I'm not sure I've ever heard someone NOT bash Squier, but...

[kboman]

Totally badass guitar - awful horrible ear murdering "tone". I think whitebison on this board bought one of those just for the pickguard :icon_biggrin:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L25yZd-3qoE&feature=related     :glasses9:

Can I get some tissues?  My ears are bleeding...  :help:

Awful tone, and just a horrible sound, overall.  I'm going to blame the amp for this one, because no guitar could possibly sound that bad without the help from an amp...

 

[elfro89]

Squiers are OK for the price, they behave like anyone would expect a guitar in that price range to behave. I wouldn't, however say they were the absolute best thing in the world. They are good for people who don't want/see the point in spending serious cash on an instrument; such as parents buying their child their first guitar. Serious amateurs/pros is not their target market, but that's not to say they don't have their uses in that context. They are good for what they do, but they are nothing special in the entry level market.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Squiers are OK for the price, they behave like anyone would expect a guitar in that price range to behave. I wouldn't, however say they were the absolute best thing in the world. They are good for people who don't want/see the point in spending serious cash on an instrument; such as parents buying their child their first guitar. Serious amateurs/pros is not their target market, but that's not to say they don't have their uses in that context. They are good for what they do, but they are nothing special in the entry level market.

I quickly found out that major issues can pop up at ANY price point just 2-3 weeks ago when I picked up a $5000 B.C. Rich Custom Shop Warlock hanging on the wall of this really nice music store; sloppy binding, knobs falling off in my hand, pots installed crookedly, poor fretwork, etc.  This guitar was an absolute disaster.  The quality of this guitar was undoubtedly about the worst I'd ever seen, far worse than ANYTHING I'd EVER seen from Squier.

People mention the woods are cheap, but what's cheap?  They have maple necks and rosewood fretboards.  :dontknow:  There are a lot of expensive guitars that employ maple necks and rosewood fretboards, not to mention, why would maple and rosewood be options through many custom shops if they sucked so badly?  I've read A LOT of threads regarding "good" woods vs. "bad" woods, and I am yet to find ANY convincing proof, scientific or otherwise, that one wood is good while another is bad.  :dontknow:  While I don't doubt the types of woods can have an effect on sound, I do argue that some woods are better for some types of music than others.  Does this make other woods bad woods?  I don't believe it.  Somebody me the proof.

As for a Squier being "nothing special," well, it isn't supposed to be, but I will say with confidence that in the bottom of the market amongst $100-$250 guitars, you aren't going to find a better one.

 

[jackthehack]

If you haunt pawn shops, the "Made in Indonesia" Squire Strats sold c. 1999-2002 with CBS headstocks were "off-the-wall-at GC" typically as good or better than the MIM Strats from the same time frame, and can be had these days for $99-125. Makes a great cheap present for the budding guitarist, or you can go Peter Townsend/Jimi Hendrix on it at the end of the show, or just throw it to the audience, better advertising than printing up $99 worth of flyers....

 

[m4rk0]

you will get a lesser degree of wood, cur on a CNC machine that will feel like the same wood of every other Fender,

some of the lower end squiers have a thinner body than a fender and feel like toys.. those same models are great for ripping the skin of your hands with their sharp fret ends..

but yes, there are lots of squiers that are really good guitars!

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

you will get a lesser degree of wood, cur on a CNC machine that will feel like the same wood of every other Fender,

some of the lower end squiers have a thinner body than a fender and feel like toys.. those same models are great for ripping the skin of your hands with their sharp fret ends..

but yes, there are lots of squiers that are really good guitars!

I haven't run into the "sharp fret" issues with MOST Squiers I've played, though it's not uncommon to find one.  The guitars I've had the worst luck with as far as sharp frets have been B.C. Rich's "Trace" Warbeasts.  I have NEVER picked up a Trace Warbeast that did not have an issue with sharp frets.  At first, I figured it may be limited to one particular guitar, but regardless of the guitar and/or location, I've run into the same issue.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I don't know what Squier uses for bodies.  Sometimes plywood, sometimes Agathis.  What I know about Agathis could fill up a thimble.  I do know if it's found on Squiers and Lagunas, and not on anything else, that tells me all I need to know.  Of course, one appearance of Agathis in any major brands' custom shop models or in the hands of your favorite tonehound and all that changes.  I have mucho contempt for Basswood.  It's beyond me why anyone would build anything out if it, but apparently it sounds good.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I don't know what Squier uses for bodies.  Sometimes plywood, sometimes Agathis.  What I know about Agathis could fill up a thimble.  I do know if it's found on Squiers and Lagunas, and not on anything else, that tells me all I need to know.  Of course, one appearance of Agathis in any major brands' custom shop models or in the hands of your favorite tonehound and all that changes.  I have mucho contempt for Basswood.  It's beyond me why anyone would build anything out if it, but apparently it sounds good.

I'm pretty sure you are correct that the Squier bodies are Agathis.  Like you, I don't know a thing about it, but I don't find a problem with the way my J-Bass sounds.  It resonates just fine, and sounds fine, too.  As for Basswood, a lot of guitars tend to be made from Basswood, and are even used in a lot of custom shops.  Once again, with Basswood, I've never noticed any types of problems.  I'm sure woods make some difference in sound, but I think the pickups play a lot more into what a guitar's going to sound like than the woods.

My Jackson JS32 Warrior's body is made from Indian Cedro.  I know nothing about Indian Cedro, but the guitar has a nice "Metal" tone to it.  I have no complaints about it whatsoever.  The neck is Maple/Rosewood.  Again, it sounds just fine, and has a nice tone.  All in all, it's a very nice guitar for $400, and sounds pretty nice.  The quality is good, the tone is good, and the playability is good.

 

[SustainerPlayer]

The new Fender Squier Joe Trohman Telecaster

Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard ...

--> Click for specs <--

Squiers come in a variety of body woods, all over quality and prices.  Just like any other make of off-the-shelves guitars.

 

[dudesweet157]

I like the Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified series Squiers better than the Mexican Fenders because they use AlNiCo instead of ceramic magnet pickups and because the neck finishes feel better.  Maybe I'm strange, but I don't like the Mexican Fender satin finished necks at all.  They just feel weird.

 

[AutoBat]

I've found the Mexi satin to be a little off too, but then again I'm a glossy guy.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I don't see where the MIM Fenders are anything great to rave about.  I play them back to back with Squier Bullets all the time at the store where I take guitar lessons.  While the minor details may be slightly better on a MIM Fender, they still don't come close to the American Fenders in terms of anything.

 

[drewfx]

Squiers use a variety of woods for their bodies, from agathis to basswood to Maple to other stuff.

My VM TB bass is (oddly) basswood with ash veneers on both the top and back - you would think it would be cheaper to just use all ash, but go figure.

I was wary of the basswood going in, but it turns out it's actually quite resonant.

 

[reluctant-builder]

I don't see where the MIM Fenders are anything great to rave about.  I play them back to back with Squier Bullets all the time at the store where I take guitar lessons.  While the minor details may be slightly better on a MIM Fender, they still don't come close to the American Fenders in terms of anything.

I don't think I've raved about my MiM, but I've been reasonably happy with it. It was my first electric and I got it for $347. I got Texas Specials as a gift, which was a considerable pickup upgrade that cost me only the fee for installation and a set-up, which was reasonable. I'm not the biggest fan of its neck, but the thing plays reasonably well and with the new pups it sounds great. I'll buy that Warmoth neck for it, eventually, though.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

I don't see where the MIM Fenders are anything great to rave about.  I play them back to back with Squier Bullets all the time at the store where I take guitar lessons.  While the minor details may be slightly better on a MIM Fender, they still don't come close to the American Fenders in terms of anything.

I don't think I've raved about my MiM, but I've been reasonably happy with it. It was my first electric and I got it for $347. I got Texas Specials as a gift, which was a considerable pickup upgrade that cost me only the fee for installation and a set-up, which was reasonable. I'm not the biggest fan of its neck, but the thing plays reasonably well and with the new pups it sounds great. I'll buy that Warmoth neck for it, eventually, though.

I'm not saying the MIM Fenders are bad, but I see a lot of people "promoting" them like they're the greatest thing since sliced bread.  I've never owned one, so I can't vouch for how reliable they are, but I don't find any playability issues with the ones I have played.  In fact, I played a really nice, hollow-bodied, MIM Tele just a few weeks ago, and it was very nice!  It felt great, sounded great, and played great. 

While I readily admit to being a "whore" for American guitars, I don't discount guitars that aren't MIA.  I've played some very nice guitars which have been manufactured in India, Indonesia, Korea, China, Japan, and Mexico.  In fact, one of my favorite guitars is my Jackson JS32 Warrior, which was made in India.  It sounds and plays great, and the build quality is pretty good.  The only complaints I have about it are that the cavity for the OFR tremolo is shallow, making divebombs nearly impossible, and the setup kinda sucked from the factory.  Otherwise, I find it to be a very good guitar, especially for $400.

 

[reluctant-builder]

Please note that what follows isn't a direct response, but a general rumination.

I think, as with most things, that to make a general assessment of quality is to do oneself a terrible disservice. By dismissing Asian-made guitars, one could be missing out on some truly well-constructed, inexpensive gems. As some have stated on this very board, there are American-made guitars that are abysmally put together (BC Rich laments spring to mind) and are put to shame by some El Cheapos.

Also, I negotiate with sellers, or I just suss out advertised prices and go to Musician's Friend for a price match. Since I'm a lefty, I rarely get to play in person the stock axes I've wanted, so I've just bitten the bullet on buying sight unseen and have aimed for the absolute lowest price I can get. I got my Swede for just over $400 (MF has it for almost $700 now) and my Super Swede for just under $550 (a quick search reveals a righty for dirt cheap on Amazon, at $441, but the next lowest I found is $677 and the rest seem to be $700 or more).

There were issues with both (frets on both were bowing out of the board so there were gaps between the crowns and fretboard, the Swede had some B-stock issues despite that I was assured by MF it was a new, A-stock guitar), but Hagstrom has a great warranty policy, so I just shipped them in and got ship-shape replacements and effusive apologies from the company. And, again, I heard people on our boards pointing out bad frets on $5,000 American-made guitars. Edit: My Heritage is my most expensive guitar and the stock nut on it was the most pathetic, laughable piece of crap nut I've ever seen on a guitar (again, I haggled the price down to account for the cost of a bone replacement nut. Problem solved.) /Edit.

I'm very happy now with both my Swedes (but for what I think is a blown neck tone pot in the Swede, which is not uncommon and not a big deal to fix), and I have two Les Paul-style guitars that I like the look of better than Pauls, that I like the feel of better than Pauls and that I have put up against my friend's many Les Pauls and found them to be admirably capable of challenging, equaling or surpassing, depending on which of the many models he own (can't remember which of the many LP permutations they are, though one has only one neck pup).

Really, what I think it comes down to is: if you like the way the guitar looks and it sounds good to you and allows you to do exactly what you wish to accomplish, it's a good guitar. To hell with what it cost and what it's made of and by whom it's made.

:rock-on:

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Please note that what follows isn't a direct response, but a general rumination.

I think, as with most things, that to make a general assessment of quality is to do oneself a terrible disservice. By dismissing Asian-made guitars, one could be missing out on some truly well-constructed, inexpensive gems. As some have stated on this very board, there are American-made guitars that are abysmally put together (BC Rich laments spring to mind) and are put to shame by some El Cheapos.

Also, I negotiate with sellers, or I just suss out advertised prices and go to Musician's Friend for a price match. Since I'm a lefty, I rarely get to play in person the stock axes I've wanted, so I've just bitten the bullet on buying sight unseen and have aimed for the absolute lowest price I can get. I got my Swede for just over $400 (MF has it for almost $700 now) and my Super Swede for just under $550 (a quick search reveals a righty for dirt cheap on Amazon, at $441, but the next lowest I found is $677 and the rest seem to be $700 or more).

There were issues with both (frets on both were bowing out of the board so there were gaps between the crowns and fretboard, the Swede had some B-stock issues despite that I was assured by MF it was a new, A-stock guitar), but Hagstrom has a great warranty policy, so I just shipped them in and got ship-shape replacements and effusive apologies from the company. And, again, I heard people on our boards pointing out bad frets on $5,000 American-made guitars. Edit: My Heritage is my most expensive guitar and the stock nut on it was the most pathetic, laughable piece of crap nut I've ever seen on a guitar (again, I haggled the price down to account for the cost of a bone replacement nut. Problem solved.) /Edit.

I'm very happy now with both my Swedes (but for what I think is a blown neck tone pot in the Swede, which is not uncommon and not a big deal to fix), and I have two Les Paul-style guitars that I like the look of better than Pauls, that I like the feel of better than Pauls and that I have put up against my friend's many Les Pauls and found them to be admirably capable of challenging, equaling or surpassing, depending on which of the many models he own (can't remember which of the many LP permutations they are, though one has only one neck pup).

Really, what I think it comes down to is: if you like the way the guitar looks and it sounds good to you and allows you to do exactly what you wish to accomplish, it's a good guitar. To hell with what it cost and what it's made of and by whom it's made.

:rock-on:

Great post! 

FWIW, just about a month ago, I played an AWESOME Aria Pro II.  I can't recall the model name, but it was an LP shape.  It felt great, played great, and sounded great.  Had I $600, I would have left the store with it.

 

[B3Guy]

just played a basswood Squire @GC that I'm VERY close to picking up @ $100 and putting a $300 W neck on it . . . . as this is all I can afford right now.

It had great sustain and the whole body just resonates and vibrates when you strum it. (that's a good thing, right?) EVERY other guitar I picked up in there felt dead s a doornail in my hands. The only sub-par stuff compared to other guitars is the hardware and pickups.

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

just played a basswood Squire @GC that I'm VERY close to picking up @ $100 and putting a $300 W neck on it . . . . as this is all I can afford right now.

It had great sustain and the whole body just resonates and vibrates when you strum it. (that's a good thing, right?) EVERY other guitar I picked up in there felt dead s a doornail in my hands. The only sub-par stuff compared to other guitars is the hardware and pickups.

My feelings exactly.  For $1xx, you can't go wrong.  While the hardware and pickups "get by," there are certainly better ones out there, but I've never picked up a Squier and thought to myself, "Damn, this thing just feels cheap!"