Squier Bullet Strat

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 6:23 pm

I'm going to be without a guitar for the next 3, maybe 4 weeks and am thinking about picking up an inexpensive second guitar in the meantime as I'm already going nuts. I have some money left over after selling an effects unit this past weekend, but not enough for something like a CV or even a VM. I tried out a Bullet yesterday at a GC and although the tuners were crap and I'd want to replace the strings, it actually sounded fine and I thought it was an amazing value for the money. I only wish the GCs and Best Buys around here had the Daphne Blue instead of the Arctic White, which looks more like pale blonde to me. And I've actually seen a couple on the local CL for much cheaper than what they're retailing for.

My question is, are these guitars that would be worth keeping and upgrading in the future or is it a matter of "don't expect much more than what you're getting"?

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:30 pm

i think that they're really great. they seem to play almost exactly like my MIM strat from the early 00's, and sound pretty good too. full tonal range that you could ever hope for from a strat.

a friend got a red one that is a really nice, bright fiesta red. and if robroe will ever send me the mint guard from my old bullet, i'll put it on because the white is just too white and looks cheap.

EDIT: to answer your question more directly, i think they're worth upgrading. new tuners and a better/blocked trem is probably all you'll need. unless you just can't get on with the neck, but i find it to be really nice for 120 bones.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:35 pm

I like them. Good choice of colors, too.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:40 pm

Personally i'd get an Affinity model. That Strat i had was as good as some MIM's i've had in the past.

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:49 pm

Is the trem problematic? I've seen both hardtail examples and some with trems. Saw an Arctic white/pale blonde on CL for $60 and an older cobalt blue hardtail one for $75. The savings are almost enough to make me forget it's not Daphne blue. Best Buy also has a special on Fiesta Red Bullets for $99 right now (online).

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:51 pm

except affinity's don't come with small headstocks, and they're probably the same shit tuners.

$59 extra for what, then? better pickups? shit colors?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 8:59 pm

well worth it for a cheap fix.... $60 on CL all day long..... and check out GFS's site before u buy just so u know how much parts are if u do decide to upgrade...

also do u plan on using the trem?..... if not an extra spring or two in the back will make it basically a hardtail....

I am actually kinda suprised ur not leaning toward an Squier Affin Tele... they go for $80-100 on CL regularly

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:05 pm

I'd like to have at least one guitar with a trem. Not a huge deal, but I liked using the one on my BT Jazzmaster.

As far as Affinity Teles--the local CL has been sucking lately in terms of deals. And I've been wanting to try a Strat for a long time. The guitar I'm waiting on is a Thinline Tele, btw.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:15 pm

If you don't like the trem, they can take a standard MIM Fender trem.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:17 pm

I have never got on with strat trems... I personally find the trems on the JM alot more usable for me......

although I would prolly still have my strat if i did not constantly hit the switch while strumming

have u looked at Rondo or GFS for their deals on Tele's.... I know GFS has affordale thinlines and ones with p90s too... but they are prolly double what the Strat would cost u

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:23 pm

GFS has a lot of horror stories lately. Rondo's good, but at the price of lower end Squiers, I don't know why one would bother.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:24 pm

honeyiscool wrote:GFS has a lot of horror stories lately. Rondo's good, but at the price of lower end Squiers, I don't know why one would bother.

wut? GFS has always been perfect in terms of communication, shipping and price. Whatchatalkinboutwillis?

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:25 pm

honeyiscool wrote:GFS has a lot of horror stories lately.

thats good info to know, thanks

@ sparky... I think he is referring to their guitars

plaidbeer · Post by **plaidbeer** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:26 pm

All of the Rondo and GFS guitars have 12-inch radii. It's not a good fit for me and is the main reason I couldn't get on with the Casino. The 7.25 radius of the Tele Thinline feels really comfortable. I just wish Rondo & GFS offered some guitars with that neck radius, but I understand why they don't.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:27 pm

Sparky wrote:wut? GFS has always been perfect in terms of communication, shipping and price. Whatchatalkinboutwillis?

I post on Harmony Central and I've gotten a few accounts of crappy Xaviere guitars. People are either pissed off or ecstatic about them, rarely in the middle.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:27 pm

SGJarrod wrote:
honeyiscool wrote:GFS has a lot of horror stories lately.
thats good info to know, thanks

@ sparky... I think he is referring to their guitars

What are the horror stories and can links to forums or threads be produced?

I'm not calling anyone a liar here or anything, but I've only ever read literally many hundreds of threads on various forums about how GFS products are excellent and I've never heard any complaints about their service.

SGJarrod · Post by **SGJarrod** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:30 pm

would not mind links either

I have no experience with their guitars but I know their service and other products are top notch, from reading and experience... I actually was just emailing them today about F spaced hb's.....

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:32 pm

I've had naught but great experiences with all of GFS's products that I've purchased. Though I've never bought one of their guitars.

Robroe has, and he LOVES it.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:38 pm

I've never had problems with GFS products and I've ordered from them several times. I'm talking about Xaviere guitars specifically.

It's not like I can find links off the top of my head but it's not hard to go to Google, type in "Xaviere," and click Discussions, and see what people have been saying about them in the last year. People seem to think that GFS has dropped off in customer service lately as well, which kind of exposes their products for being slightly marked up mass market products, really. Yes, you can get a lot of comparable parts even cheaper from other sellers, like bezdez there on Ebay.

I was contemplating a Thinline and had someone tell me they were getting a Xaviere Thinline so I told him to keep me posted then he wrote me a long PM saying he believes it was a mistake getting that thing. The string ferrules were drilled horribly and mangled under the bridge, there was nasty buzzing, and the neck was poorly fit, and he had to haggle to get any service at all. This was about a couple months ago. I'd copy paste if I hadn't had to empty out my Inbox since then.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Wed Jul 13, 2011 9:52 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:except affinity's don't come with small headstocks, and they're probably the same shit tuners.

$59 extra for what, then? better pickups? shit colors?

I like the larger headstock. The tuners are better based on the Bullet model i had anyway, and the neck.

plaidbeer wrote: Is the trem problematic?

The one i had worked great. Only went out of tune if you really dunked the whole thing, like most Strat trems.