Should I buy a Squier SQ Stratocaster?

[NickVibrolux92]

Hey all,

The question is in the title... I have always heard that the Squier JV and SQ series Stratocasters are off the charts as far as build quality, playability and tone are concerned. I recently had to let all of my higher end guitars go due to financial reasons and I am on the prowl for the highest quality, bang for the buck Strat.

I have found an SQ that really appeals to me, with the other option of a Fender Classic Series 50's Strat. I know, I know, comparing Japanese and Mexican quality has been beaten to death, so we won't go down that rabbit hole too far.

I am used to playing genuine Fender Strats from the 70's CBS era so the bigger headstock on the SQ is to me, sexy as hell.

I am just wondering what you guys would go for? Squier Japanese vintage, or MIM Classic Series? Also, could anyone shed some light about their personal experiences with the Squier SQ Strats?

Thanks!

 

[El Gobernador]

I would go for the one I enjoyed playing.

I have an '83 JV Squier. Bought it new in '83. I also have several other Strats, including a 1965. The Squier is my favorite, not just because I've had it for 34 years, but because to me, it's the best playing and sounding one of the bunch.

 

[AxemanVR]

I would go for the one I enjoyed playing.

I have an '83 JV Squier. Bought it new in '83. I also have several other Strats, including a 1965. The Squier is my favorite, not just because I've had it for 34 years, but because to me, it's the best playing and sounding one of the bunch.

'
I agree, if it's a good player then grab it...

I recently got a $100 2004 Squier SE "CXS" (Chinese Axl Plant) Strat and, after smoothing out some sharp fret edges, it plays surprisingly nice.

It could use some fret leveling, but I still managed to get the action lower than where I usually have it anyway.

The original electronics were disappointing, but I had already planned on changing everything, so that didn't concern me one bit.

Otherwise it's pretty close in overall quality and specs to the Mexican Standards and are a super cheap alternative if you already plan on modifying or upgrading.

Anyway, no one's more surprised than me that a low-end "beginners" Squier is now a permanent member of my well respected lineup.

Just my 2 cents worth...


'

 

[MississippiRob]

The body of some Squier's is thinner than Fender specs, so watch that as far as mods go. If you are used to playing higher end strats, the bodies and necks of many Squires will feel suitable, but you will want to change all the electronics. I have a Squier Vintage Modified that is made to Fender specs as far as body width. I changed everything under the pick guard except the body and trem ground wires. It is a great guitar.

 

[mad axe man]

i really love the SQ strats...big headstock and 1972 contours and they are usually well broken in

 

[El Gobernador]

Early 80's Squiers (JV, SQ serial #'s) are MIJ, and they are on par (or in some cases better )with any US made Fender. The later models (MIK, MII etc.) are hit and miss quality.

So, don't confuse modern Squier product with the MIJ stuff.

 

[simoncroft]

Early 80's Squiers (JV, SQ serial #'s) are MIJ, and they are on par (or in some cases better )with any US made Fender. The later models (MIK, MII etc.) are hit and miss quality.

So, don't confuse modern Squier product with the MIJ stuff.

When I was an avid ebayer, I bought a MIJ Squier from the same period as my MIJ Fender Strat, which is about 1986. The quality was identical throughout, as was the color, so I'd say they came off the same production line. The only reason I sold the Squier was the Fender has a fatter neck, which suits my hands better. The fact I sold it at a profit to a dealer says a lot about the enduring quality of these instruments.

However, I 100% endorse your earlier comment that @NickVibrolux92 should buy the guitar that he enjoys playing. The JVs in particular are a high ticket item these days, so it's better to pay for the guitar you like best, rather than the one that has the most highly prized reputation. Otherwise, you can pay a big premium to obtain what someone else values in an instrument.

I had a JV Squier Precision that was my main bass for more than 20 years. Whether I could justify buying it back at today's prices in an interesting point!

 

[AxemanVR]

'
I found this interesting article on the 80's JV Squier Strats:

https://planetbotch.blogspot.com/2011/12/truth-about-1980s-squier-strats.html

It's certainly worth a read...

'

 

[pazman6]

I picked up a 84 Squier JV Contemporary Strat and a Squier SQ Bullet Bass with the Tele style headstock at pawn shops - each were $100. Sold them both since then. The SQs I have come across over the years all had awesome maple necks on them.

 

[Yogi]

The body of some Squier's is thinner than Fender specs, so watch that as far as mods go. If you are used to playing higher end strats, the bodies and necks of many Squires will feel suitable, but you will want to change all the electronics. I have a Squier Vintage Modified that is made to Fender specs as far as body width. I changed everything under the pick guard except the body and trem ground wires. It is a great guitar.

Doesn't apply at all to Japanese squiers. They are all standard sizes and the SQs come stock with full-size pots and nice alnico pickups

 

[lonegroover]

My '82 JV is also the nicest of all the 8 or 9 Strats I've had. The only annoyance I ever had with it was the three-way which stopped functioning a few months after I bought it (I replaced it with a five-way in 1983, still going strong).

 

[Borgatomic]

I picked up a Fender Squire Bullet for $55 at a local pawn shop. It was in really nice shape but I don't like white pick-guards so I gave it a make over. I painted the pick-guard hammered black and I put on chrome metal knobs.



.

 

[simoncroft]

'
I found this interesting article on the 80's JV Squier Strats:

https://planetbotch.blogspot.com/2011/12/truth-about-1980s-squier-strats.html

It's certainly worth a read...

'

Good read. Thanks for that. My Squier Precision must have been really early, according to what the article says. That would fit with my memory that they were a 'new thing' a lot of players in the UK were talking about. I got mine in a swap. In exchange for my Rickenbacker 4000 bass, I got £50 and the JV Precision. I definitely got the better deal.

 

[lonegroover]

Very informative piece, thanks for posting. Oddly I don't recall that my Strat had cloth wiring on the one occasion I ever removed the pickguard, to replace the three-way switch and until now, I didn't realise that it did.

One thing that the piece doesn't mention is that the earliest '62 style JVs - or certainly the Fender logo + 'Squier Series' branded ones that came to the UK in 1982 - have a thin finish applied over the rosewood fingerboard. I didn't know this until I had mine refretted in 2016 and my luthier called to tell me he'd seen a white powder come off it when sanding it, that he identified as a "low friction nitro". I always thought that it had a beautifully lustrous rosewood board, but in fact they were cheating.

My PRS SE has a cosmetically nicer fingerboard than any of my three US PRSes - with a deep, smooth shine - and I wonder if a similar deception is going on.

 

[Sangetsu]

The body of some Squier's is thinner than Fender specs, so watch that as far as mods go. If you are used to playing higher end strats, the bodies and necks of many Squires will feel suitable, but you will want to change all the electronics. I have a Squier Vintage Modified that is made to Fender specs as far as body width. I changed everything under the pick guard except the body and trem ground wires. It is a great guitar.

I have a few old MIJ Squier JV and A serial Strats and Telecasters. These came with American pickups, pots, and switches, the only difference was the wire. The later MIJ stuff began to come with ceramic pickups, and small pots, but only on the low-end guitars (which were the ones usually sent to America and Europe). You could get a new MIJ guitar from the mid-80's with US pickups, Lace active pickups, etc.

 

[NickVibrolux92]

This is now a five year old thread, but I just came across it and figured that I would give an update…

I ended up purchasing the SQ Stratocaster and five years later, I still love it! Even though it is now worth double what I paid for it, I couldn’t let it go. An an Eric Johnson maple board Stratocaster, a Nash S-57, and a few high end builds have come and gone since purchasing the SQ and the SQ has remained. The others are long gone and I don’t regret my decision to keep it over the others! Below is a photo of the fretboard if it tells you anything… A refret will be in order soon! Poly wears differently than Nitro and this is all real wear from fingers and string drag.