Which Squier's are what

jimbojo · 07-01-2010, 02:06 AM

Just wondering what is the standard opinion on Squiers in relation to where they are made, Japan, Mexico, Korea, China, Indonesia, Any seem to shine better than others, I know the Japanese go pretty high on ebay. What is the skinny on the others. Your opinion counts

Thanks,

Jimbo

Phoenix59 · 07-01-2010, 03:44 AM

I have a 2000 Affinity Strat and a 2003 Affinity P-bass. Both are Indonesian, serial number IC's which indicates the Cort factory. I love both of them.

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 02:22 PM

it really depends on model, year, and country it was made.

squier were initially made in japan starting in 1982 along side fenders in a factory called fugi-gen.

all the squiers coming out of this factory from 1982-late 80s are great guitars and amost equal to the fenders but not as good wood quality or electronics but equal build qualities.

many will agree that these guitars are close or equal to American made craftsmanship at the time.

when japans costs went up, squier went shopping for a new factory, production eventually moved to korea in the late 80s, and fender production moved to a different factory in japan.

there were a few squier models that came out of japan in the 90s. I can think of "silver series" and "waynes world"

from 1989-to early 90s squiers were mad in two different factories in korea, S serial for samick and v serial for saehan. these guitars are nothing like the japan models. plywood bodies, cheap hardware and electrionics.

now its inside known to fender that the first guitars made or assembled in korea were some of the best strats on the market. those were the ones with E serials. fender stamped briges and tunners.

in the late 80s squier had moved production to mexico, a fire took out the factory, so some guitars were built in usa until fender found a new factory.

there are squiers built in mexico in the early 90s- to mid 90s

in 1996 squier moved production to the Cort facory, and the now legendary pro tones and vista seriers were made, and quality goes up to where it used to be at the cort factory.

late 90s production moves to china and continues to remain there as well as Indonesian and India.

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 02:26 PM

my list would be.

any squier MIJ ranks above the rest regardless of the year, with the closest to 1982 being the best and most valuable.

then I would say that the E series korea guitars and pro tones, are next in line followed by the vista series guitars.

after that I think the Classic Vibes are the best band for the buck on todays market, and close to the quaility of the above guitars.

next are the deluxe squiers and followed by the Vintage modified guitars,

I would rate the Mexican made squiers form the mid 90s next.

SE guitars rank pretty high, due to there full size body, unlike the bullets and affitny

then I would rank bullets above affinity but they are pretty similar.

last I have to put the made in korea squier IIs and any squier with a S or V serial made in korea

squierjosh · 07-01-2010, 02:41 PM

Aw, you ranked my VN Strats at the very bottom?

Quote:

Originally Posted by houseguitarshop

my list would be.

any squier MIJ ranks above the rest regardless of the year, with the closest to 1982 being the best and most valuable.

then I would say that the E series korea guitars and pro tones, are next in line followed by the vista series guitars.

after that I think the Classic Vibes are the best band for the buck on todays market, and close to the quaility of the above guitars.

next are the deluxe squiers and followed by the Vintage modified guitars,

I would rate the Mexican made squiers form the mid 90s next.

SE guitars rank pretty high, due to there full size body, unlike the bullets and affitny

then I would rank bullets above affinity but they are pretty similar.

last I have to put the made in korea squier IIs and any squier with a S or V serial made in korea

softwarejanitor · 07-01-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squierjosh

Aw, you ranked my VN Strats at the very bottom?

I don't think that is fair either... despite the plywood bodies and the kinda cheap hardware (mainly the tuners, the trems are similar to any of the imports and the pickups are ceramic but don't sound that bad all things considered) the VN and CN MIK Squiers had some pretty good necks with fret work better than I've seen on some of the newer MIC and MII Bullets and Affinities.

squierjosh · 07-01-2010, 02:50 PM

I agree. I have two VN5 Strats, one maple, one rosewood. Both have very playable necks with no sharp edges and no buzzing. The plywood bodies are solid enough. THe electronics and tuners suck ass, but from everything I've read on this site, people replace those on the nicer Squiers too, so it doesn't really matter.

I was just giving house guitar a hard time. If it's at the bottom of that list, that's not too bad.

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

I don't think that is fair either... despite the plywood bodies and the kinda cheap hardware (mainly the tuners, the trems are similar to any of the imports and the pickups are ceramic but don't sound that bad all things considered) the VN and CN MIK Squiers had some pretty good necks with fret work better than I've seen on some of the newer MIC and MII Bullets and Affinities.

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by squierjosh

Aw, you ranked my VN Strats at the very bottom?

yeah, sorry, just MY opinion, I have a squier II, with an S serial number, the neck is so thin I can bend a note by pulling on the neck, the body is plywood covered with a thick poly then painted, the tunners on mine where shaped like this, and completely could not hold a tune, the bridge was made of copper and the pickups on mine sounded very muddy and dull.

I know some people really like them though

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 02:58 PM

I made a double neck thats why the body is cut

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

I don't think that is fair either... despite the plywood bodies and the kinda cheap hardware (mainly the tuners, the trems are similar to any of the imports and the pickups are ceramic but don't sound that bad all things considered) the VN and CN MIK Squiers had some pretty good necks with fret work better than I've seen on some of the newer MIC and MII Bullets and Affinities.

the CN I agree are better quality, they were made in the cort factory

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 03:02 PM

another thing is the contours are not like any other strat I have owned, this is not the best picture but its the only one I have

the contour where the strumming hand rests on the guitar is amost at a 45 deg angle,

heres a pic of the body contour I am talking about, its the red half

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 03:06 PM

here are a few pictures of other guitars contours

this first picture, is a 1984 squier MIJ,

this guitars tone unplugged is so clear, clean and bright, it sings and also get that woody resonate tone, its also way more resonate than all my other guitars unplugged.

now plugged it its sounds even better, none of my other squiers can match it, also the feel of the neck, body, and the balance are increadible.

these are the things I based my rankings off. when I played the squier II S serial from korea, it was not solid like this one, unplugged it sounded dark and mucked up not much tone comming out of the wood so the pickups have nothing to pick-up. haha

the last picture from left to right is a 1999 hss configue made in china, next is the 84 japan, the blue one is a E7 serial made in korea, and the white one is the exalaber from waynes world 1992 japan

jimbojo · 07-01-2010, 04:37 PM

Ok so I am eye-balling a Korean Tele serial number starts E1xxxxxx, Top loading six saddle bridge, Fender tuners, guitar looks pretty clean (no buckle rash etc), with a hardshell case. I am thinking $120 to $150 tops would be a good deal, am I crazy?

houseguitarshop · 07-01-2010, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbojo

Ok so I am eye-balling a Korean Tele serial number starts E1xxxxxx, Top loading six saddle bridge, Fender tuners, guitar looks pretty clean (no buckle rash etc), with a hardshell case. I am thinking $120 to $150 tops would be a good deal, am I crazy?

that sound like a great deal, I paid 180 usd for my E7 korea strat.

I would buy it if it has stamped fender saddles and tunners, its one of the early korean guitars. and there are not alot of them out there

go for it, not crazy at all.

the neck wood and body wood are fender quality too, the body is full size, thicker and heavey than all my other squiers. good sounding pickups in mine too.

Gasman · 07-07-2010, 10:55 PM

I have to say I don't think you can beat the Classic Vibe models that are coming out of China! As nice or maybe nicer than the early Japanese Fender Reissue's. Now thats just my 2 cents. Ken

Stratatattat · 07-07-2010, 11:29 PM

personally, i don't care where it's made...as long as it plays well, and fits nicely in my hands then it's all good!

Squier?!? · 07-07-2010, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman

I have to say I don't think you can beat the Classic Vibe models that are coming out of China! As nice or maybe nicer than the early Japanese Fender Reissue's. Now thats just my 2 cents. Ken

The CV's are great axes, no doubt about it, & the prices for a
brand new one are pretty reasonable for what you get, i think.
Used prices are even better & i'm finally starting to see more of
them popping up on Craigslist, occasionally for a low as $200.

And they're definitely worth that, imo.

Plus, people usually expect to get a little less than their
posted asking price anyway, so i'm sure there's some folks
out there who have scored a CV for even less than $200.

I love those Strats & i'm a huge fan of
that first CV 50's Tele they put out.

jimbojo · 07-08-2010, 12:58 AM

Not crazy about the glossy neck finish, but other wise I like those CV's too.

TwoMartinMan · 07-08-2010, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squier?!?

The CV's are great axes, no doubt about it, & the prices for a
brand new one are pretty reasonable for what you get, i think.
Used prices are even better & i'm finally starting to see more of
them popping up on Craigslist, occasionally for a low as $200.

And they're definitely worth that, imo.
....i'm sure there's some folks
out there who have scored a CV for even less than $200.

I got mine for $150 in mint condition. One of the best buys I ever made.

Gasman · 07-08-2010, 11:12 AM

Beautiful Strat Twomartins! That Guitar has Buddy Holly written all over it! Ken

Squier?!? · 07-08-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

I got mine for $150 in mint condition. One of the best buys I ever made.

Damn, duder!

That CV 50's for $150?!?

That's the best deal on any
CV Squier i've heard of yet!
Did you find it on Craigslist?

Way to go, brutha.

softwarejanitor · 07-08-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

I got mine for $150 in mint condition. One of the best buys I ever made.

That wasn't a purchase, it was a STEAL!

edandis · 07-08-2010, 04:34 PM

A fantastic deal at more than half the price, WTG!

TwoMartinMan · 07-08-2010, 05:11 PM

Yes, it was a Craigslist find. I think it had been posted for all of 10 minutes before I was the first to respond. I snapped it up right quick. It still had the plastic on the pickguard and trem cover. I put a GFS steel trem block in it. It plays and sounds fabulous.

softwarejanitor · 07-08-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

Yes, it was a Craigslist find. I think it had been posted for all of 10 minutes before I was the first to respond. I snapped it up right quick. It still had the plastic on the pickguard and trem cover. I put a GFS steel trem block in it. It plays and sounds fabulous.

That's about all the mods a CV really needs I think... Maybe full (quarter) size 250k pots and a Sprague Orange Drop cap if they have the dime sized 500k pots like most Squires do... I dunno, I haven't had the pickguard off of one yet.

OleFudd · 07-08-2010, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

That wasn't a purchase, it was a STEAL!

OK! I'll take it off your hands for $155.00. I'll even pay shipping.

Squier?!? · 07-08-2010, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

Yes, it was a Craigslist find. I think it had been posted for all of 10 minutes before I was the first to respond. I snapped it up right quick. It still had the plastic on the pickguard and trem cover. I put a GFS steel trem block in it. It plays and sounds fabulous.

I freakin' love Craigslist.

I know some people think it's sketchy but
i've never had a problem buying or selling.

There are so many treasures
to be acquired on the cheap.

I'd be buying guitars almost
everyday if i could afford to.

TwoMartinMan · 07-08-2010, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OleFudd

OK! I'll take it off your hands for $155.00. I'll even pay shipping.

Your's is not the first offer I've had (although, I must say, it is the worst offer!!! :-) ). No way I'm selling this one. It's a keeper!

I buy and sell all the time on Craigslist. Never had a problem and I've gotten some great deals. This, though, has certainly been one of the best.

Squier?!? · 07-08-2010, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

I buy and sell all the time on Craigslist. Never had a problem and I've gotten some great deals. This, though, has certainly been one of the best.

My best CL score so far has probably been my
'98 Indonesian White/Maple Squier Affinity Strat,
which came w/ a Coffin Case, a set of straplocks,
a Fender strap & a cable, all for a whopping $50.

The Strat was in brand new condition
& it plays like a freakin' dream to boot.

A very close second best CL score was a near mint '84
MIJ BOSS HM-2 Heavy Metal pedal that i snagged for $20
which, despite it's name, is actually a pretty versatile box.

It's like a JCM 800 in a BOSS pedal &, imo, it's still
the best little distortion box BOSS has ever made.

Craigslist can be serious fun.

Like i said, i only wish i had more money to spend there.

wickedtools · 07-09-2010, 12:26 AM

I'm really happy with my MIK ES Tele a mint condition find at a pawn for $150.00

houseguitarshop · 07-09-2010, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gasman

I have to say I don't think you can beat the Classic Vibe models that are coming out of China! As nice or maybe nicer than the early Japanese Fender Reissue's. Now thats just my 2 cents. Ken

i dont know, the quality is very close, mabey I would have to own a classic vibe and play it at home to change my opinion.

I pick up and play all of the CV strats when I go into stores and havent found one that I like more then my 84 MIJ squier.

I think the CVs are the best new squiers on the new market and followed closely by the deluxe though,

I still think the MIJ fugi-gen guitars are better. the old squiers where made in the same factory as the fenders. Squiers were made right beside the fenders by the same workers.

TwoMartinMan · 07-09-2010, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

That's about all the mods a CV really needs I think... Maybe full (quarter) size 250k pots and a Sprague Orange Drop cap if they have the dime sized 500k pots like most Squires do... I dunno, I haven't had the pickguard off of one yet.

I haven't looked under the pickguard yet, either, but according to the Squier specs, the CV 50s have 250k pots. Don't know the size. Here's a link to my info source on that.
http://www.squierguitars.com/pdf/current/Strat/Classic%20Vibe%2050's%20Strat-%20Service.pdf

I know that the P/Us are Tonerider Surfaris. They sound great.

softwarejanitor · 07-09-2010, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwoMartinMan

I haven't looked under the pickguard yet, either, but according to the Squier specs, the CV 50s have 250k pots. Don't know the size. Here's a link to my info source on that.
http://www.squierguitars.com/pdf/current/Strat/Classic%20Vibe%2050's%20Strat-%20Service.pdf

Looks like you are correct. If they are full sized pots and the cap is 0.47uf I guess I'd probably not bother replacing them as long as they were working correctly.

Quote:

I know that the P/Us are Tonerider Surfaris. They sound great.

Others have said that while Squier sources the CV pickups out of the same asian factory that makes pickups for Tonerider they are not necessarily identical spec. I don't know for sure either way but I wouldn't be surprised if Tonerider didn't want their specs shared with another company or that Squier would want to specify things themselves, so it seems plausible.

Or do the ones Squier actually have "Tonerider Surfari" labels on them like the ones shown on Tonerider's web site?

http://www.tonerider.com/pickups/stratpickups.html

nomadh · 07-09-2010, 03:41 PM

I have a BSB tele affinity that is not only amazing but I'm amazed at all 18 or so I've played so far. Dont recall the s/n on mine. Dont forget those bsb's

squierjosh · 07-09-2010, 04:38 PM

Great guitars. I replaced the pups in mine but everything else is stock. I will probably replace the pots at some point...still using the stock 500k ones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nomadh

I have a BSB tele affinity that is not only amazing but I'm amazed at all 18 or so I've played so far. Dont recall the s/n on mine. Dont forget those bsb's

squierjosh · 07-12-2010, 01:05 PM

Where would Standards fall in this list?

Quote:

Originally Posted by houseguitarshop

my list would be.

any squier MIJ ranks above the rest regardless of the year, with the closest to 1982 being the best and most valuable.

then I would say that the E series korea guitars and pro tones, are next in line followed by the vista series guitars.

after that I think the Classic Vibes are the best band for the buck on todays market, and close to the quaility of the above guitars.

next are the deluxe squiers and followed by the Vintage modified guitars,

I would rate the Mexican made squiers form the mid 90s next.

SE guitars rank pretty high, due to there full size body, unlike the bullets and affitny

then I would rank bullets above affinity but they are pretty similar.

last I have to put the made in korea squier IIs and any squier with a S or V serial made in korea

dannyvawn · 07-12-2010, 01:11 PM

Aren't the Deluxe and Standards pretty much the same? I think the 2 are comparable.

dannyvawn · 07-12-2010, 01:21 PM

They discontinued the Standard and now offer the Standard Deluxe. Form what I can tell it's pretty much the same except the price and finishes. And the small headstock if thats your bag. I prefer big myself. I figure more wood more sustain. I don't think that I have ever seen a deluxe with a rosewood board either. The deluxe models look good though.

houseguitarshop · 07-12-2010, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyvawn

They discontinued the Standard and now offer the Standard Deluxe. Form what I can tell it's pretty much the same except the price and finishes. And the small headstock if thats your bag. I prefer big myself. I figure more wood more sustain. I don't think that I have ever seen a deluxe with a rosewood board either. The deluxe models look good though.

IMO the deluxe are above the standards, the standard are still available.

here is a link http://www.squierguitars.com/product...standardseries

the dexluxes have a 2-point trem the standards have a 6 point trem. Also better fit and finish on the deluxes

dannyvawn · 07-12-2010, 02:58 PM

I didn't know they were still making the Standard. Thanks for the info. My standard has the 2 point trem. Mine also has a large headstock and a Flame maple top (real?) I doubt it. What would mine be? I guess I'm confused. I was told by someone that it was a standard deluxe but with a Large headstock? Its to the point where we need to take a class to keep up with all the different Squiers. Just when you think you have figured them out. Here comes something else.