My first guitar was a Squier. My dad surprised me with it on my 16th birthday back in 1996. It was the first year Squier was made in China. We were dirt poor when I grew up, so seeing that shiny red beauty quite frankly shocked me. Now I knew why dad worked all those overtime shifts leading up to my birthday. Now, 26 years later, that Squier hangs on my wall and still gets played. Almost as much as my les pauls. From the day that Squier hit my hands I learned a valuable lesson: The name on the headstock does. not. matter. You know a good guitar by how it feels in your hands.
Bro, your dad did overtime for it. This alone makes it a keeper. Many of us have no father, let alone the one who'd work overtime to treat his son to his very own new Strat. Dave Simpson talks about the same reasons to keep his imperfect cherry burst Epiphone LP. Not for sale.
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 Oh for sure. That guitar will stay in the family. One day my son is going to take it, along with the story of where it came from. I 100% acknowledge how lucky I was growing up with a dad. Now my mission is to pass that same luck on to my own son. Fortunately, through college and my music I've been able to scrape out of poverty and provide my son more than I had as a child..... and it's all thanks to a good man and a cheap guitar.
Jack Pearson ...enough said !!! Smashing guitars , way better than the crap that some of our hero's begun with !!! We are spoiled... now if only I could play like Chris.
I've owned a ton of Squiers over the years because they're affordable and they're quality... the latter increasing all the time. Cheap guitars have gotten really good in recent years and I think Squier has really led the way on that. They make good stuff for regular musicians and prove you don't have to drain your savings in order to play a good guitar
You don't have to buy Chinese made guitars to avoid draining your savings either... My Fender MIM cost just $599 in 2020, & the extra $100 I spent for a MIM guitar is worth it for me personally because it supports the 'local economy" (I know, it's a stretch to call N. America local) & keeps manufacturing $'s out of the CCP's hands. When it comes to the tool I express myself with, that kinda shit matter to me.
@@JeighNeither That is true... I have a MIM Telecaster that's the best guitar I've ever owned. I wasn't trying to say Squier is the only route for affordable quality, just saying that Squier is a great value for what you spend. But yes, the Mexican Fenders are amazing, as are many Epiphones, and Gretsch also has a great line of budget instruments. Lots of routes for affordable axes
@@gonebymidnight2881 That's really interesting... in the States you can often find MIM Strats and Teles for just 1-200 more than the higher end Squiers. I believe some eras of MIMs were made with American Fender parts so they're essentially the same quality parts, just assembled in Mexico... I know those are specific instances and circumstances, but as a whole, I've always regarded MIMs as really great guitars
In August 1983 (yep 39 years ago) I went to Denmark St with some of my saved up wages from my first year of work. I left with a Squier JV 62 Strat. I still have it. I absolutely love it
Never sell it! I came close to selling my first guitar (i bought 12 years ago), but instead decided to upgrade it with new hardware and a paint job. In the end its probably not worth the money, but I love that thing
Those 80’s JV Squier’s were the very best made. Just got myself one of the new “Fender JV 70’s Modified Strat’s,” cost just over £1000 and it’s incredible.
My first guitar was a Squier strat bought by me after helping build a fence over part of a summer. 23 years later, nothing but the body is original (neck bowed beyond repair), but now it’s better than ever and has a vintage fender neck on it. It’s awesome!
@fastguitar sadly I did bin the original electrics. Hey ho, firstly for EMGs I'm the late 80s, then in the 90s for usa American Standard loaded pick guard (with the tbx tone control). However in my mind I'm looking to change it to something more 60s like maybe Fralins or Montys etc
I’m glad you mentioned Jack Pearson . If there was ever an example of putting the WORK to make you sound good over the price tag of your instrument, it’s Jack Pearson.
All in the fingers. Some guitars have real character, from the moment you first hear them, some dont. But a competent player with tone, passion and feel can make any instrument sound good. Chris being an example for one and Steve Rothery being another.
Hi chris, at the moment you are my favourite guitarist, I love your way of making the guitar live and every day I strive to become like you, my greatest aspiration
I say with a heavy heart after I've spent way too much on fenders from Japan and even one from California, Classic Vibe squiers are some of the best guitars you can buy. I have plenty of squiers I'd never sell for no amount of money.
That is exactly the same guitar I got around my 13th birthday back in 1984. I took the neck off about 30 years ago and remember it was either a 1982 or 1983 but can't remember! My local music shop had it from a customer that left it there on consignment. I don't think anything was done to it, but it has a cream colored tip to the whammy bar instead of white and a couple of screws that don't match the others around the pickguard. 🤔🧐
I have two MiC Squiers, both are Classic Vibe 50s models, the Strat and Tele. I love them completely, total bang for your buck instruments and just super cool. I’ve heard so much snobbery about the Fender brand etc but every Squier experience I’ve had has been excellent.
From LeoM: Squier has really come around. The Contemporary Vibe models are every bit the guitars of my Fenders. There were several years where Squire made Strats with a 12 inch radius neck. I love the flat necks and have bought some just for the purpose of getting the necks to mount to other guitars. If you like a guitar, play it with pride, no matter what the snobs say.
Squier and Ephiphone are often great guitars, and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with playing them! My first guitar was an Epi LP, and it’s still a great guitar!
I get what you are saying and I agree that the "off brands" can be a great value but just saying "there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with playing them" is furthering the idea that it is okay to support the rape job guitar companies are putting on guitar enthusiasts. The guitar industry is a rip-off - but then again, what isn't these days? :)
This is a great piece Chris, thanks. I bought my first Squier in 1983 - a JV 62 sunburst strat which cost about £250. The quality was fantastic and I still own that guitar today. It is light in weight with quality electrics and hardware. The rosewood neck is perfect and better than many American strats I have owned over the years.
Peripheral Vision by Turnover has their frontman play a Squier for the entire album, and it's a phenomenal record. To me, this is the ultimate threshold of Squiers becoming cool.
...especially that solo at the end. It’s electric. I still have goosebumps all over and it’s still playing in my head even though the video finished 10 min. ago. I had to come back and write this.
I have 3 that I have totally modified everything has been upgraded except the wood. Give them a great fret job, pick your favourite pickups. Bone nut if needed, upgrade the tuners to lockers, change out the electronics for vintage cloth covered wire, top drawer pots and caps. Save a ton of money and end up with a great playing and sounding guitar. learn to do it yourself and save even more money and learn something while you are doing it. I even made one a P-90, single coil and Humbucker in the bridge. Great hobby. lead me to building my own guitars. Cheers Chris.
@@castleanthrax1833 Not really. You do it over time by being patient and finding deals, you can soup them up for not much at all. Tuner swap (on some-sometimes the tuners are just fine, nut, and pots (electronics are one of the cost cutting measures taken by budget lines).
I bought a new Japanese Squire strat in 1983 as my 76 Les Paul was just feeling so heavy to gig with. It has seen a ton of use and still plays fantastic. Other than routine maintenance I have never needed to upgrade anything and it is still completely stock. Setup was perfect when I bought it. Plays better than most Fenders I have played. Still have both guitars, lots of dings from the road, but both great instruments.
You are so right Chris. I was 15 or so when they initially released, and most of us Fender American owners pretty much ignored them..now however, I own 2 of them..50s CV strat,and 50s CV Tele adjusted just how I like..
I'm a beginner. But in my early 50s. Wish i had started years ago. But now I'm hooked! I have to admit i was a bit reluctant to get a "cheaper" Squier and got a Mexican player strat and then my favorite Baja tele. Then i got a CV 60s jazz bass and from that point on I absolutely love Squiers. The CV series and the paranormal releases are simply great guitars. (Not just "for the money").
Bear in mind, the frets are still the same old ultra soft squier frets. They’re a slight improvement over vintage fender or rick frets, but still cheese compared to mexifenders
I’m with you 100% Hard to beat the CVs. I’m 42 and started playing at 40 with a CV 70’s Strat. I love it…even more than the MIM Fender I later bought (That FAILED to be the Upgrade & Replacement Strat). Got a CV 50s Butterscotch Blonde Tele as well. Also Solid. I’ll have to check out the Paranormal, they do look cool as all hell. 👍🏻🤘
I recently got a burgundy mist (incredible color) humbucker Squier Strat and it quickly became my go-to gigging guitar over my Tele, SG, Revstar, a few others. It's just too much fun to put down.
Super sad over the loss of Jeff Beck yesterday. Listening to your opening solo I’m for the first time hearing the connections with how you vocalize on the guitar . Thank you for easing my melancholy with your brilliance. May you have a long road ahead of you Chris.
I bought a 20th anniversary Squier Bullet in 2002 for $99.99. I bought it as a back up, but it sounds so good, it has become my main guitar. It has one pickup and volume knob, but sounds better than guitars that have cost many times more than what I paid for it. Love that guitar!
@@zenon459 That's funny! I remember thinking to myself when Fender released the Tom Delonge signature model, "Are they charging people hundreds of dollars for the same guitar I bought for $99?"
I'm actually a bass guitarist. I own just, and only Squier Classic Vibe basses (1 Precision bass made in China 2013; 1 Precision and 1 Jazz bass made in Indonesia 2021). I just can't tell how much I love these instruments. The ergonomics, the sound, the quality of the materials all of it. Beside I also have a Squier Vintage White Classic Vibe FSR Stratocaster. I'm not that good on electric guitar yet, but that strat gives me the motivation to practise more on it. Sometimes I just can't realize that some hours just passed when I'm playing it. It's also true for my basses. :)
I picked up the 70s P walnut bass last year and I absolutely love it! It definitely could do with a wee setup (But what guitar doesn’t out of the box?) but otherwise insanely good value
I LOVE Squier 🙂🙂🙂 I've been collecting and customizing them ( not all of them ) since 1984 and I own 78 so far and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon... Yes, I also own a few very old Fenders ( and other famous brands too ) but I'm always in awe of my Squiers... Snobbery is a stupid thing, I never had any problem going on stage with my Squiers, even my Mini Hello Kitty 😄😄😄
@@raytorvalds3699 I own a total of 149 guitars ( including 8 basses ) Squiers were always so affordable, I got one, and another one and another one...And then one day I realized I had 78 Squiers 🙂 And they're such great mod platforms the possibilities are endless... But like I said I don't plan on stopping any time soon 🙂 I'm still young but I guess my kids will have them all one day ha, ha...
@@viewoftheaskew no harm in that my friend. Don’t aspire to the brand or country of origin. Lower end guitar give you the opportunity to try more varieties / styles of guitar. The Tele and strat will always be my favourite styles of guitar but I’ve found a love of Jaguars (because of Squier), and own Les Paul’s, a Firebird, SG and Casino (because of Epiphone) and my best made guitar is actually an Indonesian Yamaha Revstar. I’ve got my aspiration for a Cuaton Shop not these days US Fenders (I have a few). If a Squier is good enough for Mike Rutherford and has been good enough for George Harrison and Jeff Healy its sure as hell good enough for my living room. 🤘🏻
I could not agree more. Even the 2020+ Affinity guitars are amazing ( even if the pickups sound a bit bland) . I’ve got American and Mexican Fenders as well as Squier Strats and even Squier bullet telecasters. I gig with them all
Chris while listening to you my eyes were unconsciously roaming on your wall , found myself wondering where it was my favorite pic/cover ever .. was on your shirt!! Love love love Sinchronicity, instant BIG smile on my face mate. Keep your beautiful art ( and shirts) coming!
"Sorry about the camera lighting issue..." What camera lighting issue?...I was so absorbed by your amazing guitar technique, I was totally unaware of any lighting issue!
I have a vintage 1978 Kramer with an aluminium neck which I use for recording at home and it plays and sounds like a dream, even if it weighs a ton. I wanted something lighter and to contrast the humbucker sound. One afternoon I was browsing Gumtree and saw an old Squire Strat for sale with 2 rusty strings and in filthy condition for forty quid. Such a shock when I got it home and cleaned it up. It is an Affinity 2002 anniversary edition (whatever that means) and it is totally beautiful looking, sounding and playable instrument. I have been completely bowled over by it, is all I can say. A fantastic guitar which cost almost nothing. Keep your eyes peeled. I now love these guitars. A slight problem with Strats, I find, when strumming I sometimes catch the pickup selector switch which sits exactly in the way if you get in the zone ( I'm more used to it now). I've never heard anybody mention this.
Squier guitars are very good these days. Their prices also got a bit high, but now they are literally piling up at shops. There are going to be some insane deals on Squiers this holiday season.
I bought a 2021 Classic Vibe ‘70s Squier Strat, a year and a half ago. Since that day, I $aved and search for a lightly used “Real” Fender Strat. And found a great deal on a gem about 2months ago. I bought it with the plan to replace the Squier. However, when it comes to Feel & Sound… The Squier is just BETTER! Now the Fender sits in its hard case, and I play my Squier EVERY day. I ❤️ it! I also bought the CV 50s Tele. It’s Solid. I highly recommend putting a Classic Vibe (or anything from the high end of the Squier lineup) in your hands and decide if a USA Fender is worth the price difference. Because I don’t think Mexican “Player” Series can beat Squier at double the price, you would have to pay 3-4 times the cost for USA made. That’s my 2-cents, not that it’s worth even that. 😏 🤘🤘🤘
I bought one of the first Squier Telecasters back in 1982 - the quality was incredible and I gigged it for 20 years before selling it to fund a trip to (ironically) California - to film at the Fender Corona factory. I think I paid £150 for the Tele’ when it was new - and I sold it in 2000 for £650! On a sad note … I was using this Squier (butterscotch / blackguard) when I played with Louisiana Red during one of his U.K. tours - and he signed it for me … so I should never have sold it😩 I bought a Squier 1957 Strat too - and this guitar has never left my side and been played on so many gigs. They really are superb instruments … now if only I could play as brilliantly as Chris Buck…!
Bought my first Squire Telecaster back in 1986 and just bought a new one a couple of years ago, love them for price, quality and seriously feel better to play than a real one.
I own one Squier Strat Classic Vibe in LPB finish. I absolutely love it! The neck is incredible, the finish is perfect and I play it as often as my others Fender strats from US or Mexico! 👍🏻
I’ve really loved the classic vibe series. Owned a few of them. Excellent value. I’m primarily a Gibson Les Paul player but when I’ve had hankerings for Strats and Teles, I always go Squier. They scratch the itch and look and sound the absolute business.
Just to quickly answer your comment at the start of the video about the camera/lighting- what's happening is that the camera is on auto-exposure and auto white balance, and so every time you move, it tries to compensate for the shift in lighting- for example more light reflected off the guitar, more ambient light entering the lens when your body shifts, stuff like that. The easiest thing to do is to let the camera set the focus, exposure, and white balance, and then switch everything to manual (turn off AWB, AE, AF)- that way everything will stay the same through the whole video, no matter what. Always love your content and playing, man!
The classic vibe are a great way to fill out a collection without spending a ton. I want a Jazzmaster and Jaguar just to have something different and will definitely get the Squiers
always, always! pleasure to watch your videos Chris. Your playing is outstanding , always pleases my ears and my soul! Hope to see you again in Ireland someday!
I have a classic vibe 60s strat. I have played Player strats that can't beat it. It has the most comfortable neck I've ever played on a guitar. And it still has the most lush tone to it. Love it.
My first electric was a Squire Strat, and while I was thrilled to get it, I soon fell out of love with it due to its quality issues and wanted a Kramer Baretta, which I got soon after. I have no issue with guitars being made overseas. I only care how a guitar is made, not where. My next strat was a '61. No, it wasn't stock. It had a DiMarzio Shockwave active system which was fun, but it ate batteries like potato chips. It also had Kluson style locking tuners which worked very well and a very good nut, probably not original. It never went out of tune. I wish I still had that strat. I would have upgraded the pickups to a good, non-active set, probably a Hot Rail in the bridge. Over the years I saw many excellent brands produced overseas, from Ibanez to ESP. I got a Horizon in '87, absolutely loved it. I chose it over a Jackson Soloist because it was half the price and twice the quality, and more cutting edge. It was the first ax with an ebony fretboard I ever owned, and the first neck-thru. In the last two years I got a number of guitars built overseas, all very high quality, from the Schecter Deluxe that is my main guitar to a Yamaha Revstar, Pacifica, PRS SE and Mexican double bucker strat. I made various mods to all of these guitars, loading them with DiMarzios, locking tuners, graphite nuts, etc. The basic craftsmanship of these instruments is extraordinary. Great fretwork, no snagging, and all-around high quality. Now, would I buy a Squire? It depends on the individual instrument. I always inspect the hell out of anything I buy. I don't take chances and order garbage. But I see no reason to buy a Fender, or even a Squire, if you're looking for a strat. Look at all the options. Most guitars in the world are strat style, no matter who makes them. There's no logical reason to get hung up on Fender, or even Squire.
In late 1983 I bought a Made in Japan sunburst Squier Presision Bass and a couple of months later a black Squier Jazz Bass, each for $600 Canadian (seemed like a fortune at the time). I compared with others' Fender basses when in college and didn't notice much difference in quality or sound. I sold the Precision in 1989 and kick myself to this day for doing that. The Squier Jazz Bass has gone through some mods, the frets are gone and filled in with wood filler (when I was going through the Jaco phase) and I replaced the bridge pickup with an EMG active. I used it on hundreds of gigs, also featured on my channel (shameless promotion). It's now got that vintage feel and sound to it, and the neck feels sooo gooood. Love it.
Hey Chris, great video and I want to add that I own a Squier Bullet strat, Squier Bullet Mustang and a Squier Standard Tele with the last two being among the funnest and best sounding guitars I own. The Squier Standard Tele being a gem of a guitar, the neck pickup is amazing. People need to wake up to the fact that Squier are a great instrument.
I agree Chris. I got a brand new japanese Squier Bullet Strat in Hamburg, Germany, june 1984, I still play it here at home, in Lima Peru. I still love it. It is still perfect.
In 2016, a friend of mine who was a guitar tech for Guitar Center was repairing every guitar ever made…I asked him…what are the biggest steals in the guitar world…he told me unequivocally: The Squier 51, the Gibson “Paul”. I bought both. Back them you could get a 51 for about $100 -today they are still affordable at $300-$500. What made them unique was they were in effect a parts caster…a strat body, tele neck & head scotch, with Pbass circuitry and pickguard (HS pick ups) that allowed you to slit coils. I liter upgraded the pup and added a switch to tap my coils and today I have a sweet tone monster. I could not believe the3 quality I got for a used 2008 guitar.
Back in 2000 and friend of mine bought a Squire strat from musicians friends catalog I was at his house after he bought it and I picked it up to check it out, boy was I surprised, I couldn't believe how nicely it played.
Ignore Squiers at your peril. I the past I've owned a couple of Fenders from the 60's, and have a 1964 p-bass right now, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that today's Squiers are a match for them. Browsing the basses in a guitar shop a few months ago, my eyes were drawn to a Squier Affinity PJ bass. Something about it stood out, so I picked it up and asked to play it. I knew right away that for £230 I'd never forgive myself if I left the store without it - it's _that_ good, and an absolute joy to play.
I bought a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 2014 model made in China. It's an excellent instrument and has zero flaw's or issues. In 2021 I bought a Fender Stratocaster FSR made in Corona California USA, and again it's a brilliant instrument with no issues. I have 4 other guitars but my Tele and Strat are my favourites. Though I've been playing for 40 years I wish I'd have bought some of the Tokai copies as they were great value and probably better than any mainstream branded guitars.
I’ve had some very good Squiers-basses and guitars. I like modding so it has been a safer route to learn and experiment without too much worry of hurting an expensive instrument. In the end, I’ve an instrument I’ve really bonded with. Currently, I’ve changed my Strat’s pups and have 7-way switch to get some Tele tones. Sanded the neck. Installed treble bleed. Minimal expense IMO and it is a SOLID instrument.
I’m the same way about Squires and mods and once I’m done with the mods I use the guitar and keep it but I recently put a tele bridge pickup in a Squire Stratocaster bridge position and all you have to do is route a small amount of wood out of the bridge cavity in the body and use a tele bridge to trace onto a Squire Stratocaster pick guard so you have a pattern to follow and you are done but you can also put a push/pot in the volume pot position and you can then wire the guitar to have a bridge/neck position like a tele and an all three pickups at all times position
i swear to all that is holy, chris; you could nail copper wire to the side of an old barn and make it sound like the greatest instrument that ever was stringed.
I love the Japanese Squier Strats from the 80s so much I have two. One's a 1986 Lake Placid Blue, which I put Lace Sensors in, and the other is red from 1988. The play so well. There's no shame in owning one of these.
I LOVE gear Snobs because they don't bother completing with me in the used guitar market. Fortunately, I was an adult when the Squier line was first introduced from Japan and I could see the quality right off the bat. Now, I have at least 20 Squier Strat's, Tele's, and Mustangs Made all over the World, starting with an '84 Silver Label Made in Japan Strat '61 reissue. Right now, the best guitar value I can find at the best price is the Mustang, but I can pick up used Bullet Strats here in the Eastern US for as little as $60.00 in brand new condition.
Chris. I completely refurbished a 1992 Korean Squire. I plugged the trem cuts. Set it with barrel bridge. Added threeway switch. Added two Banning hand wound filtertrons. New sst med jumbo frets with Fender 70 tuners.....this guitar rips and of course I would love for you to play it if you ever get oit to Northern California??? Keep it shredding brother. Great video. Rob
Dude your playing is great! I love my Squier J Macis Signature, I honestly don't care what brand it is as long as it sounds good and plays good. Those 40th Anniversary Editions are sweet!
Agree with you. I have guitars from 1.5k up to gibsn custom shop. Just got the Squier J mascis cos was exactly what I was looking, and wanted something different. Love it! Used to have 2 fenders usa pro, and this j mascis putting better hardware and electronics (even though for me are more than good enough for my needs) would be just as good as those (but for some reason those were not inspiring guitars for me, unlike the j mascis)
@@onlyguitars It's funny how that works, isn't it? I played my friends 2022 Gibson 335 and I didn't like it all. I could never justify paying that price tag just for the Gibson name on it. My friend loves it and I'm glad it works for him and what he needs.
@@joshuakeller6687 lol...yeah gibson charges a lot. compare heritage CS vs gibson CS. the starting point is 1600 usd difference, for a guitar that is same level. shows how much gibson charges for the brand. I love my R8, but it is for me uncomfortably expensive hahaha. If you like 335, try the Eastman's. My Eastman les paul i rate it on same level as my R8. And also I have a USA LP gibson, and just got a heritage ages standard on a trade, so have enough les pauls haha. Will miss the R8, but actually would miss any of my current les pauls (i love les pauls!) Also if you like S style o T syle guitars, with the more suhr kind of modern feel, check out Shijie Guitars. Very very good! Has a Shijie s style, and blew both fender usa on quality and day of the week. Im tempted at some point to get one of the shijies t style with p90, that just came out! they look awesome!
First electric was classic vibe tele, awesome guitar. Sold it 2 years later and instantly regretted it,🥲 also have a blonde classic vibe 70’s jazz bass… soooo 😎 cool
My first guitar was a Squier. My dad surprised me with it on my 16th birthday back in 1996. It was the first year Squier was made in China. We were dirt poor when I grew up, so seeing that shiny red beauty quite frankly shocked me. Now I knew why dad worked all those overtime shifts leading up to my birthday.
Now, 26 years later, that Squier hangs on my wall and still gets played. Almost as much as my les pauls. From the day that Squier hit my hands I learned a valuable lesson: The name on the headstock does. not. matter. You know a good guitar by how it feels in your hands.
Bro, your dad did overtime for it. This alone makes it a keeper. Many of us have no father, let alone the one who'd work overtime to treat his son to his very own new Strat.
Dave Simpson talks about the same reasons to keep his imperfect cherry burst Epiphone LP. Not for sale.
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 Oh for sure. That guitar will stay in the family. One day my son is going to take it, along with the story of where it came from. I 100% acknowledge how lucky I was growing up with a dad. Now my mission is to pass that same luck on to my own son. Fortunately, through college and my music I've been able to scrape out of poverty and provide my son more than I had as a child..... and it's all thanks to a good man and a cheap guitar.
@@facepalmdaily4404 😭
@@Phoenix_cataclysm_in_2040 I'll be your father
Jack Pearson ...enough said !!!
Smashing guitars , way better than the crap that some of our hero's begun with !!! We are spoiled... now if only I could play like Chris.
I've owned a ton of Squiers over the years because they're affordable and they're quality... the latter increasing all the time. Cheap guitars have gotten really good in recent years and I think Squier has really led the way on that. They make good stuff for regular musicians and prove you don't have to drain your savings in order to play a good guitar
You don't have to buy Chinese made guitars to avoid draining your savings either... My Fender MIM cost just $599 in 2020, & the extra $100 I spent for a MIM guitar is worth it for me personally because it supports the 'local economy" (I know, it's a stretch to call N. America local) & keeps manufacturing $'s out of the CCP's hands. When it comes to the tool I express myself with, that kinda shit matter to me.
@@JeighNeither That is true... I have a MIM Telecaster that's the best guitar I've ever owned.
I wasn't trying to say Squier is the only route for affordable quality, just saying that Squier is a great value for what you spend.
But yes, the Mexican Fenders are amazing, as are many Epiphones, and Gretsch also has a great line of budget instruments. Lots of routes for affordable axes
I've got a great little red strat that's about to get a complete refinish.
MIM Fenders are very overpriced outside the US and their quality is not up to what other brands are putting out.
@@gonebymidnight2881 That's really interesting... in the States you can often find MIM Strats and Teles for just 1-200 more than the higher end Squiers. I believe some eras of MIMs were made with American Fender parts so they're essentially the same quality parts, just assembled in Mexico... I know those are specific instances and circumstances, but as a whole, I've always regarded MIMs as really great guitars
In August 1983 (yep 39 years ago) I went to Denmark St with some of my saved up wages from my first year of work. I left with a Squier JV 62 Strat. I still have it. I absolutely love it
Never sell it! I came close to selling my first guitar (i bought 12 years ago), but instead decided to upgrade it with new hardware and a paint job. In the end its probably not worth the money, but I love that thing
Those 80’s JV Squier’s were the very best made.
Just got myself one of the new “Fender JV 70’s Modified Strat’s,” cost just over £1000 and it’s incredible.
My first guitar was a Squier strat bought by me after helping build a fence over part of a summer. 23 years later, nothing but the body is original (neck bowed beyond repair), but now it’s better than ever and has a vintage fender neck on it. It’s awesome!
My 80's mij Hendrix Strat could not be any better it's amazing
@fastguitar sadly I did bin the original electrics. Hey ho, firstly for EMGs I'm the late 80s, then in the 90s for usa American Standard loaded pick guard (with the tbx tone control). However in my mind I'm looking to change it to something more 60s like maybe Fralins or Montys etc
I bought a Fender Squier Stratocaster in 1984 and it plays and sounds as good today as then.
I’m glad you mentioned Jack Pearson . If there was ever an example of putting the WORK to make you sound good over the price tag of your instrument, it’s Jack Pearson.
All in the fingers. Some guitars have real character, from the moment you first hear them, some dont. But a competent player with tone, passion and feel can make any instrument sound good.
Chris being an example for one and Steve Rothery being another.
I bought a MIJ Squire strat in about 1984-5. Played it on hundreds and hundreds of gigs. I still have it. Never changed the pickups.
I have an SQ Strat from that time and the pickups are magical.
Hi chris, at the moment you are my favourite guitarist, I love your way of making the guitar live and every day I strive to become like you, my greatest aspiration
I say with a heavy heart after I've spent way too much on fenders from Japan and even one from California, Classic Vibe squiers are some of the best guitars you can buy. I have plenty of squiers I'd never sell for no amount of money.
It's hardly worthwhile selling Squiers. I nearly gave one away, accepting a low offer after listing it for sale at a low price for a few months.
My first guitar was a 57 Squier JV 2T sunburst Strat. That guitar will never leave me. I'll sell all the high end reissues first.
That is exactly the same guitar I got around my 13th birthday back in 1984. I took the neck off about 30 years ago and remember it was either a 1982 or 1983 but can't remember! My local music shop had it from a customer that left it there on consignment. I don't think anything was done to it, but it has a cream colored tip to the whammy bar instead of white and a couple of screws that don't match the others around the pickguard. 🤔🧐
You´re a beautiful player. Great sound, technique and feeling.
I have two MiC Squiers, both are Classic Vibe 50s models, the Strat and Tele. I love them completely, total bang for your buck instruments and just super cool. I’ve heard so much snobbery about the Fender brand etc but every Squier experience I’ve had has been excellent.
From LeoM: Squier has really come around. The Contemporary Vibe models are every bit the guitars of my Fenders. There were several years where Squire made Strats with a 12 inch radius neck. I love the flat necks and have bought some just for the purpose of getting the necks to mount to other guitars. If you like a guitar, play it with pride, no matter what the snobs say.
Contemporary Vibe? I know of Classic Vibe. Did I miss something? I need to do a web search.
Squier and Ephiphone are often great guitars, and there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with playing them! My first guitar was an Epi LP, and it’s still a great guitar!
I get what you are saying and I agree that the "off brands" can be a great value but just saying "there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with playing them" is furthering the idea that it is okay to support the rape job guitar companies are putting on guitar enthusiasts. The guitar industry is a rip-off - but then again, what isn't these days? :)
@@78tag ...Ain't the companies faults...
I bought a Squire 70's classic vibe and I love it.
This is a great piece Chris, thanks. I bought my first Squier in 1983 - a JV 62 sunburst strat which cost about £250. The quality was fantastic and I still own that guitar today. It is light in weight with quality electrics and hardware. The rosewood neck is perfect and better than many American strats I have owned over the years.
It was the reverse in 1993 when I got my first guitar which was a Squier Strat and it was trash but I've played some decent ones in recent years.
Peripheral Vision by Turnover has their frontman play a Squier for the entire album, and it's a phenomenal record. To me, this is the ultimate threshold of Squiers becoming cool.
Watching the rig rundown with Turnover led me to get the J. Mascis Jazzmaster. It is fantastic.
@@HasanibnSabah i'm sure I will buy it one day. His amp did a lot of work for that buttery smooth tone tho
@@HasanibnSabah The J. Mascis is probably one of my favorite guitars. It exceeded all expectations and beyond.
...especially that solo at the end. It’s electric. I still have goosebumps all over and it’s still playing in my head even though the video finished 10 min. ago. I had to come back and write this.
Holy cow I love odd time signature stuff.
Hard to count but I count 6/8 10/8 alternating or 6 + 6 + 4
it’s in 4/4 !
I own a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster in butterscotch blonde and I absolutely love it!
These friday fretworks videos are always so well-made; thanks for putting the time in to put these info pieces together.
The opening is beautiful.
Super tasty playing & great tones Chris, nice one mate.
I have 3 that I have totally modified everything has been upgraded except the wood. Give them a great fret job, pick your favourite pickups. Bone nut if needed, upgrade the tuners to lockers, change out the electronics for vintage cloth covered wire, top drawer pots and caps. Save a ton of money and end up with a great playing and sounding guitar. learn to do it yourself and save even more money and learn something while you are doing it. I even made one a P-90, single coil and Humbucker in the bridge. Great hobby. lead me to building my own guitars. Cheers Chris.
Kind of defeats the purpose of buying an affordable guitar doesn't it? You don't "need" to do anything to them. They're great "as is". ✌️
@@castleanthrax1833 Not really. You do it over time by being patient and finding deals, you can soup them up for not much at all. Tuner swap (on some-sometimes the tuners are just fine, nut, and pots (electronics are one of the cost cutting measures taken by budget lines).
@@castleanthrax1833 Try it.... You'll see the difference.
Glad to see Fridays back
I bought a new Japanese Squire strat in 1983 as my 76 Les Paul was just feeling so heavy to gig with. It has seen a ton of use and still plays fantastic. Other than routine maintenance I have never needed to upgrade anything and it is still completely stock. Setup was perfect when I bought it. Plays better than most Fenders I have played. Still have both guitars, lots of dings from the road, but both great instruments.
Intro!!!!🔥🔥🔥🔥😍😍😍😍
You are so right Chris. I was 15 or so when they initially released, and most of us Fender American owners pretty much ignored them..now however, I own 2 of them..50s CV strat,and 50s CV Tele adjusted just how I like..
I'm a beginner. But in my early 50s. Wish i had started years ago. But now I'm hooked! I have to admit i was a bit reluctant to get a "cheaper" Squier and got a Mexican player strat and then my favorite Baja tele. Then i got a CV 60s jazz bass and from that point on I absolutely love Squiers. The CV series and the paranormal releases are simply great guitars. (Not just "for the money").
I'm glad someone said it. Too many times you hear "they're great for the money". They're actually just great.
Bear in mind, the frets are still the same old ultra soft squier frets. They’re a slight improvement over vintage fender or rick frets, but still cheese compared to mexifenders
Cool stuff man & good luck on your journey as a guitarist. You’re gonna love it. Rock on 🤘
I’m with you 100%
Hard to beat the CVs.
I’m 42 and started playing at 40 with a
CV 70’s Strat.
I love it…even more than the MIM Fender I later bought (That FAILED to be the Upgrade & Replacement Strat).
Got a CV 50s Butterscotch Blonde Tele as well. Also Solid.
I’ll have to check out the Paranormal, they do look cool as all hell. 👍🏻🤘
@@robraaiii Yeah, I got a thinline paranormal and it's great. Quality tuners too.
I recently got a burgundy mist (incredible color) humbucker Squier Strat and it quickly became my go-to gigging guitar over my Tele, SG, Revstar, a few others. It's just too much fun to put down.
Oohhh sh*t you had me at the open, that was TASTY AF 🤯!
I bought my first squier a year ago, a squier 60's classic vibe, i absolutely love it. Sounds amazing and the quality is even better
I have a classic vibe Telecaster and a Squier J Bass.
Both are brilliant - my go to guitars.
Super sad over the loss of Jeff Beck yesterday. Listening to your opening solo I’m for the first time hearing the connections with how you vocalize on the guitar . Thank you for easing my melancholy with your brilliance. May you have a long road ahead of you Chris.
I bought a 20th anniversary Squier Bullet in 2002 for $99.99. I bought it as a back up, but it sounds so good, it has become my main guitar. It has one pickup and volume knob, but sounds better than guitars that have cost many times more than what I paid for it. Love that guitar!
Ayo are you Tom Delonge?
@@zenon459 That's funny! I remember thinking to myself when Fender released the Tom Delonge signature model, "Are they charging people hundreds of dollars for the same guitar I bought for $99?"
@@Morbid0007 yeah i never really got that. All you have to do is put a tele knob on it and boom
I'm actually a bass guitarist. I own just, and only Squier Classic Vibe basses (1 Precision bass made in China 2013; 1 Precision and 1 Jazz bass made in Indonesia 2021). I just can't tell how much I love these instruments. The ergonomics, the sound, the quality of the materials all of it.
Beside I also have a Squier Vintage White Classic Vibe FSR Stratocaster. I'm not that good on electric guitar yet, but that strat gives me the motivation to practise more on it. Sometimes I just can't realize that some hours just passed when I'm playing it. It's also true for my basses.
:)
I picked up the 70s P walnut bass last year and I absolutely love it! It definitely could do with a wee setup (But what guitar doesn’t out of the box?) but otherwise insanely good value
I LOVE Squier 🙂🙂🙂
I've been collecting and customizing them ( not all of them ) since 1984 and I own 78 so far and I don't see myself slowing down anytime soon...
Yes, I also own a few very old Fenders ( and other famous brands too ) but I'm always in awe of my Squiers...
Snobbery is a stupid thing, I never had any problem going on stage with my Squiers, even my Mini Hello Kitty 😄😄😄
Wait, you own 78 Squiers (nothing wrong with Squier at all) ? 78 not being a typo ?!
If so... holy smokes, that's a lot of guitars !
@@raytorvalds3699 I own a total of 149 guitars ( including 8 basses )
Squiers were always so affordable, I got one, and another one and another one...And then one day I realized I had 78 Squiers 🙂
And they're such great mod platforms the possibilities are endless...
But like I said I don't plan on stopping any time soon 🙂
I'm still young but I guess my kids will have them all one day ha, ha...
That’s great to hear! I don’t feel quite so bad about my 23 or so guitars 😂
@@davidharding200 I've only got 2 guitars ~ both Squiers!
@@viewoftheaskew no harm in that my friend. Don’t aspire to the brand or country of origin. Lower end guitar give you the opportunity to try more varieties / styles of guitar. The Tele and strat will always be my favourite styles of guitar but I’ve found a love of Jaguars (because of Squier), and own Les Paul’s, a Firebird, SG and Casino (because of Epiphone) and my best made guitar is actually an Indonesian Yamaha Revstar. I’ve got my aspiration for a Cuaton Shop not these days US Fenders (I have a few). If a Squier is good enough for Mike Rutherford and has been good enough for George Harrison and Jeff Healy its sure as hell good enough for my living room. 🤘🏻
I could not agree more. Even the 2020+ Affinity guitars are amazing ( even if the pickups sound a bit bland) .
I’ve got American and Mexican Fenders as well as Squier Strats and even Squier bullet telecasters. I gig with them all
I have a JV Squire ‘52 Tele Export I bought in London in ‘83 - best electric I’ve owned.
chris what an amazing intro solo! studying it right now
Still jamming on my 2007 vintage modified squire. Love it!
Chris while listening to you my eyes were unconsciously roaming on your wall , found myself wondering where it was my favorite pic/cover ever .. was on your shirt!! Love love love Sinchronicity, instant BIG smile on my face mate. Keep your beautiful art ( and shirts) coming!
"Sorry about the camera lighting issue..." What camera lighting issue?...I was so absorbed by your amazing guitar technique, I was totally unaware of any lighting issue!
Thank-you Thank-you Thank-you!
Can't wait to get my hands on a 40th Anniversary Squire Stratocaster Vintage Edition 😃
That intro jam was the jam!! Amazing playing man.
I love to hear you play!
Thanks for the informative video.
I have a vintage 1978 Kramer with an aluminium neck which I use for recording at home and it plays and sounds like a dream, even if it weighs a ton. I wanted something lighter and to contrast the humbucker sound. One afternoon I was browsing Gumtree and saw an old Squire Strat for sale with 2 rusty strings and in filthy condition for forty quid. Such a shock when I got it home and cleaned it up. It is an Affinity 2002 anniversary edition (whatever that means) and it is totally beautiful looking, sounding and playable instrument. I have been completely bowled over by it, is all I can say. A fantastic guitar which cost almost nothing. Keep your eyes peeled. I now love these guitars.
A slight problem with Strats, I find, when strumming I sometimes catch the pickup selector switch which sits exactly in the way if you get in the zone ( I'm more used to it now). I've never heard anybody mention this.
Thanks for a great brief history of the Squire, which I never knew before.
Squier guitars are very good these days. Their prices also got a bit high, but now they are literally piling up at shops. There are going to be some insane deals on Squiers this holiday season.
Demand. There's just not $1k difference between them and the real thing...
I got my first Squier on Sunday, the 40th anniversary Telecaster, and am blown away at how good it feels and sounds.
Good call on Squire, I have owned one and played many I am always quietly impressed by these beauties - the 'classic vibe' series is astounding value
It's always cool to hear those live jams! I've got my eyes on that Jazzmaster now 👀
I bought a 2021 Classic Vibe ‘70s Squier Strat, a year and a half ago.
Since that day, I $aved and search for a lightly used “Real” Fender Strat. And found a great deal on a gem about 2months ago.
I bought it with the plan to replace the Squier. However, when it comes to Feel & Sound… The Squier is just BETTER!
Now the Fender sits in its hard case, and I play my Squier EVERY day. I ❤️ it!
I also bought the CV 50s Tele. It’s Solid.
I highly recommend putting a Classic Vibe (or anything from the high end of the Squier lineup) in your hands and decide if a USA Fender is worth the price difference.
Because I don’t think Mexican “Player” Series can beat Squier at double the price, you would have to pay 3-4 times the cost for USA made.
That’s my 2-cents, not that it’s worth even that. 😏
🤘🤘🤘
It’s the fingers and phrasing, but I ❤️ my classic vibe Jazzmaster.
I bought one of the first Squier Telecasters back in 1982 - the quality was incredible and I gigged it for 20 years before selling it to fund a trip to (ironically) California - to film at the Fender Corona factory.
I think I paid £150 for the Tele’ when it was new - and I sold it in 2000 for £650!
On a sad note … I was using this Squier (butterscotch / blackguard) when I played with Louisiana Red during one of his U.K. tours - and he signed it for me … so I should never have sold it😩
I bought a Squier 1957 Strat too - and this guitar has never left my side and been played on so many gigs.
They really are superb instruments … now if only I could play as brilliantly as Chris Buck…!
Bought my first Squire Telecaster back in 1986 and just bought a new one a couple of years ago, love them for price, quality and seriously feel better to play than a real one.
I have an 84 squire 62. it plays amazing. just played it on a gig tonight lol
What Alan Turing and the Tapes said! Your videos are well thought out and interesting. Thanks for your efforts.
These are truly inspiring chops, my friend. The brand doesn't matter much... Your fingers do
I own one Squier Strat Classic Vibe in LPB finish. I absolutely love it! The neck is incredible, the finish is perfect and I play it as often as my others Fender strats from US or Mexico! 👍🏻
I’ve really loved the classic vibe series. Owned a few of them. Excellent value. I’m primarily a Gibson Les Paul player but when I’ve had hankerings for Strats and Teles, I always go Squier. They scratch the itch and look and sound the absolute business.
I was too, until I got a bullet tele.
Now my Gibson sits alone while I play telecasters.
I was looking for a Fender telecaster but decided to try out a used squier CV. No regrets! Great quality and electronics for the price.
The JV Fenders from the 80's & 90's are equally excellent if not more so. Hard to go wrong w/ Squier or Fender JV's from that time period.
the ProTone Squiers were second only to the great Japanese Squier of the late 70's and early 80's.
I have a ‘90 Fender Japan ‘51 RI P Bass. Good stuff.
@@tomyork6311 Squier didn't go into production till '82, but those 80s Squiers are impressive. My first bass was a MIJ jazz, wish I still had it
Fender Squiers are very good guitars, better still under skilful hands. You sir… make them excellent guitars, because of how you play them!
Just to quickly answer your comment at the start of the video about the camera/lighting- what's happening is that the camera is on auto-exposure and auto white balance, and so every time you move, it tries to compensate for the shift in lighting- for example more light reflected off the guitar, more ambient light entering the lens when your body shifts, stuff like that. The easiest thing to do is to let the camera set the focus, exposure, and white balance, and then switch everything to manual (turn off AWB, AE, AF)- that way everything will stay the same through the whole video, no matter what. Always love your content and playing, man!
thanks again Chris
The classic vibe are a great way to fill out a collection without spending a ton. I want a Jazzmaster and Jaguar just to have something different and will definitely get the Squiers
always, always! pleasure to watch your videos Chris. Your playing is outstanding , always pleases my ears and my soul! Hope to see you again in Ireland someday!
I have a classic vibe 60s strat. I have played Player strats that can't beat it. It has the most comfortable neck I've ever played on a guitar. And it still has the most lush tone to it. Love it.
Its not what ya got, its what you do with it !
My first electric was a Squire Strat, and while I was thrilled to get it, I soon fell out of love with it due to its quality issues and wanted a Kramer Baretta, which I got soon after. I have no issue with guitars being made overseas. I only care how a guitar is made, not where. My next strat was a '61. No, it wasn't stock. It had a DiMarzio Shockwave active system which was fun, but it ate batteries like potato chips. It also had Kluson style locking tuners which worked very well and a very good nut, probably not original. It never went out of tune. I wish I still had that strat. I would have upgraded the pickups to a good, non-active set, probably a Hot Rail in the bridge. Over the years I saw many excellent brands produced overseas, from Ibanez to ESP. I got a Horizon in '87, absolutely loved it. I chose it over a Jackson Soloist because it was half the price and twice the quality, and more cutting edge. It was the first ax with an ebony fretboard I ever owned, and the first neck-thru. In the last two years I got a number of guitars built overseas, all very high quality, from the Schecter Deluxe that is my main guitar to a Yamaha Revstar, Pacifica, PRS SE and Mexican double bucker strat. I made various mods to all of these guitars, loading them with DiMarzios, locking tuners, graphite nuts, etc. The basic craftsmanship of these instruments is extraordinary. Great fretwork, no snagging, and all-around high quality. Now, would I buy a Squire? It depends on the individual instrument. I always inspect the hell out of anything I buy. I don't take chances and order garbage. But I see no reason to buy a Fender, or even a Squire, if you're looking for a strat. Look at all the options. Most guitars in the world are strat style, no matter who makes them. There's no logical reason to get hung up on Fender, or even Squire.
In late 1983 I bought a Made in Japan sunburst Squier Presision Bass and a couple of months later a black Squier Jazz Bass, each for $600 Canadian (seemed like a fortune at the time). I compared with others' Fender basses when in college and didn't notice much difference in quality or sound. I sold the Precision in 1989 and kick myself to this day for doing that. The Squier Jazz Bass has gone through some mods, the frets are gone and filled in with wood filler (when I was going through the Jaco phase) and I replaced the bridge pickup with an EMG active. I used it on hundreds of gigs, also featured on my channel (shameless promotion). It's now got that vintage feel and sound to it, and the neck feels sooo gooood. Love it.
All this talk about Squiers is fine, I own a couple myself. But Chris's playing! Just, wow!
Hey Chris, great video and I want to add that I own a Squier Bullet strat, Squier Bullet Mustang and a Squier Standard Tele with the last two being among the funnest and best sounding guitars I own. The Squier Standard Tele being a gem of a guitar, the neck pickup is amazing. People need to wake up to the fact that Squier are a great instrument.
I agree Chris. I got a brand new japanese Squier Bullet Strat in Hamburg, Germany, june 1984, I still play it here at home, in Lima Peru. I still love it. It is still perfect.
In 2016, a friend of mine who was a guitar tech for Guitar Center was repairing every guitar ever made…I asked him…what are the biggest steals in the guitar world…he told me unequivocally: The Squier 51, the Gibson “Paul”. I bought both. Back them you could get a 51 for about $100 -today they are still affordable at $300-$500. What made them unique was they were in effect a parts caster…a strat body, tele neck & head scotch, with Pbass circuitry and pickguard (HS pick ups) that allowed you to slit coils. I liter upgraded the pup and added a switch to tap my coils and today I have a sweet tone monster. I could not believe the3 quality I got for a used 2008 guitar.
I have a squire telecaster and I love it ,Francis Rossi liked it when he signed it for me .
Yep! I bought a second hand Squier Esquire made in Indonesia and the quality is outstanding in every way, remarkable instrument 👍❤️
That intro solo is one of the more inspiring things I’ve listened to. Crazy good!
Back in 2000 and friend of mine bought a Squire strat from musicians friends catalog I was at his house after he bought it and I picked it up to check it out, boy was I surprised, I couldn't believe how nicely it played.
Ignore Squiers at your peril. I the past I've owned a couple of Fenders from the 60's, and have a 1964 p-bass right now, and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that today's Squiers are a match for them.
Browsing the basses in a guitar shop a few months ago, my eyes were drawn to a Squier Affinity PJ bass. Something about it stood out, so I picked it up and asked to play it. I knew right away that for £230 I'd never forgive myself if I left the store without it - it's _that_ good, and an absolute joy to play.
I bought a Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 2014 model made in China. It's an excellent instrument and has zero flaw's or issues. In 2021 I bought a Fender Stratocaster FSR made in Corona California USA, and again it's a brilliant instrument with no issues. I have 4 other guitars but my Tele and Strat are my favourites. Though I've been playing for 40 years I wish I'd have bought some of the Tokai copies as they were great value and probably better than any mainstream branded guitars.
Beautiful riffing , best rock guitarist on earth:)
I’ve had some very good Squiers-basses and guitars. I like modding so it has been a safer route to learn and experiment without too much worry of hurting an expensive instrument. In the end, I’ve an instrument I’ve really bonded with. Currently, I’ve changed my Strat’s pups and have 7-way switch to get some Tele tones. Sanded the neck. Installed treble bleed. Minimal expense IMO and it is a SOLID instrument.
I’m the same way about Squires and mods and once I’m done with the mods I use the guitar and keep it but I recently put a tele bridge pickup in a Squire Stratocaster bridge position and all you have to do is route a small amount of wood out of the bridge cavity in the body and use a tele bridge to trace onto a Squire Stratocaster pick guard so you have a pattern to follow and you are done but you can also put a push/pot in the volume pot position and you can then wire the guitar to have a bridge/neck position like a tele and an all three pickups at all times position
What pups did you put in, Matt?
Modded my Squier CV thinline with a Charlie Christian pickup in the neck, great guitar
Thanks Chris!!
Squier fan here. Excellent machines.
You are the god particle 💥 lol
i swear to all that is holy, chris;
you could nail copper wire to the side of an old barn and make it sound like the greatest instrument that ever was stringed.
Gypie Mayo was also a great proponent of Squires, i had the pleasure of seeing him perform with the Yard Birds many years ago.
I love the Japanese Squier Strats from the 80s so much I have two. One's a 1986 Lake Placid Blue, which I put Lace Sensors in, and the other is red from 1988. The play so well. There's no shame in owning one of these.
I LOVE gear Snobs because they don't bother completing with me in the used guitar market. Fortunately, I was an adult when the Squier line was first introduced from Japan and I could see the quality right off the bat. Now, I have at least 20 Squier Strat's, Tele's, and Mustangs Made all over the World, starting with an '84 Silver Label Made in Japan Strat '61 reissue. Right now, the best guitar value I can find at the best price is the Mustang, but I can pick up used Bullet Strats here in the Eastern US for as little as $60.00 in brand new condition.
Excelent contribution....!
Got 5 teles mostly mim’s & 1custom shop & my 50s classic vibe is still my go to
I haven’t watched the video yet but that title is great! 😂
Chris. I completely refurbished a 1992 Korean Squire. I plugged the trem cuts. Set it with barrel bridge. Added threeway switch. Added two Banning hand wound filtertrons. New sst med jumbo frets with Fender 70 tuners.....this guitar rips and of course I would love for you to play it if you ever get oit to Northern California???
Keep it shredding brother.
Great video.
Rob
Dude your playing is great! I love my Squier J Macis Signature, I honestly don't care what brand it is as long as it sounds good and plays good. Those 40th Anniversary Editions are sweet!
Agree with you. I have guitars from 1.5k up to gibsn custom shop. Just got the Squier J mascis cos was exactly what I was looking, and wanted something different. Love it! Used to have 2 fenders usa pro, and this j mascis putting better hardware and electronics (even though for me are more than good enough for my needs) would be just as good as those (but for some reason those were not inspiring guitars for me, unlike the j mascis)
@@onlyguitars It's funny how that works, isn't it? I played my friends 2022 Gibson 335 and I didn't like it all. I could never justify paying that price tag just for the Gibson name on it. My friend loves it and I'm glad it works for him and what he needs.
@@joshuakeller6687 lol...yeah gibson charges a lot. compare heritage CS vs gibson CS. the starting point is 1600 usd difference, for a guitar that is same level. shows how much gibson charges for the brand.
I love my R8, but it is for me uncomfortably expensive hahaha. If you like 335, try the Eastman's. My Eastman les paul i rate it on same level as my R8. And also I have a USA LP gibson, and just got a heritage ages standard on a trade, so have enough les pauls haha. Will miss the R8, but actually would miss any of my current les pauls (i love les pauls!)
Also if you like S style o T syle guitars, with the more suhr kind of modern feel, check out Shijie Guitars. Very very good! Has a Shijie s style, and blew both fender usa on quality and day of the week. Im tempted at some point to get one of the shijies t style with p90, that just came out! they look awesome!
First electric was classic vibe tele, awesome guitar. Sold it 2 years later and instantly regretted it,🥲 also have a blonde classic vibe 70’s jazz bass… soooo 😎 cool
Nice solo! Fascinating right hand panache! 😎👌
Gosh, that playing. Wow.
I had a Squire Strat in the late 80’s which I foolishly sold. I’m now the proud owner of a Affinity Tele and I just love it.