[jon_stggt]

Not bought one just yet but this guitar has got my serious attention.
Looking at various models such as Ibenez, then I picked up the Squier Esprit. I couldn't believe how this thing felt in my hands, it fit like a glove.
Quite simply it is a beautifully made guitar and could very well be my next purchase.
Here's a little about it:

The Esprit is a modern redesign of a Fender® bearing the same name and is a chambered, carved-top electric that allows for both solidbody and semi-hollow tones. Featuring a mahogany-bound body and set-neck, two atin Duncan Designed™ humbucking pickups and platinum hardware -- the Esprit is a gorgeous sophisticated-looking, fast playing double cutaway electric from the top name in value -- Squier.



All this for just over £300

[allthumbs]

Squires are infamous for their spotty quality. If you have found a good one where everything came together right then you have a good find. Grab it and enjoy.

[Stratrat]

Very cool lookin' guitar, Jon. Squiers can be a real bargain if you find a good one. It seems that their quality control may be getting better - I've been reading more positive reviews than negative lately. I've had nothing but good experiences with Squiers so far.

[737blues]

Can't wait for that to hit the village store out here in the Antipodes .... I'll be down there for a Captain Cook soon as!

Looks like a poor mans version of that Fender Robben Ford plays. Wonder if it will make me sound like him? Just a teensy eeny weeny little bit .... please, please. Cool looking guitar.

[jon_stggt]

The Ibenez SZ series are a possible option too. More or less the same price so I have to give some thought to which would be the better for the money. Not having too much money to play with, I certainly have to get the best I can afford. So Squire V Ibenez at the moment.

[Stratrat]

One thing you might want to look at when comparing the two is weight. The Squier says it's chambered, which (theoretically) should make it a lighter guitar than a solid body. I just looked at one of the Ibanez SZ's, and it says that it's a maple-topped mahogany body...which, if it isn't chambered would (theoretically) make it a heavier guitar. It might not seem like much of a difference sitting in the shop playing it for a few minutes, but a few extra pounds of weight hanging around your neck on a strap could get uncomfortable after a while when you're practicing/playing.

If you have the opportunity to play them both, it will be an enormous help in making your decision. Ignore what's written on the headstock - buy the one that sounds and feels best to you.

[jon_stggt]

Yeah I read up on the chambered part, I believe the idea is to create a diferent sound. I plan to play the SZ in the near future so i'll have a chance to know its feel.
The squire really does feel superb in my hands but I must look more into cost. What seems to be common with squire esprit guitars (despite its superb build) is the fact the frets require leveling which I would have to pay £70 on top of the cost of the guitar.
The guitar is a very nice build from what I have seen but i'm not sure the quality controll is up to much. Certainly I do not like the idea that such a nice guitar is let down by the need to level frets, which is far away from what I would consider standard setting up.
That alone could well be the decider for me.

[737blues]

Actually, leveling and dressing frets is not hard to do if you're reasonably handy but it does require a large pot of elbow grease. Not for everybody I suppose, but I wouldn't pay seventy quid for it.

[jon_stggt]

Originally Posted by 737blues

Actually, leveling and dressing frets is not hard to do if you're reasonably handy but it does require a large pot of elbow grease. Not for everybody I suppose, but I wouldn't pay seventy quid for it.

Thanks for that. coming from an engineering background it really shouldn't be something I would shy away from, but not having carried such work out on guitars I wasn't sure if it was something normally left to the pro's so to speak.
I didn't imagine it would be something beyond my capabilities, your comment has reinforced my original thought.
Thankyou again for you input, much appreciated.

Faced with such a situation in future, I think would opt out of paying someone else £70 to do what I could do myself. (especially with a friendly push from 737blues)

[kittie1823]

That's a beautiful guitar. I own a Squire myself and I've never had a problem with it

[coldethyl]

The Ibanez looks like it has some potential.

[jon_stggt]

Originally Posted by coldethyl

The Ibanez looks like it has some potential.

I hope to play the ibanez this week