What is a Squier Strat SE?

[enquencle]

Hello everyone!
I found this guitar on sale for the equivalent to $130 where I live.
Just want to confirm that this is an SE, as I am looking for a good platform to mod it and turn it into something like a Sambora strat. Think this would be a good fit?

Also, my granmother gave an SE pack to my brother for his birthday at around 2005, which got us both into guitar, and she passed away last weekend. He sold it like 5 years ago. Cant confirm it's the exact same one as we dont have a pic of the serial for that guitar, but there is a good chance it is, so it also may have a bit of sentimental value.

Thanks guys!

 

[Kenneth Mountain]

Hello everyone!
I found this guitar on sale for the equivalent to $130 where I live.
Just want to confirm that this is an SE, as I am looking for a good platform to mod it and turn it into something like a Sambora strat. Think this would be a good fit?

Also, my granmother gave an SE pack to my brother for his birthday at around 2005, which got us both into guitar, and she passed away last weekend. He sold it like 5 years ago. Cant confirm it's the exact same one as we dont have a pic of the serial for that guitar, but there is a good chance it is, so it also may have a bit of sentimental value.

Thanks guys!

Yup - it's SE ! Welcome to Squier Talk !

 

[Genghis Bomb]

Here is a new picture of the white rhino I just got it tonight. It's a 2002 in mint condition with the plastic still on the pickguard. I cant hardly believe this baby is 16 years old and in mint condition. Definitely been sitting in a case untouched for years. It's like winning the lottery or something. View attachment 112453 View attachment 112454

There's a delicious irony in these starter pack guitars being almost exclusively ignored/neglected by their original owners, and absolutely treasured by their second owners!

Says something philosophically about life l think. "Render onto Caesar what is Caesar's" comes to mind, or "One man's trash...".

 

[Ringthane]

Think I found myself an SE - probably paid too much for it, but it fits what other people are saying about them. Didn't expect the neck to be that chunky, but I can work with it. Pics are attached. Still not sure about the pickups, but I'll see how I feel about them after playing it for a while. I think I prefer the AlNiCo pickups on my Standards, but that's an easy change. Plus I've got a fan going in here tonight, so I may not be hearing them correctly.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

Think I found myself an SE - probably paid too much for it, but it fits what other people are saying about them. Didn't expect the neck to be that chunky, but I can work with it. Pics are attached. Still not sure about the pickups, but I'll see how I feel about them after playing it for a while. I think I prefer the AlNiCo pickups on my Standards, but that's an easy change. Plus I've got a fan going in here tonight, so I may not be hearing them correctly.

That's a 2009 SE Strat Pack guitar alright. Looks like it's in almost new condition.

 

[Genghis Bomb]

Think I found myself an SE - probably paid too much for it, but it fits what other people are saying about them. Didn't expect the neck to be that chunky, but I can work with it. Pics are attached. Still not sure about the pickups, but I'll see how I feel about them after playing it for a while. I think I prefer the AlNiCo pickups on my Standards, but that's an easy change. Plus I've got a fan going in here tonight, so I may not be hearing them correctly.

How much did you pay? I think they're easily worth $150-$200.

Additionally, *definitely* change the pickups. I'd change the whole wiring harness too. The value in these guitars is how close to a Fender Strat they are! The body, neck, tuners, and bridge are all great! They are wonderful mod platforms!

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

...I think they're easily worth $150-$200. ...

Really? I used to pick these up from $30 to $100 (CAD) 4 or five years ago. Crazy.

 

[Genghis Bomb]

Really? I used to pick these up from $30 to $100 (CAD) 4 or five years ago. Crazy.

They sell for about $100 CAD around here, but I think I would go up to $200 for one. Once you mod them, they are lifer Strats. I would rather own a modded SE than a stock Classic Vibe. I think the SE's might be the best Strat Squier ever released outside of Japan.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

They sell for about $100 CAD around here, but I think I would go up to $200 for one. Once you mod them, they are lifer Strats. I would rather own a modded SE than a stock Classic Vibe. I think the SE's might be the best Strat Squier ever released outside of Japan.

Arguably the Korean Pro Tone is considered to be a close second to the Japan.
I have modded 5 SE's over the years and I'd agree they're all you could ask for in that situation. They're largely "keepers" as I'd never recover my costs. The CV's hold their value.

 

[Ringthane]

How much did you pay? I think they're easily worth $150-$200.

Additionally, *definitely* change the pickups. I'd change the whole wiring harness too. The value in these guitars is how close to a Fender Strat they are! The body, neck, tuners, and bridge are all great! They are wonderful mod platforms!

Got it for $160. I wanted to get an SRV Strat look and it was the closest thing I could find without going too inexpensive. I could have bought a Bullet, but I wanted full thickness body, which cut out a Bullet, and the small headstock, which cut out Affinity/Standard. I couldn't afford a Classic Vibe, but found one at Guitar Center and bought it.

Of course, such is my life, that yesterday, as soon as it was delivered and I unboxed it, I saw there's another one at GC for $50 less... Same thing happened when I bought my Greer Lightspeed. Oh, well...

 

[Ringthane]

For real, though - are the necks on all of these on the thicker side, or is mine somewhat special? I mean, it's not unplayable thick, but it is noticeable, even after playing one of my Standards.

 

[Ray Stankewitz]

For real, though - are the necks on all of these on the thicker side, or is mine somewhat special? I mean, it's not unplayable thick, but it is noticeable, even after playing one of my Standards.

They are a bit chunky with a nominal 12" radius. Unless you have small hands, they are really comfortable to play.

 

[Las Palmas Norte]

For real, though - are the necks on all of these on the thicker side, or is mine somewhat special? I mean, it's not unplayable thick, but it is noticeable, even after playing one of my Standards.

Sometimes these necks are referred to as baseball bats with a super D profile. I've seen 9 1/2" to 12" radius necks on the SE's. Occasionally you can come across some nice flaming or wood grain.

 

[Ringthane]

Maybe the radius is what's throwing me off - seems different from the rest. I'll have to get some gauges and check it. I've been meaning to do that for a while now - now's as good a time as any.

 

[Genghis Bomb]

Got it for $160. I wanted to get an SRV Strat look and it was the closest thing I could find without going too inexpensive. I could have bought a Bullet, but I wanted full thickness body, which cut out a Bullet, and the small headstock, which cut out Affinity/Standard. I couldn't afford a Classic Vibe, but found one at Guitar Center and bought it.

Of course, such is my life, that yesterday, as soon as it was delivered and I unboxed it, I saw there's another one at GC for $50 less... Same thing happened when I bought my Greer Lightspeed. Oh, well...

Naw man, *that's* the one. I bet the one that was $50 less is either not as nice, or has uneven frets. One thing with SE's, some of them have *really* uneven frets. The last one I came across (that I bought tentatively, to get it home and sort it out) had really uneven frets up around the 12th fret. I ended up bringing that one back (it was a little overpriced at $180 CAD, given it's condition), and getting a MIM Fender instead, but I *always* look out for SE's now. They are often sold by aspiring beginners who abandoned the hobby, and so you can often get one in "showroom" condition for $100 or less!

For real, though - are the necks on all of these on the thicker side, or is mine somewhat special? I mean, it's not unplayable thick, but it is noticeable, even after playing one of my Standards.

The thick neck is a feature, not a liability! You have to go into the Vintera series or higher to get those specs on a Fender!

You stick a set of Texas Specials or Texmex pups in that, plus new wiring, and get your Texas Flood on!