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Fender "Squier Series" Strat questions?
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:38 am
by luciguci
So I found
this Fender Squier series Strat, the one with the big Fender logo and Squier series on the ball end, for 180 dollars or decent trade. I wanted to know if these were any good? I couldn't find a lot of information on it.
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 2:49 am
by mkt3000
MIM? MIK? MIA?
Mexico and US will be the best deal. Korean one will likely be a plywood beast.
I'd offer $100 and settle at no more than $150
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:04 pm
by speedfish
mkt3000 wrote:MIM? MIK? MIA?
Mexico and US will be the best deal. Korean one will likely be a plywood beast.
I'd offer $100 and settle at no more than $150
Yeah, depends on where it was crafted; MIM, MIK, MIJ, MIC...however, some folks have found the MIC, MIK ones to be perfectly acceptable. I just did a setup on a 2011 Squier Bullet 2011 MIC and it took a lot of work, but it plays well now. Find out the country of origin and then compare prices on the Bay of E.
Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:42 pm
by BillClay
Pretty sure that the ones with squier near the end of the headstock are Mexican, and some of the necks on them are unused American necks. So I would definitely go for a less than 2 hundo Mexican with a possible American neck, the only thing sub par on it would be the electronics.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:37 am
by frettedlefty
Only had experience with a more recent production of the "standard" version (not affinity or bullet). Build quality is great and the pickups are ok. Grab it for 150 if it's not a bullet or affinity.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:45 am
by luciguci
frettedlefty wrote:Only had experience with a more recent production of the "standard" version (not affinity or bullet). Build quality is great and the pickups are ok. Grab it for 150 if it's not a bullet or affinity.
A few of you seem to be confused. These are the first Squier guitars that were ever sold by Fender in the '80s after they bought out the Japanese factories that were producing high quality knock offs of American made guitars, like Gibson or Fender The first ones had the Fender logo like usual, and Squier in smaller text on the end of the headstock.
Did some research, these are made in Japan, and they usually had Fender USA pickups and electronics.
I checked on eBay, they can go for up to $1000 and even $2000.
I need to sell something, I am broke, and getting this Strat is really worth 180 bucks for me. Maybe I can knock down the price by asking for the guitar without the crappy amp and cable.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:57 am
by luciguci
By the way, here's a few examples of how pricy these fuckers can get on ebay.
all black strat $999
black p bass $1,070
And then here's the 2k price tags
two tone burst strat $1,950
HOLY SHIT IS THAT A PINK PAISLEY TELE FOR $2,428
So if this guy is offering what I think he's offering (and I'm sure he is, I can see Fender on the headstock and what looks like a tiny "Squier" on the ball, then I'm getting the equivalent of an ~90% discount compared to ebay prices. Holy shit.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 2:57 am
by frettedlefty
Then you answered your own question if it's what you believe it is. Not too keen on old school squiers, just gave you my experience with them. No historian by any means.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:24 am
by Mages
daftsupernova wrote:frettedlefty wrote:Only had experience with a more recent production of the "standard" version (not affinity or bullet). Build quality is great and the pickups are ok. Grab it for 150 if it's not a bullet or affinity.
A few of you seem to be confused. These are the first Squier guitars that were ever sold by Fender in the '80s after they bought out the Japanese factories that were producing high quality knock offs of American made guitars, like Gibson or Fender The first ones had the Fender logo like usual, and Squier in smaller text on the end of the headstock.
Did some research, these are made in Japan, and they usually had Fender USA pickups and electronics.
I checked on eBay, they can go for up to $1000 and even $2000.
I need to sell something, I am broke, and getting this Strat is really worth 180 bucks for me. Maybe I can knock down the price by asking for the guitar without the crappy amp and cable.
this is JV
squier series:

these are fairly rare and were the very first few squier guitars. they were 50s style fenders with spagetti logos. they were made in japan.
[hr]
this is mexican
squier series:

these are more common and were the first mexican standard fenders. has modern style truss rod and logo.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:49 am
by luciguci
Mages wrote:► Show Spoiler
daftsupernova wrote:frettedlefty wrote:Only had experience with a more recent production of the "standard" version (not affinity or bullet). Build quality is great and the pickups are ok. Grab it for 150 if it's not a bullet or affinity.
A few of you seem to be confused. These are the first Squier guitars that were ever sold by Fender in the '80s after they bought out the Japanese factories that were producing high quality knock offs of American made guitars, like Gibson or Fender The first ones had the Fender logo like usual, and Squier in smaller text on the end of the headstock.
Did some research, these are made in Japan, and they usually had Fender USA pickups and electronics.
I checked on eBay, they can go for up to $1000 and even $2000.
I need to sell something, I am broke, and getting this Strat is really worth 180 bucks for me. Maybe I can knock down the price by asking for the guitar without the crappy amp and cable.
this is JV
squier series:

these are fairly rare and were the very first few squier guitars. they were 50s style fenders with spagetti logos. they were made in japan.
[hr]
this is mexican
squier series:

these are more common and were the first mexican standard fenders. has modern style truss rod and logo.
Damn. Did not know about the Mexican Squier series. Did figure out it probably wasn't a Japanese one though, I got a pic from the seller and I had to sharpen, contrast, enhance, and saturate the image until it wasn't cloudy and foggy (he sent it from a Metro PCS phone) The "Squier" looks like the Mexican headstock. Would it still be worth it though, after a tuner and maybe even bridge swap?

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:42 am
by brainfur
the mexi squier strat is not worth it since you can get a used MIM strat for about the same price and you don't have to upgrade as many parts
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:47 am
by brainfur
if u are really broke get this squier for 50 bucks
squier strat
and save up for something better
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:49 am
by brainfur
Re: Fender "Squier Series" Strat questions?
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 1:49 pm
by dezb1
daftsupernova wrote:So I found
this Fender Squier series Strat, the one with the big Fender logo and Squier series on the ball end, for 180 dollars or decent trade. I wanted to know if these were any good? I couldn't find a lot of information on it.
I bought one of these (mij) in the early 90's It's the guitar I regret selling the most, was the best Strat I ever had BUY IT NOW.... reading this post has made me sad... still feel like a fuckin muppet when I think why I sold that guitar... fuckin Antoria rockstar what a Dick.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 3:07 pm
by SKC Willie
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:36 pm
by luciguci
I found someone selling a set of Mexican strat pickups for 15 dollars, which might be what I'll replace the cheap ceramic pickups with. Also, he says he can go as low as 160 for everything, but I don't want the crappy amp and cable, so hopefully he'll go for 120.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 4:46 pm
by BillClay
120 is a good deal. I've never seen a Mexican standard for less than 2 hundo, and that seemed a rare find to me. Should be a fine guitar with different pickups
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:13 pm
by SKC Willie
BillClay wrote:120 is a good deal. I've never seen a Mexican standard for less than 2 hundo, and that seemed a rare find to me. Should be a fine guitar with different pickups
click the two links I found after a 2 minute search, brah.
Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2012 5:20 pm
by luciguci
SKC Willie wrote:BillClay wrote:120 is a good deal. I've never seen a Mexican standard for less than 2 hundo, and that seemed a rare find to me. Should be a fine guitar with different pickups
click the two links I found after a 2 minute search, brah.
MIM Fender Squiers were just slightly below 1990s MIM Standard, but apparently pretty big step below newer MIM Standards.
It's still hard to find a Mexican standard under 200 bucks though.
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:36 am
by hotrodperlmutter
have you played the pickups? all of the squier MIM's i've played have fucking boss ass legit strat sounding pickups in them. i wouldn't change them, especially for some bland ass MIM pickups. they could be the fucking same. not worth it. if they're not to your liking, change the height before you swap them out, dippy.
also: IF THE SERIAL NUMBER IS MZ(ANYTHING HERE) THEN IT IS FUCKING MEXICAN.