I just got a Squier Affinity Strat and it was flawless out of the box! Smooth fret ends, no high frets, perfect nut height, action perfectly within specs, perfect metallic blue paint, switches and knobs felt good, tuners were solid. And it sounds great! I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it, and I’ve been playing a Gibson SG for 30 years. I scratched my head wondering how they can make such a great guitar for under $250 US. Did I just get a “Good One”? I dunno, but it came with a 5 point set-up and check list signed off by each person who set it up. Squier seems to take quality and consistency seriously IMO. I now prefer playing this Strat as I love the sound and it opens up new possibilities I have been missing with just an SG. I also got an Epiphone Les Paul Special 2 and nothing wrong with that either. Why seeing so many being sold 2nd hand? Maybe they were gifts to kids who didn’t have the patience to actually learn an instrument, or got suckered into thinking they need a top quality brand that costs 5x as much…only to discover it’s nowhere near 5x better. IMO “affordable” or “beginner” guitar quality has dramitcally increased and is no longer “beginner” status in some brands…just quality that’s not overpriced. Look at comparison videos and you’ll find many like the Squier “hotter” pick ups better than the Fender Alnicos.
Used there are. Person A buys 2023 an SG Std. Loses job. Sells 20% below used value and 60% below new. Tax free, unplayed. You can buy it local. Resale value holds w/ inflation while you gig it. Not a bargain, tho, if you don’t need it.
Got a jet guitar here in Ireland for €215, their most basic strat type with 3 single coils. Beautiful guitar with a fantastic roasted maple neck which is as good if not better than my 2015 fender Mexican standard. I did try them in the shop first though
A cnc machine in China is every bit as good as one in the U.S, where do you think Fender got theirs ? It's not like the $1000 - $5000 name brand guitars are made any differently than a $76 Amazone special that comes complete with a bag of goodies. Where these cheap guitars fall behind is quality control and components, sometimes that is not even true. A dirty little secrete, oftentimes the components used in all sorts of goods are sourced over seas, and oftentimes those manufacturers rebrand those components and sell them for 1/100th what we pay for them in the U.S, and oftentimes companies like Best Choice products on Amazon takes those same pickup's that are in a $600 fender and puts them in a budget guitar... It's true. High end guitars were something exclusive and expensive, those days are coming to an end, especially with CNC machines in just about every hobbyist woodworkers shop.
The used market over there must be much better than here. A used Les Paul Studio Faded, the ones that used to sell for around 800 euros new now sell for about 1K used. It's becoming rediculous.
3:39 Great video! I agree 💯 with your views on "make money" videos (and was how I found your original channel a few years ago)! Hope everything going well, great to see you are still doing videos. I know I don't comment as much these days, I've been trying to spend less time on RUclips, etc. 😀
I just got a Squier Affinity Strat and it was flawless out of the box! Smooth fret ends, no high frets, perfect nut height, action perfectly within specs, perfect metallic blue paint, switches and knobs felt good, tuners were solid. And it sounds great! I couldn’t find a thing wrong with it, and I’ve been playing a Gibson SG for 30 years. I scratched my head wondering how they can make such a great guitar for under $250 US. Did I just get a “Good One”? I dunno, but it came with a 5 point set-up and check list signed off by each person who set it up. Squier seems to take quality and consistency seriously IMO. I now prefer playing this Strat as I love the sound and it opens up new possibilities I have been missing with just an SG. I also got an Epiphone Les Paul Special 2 and nothing wrong with that either.
Why seeing so many being sold 2nd hand? Maybe they were gifts to kids who didn’t have the patience to actually learn an instrument, or got suckered into thinking they need a top quality brand that costs 5x as much…only to discover it’s nowhere near 5x better.
IMO “affordable” or “beginner” guitar quality has dramitcally increased and is no longer “beginner” status in some brands…just quality that’s not overpriced. Look at comparison videos and you’ll find many like the Squier “hotter” pick ups better than the Fender Alnicos.
A little known secret, there are absolutely no bargains when it’s comes the guitar gear.
Used there are. Person A buys 2023 an SG Std. Loses job. Sells 20% below used value and 60% below new. Tax free, unplayed. You can buy it local.
Resale value holds w/ inflation while you gig it. Not a bargain, tho, if you don’t need it.
Got a jet guitar here in Ireland for €215, their most basic strat type with 3 single coils. Beautiful guitar with a fantastic roasted maple neck which is as good if not better than my 2015 fender Mexican standard. I did try them in the shop first though
Market is down. New- Fender Players Series need to sell for Players II release. Sterling CT50’s for $350. 2023 ‘used’ Blues Jr’s for $350.
Absolutely true what you say ! Very interesting and helpful ! Thank you for sharing !
Thanks for watching - don't forget to like and subscribe if you enjoy the video
A cnc machine in China is every bit as good as one in the U.S, where do you think Fender got theirs ?
It's not like the $1000 - $5000 name brand guitars are made any differently than a $76 Amazone special that comes complete with a bag of goodies.
Where these cheap guitars fall behind is quality control and components, sometimes that is not even true. A dirty little secrete, oftentimes the components used in all sorts of goods are sourced over seas, and oftentimes those manufacturers rebrand those components and sell them for 1/100th what we pay for them in the U.S, and oftentimes companies like Best Choice products on Amazon takes those same pickup's that are in a $600 fender and puts them in a budget guitar... It's true.
High end guitars were something exclusive and expensive, those days are coming to an end, especially with CNC machines in just about every hobbyist woodworkers shop.
As long as a guitar is able to be set up and, it is a great guitar. The greatest guitar in novice hands is still going to sound crappy
Can't get $300 MIM Fenders around here
The used market over there must be much better than here. A used Les Paul Studio Faded, the ones that used to sell for around 800 euros new now sell for about 1K used. It's becoming rediculous.
It really depends where in the UK, Scotland seems to be more expensive than England for some reason
@@guitarstuffstudio I think the price hike of new guitars has led the prices of used gear up as well
3:39 Great video! I agree 💯 with your views on "make money" videos (and was how I found your original channel a few years ago)!
Hope everything going well, great to see you are still doing videos. I know I don't comment as much these days, I've been trying to spend less time on RUclips, etc. 😀
Thanks man. I know what you mean about spending time on YT as well, I'm as gui;ty as anyone
go to a good shop
100% agree - unfortunately too many people rely on/believe what they read on the internet