@@hussamjamil4980 that is, if you actually wanna use the tremolo. me personally, i tend to block off the tremolo if i get a guitar with one, simply because i don't like using one
@@hussamjamil4980 there are plenty of short blocks on the market. I love thin guitars especially Ibanez S series. If you want a big fat heavy guitar get a Gibson. There is no science in the universe that shows thickness of a body on an electric guitar adds sustain, tone or anything. Gibsons have better sustain based on the overall design , arch of neck and break over angles of strings not because it is a big fat body.
Thank you. I love and mean love things lightweight guitars. The stigma on thickness is mostly based on some bias thinking there is cost savings hence the thought is cheap. People tend to regurgitate what they hear instead of thinking critically.
@@bluwng I have a heavyweight guitar that has locking tuners, really nice pick ups, upgraded bridge, and body contours, but I kinda don't want it because its so heavy, but I know it's objectively the highest quality guitar I have
I have a 2009 Squier full alder body strat made in Taiwan and several of the slimmer body ones, and I prefer the slimmer bodies as a weight factor. This is a good beginner guitar. Jay made this Squier rock! Thanks Ryan!
I ordered mine in the sunburst finish. Vintage strat bodies had a nitro finish and not polyurethane. The matt gives it that vintage look. For $119.00 you cannot beat it. Squire quality is pretty good.These are an Amazon only exclusive.
Glad to hear that. Thanks for adding your insights as someone that bought one of these. Glad to hear that your experience was good and similar to ours. We appreciate you sharing that.
I got mine yesterday in the sunburst. I'm in my 60's, a jazz player and normally play on large jazz boxes like D'Angelico New Yorker, ES175 etc. I also own a Gibson 335 and a Fender Telecaster. I saw a review on here a couple days ago and thought why not for just $120? I'm really shocked at the great quality at this price. I'll have to put some better quality and heavier gauge strings on it. I think these come with 9's installed. On a guitar like this I would prefer 10s like on my Tele. I have to get a accustomed to this neck, compared to my jazz boxes it feels like I'm playing on a broom stick because it is thin in comparison, but well crafted and plays nicely. The satin finish in sunburst is nice and has a certain understated elegance to it. It sounds pretty good through a Twin Reverb. I don't really do much distortion. it's a keeper.
Thanks for sharing that experience with us here. Very cool to hear from a real buyer and to hear different perspectives. We appreciate you being part of the discussion.
Thanks for chiming in here. As our guides explained it is hard to know if people expect the rating "for the price" or "under $200" or "as a reasonable priced guitar" so we opted to explain the thinking and let everyone decide how they would star rate it. We appreciate you joining that dialog.👍🏼
For me, you should be rating it based on its price point, and how it compares to other guitars in that price range. With that in mind, I think 3 and half stars is harsh. A beginner would love this guitar.
@@johnd9357 depending on your sound or music preferences, upgrading the pickups likely is the first potential mod. We felt the pickups sounded good, so it is not a mod that you need from the start, but as your skills improve and ear for what you like is refined, that is the likely first thing to explore. Before that you might want to upgrade your amp and add some pedals, that is a logical order of gear evolution when you start with a solid guitar.
I recently bought the Fojill S style guitar on Amazon for $99 with a roasted maple neck and it is pretty darn good, but it had sharp frets and needed some work. I do love it now, but the quality wasn’t perfect. It’s cool to see that Squier has joined the fray on Amazon.
I think the rating is off. You should have a sub $250 category. That's where all the Amazon budgets fall. I'd give it a 4 (don't like the finish). That looks like a good first guitar, one that won't frustrate a newbe. 1st time viewer, thumbs up.
Nice review please do a review of the Jet JS-300 it’s a Strat style of guitar.. I respect your reviews I tune in even if I am not interested in what you are reviewing ( like the Fender Squire your reviewing 😂) I am very curious on what you think of the Jet JS-300… Please and thank you Craig
I started on a Squier, and still use it 17 years later. I have a Fender now, but the Squier is just as nice. I just upgraded parts I didnt like or failed over time. They're one of the best modding platforms, thats why I highly recommend them to new players.
Fair point. It is always hard to know how others will interpret your rating. For a $120 we could rate it higher, but we opted to go a little lower and explain our observations, a privilege of video over just the stars. Thanks for highlighting that and adding to the dialog here.
Agree completely. I think it's worth 4.5 - 5 stars at that price point. The only thing I'd deduct for are the tuners, which aren't very good, but they do work.
I just got one in black. It’s a really good guitar. I’m an intermediate guitar player so what do I know? I know everything works, the fret ends are smooth, and it feels and sounds like a strat should. Honestly if they put the Fender logo on the headstock, people would stop paying $800 for a Player Strat.
To answer the question you posed at the end - yes - I just ordered one 🙂 Thanks for the review. I'm a beginner and like this so much better than the other beginner / low-cost options I saw on Amazon. It's got the brand, and arguably better hardware all around from what I could see in the ads. Hoping I get a good one...
I would have no issues buying this guitar for my kids or anyone as its a decent quality guitsr for the price of a giod steak at an expensive restaurant lol. I also rated this guitar a 4.5 before you guys turned your cards around as it fits the bill for very little coin and be resold for the same price as purchased new imo. Thanks for sharing gentlemen!
We have a number of videos coming out in the coming days and weeks with Ryan and Jay. They are both love guitar gear and have so much energy, it is non-stop fun. We have a great one coming out on Saturday to keep this going.
@@birdman316 Thanks for sharing that input here, we want to make as many perspectives available as we can to help others decide if they want to dive in.
If I had enough room to store one more guitar, I might give this axe a shot. If I had a younger relative or friend wanting to start learning guitar, I could get them something like this and then work with them on setting it up, thereby TEACHING them to set it up themselves. This process would demystify the guitar for the neophyte and grant them the confidence to deal with the guitar without fear. And if it gets damaged or wrecked, small loss! I just wouldn't get it for myself for the storage reason, plus my personal tastes run counter to 6-screw vibratos and 21-fret necks. I've already got a Peavey Raptor with that configuration that I FINISHED modifying, and this guitar taught me that the finest part of any art is knowing when to stop! 🛑😁
Absolutely! Taking stars off for what it's not designed to be doesn't feel quite cool to me. Sure, it could be better. But it's not designed to be better - if this guitar comes with better components, it's going to be heavier and more expensive. As a beginner's guitar, it's exceptional. If it cost $300, then yeah, absolutely not a 5-star guitar, But as is at this price point - I love you guys, but I think you low-balled the rating on this one.
i dream of the day someone will test a stratocaster and not play little wing, in australia playing this song will get you tossed out of any guitar store and onto the street
+Nicely done gentlemen. I have this guitar in the black finish. I think this is an awesome guitar for $120, mine was setup perfect from the box also. It's slightly lighter and thinner than the old Fender Starcasters, which I love. The fact that it carries the Squire by Fender logo (with a serial number) makes a positive statement in the Amazon under $200 market.
usually when I buy something off amazon, especially instrument related stuff, I usually get recommended youtube videos explaining why no one in their right mind should ever purchase that product. I think this is the first time where I made an instrument or any amazon purchase with recommended youtube reviews going "if you're new, you are getting more than your money's worth." I literally just bought their debut beginner set with tuner, amp, picks, strap, guitar stand, gig bag, spare strings, and 30 days free online lessons for 199 with this guitar included along with getting an ibanez short bass for the same price with similar recommended youtube reviews. This is the first time I made a purchase where youtube just goes "Yeah, best beginner purchase you could ever make."
Thanks for sharing that. We would love to hear from you after you get your Squire Debut. We are hoping you have the same positive experience that we did.
Dang it, the last thing I need is another Strat, but I mean, come on..... $120? I kinda have to. I've got a loaded pickguard I can throw in there with Alnico V pickups and a wiring harness with upgraded pots and thick braided wires. I'll put some cheap locking tuners, roller trees and a bone nut on there too. I even have some Fender bent steel saddles laying around somewhere, I think. This will make an excellent mod platform.
@@NoFearGuitarGear I have the guitar, haven't done the mods yet. I'll probably do it next week. But I'm really impressed with everything except the electronics.
For me, it's the tuners and frets that I look at. I have a Squier Mini Strat that really needs new tuners, as I'll knock it out of tune playing the way I like to play. I bought it for $99 in like 2015.
I've already decided to get one for my daughter, even before seeing this video. The fact that it is a "Squier" by Fender, that is backed by the brand, get a decent guitar that is set up decently, and that you get 3 months of Fender's online lessons for free, is just too good to be passed up. I couldn't justify buying a cheap no-name for the same price, given the free lessons included with this one.
That makes total sense, thanks for sharing your thinking as the target customer for a guitar like this. We would love to hear your experience with your Fender Squire Debut, please let us know here.
I'm not a beginner, but due to circumstances, I've lost all my guitars and my last one I had broke a few months ago, And I'm considering grabbing one of these and a cheap amp just to be able to play again
That trem would be a deal breaker for me. Don't get me wrong, it IS part of the strat experience. But in functional terms, just give me a hardtail for the same price and I will be happy.
With a little tweaking it’s a great beginner guitar or platform for modding … electronic setup is like the new Sonic series .. well worth the ¢¢¢ .. fun little beater .. perfect project canvas.
I just got that exact guitar.. it is not a Fender.. it's made in China FOR Fender using Fender specs. But it is in no way MADE BY FENDER. I'm not saying it's a bad guitar. It came not adjusted. The tuning was close, the action was super high. Had to do some major adjusting. It doesn't stay in tune, but that maybe because it's new and the strings haven't set in. Is it worth $120.00?, sure. It beats the Hell out of the off brand cheap guitars Amazon sells
@BukanIbuMu oh, that makes it better..lol. I just bought the guitar less than a month ago and I have had to change the output jack. The pots are scratchy at best.. just saying it's NOT Fender quality. No matter who's name they put on it. It is fine for a beginner..like myself. It does seen to stay in tune pretty good. My other cheap guitars would jump around on the notes. On the low E, i would get from E to F# to D. Never could get them to hold a steady note.
My one gripe with it watching this video is some tuning stability issues, but honestly as a trem disliker I'd say it holds tune about as well as an MIM strat LOL very surprised at the quality from this Debut, curious to see what else comes out in this line!
Problem with these reviews are, normal peeps don't have expensive amps to make it sound great as what you hear on this :) but overall a great concept and video.
As the other astute commenters here explained, it is a full size Strat as far as the basic shape, but it is just a little thinner and indeed with this wood selection it is on the light side.
@@seanhoward5562 That might be because Ryan is on the tall-side. It is exactly the same scale length and total length as a standard Fender Strat. The only difference that we could find is the body thickness, all else is exactly traditional Strat.
I'm a rank beginner, but I have a decent guitar to start with. Would this be a good one to use to learn on and save the better guitar for a move up? Like use this one to "bash around" as some have said?
Yes we would think that this would be perfect for that. What you want to avoid is a guitar that is hard to play or demotivating, this one was easy to play and sounded very good. This is a perfect place to start and yes it can become a beater or something that you hot rod as you want to go further with guitar. There are other sub-$200 that we like, but this one at this price with its out-of-the-box performance is a favorite and one we will recommend to our friends looking for a good starting point or beater.
That is a great question. Our guess is that they want to avoid this getting on the radar of their dealers. Since this seems to be an Amazon exclusive this might piss off the thousands of music stores that sell Fender, but can't sell this. Just a guess.
The reason we don't just let is be 120 is cause there is a big fighting market for affordable guitars so it's always worth seeing what bang for the buck can we get not everyone has money and if people can get the closest thing to a expensive one is honestly awsome. So pointing out the flaws allows us see what is worth our money cause if it's bad, we might as well go for a different brand at that price range who could have it better
That is very kind, thanks! We are new and it will take time. But we love what we do and will keep at it. Thanks @jasonjayalap for finding us and being part of these discussions on guitar gear. 🙏🏼
I am REALLY getting Sick and Tired of all those RUclipsrs that buy the absolute cheapest item and make a video to see how crappy it is going to be. Or how "wonderful' of a *modding* platform.................... Why Why Why ?????????????
@danielsauriol sorry that you feel that way, but if you check the rest of our channel you will see that we mix in products of different types and prices. For sure at this time we hear from people looking for a product that is less expensive and performs better than the cost, presumably because they need a good option that they can afford. We want to help those viewers, but we also love to feature more premium products that are just great. I hope that you do find some content here that is more to your liking.
Are you in the States? I am seeing all 3 colors still available for next day delivery. I know in each country that Amazon pulls from inventory in that market, so it could be just pending a restock.
Indeed! We had not noticed but indeed they do have a Squire Debut in P-Bass here amzn.to/4bdSrhs that could be an intersting option. Good call-out, thanks!
@@NoFearGuitarGear Oops. I thought this was Ryan's "Princeton" channel as I'm so also used to him using his Princeton Reverbs which is one of the best possible Amp choices for any Demo. Blackstars are pretty "sweet" though too.
Fair point. This was really straight out of the box, our goal with this video was to show that knowing so many people that might end up with this guitar might have limited access to help with guitar setup. With a good setup this would be better in many ways. Thanks for being part of the dialog here!
@@NoFearGuitarGear I was pulling you along,will be great guitar to take to small club gigs after setting it up right. If they steal it, buy another. Here where I live they steal right in front of you.
Thanks for sharing this experience here. You are the first one of the many buyers to chime in to have that experience. It is important that those reading the comments here are aware that while most have reported getting a great instrument that there is a risk to get what you did. Thanks.
That was a funny question for Jay to ask Ryan. Like everything in the video that was just a real dialog and a sincere question from a guy that does not typically work with inexpensive instruments or pay attention to content about them on GuitarTube. This is the opposite of an ad. No script, no agenda, neither Fender or Amazon knew anything about us doing this (or that this channel even exists) we were not paid anything to do it and had no influence from anyone. These guys literally unboxed it and gave first impressions. We just thought it was an interesting product that many people who do not have the budget or are not ready for more expensive guitars to learn about. Very sorry it was not to your taste, but hopefully it will be helpful to others to just hear from two guys that know guitar gear well taking a first look at a product that they might be considering.
@@TedP007 I suspect that is the issue. Amazon Canada is separate from Amazon USA. That said, it is likely that this will come to Canada if it is not there yet. We never want our northern neighbors to be left out of the fun.
Poorly packaged no accessories or gig bag. Fender as always wants you to buy something because it has Fender associated with it. Much better choices including Firefly which has a full size body alnico pickups, locking tuners and roasted maple neck for 40 dollars more.
Good point on the no gig bag observation. The packaging from a shipping perspective was really good compared to what we get from Amazon often. Without a doubt you are paying for the Fender brand here and there are some upstart brands that offer a lot of value. We also love those brands and the unique value they offer. We have not checked a Firefly ourselves, but have heard good things. Thanks for highlighting that option to the community here.
How is it poorly packaged? It is pretty well protected in that box with all the supports. You complain about no gig bag and mention Firefly who also doesn't provide a gig bag and conveniently left out the fact you need to pay an extra $27 shipping for any Firefly. The cheapest Firefly currently on offer is $170 + 27 = $197. The Firefly has better specs but it's really the next tier up in terms of price.
@@SouthFLSteve thanks for that additional context! 🙏🏼 This is what we love about RUclips, lots of smart people and various perspectives. We welcome and appreciate all of them. Thanks!
@@SouthFLSteve Evidently you don't order many guitars. If you've never seen good packaging you need to order a Donner or Firefly. And I made a point about the Firefly being more expensive. If you want to keep buying rebranded Squire's that's your choice. But there are much better options on Amazon that come with free shipping.
Actually I've ordered a lot, including 7 Fireflies which didn't have such great packaging. It's only been recently that FF went to the strong styrofoam and rectangular boxes, those are good but they are not all packed that way yet.
Ok, that was the last respect for Ryan. 3,5 for a miniguitar that cant be tuned? No matter the cost or finish a guitar that doesnt tune cant be over 3. (Or even close) Hope you got an big bag of money for that Ryan.
this guitar is going to be a beginner's dream at first and then eventually turn into a workhorse partscaster
Agreed! 👍🏼
Body is seriously thin, the limits will be very quickly reached. I find it hard to see a "fat trem block" fitting in there without some routing.
@@hussamjamil4980 that is, if you actually wanna use the tremolo. me personally, i tend to block off the tremolo if i get a guitar with one, simply because i don't like using one
@@hussamjamil4980 Someone in China will eventually start making upgraded aftermarket parts for it.
@@hussamjamil4980 there are plenty of short blocks on the market. I love thin guitars especially Ibanez S series. If you want a big fat heavy guitar get a Gibson. There is no science in the universe that shows thickness of a body on an electric guitar adds sustain, tone or anything. Gibsons have better sustain based on the overall design , arch of neck and break over angles of strings not because it is a big fat body.
Points off to Fender/Squier for calling it a Debut Stratocaster and not a Startocaster
That's FUNNY!
Fender Start-o-caster that is brilliant. Great idea hopefully someone from Fender will see your suggestion here. 👏🏼
Crapocaster would be an alternative.
@@NoFearGuitarGear yeah thats amazing. i hope i remember that one.
@@NoFearGuitarGear DON'T give them the idea! The OP should have TMed the name 1st, THEN mentioned it!
This is why people stay POOR!
if a guitar is reasonably well-made and of decent components... it is your own $119!
You guys have great chemistry. The editing is spot on too. This channel is gonna be a hit.
Thanks for the kind feedback.
I feel like Jay can make anything sound good
We totally agree!
The thinner body alone makes me interested in it. I really like light guitars
Thank you. I love and mean love things lightweight guitars. The stigma on thickness is mostly based on some bias thinking there is cost savings hence the thought is cheap. People tend to regurgitate what they hear instead of thinking critically.
@@bluwng I have a heavyweight guitar that has locking tuners, really nice pick ups, upgraded bridge, and body contours, but I kinda don't want it because its so heavy, but I know it's objectively the highest quality guitar I have
@@chrismaghintay been there
Love the shot of Ryan at 4:57 like "man I should learn some new riffs" 😂
Hum hum he really needs to,he always plays the same thing.
I have a 2009 Squier full alder body strat made in Taiwan and several of the slimmer body ones, and I prefer the slimmer bodies as a weight factor. This is a good beginner guitar. Jay made this Squier rock! Thanks Ryan!
Jay Leonard J is so much talent in one man! You just knew he would shine through! Set up a cheap guitar to his liking and he will be🎉🤘🏼
Jay can bring the best out of any gear, that is for sure! Thanks for watching.
wouldn't mind getting this as a beater
I ordered mine in the sunburst finish. Vintage strat bodies had a nitro finish and not polyurethane. The matt gives it that vintage look. For $119.00 you cannot beat it. Squire quality is pretty good.These are an Amazon only exclusive.
Glad to hear that. Thanks for adding your insights as someone that bought one of these. Glad to hear that your experience was good and similar to ours. We appreciate you sharing that.
@@NoFearGuitarGear Amazon delivered it today. For $119.00 I am impressed. Well worth it.
@@StratBurst92 That is great news. Glad it worked out and thanks for letting us and the community here know your experience.
I got mine yesterday in the sunburst. I'm in my 60's, a jazz player and normally play on large jazz boxes like D'Angelico New Yorker, ES175 etc. I also own a Gibson 335 and a Fender Telecaster. I saw a review on here a couple days ago and thought why not for just $120? I'm really shocked at the great quality at this price. I'll have to put some better quality and heavier gauge strings on it. I think these come with 9's installed. On a guitar like this I would prefer 10s like on my Tele. I have to get a accustomed to this neck, compared to my jazz boxes it feels like I'm playing on a broom stick because it is thin in comparison, but well crafted and plays nicely. The satin finish in sunburst is nice and has a certain understated elegance to it. It sounds pretty good through a Twin Reverb. I don't really do much distortion. it's a keeper.
Thanks for sharing that experience with us here. Very cool to hear from a real buyer and to hear different perspectives. We appreciate you being part of the discussion.
That’s actually an excellent price for them today. Wow
Eart and Donner were taking market share in this price range. Makes sense
ITS A STRAT!
Yes, yes it is! Thanks Ryan for your great work on this.
demoing around again, such promiscuity
- Admiral Ackbar
@@NoFearGuitarGear Thanks for hosting Jay and I, we had a blast! looking forward to seeing the other videos.
@@60CycleHumcast you and Jay were a perfect pair for sure. Thanks for being part of this.
Thats a 5 star guitar for the price.
Thanks for chiming in here. As our guides explained it is hard to know if people expect the rating "for the price" or "under $200" or "as a reasonable priced guitar" so we opted to explain the thinking and let everyone decide how they would star rate it. We appreciate you joining that dialog.👍🏼
4:15 The slack/play in the tuners (screws) when changing direction is called backlash.
Thanks for adding to the dialog!
For the price, it sounds great! I would buy that guitar.
Hard tail, humbucker and rolled fretboard edges sell it for 200$ and it would be the perfect beginner guitar
Those would be two great upgrades. Good call!
For me, you should be rating it based on its price point, and how it compares to other guitars in that price range. With that in mind, I think 3 and half stars is harsh. A beginner would love this guitar.
Just got mine yesterday.. very impressed for the price point :) Let the modifications begin!lol...
It is great to have feedback here from someone else that bought one. Have fun with the mods!
What mods do you plan to do? I am a newer player and I’d like to improve the playability and tone of mine. Just don’t know where to start.
@@johnd9357 depending on your sound or music preferences, upgrading the pickups likely is the first potential mod. We felt the pickups sounded good, so it is not a mod that you need from the start, but as your skills improve and ear for what you like is refined, that is the likely first thing to explore. Before that you might want to upgrade your amp and add some pedals, that is a logical order of gear evolution when you start with a solid guitar.
I recently bought the Fojill S style guitar on Amazon for $99 with a roasted maple neck and it is pretty darn good, but it had sharp frets and needed some work. I do love it now, but the quality wasn’t perfect. It’s cool to see that Squier has joined the fray on Amazon.
What is Fojill?
This is so good. Also I love the studio set you guys are in too.
Thanks. We have too much fun here and too much guitar gear.
I think the rating is off. You should have a sub $250 category. That's where all the Amazon budgets fall. I'd give it a 4 (don't like the finish). That looks like a good first guitar, one that won't frustrate a newbe. 1st time viewer, thumbs up.
That is fair. We made sure to also explain it is a great guitar at $120. We agree a 4-star review with context added is also fair.
Nice review please do a review of the Jet JS-300 it’s a Strat style of guitar.. I respect your reviews I tune in even if I am not interested in what you are reviewing ( like the Fender Squire your reviewing 😂) I am very curious on what you think of the Jet JS-300… Please and thank you
Craig
I started on a Squier, and still use it 17 years later. I have a Fender now, but the Squier is just as nice. I just upgraded parts I didnt like or failed over time. They're one of the best modding platforms, thats why I highly recommend them to new players.
Thanks for sharing your experience here.
From your comments, at THAT price point, I thought 3.5 stars was a bit harsh….! 😉 It looks well-worth the dollar to me 👍🏻
Fair point. It is always hard to know how others will interpret your rating. For a $120 we could rate it higher, but we opted to go a little lower and explain our observations, a privilege of video over just the stars. Thanks for highlighting that and adding to the dialog here.
Agree completely. I think it's worth 4.5 - 5 stars at that price point. The only thing I'd deduct for are the tuners, which aren't very good, but they do work.
I just got one in black. It’s a really good guitar. I’m an intermediate guitar player so what do I know? I know everything works, the fret ends are smooth, and it feels and sounds like a strat should. Honestly if they put the Fender logo on the headstock, people would stop paying $800 for a Player Strat.
@@Alpha_WK thanks for sharing that. Always great to hear from someone that owns the instrument. Great insights.
To answer the question you posed at the end - yes - I just ordered one 🙂 Thanks for the review. I'm a beginner and like this so much better than the other beginner / low-cost options I saw on Amazon. It's got the brand, and arguably better hardware all around from what I could see in the ads. Hoping I get a good one...
We think you will be happy, it is a great place to start. We hope that you update us here on your experience with yours after you get it.
Probably pull off some southern rock with this one
Looks solid enough.
Makes a good platform for mods
Agreed, it would be fun to see where you could take something like this.
I would have no issues buying this guitar for my kids or anyone as its a decent quality guitsr for the price of a giod steak at an expensive restaurant lol. I also rated this guitar a 4.5 before you guys turned your cards around as it fits the bill for very little coin and be resold for the same price as purchased new imo. Thanks for sharing gentlemen!
You two should do this more often. My favorite demoers
We have a number of videos coming out in the coming days and weeks with Ryan and Jay. They are both love guitar gear and have so much energy, it is non-stop fun. We have a great one coming out on Saturday to keep this going.
Butch and Sundance, but which is which?
Yep, great duo\m/
awesome guys!
love the colab! and the guitar!
i have the sunburst one as well!
Thanks @birdman316! How do you like the Squire Debut?
@@NoFearGuitarGear i like it!
feels nice n plays nice...
ill be doing a few minor mods to it pretty soon...nothing crazy tho...
@@birdman316 Thanks for sharing that input here, we want to make as many perspectives available as we can to help others decide if they want to dive in.
If I had enough room to store one more guitar, I might give this axe a shot. If I had a younger relative or friend wanting to start learning guitar, I could get them something like this and then work with them on setting it up, thereby TEACHING them to set it up themselves. This process would demystify the guitar for the neophyte and grant them the confidence to deal with the guitar without fear. And if it gets damaged or wrecked, small loss! I just wouldn't get it for myself for the storage reason, plus my personal tastes run counter to 6-screw vibratos and 21-fret necks. I've already got a Peavey Raptor with that configuration that I FINISHED modifying, and this guitar taught me that the finest part of any art is knowing when to stop! 🛑😁
We love that approach for a new player, great idea.
Great chemistry!
For the quality and price it's a 5 star!!!
Absolutely! Taking stars off for what it's not designed to be doesn't feel quite cool to me. Sure, it could be better. But it's not designed to be better - if this guitar comes with better components, it's going to be heavier and more expensive. As a beginner's guitar, it's exceptional. If it cost $300, then yeah, absolutely not a 5-star guitar, But as is at this price point - I love you guys, but I think you low-balled the rating on this one.
Big Bang for Buck!
i dream of the day someone will test a stratocaster and not play little wing, in australia playing this song will get you tossed out of any guitar store and onto the street
+Nicely done gentlemen. I have this guitar in the black finish. I think this is an awesome guitar for $120, mine was setup perfect from the box also. It's slightly lighter and thinner than the old Fender Starcasters, which I love. The fact that it carries the Squire by Fender logo (with a serial number) makes a positive statement in the Amazon under $200 market.
Great to hear from someone that owns this guitar. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and everyone here.
You can't even buy loose PARTS for that price!
It's what they call a 'loss leader'!
Jay’s playing gets people moving there is an energy to his riffs.
Indeed it does.
usually when I buy something off amazon, especially instrument related stuff, I usually get recommended youtube videos explaining why no one in their right mind should ever purchase that product. I think this is the first time where I made an instrument or any amazon purchase with recommended youtube reviews going "if you're new, you are getting more than your money's worth." I literally just bought their debut beginner set with tuner, amp, picks, strap, guitar stand, gig bag, spare strings, and 30 days free online lessons for 199 with this guitar included along with getting an ibanez short bass for the same price with similar recommended youtube reviews. This is the first time I made a purchase where youtube just goes "Yeah, best beginner purchase you could ever make."
Thanks for sharing that. We would love to hear from you after you get your Squire Debut. We are hoping you have the same positive experience that we did.
Dang it, the last thing I need is another Strat, but I mean, come on..... $120? I kinda have to.
I've got a loaded pickguard I can throw in there with Alnico V pickups and a wiring harness with upgraded pots and thick braided wires. I'll put some cheap locking tuners, roller trees and a bone nut on there too. I even have some Fender bent steel saddles laying around somewhere, I think.
This will make an excellent mod platform.
It sounds like you are all set. We can't wait to hear from you on how this works for you as a mod platform.
@@NoFearGuitarGear I have the guitar, haven't done the mods yet. I'll probably do it next week. But I'm really impressed with everything except the electronics.
For me, it's the tuners and frets that I look at. I have a Squier Mini Strat that really needs new tuners, as I'll knock it out of tune playing the way I like to play. I bought it for $99 in like 2015.
Got one a few days ago ..its nice for what it is ...I really like the finish....It sounds good. it feels solid.....I might change out the pickups.....
Thanks for sharing your observations here. Super helpful.
That sounds great Jay I would buy one for myself
I hope you review the red debut Telecaster.
Well at the level that these two guys play at, this Debut model should be just fine for them.
Ryan rocks!
Yes, yes he does! We loved having him here, more cool product with him is coming soon.
love seeing RYAN as a guest
It was great to have him as part of this and there is more to come.
Do you have any other guitar you don't need again. I need a guitar😊😢
I've already decided to get one for my daughter, even before seeing this video. The fact that it is a "Squier" by Fender, that is backed by the brand, get a decent guitar that is set up decently, and that you get 3 months of Fender's online lessons for free, is just too good to be passed up. I couldn't justify buying a cheap no-name for the same price, given the free lessons included with this one.
That makes total sense, thanks for sharing your thinking as the target customer for a guitar like this. We would love to hear your experience with your Fender Squire Debut, please let us know here.
dude on the lt got some good technique😏
I'm not a beginner, but due to circumstances, I've lost all my guitars and my last one I had broke a few months ago, And I'm considering grabbing one of these and a cheap amp just to be able to play again
This would be a solid option as just an affordable guitar to play and enjoy.
This guitar is gold compared to my lefty "worst guitar I've ever owned" Harley Benton ST 20.
I started on a Bullet strat. They're fun to bash around on. So is the Affinity Series geared towards 'serious beginners'?
It is great that new players have great options today.
These guys can make anything sound good!
They also can make anything fun
I’ve started on a squire mustang purchased new $199 because I knew my upgrade would be a Fender Stratocaster. For this price, it’s a steal!
That trem would be a deal breaker for me. Don't get me wrong, it IS part of the strat experience. But in functional terms, just give me a hardtail for the same price and I will be happy.
just block the bridge
With a little tweaking it’s a great beginner guitar or platform for modding … electronic setup is like the new Sonic series .. well worth the ¢¢¢ .. fun little beater .. perfect project canvas.
Agreed. Thanks for checking out our video.
I just got that exact guitar.. it is not a Fender.. it's made in China FOR Fender using Fender specs. But it is in no way MADE BY FENDER. I'm not saying it's a bad guitar. It came not adjusted. The tuning was close, the action was super high. Had to do some major adjusting. It doesn't stay in tune, but that maybe because it's new and the strings haven't set in.
Is it worth $120.00?, sure. It beats the Hell out of the off brand cheap guitars Amazon sells
Fender Modern Player series was made in China.
@BukanIbuMu oh, that makes it better..lol. I just bought the guitar less than a month ago and I have had to change the output jack. The pots are scratchy at best.. just saying it's NOT Fender quality. No matter who's name they put on it.
It is fine for a beginner..like myself. It does seen to stay in tune pretty good. My other cheap guitars would jump around on the notes. On the low E, i would get from E to F# to D. Never could get them to hold a steady note.
I would buy it if I still played guitar. But I would like to know what other colors it comes in.
They also offer this in black and red, both are matte colors, not gloss.
My one gripe with it watching this video is some tuning stability issues, but honestly as a trem disliker I'd say it holds tune about as well as an MIM strat LOL very surprised at the quality from this Debut, curious to see what else comes out in this line!
Aimed at the market it is (beginner), a hardtail would have been better.
Problem with these reviews are, normal peeps don't have expensive amps to make it sound great as what you hear on this :) but overall a great concept and video.
I'm always thinking that same thing but also believe tone is in the hands but these guys are genuinely surprised and having fun
My metalhead ass immediately thought about string it to drop C 😂
🤘🏽 sounds good to us!
Is it smaller ? Doesnt look full size ? Not bad for the price i guess..
It is slightly thinner
It's a Strat, slightly thinner and about a pound lighter, due to the lighter wood. I have this guitar, plays great.
As the other astute commenters here explained, it is a full size Strat as far as the basic shape, but it is just a little thinner and indeed with this wood selection it is on the light side.
Look shorter in length, though.
@@seanhoward5562 That might be because Ryan is on the tall-side. It is exactly the same scale length and total length as a standard Fender Strat. The only difference that we could find is the body thickness, all else is exactly traditional Strat.
I hope Steve knows you have been cheating on him Ryan
Get some lavalieres and ditch the Brittany Spears headsets 😂
Great for 130
Agreed!
Looks like alot of slack in the whammy bar before the bridge moves.
I'm a rank beginner, but I have a decent guitar to start with. Would this be a good one to use to learn on and save the better guitar for a move up? Like use this one to "bash around" as some have said?
Yes we would think that this would be perfect for that. What you want to avoid is a guitar that is hard to play or demotivating, this one was easy to play and sounded very good. This is a perfect place to start and yes it can become a beater or something that you hot rod as you want to go further with guitar. There are other sub-$200 that we like, but this one at this price with its out-of-the-box performance is a favorite and one we will recommend to our friends looking for a good starting point or beater.
@@NoFearGuitarGear THANKS GUYS! I'm sold. Also, great video. Good quality production. I'll sub to that!
Thanks so much@@robthewaywardwoodworker9956 🙏🏼 We are glad it helped and really appreciate the sub.
30 seconds into the video and that fretboard already looks better than Pau Ferro!
It's laurel, if you're lucky you can get a laurel fretboard that looks dark and consistent.
Michael Rutherford from GeneIs use also Squier Strats.
Great starter guitar for the price.
Some think they are getting fooled think they are getting a actual fender
What is the amp you are using?
We used a Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII amp. You can see the full signal chain in our description here on the video.
Great deal all around...everyone's happy...so WHY is Fender being so hush-hush about it?
That is a great question. Our guess is that they want to avoid this getting on the radar of their dealers. Since this seems to be an Amazon exclusive this might piss off the thousands of music stores that sell Fender, but can't sell this. Just a guess.
Gonna buy this to smash it on stage. Worth it
We want to see that video. 👍🏼
Please keep playing.
120 bucks.. Just let it be.. Its 120 bucks..
The reason we don't just let is be 120 is cause there is a big fighting market for affordable guitars so it's always worth seeing what bang for the buck can we get not everyone has money and if people can get the closest thing to a expensive one is honestly awsome. So pointing out the flaws allows us see what is worth our money cause if it's bad, we might as well go for a different brand at that price range who could have it better
Ryan: "...I've played more $100 guitars than most people" we know, we know, lol.
$ 60 on E bay in a few months
How is this All-Star channel going under the gear tube radar?
That is very kind, thanks! We are new and it will take time. But we love what we do and will keep at it. Thanks @jasonjayalap for finding us and being part of these discussions on guitar gear. 🙏🏼
I am REALLY getting Sick and Tired of all those RUclipsrs that buy the absolute cheapest item and make a video to see how crappy it is going to be. Or how "wonderful' of a *modding* platform.................... Why Why Why ?????????????
@danielsauriol sorry that you feel that way, but if you check the rest of our channel you will see that we mix in products of different types and prices. For sure at this time we hear from people looking for a product that is less expensive and performs better than the cost, presumably because they need a good option that they can afford. We want to help those viewers, but we also love to feature more premium products that are just great. I hope that you do find some content here that is more to your liking.
already sold out
Are you in the States? I am seeing all 3 colors still available for next day delivery. I know in each country that Amazon pulls from inventory in that market, so it could be just pending a restock.
Honestly I’ll probably buy the p bass in this series
Indeed! We had not noticed but indeed they do have a Squire Debut in P-Bass here amzn.to/4bdSrhs that could be an intersting option. Good call-out, thanks!
you guys are late to the show! I got the Tele and P-Bass debut series also! only up for grabs on April Fools day! they also have acoustics for $99
I hope the telecasters are coming out in the US. I’ve seen them on a German Amazon site.
Just goes to show that...anything sounds good through a Princeton Reverb.
It was a Blackstar HT Club 40 MKIII, but your point is not wrong, the amp and other elements are important.
@@NoFearGuitarGear Oops. I thought this was Ryan's "Princeton" channel as I'm so also used to him using his Princeton Reverbs which is one of the best possible Amp choices for any Demo. Blackstars are pretty "sweet" though too.
Wammy bar needs adjusting to keep in tune.
Fair point. This was really straight out of the box, our goal with this video was to show that knowing so many people that might end up with this guitar might have limited access to help with guitar setup. With a good setup this would be better in many ways. Thanks for being part of the dialog here!
@@NoFearGuitarGear I was pulling you along,will be great guitar to take to small club gigs after setting it up right. If they steal it, buy another. Here where I live they steal right in front of you.
I just got one and it's crap. Doesn't stay in tune. Don't even think about using the tremolo. Notes are all over the place.
It's going back.
Thanks for sharing this experience here. You are the first one of the many buyers to chime in to have that experience. It is important that those reading the comments here are aware that while most have reported getting a great instrument that there is a risk to get what you did. Thanks.
Frequency response is not determined from the magnet it takes into account the entire pickup assembly. Alnico,vs ceramic is a programmed thought.
And it comes with a two year warranty!
Good thing to highlgiht here, thanks for adding that to the dialog.
"have you played a lot of $100 guitars?" he asks the guy who has a channel where he plays $100 guitars. lol....this is an ad.
That was a funny question for Jay to ask Ryan. Like everything in the video that was just a real dialog and a sincere question from a guy that does not typically work with inexpensive instruments or pay attention to content about them on GuitarTube. This is the opposite of an ad. No script, no agenda, neither Fender or Amazon knew anything about us doing this (or that this channel even exists) we were not paid anything to do it and had no influence from anyone. These guys literally unboxed it and gave first impressions. We just thought it was an interesting product that many people who do not have the budget or are not ready for more expensive guitars to learn about. Very sorry it was not to your taste, but hopefully it will be helpful to others to just hear from two guys that know guitar gear well taking a first look at a product that they might be considering.
It can surf
Yes and we will be sharing some shorts of Ryan testing the surfability of this one. 😉
It's not a Fender. It's a Squier. Apples and oranges.
Yep, click bait
Ohhhhhh😮😁
Apr 18 2024 & they are no longer available. BUMMER
They are still showing available and in-stock here: amzn.to/4aYYupJ
@@NoFearGuitarGear Thanks. I clicked on the link 7 the Amazon page I get shows "no longer available" . Damn internet.
@@TedP007 Strange. I am still seeing it in stock and with Prime delivery tomorrow on all 3 colors. Are you outside of the United States?
@@NoFearGuitarGear Yes, Canada.
@@TedP007 I suspect that is the issue. Amazon Canada is separate from Amazon USA. That said, it is likely that this will come to Canada if it is not there yet. We never want our northern neighbors to be left out of the fun.
Don't quit your day jobs. Neither of you are good at this.
Poorly packaged no accessories or gig bag. Fender as always wants you to buy something because it has Fender associated with it. Much better choices including Firefly which has a full size body alnico pickups, locking tuners and roasted maple neck for 40 dollars more.
Good point on the no gig bag observation. The packaging from a shipping perspective was really good compared to what we get from Amazon often. Without a doubt you are paying for the Fender brand here and there are some upstart brands that offer a lot of value. We also love those brands and the unique value they offer. We have not checked a Firefly ourselves, but have heard good things. Thanks for highlighting that option to the community here.
How is it poorly packaged? It is pretty well protected in that box with all the supports. You complain about no gig bag and mention Firefly who also doesn't provide a gig bag and conveniently left out the fact you need to pay an extra $27 shipping for any Firefly. The cheapest Firefly currently on offer is $170 + 27 = $197. The Firefly has better specs but it's really the next tier up in terms of price.
@@SouthFLSteve thanks for that additional context! 🙏🏼 This is what we love about RUclips, lots of smart people and various perspectives. We welcome and appreciate all of them. Thanks!
@@SouthFLSteve Evidently you don't order many guitars. If you've never seen good packaging you need to order a Donner or Firefly. And I made a point about the Firefly being more expensive. If you want to keep buying rebranded Squire's that's your choice. But there are much better options on Amazon that come with free shipping.
Actually I've ordered a lot, including 7 Fireflies which didn't have such great packaging. It's only been recently that FF went to the strong styrofoam and rectangular boxes, those are good but they are not all packed that way yet.
Ok, that was the last respect for Ryan.
3,5 for a miniguitar that cant be tuned?
No matter the cost or finish a guitar that doesnt tune cant be over 3. (Or even close)
Hope you got an big bag of money for that Ryan.