Atten: Guitar Type People Fender/Squire relationship??

[Dumpster 0]

So what are the details about the Fender Stratocaster/ Squire guitars?

Easy Does It

[DSE 5]

Fender jobbers out their Squire series guitars to Samick, who is an OEM manufacturer of low-cost and usually low-grade instruments. Squire is a trademark of Fender, but they're not anywhere close to the quality of the Fullerton instruments.

[Nightingale 0]

Squiers are heavier because they are made with a denser wood. The denser wood emphasizes the mid to bass frequencies, while the lighter wood of the fender emphasizes the higher frequencies. You can compensate for the difference with pickups and other technology, though.

Squiers generally have a traditional three position pickup selector, while newer strats have a five way selector, giving you easy access to the in between positions that can be difficult to obtain on a three way selector.

The original squiers from 20-25 years ago are great instruments, but since then, the quality has declined, and squiers have a reputation for being inconsistent. Apparently, the foreign instruments are not subjected to the extremely strict quality control of the fullerton instruments. They're heavier, have lower quality electronics, hardware, and wood. The fit and finish is usually not as good as a strat, and you have to be careful to check to make sure they don't have quality issues such as knots in the wood, warped necks, and crackly jacks. The strats also have better pickups, electronics, tuners, nuts, bridges, tremolo systems, frets, wood and build quality than the squiers built today.

Also, very important: Fenders have a lifetime warranty. Squiers have a one year warranty.

If you can afford it, spend the money for an american made fender strat.

[Dumpster 0]

Here's the serial number - The guitar has a Floyd Rose II tremolo package on it, and five-way selector.
Ask you you'd like to see more pics, etc.

I took this guitar in trade for some new gear - Hope I didn't get terribly hosed -

Easy Does It

[Nightingale 0]

More pics would be helpful, so would a posted version of the serial number. There's a bit of a glare on it, so I can't read the whole thing. Without being able to see the first few digits, I can't tell you much about the guitar.

Also, do you know the year it was made?

[Dumpster 0]

T006982 - No idea what year it was built -
More pics -

Easy Does It

[cloudseeker2001 0]

I do not play guitar, I play bass......but, overall Fender has gone down and I think other companies have better products to offer for the money. The Fenders made in Mexico and America are hit and miss on the quality and you may get lucky with a good one. Even the guitars that are produced in the Fender Custom Shop are of inconsistent quality. BUT, every Japanese made Fender I have ever seen kicked ass.....and the Fender you posted was made in Japan. Compare the binding tap, quality of the fretts, glue and overall construction of the Japanese to the American and you will see! Also, take the guitar to a pro guitar tech and have him set it up for you and check to make sure it has the right pots, pickups and good neck. The Japanese Fenders have better resale value as well.

I just bought a new Jazz bass to replace a Fender Mexican made J-bass. I really wanted the Fender 75 reissue but did not want to spend the cash. Most all the Fenders I looked at had some kind of quality issue-this was in the 1500-2500$ range. Then I decided to look at the Getty Lee which is made in Japan and the quality is out of this world. This bass is even better than the Sadowsky, which is a 3K bass! The Getty was only 700$.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[cloudseeker2001 0]

Quote

T006982 - No idea what year it was built -
More pics -

You should be able to trace the year through the serial number. Go to the Fender site and see if they have the info. If not, a good guitar tech can look it up for you.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[cloudseeker2001 0]

Also, very important: Fenders have a lifetime warranty. Squiers have a one year warranty.

That is what they say, but trying to get them to replace or fix something is totally different. I even talked the regional Fender rep and he was of no help.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Dumpster 0]

Built 94-95.

Easy Does It

[yamtx73 0]

A Japanese built Floyd Rose... it has an 'upgraded' tremolo and much better electronics than a typical Squire, if it stays in tune I'd say you didn't get hosed. The few Squires I've played with have all had the same problem of falling out of tune when being played. That problem is easily fixed with a good set of tuners...

The only naturals in this sport shit thru feathers...

[Nightingale 0]

Ok. I was a bit stumped, because the T serial number stands for Tribute series. Looking at it, it looks like a Japanese 1995 Floyd Rose Standard Stratocaster. I called the fender museum (about 2 blocks from my house) and asked them, and they thought the same. they said you should take it to a dealer to confirm, but it's probably worth about $400.

[Dumpster 0]

Sweet - I didn't get hosed - Really appreciate the legwork!

Easy Does It

[Nightingale 0]

You're welcome. I learned some stuff while I was trying to get your info. =)

[Akey 0]

Squires can be a decent guitar, and i would say they can be excellent value for money. Indeed a good squire is not hugly disimilar to a bad mexican IMHO, you are paying quite a bit for the name. But an american strat is in a different ball game really. Also keep in mind if cost is an issue that you get a half decent amp if you are going to be playing gigs.
Side note, when you get your guitar, make sure you get it set up by a pro, makes a HUGE difference.

[Nightingale 0]

Squiers can be decent, but their quality is spotty and inconsistent. When you buy an american made strat, you know what you're going to get. When you buy a squier, it could be great, it could suck. You take your chances.

I've always believed that when you start to play an instrument, you need to get the best one you can afford. If you get something that isn't great, you don't have the experience to know whether the lousy sound is your playing or the instrument, and it can be very, very frustrating. Minimizing frustration is one of the keys to sticking to music lessons.

[cloudseeker2001 0]

So, how does it sound and what are you playing it through?
If you ever want to upgrade, check out Pearl Caster. They are custom made in Vegas and they are super nice and worth the extra cash!

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Dumpster 0]

Actually, I took the guitar in trade for some new skydiving equipment - I used to play bass years ago.

I had an Epiphone short-scale bass and enjoyed a Fender Precision for while, and ran 'em through a Guild Thunderbass amp on top of two 14" speakers. After a while I even built my own guitar, using Carvin pickups and Schaller machine heads and bridge. Everthing was mahogany and maple. Got me an A in wood class, then an enginering goof lead the neck/body joint failing. Cest le vie -

But I kinda lost touch with the music scene. I recognized the locking whammy bar and top nut set up, and figured between it and the amplifier I'd be able to sell it and it's all good.

Thanks everyone for the help!!

Easy Does It