Squier vs. Fender

Tom-eg

What do people think of Squiers compared to Fenders. Obviously Fender are of better quality but i think Squiers have a lot going for them for the price. Does anyone else have any opinion on this. Also does anyone have anything to say on Epiphone vs Gibson? I would prefer if people didnt jump on any brand and completely dismiss them. I would prefer constructive criticism. Any budget guitars you've come across that surprised you?

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Tom-eg wrote: »

What do people think of Squiers compared to Fenders. Obviously Fender are of better quality but i think Squiers have a lot going for them for the price. Does anyone else have any opinion on this. Also does anyone have anything to say on Epiphone vs Gibson? I would prefer if people didnt jump on any brand and completely dismiss them. I would prefer constructive criticism. Any budget guitars you've come across that surprised you?

I think the more expensive Epiphones are closer to Gibson quality than Squiers are to Fender quality.

If you buy a Squier, I think you'll find yourself eventually getting frustrated with its general lack of quality parts. It will probably go out of tune quiet easily, and will no doubt have little flaws that will get on your nerves and make playing it less enjoyable. Might be more susceptible to noise, and the pots might get dirty and crackly quite easily.

If the price is the issue, I'd go with a second hand Fender Mex. You'll get more out of it than a Squier. Plus you can customise the hell out of it without feeling like you've 'ruined' an expensive instrument, like an American model.

Duff_Man

yeh there is a bigger gap between squier and fender than there is with epi and gibson. iv played a few high end epi's like the midnight custom that just blew me away....although the ones that are good arent exactly cheap you could nearly get a second hand les paul studio for the price of some of them new these days.

BuddhaJoe

I really think it comes down to which models you are comparing. A Squier Affinity Strat wouldn't compare favorably at all to a Jeff Beck Strat but I would take a Squier Vintage Modified Tele over a mim Fender Standard Tele anyday.

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BuddhaJoe wrote: »

I really think it comes down to which models you are comparing. A Squier Affinity Strat wouldn't compare favorably at all to a Jeff Beck Strat but I would take a Squier Vintage Modified Tele over a mim Fender Standard Tele anyday.

Come on dude, Squiers suck big balls.

CianRyan

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

Come on dude, Squiers suck big balls.

Not a good quality tele one, have you tried one?
If not i suggest you do, i think they are nice.

Now, obviosuly don't compare to a Fedner tele, but they are nice for what you're paying.

Leadership

Had strat squires and fenders over the years, no comparison at all!

Well worth every penny extra for a fender esp an american.

The fenders are much nicer/easier to play and the tone is much better.

Epi's and gibsons are close, I was looking for a LP recently and found the build quality on a few of the gibsons quite poor.

Yakult

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

Come on dude, Squiers suck big balls.

Im no expert on fenders/Squiers but back in the 80's the squiers were of very great quality. Some are pretty desirable now.

Im pretty sure someone with the knowledge can give you more info on them.

Obviously fender guitars are much better. Specs, wood etc. Its no comparison really. But some modern day squiers are pretty good for what your getting.

brendansmith

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

Come on dude, Squiers suck big balls.

Agreed, they have a cheap feel to them. I had one and my god, when you pick up a decent guitar the difference is mind blowing.

Don1

Agree with it all so far. Just on the recommended budget guitars;

Yamaha Pacificas are meant to be very good for the price.

OLP MM1s are damn good imo. I want mine back. Not all out budget but pretty cheap.

Welease

Personally i think Squires are excellent value for money... I have three of them (Standard Tele, Bullet and Jazz bass) and love them all. I have owned and played Fenders and personally don't believe they are worth the X times cost of a Squire.

javaboy

I've two epiphones (although one is a resonator) and I can't complain too much about it. Definitely miles ahead of any Squier I've played in terms of quality but my favourite budget electric is SX. My SX imitation Strat stays in tune for ages and it just 'feels right'. It doesn't have that light budget guitar feeling.

javaboy

Welease wrote: »

I have owned and played Fenders and personally don't believe they are worth the X times cost of a Squire.

Well it depends on what you're looking for. Obviously a €1,050 American Strat is not 7 times better than a €150 Squier. They will both do the same things for the most part.

But take a look at world class sportsmen. Usain Bolt is not that much faster than thousands of other sprinters. But he makes millions in sponsorship deals and bonuses while they are strictly amateurs who will likely never make a penny from it. A footballer in the lower leagues will be sold for a few thousand while a premier league player who is in reality only slightly faster, slightly better at shooting etc. will go for many millions.

It's a similar thing with instruments of all kind. You'll pay big money for small differences simply because it's not all about value for money. It's about wanting the best.

Welease

Oh don't get me wrong I have no issues with higher end guitars (i also own a Gibson Les Paul Standard and tons of other kit), but the fact is as you say, a US strat is not 7 times better than a Squire.. and when people speak about Mexcian strats the first thing they mention is just swap out the pickups etc.. which can be done on a Squire also

I just makes me chuckle (not your post btw) when people insult the lower end guitars and believe they have to spend large amounts of cash to buy extremely expensive instruments so they can bash out another piss poor version of wonderwall

Doctor J

I bought an Indonesian Squier P bass for a project a few years back. Generally, it was pretty ****, but I managed to squeeze a decent setup out of it and the tone was actually pretty good. Not bad for the 100 quid or so that I paid for it, but it was a pretty crap instrument all things considered. I wouldn't say Epiphones are any worse, I've done some wiring jobs on them and they're cheap junk on the inside, but not a million miles away from MIM Fender quality tbh.

The budget gear available these days is a lot better than the pure crap that was around in the late 80's when I started playing. If you ever some across an Axe brand guitar, make sure it gets destroyed before you leave.

Don1

Axe! What a name!!

I'm playing a Power or S Power acoustic over here. Looks good, but man I can't wait to get back to my Ibanez, and my electrics.

RobertAndrews

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

Come on dude, Squiers suck big balls.

Sorry, but I have to disagree with almost everything so far. I have an Epiphone (£200) and have compared it to a £700 Gibson, the difference in sound and feel was only slight, and for the money (I'm not a skinflint or cheapskate but value is important) the Epiphone was better.

Epiphone £100-£275 highenders are ok. Gibson £450lowers are identical in quality to the middle ones £800 and just a little bit naffer than the £1300 ones.

Now Squier... Squier are generally viewed as making cheap guitars. This is true from the monetary point of view, but not for "value for money". Except on the finishes/paints. The sunburst can look bad, but thats my only complaint about the 8 Affinitys, Bullets and Standards I've played (mainly strats I must admit though)

My experience:

A £100 Squier is vastly better than an Epiphone for the same price.

A £185 Squier is about level for a Epiphone at £200 ish. Eppy's have nicer finishes in general but thats all.

A high-end squier £225-£275 is a better instrument than an average Mex-US standard Fender:eek:. Sad but true.

A Squier Classic Vibe (£225) is about Level with a good US Fender (£700) and is better in quality and consistency than a Fender Mex. £300.

Squiers have more consistency:rolleyes:.

At my playing level (Higher Intermediate) a £200 Eppy does me fine but I enjoy playing any guitar from £100-£700. If I could choose one other guitar it would be a Squier or Yahama.

Squier Vintage Modified:o is good, Deluxe:) are good, Classic Vibe:D are the best instruments in the universe except Fender Custom Shop Closet Strats and Telecasters:cool:.

Sorry about long, naggy first post. I saw this and had to put in my two oh so british pennies.

= Edited for a typo and comment on finishing/paint =

Alanstrainor

RobertAndrews wrote: »

Classic Vibe:D are the best instruments in the universe except Fender Custom Shop Closet Strats and Telecasters:cool:.

Okay i agree that squire sell some quality guitars for the price...but let's not go nuts!

Darkstrike

I actually had the same model in Squier and Fender at the same time, and the Squier was far better, the Fender was good, but the Squier blew it outta the water.

BarryCreed

Chuck Prophet plays an 80s Jap Squier. The poster who said "Squiers suck balls"...I wouldn#t just go by the name on the headstock when buying a guitar. you could find an axe for 200e that may be just right, I know the chances are slimmer....

BostonB

How would the A Squier Classic Vibe compare with the mex, Fender Stratocaster Classic Player?

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BarryCreed wrote: »

Chuck Prophet plays an 80s Jap Squier. The poster who said "Squiers suck balls"...I wouldn#t just go by the name on the headstock when buying a guitar. you could find an axe for 200e that may be just right, I know the chances are slimmer....

It's just from my own experience. Having played Squiers, Fender MIMs and Americans, I can safely say that I wouldn't go back to Squier. They have too many minor flaws and cheap parts, and almost always need to be upgraded in some way.

fish-head

The Squier Classic Vibes are seriously impressive for the money.

Alanstrainor

fish-head wrote: »

The Squier Classic Vibes are seriously impressive for the money.

Must check them out so, might be interested in something cheapish to do an upgrade job on, if i mess it up it wouldn't be too bad...

BarryCreed

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

It's just from my own experience. Having played Squiers, Fender MIMs and Americans, I can safely say that I wouldn't go back to Squier. They have too many minor flaws and cheap parts, and almost always need to be upgraded in some way.

I prob wouldn't go near them myself, but I wouldn't totally discard the idea of them either. I would think that for cheap guitars, it would be better to go for another cheap brand rather than a squier, you may get more bang for the buck so to speak....
I revently saw an ESP tele for about £150 on an English web forum. I hear those are sweet guitars...

RobertAndrews

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Must check them out so, might be interested in something cheapish to do an upgrade job on, if i mess it up it wouldn't be too bad...

There's plenty of stories of people who've bought a CV with that in mind, but haven't been able to modify them simply because they're too good to improve. (Not all, mind, but the best ones are unbeatable.)

About Closet Strats v.s CV, I was joking. But CV definately are one of the best instruments on the market. I went into my local shop just earlier today....;)



Fender seem to have serious issues with the Mex and N. American makes, in terms of consistency. Obviously a more expensive, high-end guitar will (or should) have great actual components, but in my experience they are often shoddily put together, or just something doesnt work right in the combination.

The Fenders Ive played have had nice wood, hold their tune (mostly), but the bridge wasn't aligned to the neck properly, the pickups were a bit loose in their sockets. With high-end guitars you're more likely to get something good, but with every Squier guitar I've played, it's just had more magic in it.

Sigh. That Vintage Modified Tele.....:o:cool:

munkydanny

A wise man named Steve Vai once said when he was looking for a strat to record "The Boy from Seattle" he had every guitar store in Hollywood bring him their finest Fender Strats so he could choose the best.

He ended up settling on a $500 Mexican Strat or a Squier.. can't quite recall which.

But the point is go with what feels the best! Different strokes for different folks n all that.