Your gonna hate me, maybe even ban me...

[Acidhouse]

I have quite a few Strats. Most of them say Squier on them but some are "genuine" USA Strats. The two best Strats that I own are a USA 2000 American Series Strat and the other a 2004 Squier Standard Cherryburst Strat made in China that I bought in a pawn shop. As to which one I think is better, it depends on the day. But if you ask me whether the Squier is better than the other US Strats that I own, hands down yes. When all I owned was a Squier all I ever read about on the Fender forums was that Fenders were better than Squiers. When I finally bought some Fenders I found out that it wasn't true. Now I read on the forum all the time how Fender Custom Shop Strats are better than US Fender production Strats. I'm not falling for it. Like others I may go that route one day but not under any presumption that I am buying a better guitar but just because I want one. Chances are, if I do, I will still reach for the Squier first.
There are more and more post like this. It may not be a Squier but it may be about a Jay Turser or an SX or an Agile or an Epiphone etc etc. There really used to be a difference between the real thing and a knock off but now the knock offs are being made almost to spec, the QC in overseas factories has come up leaps and bounds and the materials used to make overseas guitars has come up tremendously. Both my Squier and my Fender are made of Alder, my Agile is made of mahoganny. I read that it isn't the same wood. Maybe it's not but in terms of acoustic tone, all of them sound great the Squier has the best acoustic tone out of any of my Strats. I'm not saying that you don't get more for the difference in money but truthfully, thirty years ago you used to get a lot more for that difference than today.

[Darin]

I have my eye on a Fender Squire Affinity Strat for $145 spanking new. Why? Because I like it. It plays great, sounds good. And is cheap. I could afoord a $1145 strat to be more cool. But as far as I'm concerned. A fun guitar and $1000 cash left in my pocket is even cooler. How much have I wasted to be cool? To impress people that I don't know. With a chunck of wood with strings on it. Seems so silly now. And to what end? Nothing. And trust me. It hasn't worked. I'm still the least cool guy here. I'm 41 and can fumble my way through a few decent riffs. But no amount of money I spend on a guitar will improve my life in any way.

[Andy43]

Basically, it all comes down to the way the guitar feels. You play your best if like the way the guitar feels. A Suhr is clearly better than a Squier, but I agree not by that much money. A Squier might have fret buzz and use cheap parts, but that should only be a $600 difference tops. Many, many guitars are overpriced. The difference between a Schecter and a PRS is so little that most people couldn't tell the difference. I like the way PRS's feel better, so that's what I use. But it shouldn't be by $600+. However, I'm picky and no other guitars capture what PRS capture, so I'm forced to pay that much. Hence why brands can get away with things like these.

[Racerx2k]

Originally Posted by Darin

I have my eye on a Fender Squire Affinity Strat for $145 spanking new. Why? Because I like it. It plays great, sounds good. And is cheap. I could afoord a $1145 strat to be more cool. But as far as I'm concerned. A fun guitar and $1000 cash left in my pocket is even cooler. How much have I wasted to be cool? To impress people that I don't know. With a chunck of wood with strings on it. Seems so silly now. And to what end? Nothing. And trust me. It hasn't worked. I'm still the least cool guy here. I'm 41 and can fumble my way through a few decent riffs. But no amount of money I spend on a guitar will improve my life in any way.

Amen, brother. Couldn't have said it, better!

[Racerx2k]

Originally Posted by Andy43

Basically, it all comes down to the way the guitar feels. You play your best if like the way the guitar feels. A Suhr is clearly better than a Squier, but I agree not by that much money. A Squier might have fret buzz and use cheap parts, but that should only be a $600 difference tops. Many, many guitars are overpriced. The difference between a Schecter and a PRS is so little that most people couldn't tell the difference. I like the way PRS's feel better, so that's what I use. But it shouldn't be by $600+. However, I'm picky and no other guitars capture what PRS capture, so I'm forced to pay that much. Hence why brands can get away with things like these.

Ironic, since I've pretty much hated every PRS I've tried, but dug some of the Schecters I've checked out. It's all in the player.

[Whey]

I agree to an extent. Over the years guitar manufactures have rapidly improved in build and quality in the lower end (thanks to the money spent by those who bought higher end guitars, allowing for research and development). Technology is a wonderful tool, allowing more of a level playing ground for all giving a more equal opportunity to play.

However I disagree with the people who say spending the money on a guitar is not worth it. I would rather have my J Custom (RRG-1CSS) than 10 $250 guitars (or 5 guitars @ $500). You get what you pay for, tone for the majority comes from your skill but the guitars build does still has a large fact on that. Other than tone imo the feel/build/overall quality of a more expensive instrument for the most part is decades ahead that of a cheaper guitar in a similar style. Mind you with the skill you can make any guitar sound great with time and practice, but imo if you ab them you will notice a difference (w/ a great amp, if you are using crap all its pointless).

I have heard and played many great axes under 500 dollars, but to me there is a vast difference between them in all factors (tone being just one). Thats my two cents.

Cheers,

[NickCormier]

I never understood playing a guitar thats $6000 but looked like a normal Fender or something.. Thats stupid.

Where I totally disagree, is with DIFFERENT OPTIONS, Different colors, different quilt tops, different woods, etc. Like me personally, I want something that is only available for a large sum of money (because theres no cheap guitar copy of it atm) so I justify buying it, altho its expensive.

That kinda thing.

[Racerx2k]

Originally Posted by Whey

I agree to an extent. Over the years guitar manufactures have rapidly improved in build and quality in the lower end (thanks to the money spent by those who bought higher end guitars, allowing for research and development). Technology is a wonderful tool, allowing more of a level playing ground for all giving a more equal opportunity to play.

However I disagree with the people who say spending the money on a guitar is not worth it. I would rather have my J Custom (RRG-1CSS) than 10 $250 guitars (or 5 guitars @ $500). You get what you pay for, tone for the majority comes from your skill but the guitars build does still has a large fact on that. Other than tone imo the feel/build/overall quality of a more expensive instrument for the most part is decades ahead that of a cheaper guitar in a similar style. Mind you with the skill you can make any guitar sound great with time and practice, but imo if you ab them you will notice a difference (w/ a great amp, if you are using crap all its pointless).

I have heard and played many great axes under 500 dollars, but to me there is a vast difference between them in all factors (tone being just one). Thats my two cents.

Cheers,

That's where we differ. I have a cheap RG220 that, quite frankly, I like better than a few of the Jems I've played. How can that be? Easy, it's a better fit in the hands of the individual. My "gold" is most likely someone else's "garbage" and vise versa.

[Darin]

I'm not saying you shouldn't spend a boat load on a sweet guitar. Juust that you shouldn't feel you have too. There a lot a beautiful hand crafted instrument has to offer. I'm just done make excuses to why I "need" one. If I want one, then I "want" one.

Rock on brothers!

[shogun]

there is no cure to GAS.. you're simply in denial Darin

[Vic-Viper]

I think since that usually, higher pricetags equal higher quality work, higher end guitars aren't necessarily meant to improve your play, but to make you look better whilst playing. Additionally, they may be to help you skip past minor adustments and get to playing (Locking tuners, for example). A beginner/amateur/hobbyist probably won't care too much if they have to fiddle with their tuners during practice, but if someone's onstage I'm sure that they want to be able to rely on their axe to stay in tune. Higher end instruments have a lot of smaller details that beginners might not be able to appreciate, like exotic tonewoods and Pup switching options,which while may alter the tone, won't really change the overall sound super drastically (Arguable, I know). But yeah, I think essentially all guitars are the same, but with some lacking the bells and whistles that others have.

[Gwalchavad]

Well it doens´t surprise me...
I tried the 60th aniversary strat, the american model, and mexican (the golden body one).
Guys, i must say the mexican that i called"Paquita" sounded really good.
Or let me put it this way...sounded much better...but im not an expert, but i got warmer tones than with the american one.
I jaust wished i had the money to buy it. The american model was 1890 euros and the mexican 700 €...

Once gain, i have to talk about my epi...2nd handed...spent some money on the electrics...and it rocks...

[Rotti]

I tried a Squire tele the other day and I was very impressed. Lots of guitar for the money.

[JM5150]

I've played for 20 years and have owned close to 20 guitars (have 14 now), but have never bought a brand new guitar or spent more than 400 dollars. I love just to play and if I can coax a decent sound out of one that isn't necessarily "top shelf" all the bettter.

I play in a local cover band that is pretty popular around our little area of Norhtern michigan and my main guitar? A RG 470 FX that cost 155 bucks with the original Ibanez hardshell case!

Eddie always said a good part of one's tone/sound is in their fingers....very true

[Rotti]

A lot of the real working musicians I've met play cheaper guitars. They're not all hung up on gear. They just like to play.