After losing out on Hymnal's Levinson Blade, I decided that even though I have little money, I still wanted a Strat so had a drive over to Andertons in Guildford and tried out the Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster. Very impressed. Quality of build is excellent and the sound from the 'Duncan designed' pickups was the classic strat tone, with some bite. With the gain cranked up I managed some very heavy riffs (dropped D stuff) and some shreddy lead lines that sounded ace through the neck pickup. I bought it immediately, £228. Service, as usual from Andertons was excellent.
When I got it home I played it through my Marshall VS100R amp and it sounded gorgeous. I still can't believe that a guitar can be this good for the money. I will pay for a setup to make it better though, I think it needs it. I've only put it down to make dinner but will be spending the evening breaking out the Hendrix riffs and licks.
Comments
Is the trem on yours unusually stiff? I have two Squier strats, and both are like that. I was wondering if it was a Squier "thing".
It used to be, good for the money. Now, they're good gigging and recording guitars full stop. I tried the jazzmaster one that @bucket has (well, not his but a store one) and it didn't even need a neck shim - it already stayed in tune and even allowed 1 tone bends up to the 15th fret before it would ping out of the saddle. Not bad for a notoriously difficult to set up guitar... At that price!
I've done a basic setup ... and while the nut slots were a bit high ... with a bit of tweaking the action is now as low and sweet as I've got any US Strat. The neck is beautiful ...
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Well worth it ...
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Absolutely nobody would bat an eyelid if this had a 'Fender' rather than Squier badge, better than some Mexican Strats I've tried.
The pickups are also every bit as good as a Mex ...
It does actually make the Mexican option look a bit poorer value these days. Are we lucky to have got good ones ... or is this the beginning of the end for 'Jalapeno Strats'?
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
I haven't taken stuff apart to find out what the pots are like ... they feel pretty good ... but I may just replace them anyway as I've just started stocking Bourns ones
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message
Bought as my MIM classic and Jap Pink Flower left me a long time ago. It compares favourably and more importantly can be chucked in the boot after practice and I don't have to worry about going to the pub and leaving a £500 or £1k guitar in the motor.
It's light, trem feels a bit cheap, sounds the part and looks the part though. Frets could probably benefit from having the edge taken off them but they by no means shred your hands.
The trem is probably about the same quality as a Mex one ... either would get the order of the boot from me eventually.
Bloody impressive working guitar for the money, all said and done, and a great platform for some tasteful upgrading.
Formerly TheGuitarWeasel ... Oil City Pickups ... Oil City Blog 7 String.org profile and message