The Squier Strat is an ideal beginners guitar, offering a good price for a fair quality. There are many cheap guitars out there, but buying a Squier will generally ensure that you get something worth playing!
History of Fender and Squier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 'Squier' name actually ... Read review
The Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER 6-String Stratocaster Guitar, Maple Fingerboard, Daphne ... more
Blue. Highly affordable and playable Strat with classic single-coil tone. The Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER is a true class act, with a smooth, satin-finished maple neck and classic single-coil tone from three Duncan Designed pickups. Other cool features include a parchment pickguard and aged plastic parts. The main features of the Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER include: Highly affordable and playable Strat with classic single-coil tone Body: Basswood Maple, C-Shape, (Polyurethane Finish) Neck Maple fingerboard, 9.5 inch Radius (241 mm) 22 medium-jumbo frets 3 Duncan Designed SC-101 Single-Coil Pickups Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup) 5-Position Blade Pickup Switching: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo Standard Die-Cast Tuners Chrome Hardware 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard 25.5 inch (648 mm) Scale Length 1.650 inches (42 mm) Width at Nut Unique features include: Aged White Plastic Parts, Traditional Strat Headstock Shape, Satin Finished Maple Neck, Three Duncan Designed Single-Coil Pickups, 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard, Black Dot Position Inlays, Gold Logo Model No: 030-0500-504
Postage & Packaging:£6.00 Availability:Usually ships in 3-10 working days...
The Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER 6-String Stratocaster Guitar, Maple Fingerboard, Pearl ... more
White Metallic. Highly affordable and playable Strat with classic single-coil tone. The Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER is a true class act, with a smooth, satin-finished maple neck and classic single-coil tone from three Duncan Designed pickups. Other cool features include a parchment pickguard and aged plastic parts. The main features of the Squier DELUXE STRATOCASTER include: Highly affordable and playable Strat with classic single-coil tone Body: Basswood Maple, C-Shape, (Polyurethane Finish) Neck Maple fingerboard, 9.5 inch Radius (241 mm) 22 medium-jumbo frets 3 Duncan Designed SC-101 Single-Coil Pickups Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup) 5-Position Blade Pickup Switching: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo Standard Die-Cast Tuners Chrome Hardware 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard 25.5 inch (648 mm) Scale Length 1.650 inches (42 mm) Width at Nut Unique features include: Aged White Plastic Parts, Traditional Strat Headstock Shape, Satin Finished Maple Neck, Three Duncan Designed Single-Coil Pickups, 3-Ply Parchment Pickguard, Black Dot Position Inlays, Gold Logo Model No: 030-0500-523
Postage & Packaging:£6.00 Availability:1 working day delivery available...
The smiling, friendly face of Hello Kitty herself forms the custom pickguard for the ... more
super-cool black Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitar. The Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster features include an agathis body, C-shaped maple neck with 21-fret maple fingerboard, single humbucking bridge pickup, chrome hardware, single volume control (white knob on pink guitar; black knob on black guitar), dot position inlays (pink on pink guitar; black on black guitar), script Hello Kitty logo on back of pink guitar, collage Hello Kitty logo on back of black guitar, ???60s-style large headstock and engraved Squier neck plate. The purr-fect guitar for Hello Kitty fans! Squier Hello Kitty Stratocaster main features include: Body Agathis Neck Maple, C-Shape, (Satin Polyurethane Finish) Fingerboard Maple, 9.5??? Radius (241 mm) No. of Frets 21 Medium Jumbo Pickups 1 Humbucking Pickup (Bridge) Controls Volume Bridge Hard Tail Strings-Thru-Body 6-Saddle Bridge Machine Heads Standard Die-Cast Tuners Hardware Chrome 1-Ply White Hello Kitty Pickguard Scale Length 25.5??? (648 mm) Width at Nut 1.61??? (41 mm) Script Hello Kitty Logo Artwork on Back of Pink Body Collage Hello Kitty Logo Artwork on Back of Black Body Black Control Knob on Black Guitar White Control Knob on Pink Guitar Black Dot Position Inlays on Black Guitar Pink Dot Position Inlays on Pink Guitar Black Silkscreen Squier Logo Engraved Squier Neckplate Rear Routed Control Cavity Strings Fender Super 250L, (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel p/n 073-0250-003
Postage & Packaging:£6.00 Availability:Usually ships in 3-10 working days...
The Squier HELLO KITTY STRAT 6 String, Electric Guitar, Maple Neck and Fingerboard, Pink ... more
"Hello Kitty" Finish. Ideal for fans of Hello Kitty. On the Squier HELLO KITTY STRAT guitar, the smiling friendly face of Hello Kitty herself forms the custom pickguard for this super-cool pink Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitar. Features include an agathis body, C-shaped maple neck with 21-fret maple fingerboard, single humbucking bridge pickup, chrome hardware, single volume control (white knob on pink guitar), dot position inlays (pink on pink guitar), script Hello Kitty logo on back of pink guitar, ???60s-style large headstock and engraved Squier neck plate. The purr-fect guitar for Hello Kitty fans! The main features of the Squier HELLO KITTY STRAT include: Pink "Hello Kitty" Finish on Agathis body Maple, C-Shape, (Satin Polyurethane Finish) Neck Maple fingerboard, 9.5 inch Radius (241 mm) 21 medium-jumbo frets 1 Humbucking Pickup (Bridge) Master Volume control Hard Tail Strings-Thru-Body 6-Saddle Bridge Standard Die-Cast Tuners - machine heads Chrome Hardware 1-Ply White Hello Kitty Pickguard 25.5 inch (648 mm) Scale Length 1.61 inches (41 mm) Width at Nut Unique features include Script Hello Kitty Logo Artwork on Back of Pink Body, White Control Knob on Pink Guitar, Pink Dot Position Inlays on Pink Guitar, Black Silkscreen Squier?? Logo, Engraved Squier Neckplate, Rear Routed Control Cavity 033-5005-570 Fender Part No.
Postage & Packaging:£6.00 Availability:Usually ships in 3-10 working days...
The Squier STANDARD STRATOCASTER 6-String Electric Guitar, Maple Fingerboard, Antique ... more
Burst. Rocking Strat at an incredible price. The beauty of the Squier STANDARD STRATOCASTER guitar is in its classic craftmanship and classic tone, designed by Fender. It plays great, with traditional vibe and modern feel. Player-friendly features like the slimmer neck and 22-fret maple fingerboard make for easier playing, and the die-cast tuners are lifetime-lubricated for years of trouble-free service and tuning stability. A twin-pivot bridge with satin-anodized saddles provides smooth tremolo action, and the single-coil alnico pickups produce the classic Strat tones. The main features of the Squier STANDARD STRATOCASTER include: Antique Burst on Agathis body Maple, C-Shape, (Polyurethane Finish) Neck Maple Fingerboard, 9.5 inches radius (241mm) 22 medium-jumbo frets 3 x Alnico Magnet Single-Coil Pickups Master Volume, Tone 1. (Neck Pickup), Tone 2. (Middle Pickup) controls 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo bridge Standard Die-Cast Tuners - machine heads Chrome Hardware 4-Ply Tortoise Shell Pickguard 25.5 inch (648 mm) Scale Length 1.650 inches (42 mm) Width at Nut Unique features include Large ???60s Style Headstock, Gold and Black Squier Logo, Engraved Neckplate, White Plastic Parts, Dot Position Inlays 032-1602-537 Fender Part No.
Postage & Packaging:£6.00 Availability:Usually ships in 3-10 working days...
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Advantages: Good price for a good guitar Disadvantages: Not great quality for a more experienced player
The Squier Strat is an ideal beginners guitar, offering a good price for a fair quality. There are many cheap guitars out there, but buying a Squier will generally ensure that you get something worth playing!
History of Fender and Squier
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 'Squier' name actually comes from Fender, one of the earliest and biggest names in the history of the electric guitar. The Fender name began over 60 ... ...is when Fender began using Squier as the name for their range of affordable guitars, and has grown since then.
The first Squiers were produced from 1982. If you have one of these early guitars they are quite high in value. Squiers were originally made in Japan and then Korea, but since these factories have closed, these have become rather limited edition guitars, and therefore their value has increased. Check with Squier for serial ... more
The Squier Strat is an ideal beginners guitar, offering a good price for a fair quality. There are many cheap guitars out there, but buying a Squier will generally ensure that you get something worth playing!
History of Fender and Squier ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The 'Squier' name actually comes from Fender, one of the earliest and biggest names in the history of the electric guitar. The Fender name began over 60 years ago and has since developed an enormous reputation for quality guitars. As electric guitars grew in popularity, other companies were making copies of the Fender styles, and selling at cheaper prices. This is when Fender began using Squier as the name for their range of affordable guitars, and has grown since then.
The first Squiers were produced from 1982. If you have one of these early guitars they are quite high in value. Squiers were originally made in Japan and then Korea, but since these factories have closed, these have become rather limited edition guitars, and therefore their value has increased. Check with Squier for serial numbers if you wish to know more.
The Squier Strat ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, onto the modern day Squiers. The Stratocaster (or Strat) style is probably one of the most famous designs of guitar on the market today. To the untrained eye, as I once was, all guitars can look the same, but in fact, there are hundreds of designs, with new shapes appearing all the time. The mainstay of all of these though, is the Stratocaster, originally designed by the man himself, Leo Fender, in 1954. It is no coincidence that this is still one of the most popular designs after all these years. The shape is perfectly curved to sit on one's knee, to strum and pick with ease. The 'cutaway' - what produces the devil horn shape! - is ideally designed to reach the frets further along the guitar. All this together makes the Strat beautifully comfortable to hold.
Squier Strats are produced at a cheaper price to Fender guitars; Fenders' Standard Strat retails at about £410, whereas the Squier Standard retails at £210. This is due to less high quality materials being used, different quality woods for the body and neck. For an experienced player, this would be a noticeable difference as it affects the entire tone of the guitar, but a beginner would be just as blissfully ignorant to the tone of either! My point being, until you have developed a 'guitarists ear', if you like, there is no need to spend money on a higher tone quality - unless you just HAVE to have the Fender name on your headstock!
The Range ~~~~~~~~~
Available to buy are the Squier Strat Standard, rrp £210, and the Squier Strat Affinity, rrp £150. The Standard again has a slightly better tone quality and also has 22 frets, where the Affinity has 21. Again, to a beginner, 1 fret won't make much difference at all! This would only really be used in quite tricky guitar solos at the high end of the guitar. Also available is the Fat Strat, at a similar price to the Standard, but with a humbucker pickup.
What's a humbucker? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The basic Strat comes with three single-coil pickups, spaced at different positions on the body to give a varied tone. A humbucker could also be called a double-coil pickup, but lets face it, in the world of rock 'n roll, humbucker just sounds cooler! It is basically a doubled up pickup, which eliminates a buzzy twang (technical term!) that you get on single-coils. This buzz though, is quite characteristic of the Strat, but you can always switch between pickups so you have the option.
Playablity ~~~~~~~
This is the first electric I ever learnt on. I must say it is a joy to play, the frets are very smoothly filed down, so you avoid any catching as you slide your hand up the neck. A good test if you get to try before you buy is to run your hand along the neck, gripping it as if playing. The frets should not be sticking out enough to catch your hand. The intonation (tuning) is also very good on a Squier, and everything has been nicely set up to ensure a good sound when playing. The shape is very comfortable, but I would recommend using a strap to support it. It provides a good range of tone, from quite bassy to a very trebly 'twangy' sound (think The Shadows) and all the bits between!
Amplifiers ~~~~~~~~
I should make a note here, that the tone controls only work through an amplifier, the guitar does make a sound without one, but very quietly, only suitable for note practice. Amps can normally be bought in packs with the guitar, and a 10 watt amp should be fine for any beginner practicing nervously in their room! In true rock chick style though, I have to recommend to anyone to get a slightly meatier amp if they can, a 20w to 30w should suffice most homes, and although you probably won't turn it up fully (unless you don't like the neighbours!), a more powerful amp will give a much fuller sound, even at lower volumes.
So to summarise, the Squier Strat is definitely a good guitar for a beginner, and by buying the Squier name you know you are getting a well-made guitar, from a well-known manufacturer. Do check around for prices, as the ones I have given here are only the full retail price. Also look around for bundle deals, where you can buy guitar, amp and all accessories for a much better price.
I have not bought any of these online before, I would always recommend buying this sort of thing from a shop where you can go and see what you're buying! If buying online however, I would avoid second hand instruments unless you know what you're looking for, as some things with slight 'wear and tear' can have more serious problems with the intonation and give a generally out-of-tune sound - very offputting to a new player! Some of the widest range and best prices I have found online are at,
www.soundslive.co.uk
although what their delivery and service is like I cannot say. For left-handers, don't despair! There are a few available. I found a couple online at good prices at
www.lefthandedguitars.co.uk
For more information on Squiers full product range you can check out www.squierguitars.com where you can find loads of funky alternatives to the Strat.
Advantages: cheap, good sound Disadvantages: cheap components, finish liable to chipping
If you are a rock star in your head but you haven't got their budget then the Strat is a good choice. It has all the features of a standard Fender Stratocaster and the styling is the same, however whereas a Fender is nigh on £500, this is around the £100 mark. Why? You ask… Because some liberties are taken with the quality of components and materials to make it the perfect guitar to start with.
The usual way to buy this is as part of a boxed set ... ...(and the neighbours) can hear yourself play, as well as an instructional video, lead, plectrum and shoulder strap. However, you would be well advised to buy these separately because they aren't very durable.
The guitar comes in a variety of gloss finishes including red, black and sunburst. The finish is reasonably durable, however one small bang against a corner could end up making a hole in the finish (as happened with mine). It is self-finishing, ...
neilmoore67 22.04.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Advantages: Price, playability and erm....price? Disadvantages: Everything not mentioned above
Basic Specs: It has 3 single coil stock pickups, a standard fender tremolo bridge, 2 tone and 1 volume knobs, 3-way selector switch.
First of all, don't parade the fact that you have a squier. They're generally despised in the guitar world. It looks similar to a Fender Mexican Strat, followng the basic stratocaster design.
=== Sound quality ===
Its bad, but its not horrible. For the untrained ear, its fine for about a year. But soon you realise ... ...The stock pickups are poor and mine broke after a few months. Horrible response, and .... FEEDBACK. It's actually shocking. As soon as I switch it on these days, there is and instant hum, and a loud one at that. NOT good.
But to be fair, the tone knobs add some versatility to the thing. You can get a sharp, bright tinny tone to a dark, muddy tone. Replace the pickups on this thing to something of higher quality and you should be sorted in this sector.
...
Sparx22 08.04.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Advantages: Cheap, great for begginers, very hard to break. Disadvantages: Buzzes alot, only has single coil pick-ups
I got a Squier strat as my first electric guitar this christmas. I'm a beginner, so I'm not a brilliant judge of guitar quality, but I can say that this is the perfect beginners guitar(unless your mega rich and can afford anything you want). Strats, Fender or copies, are ded 'ard to break, mine has been repeatedly kicked, smashed into wall, dropped on the floor, etc... and still works 'almost' the same as when I got it. There is only one fault that ... ...pick-up doesn't work when only the bridge-pickup is selected. However, it dosen't make much difference to me 'cos it's stuck on a nice loud crunchy sound which is what I use most of the time anyway. Other than that there has been no serious damage, sure there are tons of scratches and dents, but I like them, they make it look better. There are three single-coil pickups, with a five-way selector switch. A usefull feature of strats is the coil tapping ...
The_Anti-Santa 14.05.2001 (10.06.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Advantages: Looks exactly like the real thing, build quality: feels robust, sound is ok, very cheap, neck colour (it's orangey not creamy), playability. Disadvantages: Tremelo Arm breaks strings easily.
...I saw a Red Fender Squier Stratocaster and a new £45 amp for sale, costing £80. As this seemed a great deal and I was just starting out I travelled for 2 hours to get it. At the time it looked like a fairly bog standard electric and the strings were bad, but once I had changed them it played nicely.
It turns out that the guitar was built in the '79-'82 period, so it's an old one, made in Korea, but it sounds and feels nice. It's a decent weight, ...
hazboss 31.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Advantages: Cheap, good quality Disadvantages: basic, not for experienced players
As everybody knows, Squier is the 'baby' company of Fender, producing cheaper versions of Fender guitars.
This is the Squier version of the Stratocaster, probably the most iconic electric guitar design there is. The starter pack includes:
The guitar
Strap
plectrums
tuition book
amp
The guitar itself is well built, some people find that the volume/tone knobs may occasionally come loose but that's easy to fix and does not affect playability ... ...The amp is a Squier SP10. It's a 10W amp, with volume, treble, and bass controls, and two channels (clean and overdrive). There's also a headphone output. 10W is easily enough to, for example, practice in a bedroom, and the sound isn't too bad. There is however quite a lot of noise on the overdrive channel once you turn the volume up. If you were planning to play a gig you'd need a much larger amp, but anybody buying this guitar is likely to be a ...
hengler 03.03.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar
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Advantages: You can rock with cool dudes Disadvantages: There are cheaper copies available
plug into that really is all you get.
I've seen good players twiddle those very few controls to great effect producing surprisingly different tones. Obviously the overall sound is going to be dependent on the ability of the player and the quality of the amplification and effects used.
You can buy copies of this iconic guitar complete with a small practice amplifier quite cheaply. Squier make the best in my opinion. My son had one of their boxed SquierStratocasters for his first electricguitar and the quality is excellent. For his last birthday, however, he wanted a 'proper' Fender - a 'real' one! Now the Squier may not be a 'real' Fender but it is a perfectly serviceable instrument and a good, professional player could use one every night of the week. It would play fine and sound super. However, that misses the point ...
