goes for swapping a full scale neck from something else. or so I'm told
Worth getting if you want all 'buckers but aren't into gibsons and want a whammy bar but don't like the jaguar/ jazzmaster unit. Hey they're not a custom shop one off made for an artist, but I guarantee you won't bump into many other players with one if originality is what you're after.
Hope you find one at a good price, the vista ones are already bringing in upwards of $700 though. Make sure you buy from a store and have them set it up properly for the gauge of strings you use. they like heavier strings, having the shorter scale (I use 11s, the shorter scale makes them ideal)
** EDIT *** JUST had a look at ebay and there's a 2002 silver sparkle for 240 (don't know if that was the normal strat scale model) in Florida and another black vista series for $350, several used recent ones from between 150 to 250(one right at the top for $234 claiming to be 'manufacturer refurbished', hmm haven't seen that before.. , Another mij vista in sunburst for 395 and two others vistas, one with a 450 buy it now and a silver glitter vista that's up at $750. but most of the new music store seller's jagmasters are going for $299. those are probably your best bet as you'd possibly get some sort of warranty. good luck and have fun
