Worth buying a Squier? - Page 4

Berto · September 10th, 2007

Ok, just a quick question.

I've come to the realization that my guitar is never going to "get better", and that taking it to a professional would do it little good. It's because it's a rather old, badly made Hohner Rockwood, which seems to be part of the "dud" family of cheap guitars. I think there's some going on ebay for around £20, and that says a lot I think

Anyway, I was already planning on buying a new guitar soon, it's just come a bit sooner than my finances would have liked. I can't keep playing on the Hohner, as much as it pains me, because the sound is so off and only now do I realize it's not because I'm usless at tuning (I'm actually not that bad I think).

To the main point: I don't have much money to spare on a guitar, so the price range is hovering around the £150 - £200 mark, don't need an amp as I got a new one a few months back, and right now the intonation and basic sound is more improtant than the quality of the amp.

Is it worth getting a squier in the £150 - £200 range? As bad as the hohner sounds, and as impossible as it is to get in tune, I still like the basic Strat sound over the Les Pauls and Telecasters I've had the chance to play, so a Squier seems like the safe choice for a begginer like myself, just want ot make sure I'm not heading for another guitar that will bring more frustration than joy (sigh).

I swear I try ot make these posts as short as possible.

pwgrahamster · #46 October 7th, 2008

I think the hot one to try for you might be a Cool Vibes tele if you can find one. They had one at Hydes, but on the day I went in to buy it, it had already gone. The squier cool vibes is really original tele in many ways. First, the body is pine. People laugh about this, but it's what they made the original broadcasters out of. It has alnico 2 pickups in it too. The one I tried felt and sounded great.

If you want real "krang" from a squier, try a Tele Custom II with the P-90s in em -- I've been using one of those stock -- beautiful. Otherwise there is a '51 if you can find one. I used it stock on a track by naomi sunderland called "evolution" -- you can prolly hear that on Last.fm â€“ The Social Music Revolution or www.coffeebeanrecords.com -- the 51 with original pups has the "clear tinny-ness" vibe. I changed out my 51 pups for a tv jones bridge and a dimarzio tele neck, which sounds amazing. I should get around to putting up some sound samples of these things. I got em really humming.

Stratrat · #47 October 7th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwgrahamster

I think the hot one to try for you might be a Cool Vibes tele if you can find one. They had one at Hydes, but on the day I went in to buy it, it had already gone. The squier cool vibes is really original tele in many ways. First, the body is pine. People laugh about this, but it's what they made the original broadcasters out of. It has alnico 2 pickups in it too. The one I tried felt and sounded great...

+1 to PWG's advice above - the Squier Classic Vibe Tele has been getting great reviews from a lot of Tele enthusiasts.....haven't read anything bad about it yet.

pwgrahamster · #48 October 7th, 2008

Thanks for correcting me and for the link - classic vibes it is indeed - so much for my memory.

Darkhorizon · #49 October 11th, 2008

"If you want real "krang" from a squier, try a Tele Custom II with the P-90s in em -- I've been using one of those stock -- beautiful. "

I bought one of those about an month ago and for the money it is great guitar. Collected mine from the guitar shop and it produces a good range of sound. It has a really nice playing action as well.

Noodler · #50 October 11th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

+1 to PWG's advice above - the Squier Classic Vibe Tele has been getting great reviews from a lot of Tele enthusiasts.....haven't read anything bad about it yet.

Definitely keen on the 1950's version I have seen, made of pine. Haven't seen them advertised or around yet, but sometimes we get things behind the States.

Had a go of a Custom Shop Tele the other day. Wow! Such sustain and resonance. Seems the best sounds come from really cheap or really expensive Fenders.

I'll have a look at the p90 one, haven't seen it yet.

pwgrahamster, Coffe BEan radio link didn't work. Got me there but couldn't play songs.

Noodler · #51 October 11th, 2008

I tried a 72 Deluxe Reissue the other day (similar to the p90 one) and despite it being a guitar that I thought would have it all, it was a bit uncomfortable. The strings rattled badly and buzzed, and all the knobs put me off. It's not supposed to be a Gretsch or a Gibbo.

Darkhorizon, I'm glad that you enjoy yours though. It's got a real Indy rock(Independent record label) kind of cool about it. I still like the image of it.

BTW, anyone know the difference between Alnico 2,3 and 5 magnets?

As another aside, I saw a super-cool version of the obey graphic design at the Fender Custom Shop site:

Fender® Custom Shop

Darkhorizon · #52 October 11th, 2008

Thanks Noodle, I asked the shop to make sure mine was OK as I know sometimes the build quality on the squires can vary alot. The P90 I got is really nice with no rattle or buzz so far.

Lcjones · #53 October 11th, 2008

I picked one of these Squires a couple of months ago for my son. Found it a my local shop so I got a good deal on it. None the less, the quality of this model is very high. Great action. Great tones. And really a beauty to look at.

Review of the Squier Master Chambered Telecaster

Noodler · #54 October 12th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkhorizon

Thanks Noodle, I asked the shop to make sure mine was OK as I know sometimes the build quality on the squires can vary alot. The P90 I got is really nice with no rattle or buzz so far.

That's the idea.

I tried two Affinity Teles the other day, straight after each other. The first one played and sounded very nice, but it was black and had someweird timber stains on the headstock. So I tried a blue one (same model) and it was totally different in feel and sound. If they were all like the black one, I'd order one in in red, but as you say, it doesn't work like that.

LCJones,

Quote:

Mixing the two together gave a beautiful rich, ringing, chiming tone that held on and died gracefully thanks to the mahogany's sustain.

That dying gracefully is a beautiful thing, and is surprising for a budget instrument. Sounds like a fine choice.

juslikeplayin · #55 October 12th, 2008

I bought an MIM strat a while ago and set it up with some sweet low action.Plays nice.Then a couple of weeks later,I tried a friend's Squier.I couldn't tell the difference.It played just as good as mine,I thought.I'm no expert,but I'm pretty sure I know when something feels harder to play.Just like everyone says,try a few out.