If you’re a new player searching for your first instrument or simply looking for a new electric at an affordable price, you’ve probably come across the “Squier by Fender” brand. And depending on how deep you’ve looked into the name (or what forums you’ve been to), you have probably heard a lot of mixed feelings towards it. While they aren’t perfect, we feel that much of the bad rap they get is overblown. In the article below, we’ll be taking a closer look at the Squier brand and separating what we strongly feel are unfair exaggerations as well as deserved criticisms. By the end, you should have a good understanding of what a Squier guitar will bring to the table and if it’s worth your hard-earned cash.

Reputation

A common criticism we heard about the brand has to do with its entry-level status. Some players feel that because they are introductory instruments, Squiers must be terrible, even if they have never played one in their lives. And while it’s true that there are a number of downright awful entry-level guitars that aren’t worth the wood they are made of, the Squier brand isn’t one of them. With Squier, Fender isn’t looking to sell barely functional instruments that risk staining their brand’s reputation – they are trying to get new players into their ecosystem by providing them very affordable electrics that hopefully keep players coming back to their instruments. If you’re a professional guitarist, a Squier isn’t going to cut it. But if you’re looking to pick up your first guitar and don’t have a ton of money to spend, they offer a lot of value.
SquierLogoFender Squier Electric Guitars Fender acquired the U.S. guitar string manufacturer V.C. Squier Company in 1965. By 1982, the Squier name had resurfaced as a low-cost “value brand” alternative initially manufactured and distributed in the Japanese domestic market and soon offered to Europe, North America and the rest of the world. At the time, many other established brands offered affordable copies of classic Fender models including the Stratocaster, Telecaster, Precision Bass and Jazz Bass guitars. When Squier versions of these instruments appeared, demand for them as the “official” cost-conscious alternatives was immediate, and a brand name was reborn.
 

Playability

Another criticism of the Squier line is that they are much harder to play than a professional instrument. While there is some truth to this, many of the biggest issues have to do with a bad initial setup and not with the instrument itself. In fact, few if any guitars that come ready to play straight from the factory, but budget brands seem to be affected by more issues. Things like bad action or intonation can be common and will make any guitar a literal pain to play. And while these problems are easy to fix, most new guitarists probably have no idea how to do this and instead, are left with a terrible experience.

Hardware

A common complaint when it comes to the hardware is that Squier instruments don’t stay in tune. This one is true. While that doesn’t mean strings will fall flat as soon as you strike them, they definitely don’t hold their tune nearly as long as more expensive models. Fender had to keep costs down somehow and it’s obvious that the tuners (and the rest of the hardware) were one such way. Investing in a new set of tuners can easily fix this problem.

Sound

While the sound of a Squier Strat is similar to that of a Fender Strat, they are not identical and easily discernable by experienced guitar players. The pickups on a Squier are a bit weaker in output and the materials used in the body don’t give off the same richness that Fender guitars do. But do they sound bad? No, not when you consider the demographic the Squier is aiming to please.

Choice

One of the strongest attributes of the Squier line, as is the case with several Fender lines, is choice. And I'm not just talking about choosing between a Squier Strat or a Squier Tele either, but several unique lines within the Squier brand itself. From the Classic Vibe 60’s Strat to the Affinity Telecaster, or the Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass Special, and so much more, players are spoiled for choice when it comes to finding a Squier that fits their unique needs.

Not Done Yet ...

The story of the Squier brand is still far from over as Fender continues to push the line into new directions. A perfect example of this is the Contemporary Series, a new line of Squiers designed with today's players in mind. Combining progressive features, great tone, and classic designs, they are easily the best bang-for-your-buck guitars around. Personally, the dual-humbucker equipped Black HH Tele is what I'd go for but there are plenty of other great options as well.