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Been looking at the Squier 51... but is there somethin' I'm missing when I look at the price of these, surely they can't be that nice ?? Quality wise, are they up there with the classic vibe series for example ?

Seems totally perfect for what I'm after as a second guitar... do they have a fixed bridge ? Gloss neck ?

hmm... thoughts please ?

Oh, is it actually a direct copy of a strat body ??

cheers
O

othomas2 wrote:Been looking at the Squier 51... but is there somethin' I'm missing when I look at the price of these, surely they can't be that nice ?? Quality wise, are they up there with the classic vibe series for example ?

Seems totally perfect for what I'm after as a second guitar... do they have a fixed bridge ? Gloss neck ?

hmm... thoughts please ?

Oh, is it actually a direct copy of a strat body ??

cheers
O

Fixed bridge, satin neck.

They're very nice, even the tuners are decent quality on mine, stays in tune great after hours of play. The neck is very nice... a bit chunky, but fast. I replaced the pups on mine, but the stocks are actually nice and very distinctive, though with the coil split a higher output humbucker would have been nice. They are very very modworthy.

I don't think the body is exactly strat and I don't have a strat to compare it to... but it's close. I love it, I got mine just because it was super cheap and I wanted a project. ($70) but I'm well happy with it. Definitely a gig worthy instrument and a shining example of what Fender can do for very little cash.

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They are very good guitars, and are stunning for the money. I have heard issues with quality control though, so it would be an idea to play the one you're buying before you part with your cash. I took a risk and lucked out, I love mine.

i think they're pretty fucking hideous. i would however take EJMs modded one up there to bed with me and pluck its strings til the early morn.

stewart wrote:i think they're pretty fucking hideous. i would however take EJMs modded one up there to bed with me and pluck its strings til the early morn.

Thats what's great about them though. For what they cost you can make it look how you want and still have an ace player under $200. It's such a solid guitar for the cash.

The PG's look awful, and I still cant quite get on with the telecaster headstock. BUT I have seen some great projects come out of them.

DanHeron wrote:

I LOVE that one. Thats the first `51 I've ever seen that I liked more than my own. New plans are forming as we speak...

stewart wrote:i think they're pretty fucking hideous.

+1

I like weird shit and that but these just look contrived. It reminds me of that crayon drawering kUrdtz did of a Jag and 'Stang, only with a Strat and Tele. God, they are one fucking ugly guitar.

Thanks for your opinions guys... some nicely modded 51s too !!

Glad it's a fixed bridge, but disappointed that the neck isn't lacquered. Suppose that could be one of the mods I could make !! I've been teetering between another tele or a strat for a while and also and addition of a humbucker, just seems right.

Seen one locally for £100, blonde and black... so might drop him a line.

I really don't think they're ugly at all either... kinda remind me of a strat version of the tele custom

Also, I see that GuitarFetish has some nice cheap pickguards for them. I think this would be a major improvement over the stock.

http://store.guitarfetish.com/sq51cupi.html

Now, i ususlly don't approve of this kind of language, but I'm going to have to make an exception.

Squier 51: GAYTARDED

Squier '51 is like the Scion of guitars. I think it's meant to be customized and raped to your liking. It's the perfect guitar to test things out like how to paint a guitar and such.

roachello wrote:Squier '51 is like the Scion of guitars. I think it's meant to be customized and raped to your liking. It's the perfect guitar to test things out like how to paint a guitar and such.

Thats a perfect analogy. I hated it when I got it, but it was super cheap. I love it now that I've made it mine. It's such solid hardware for such a low price.

There's a ton more HERE.

Its based on the most significant Fender creation of the 50s.



'51 p-bass bodies were the midpoint between tele and strat design. They were telecasters scaled up to be bass guitars, then shrunk back down to design the strat. The Squier '51 was a cool idea.

The pickguard looks OK on the bass, I think because of the single coil pickup placed against it. Looks good. Looks awful on the guitar though. I like the pickguard on that green one above, and the tele bridge from the blue. Them both together would be a good combo.

paul_ wrote:Its based on the most significant Fender creation of the 50s.



'51 p-bass bodies were the midpoint between tele and strat design. They were telecasters scaled up to be bass guitars, then shrunk back down to design the strat. The Squier '51 was a cool idea.

So it is... and it didn't even click with me. Love those basses !!

I also like the 51's as stock.

I think most of the appeal with the '51 is that it was the first entry level guitar Fender had made in years that wasn't strictly a strat or tele. It gave guys who might already own a few of either of those an excuse to buy a budget guitar. When they did, they immediately set about making them more playable, and the '51 mod craze started.

DanHeron wrote:The PG's look awful, and I still cant quite get on with the telecaster headstock. BUT I have seen some great projects come out of them.

Do want, I believe is the phrase.

I thought it was funny how Fender did this but like 20 years after another company Robin had already done a '51 style guitar.