Are USA Fenders still the best? (Or just buy Squier?)

Looking at where Fender Guitars and Basses are made, and comparing the quality.

[@tylerallen6435]

Glad you touched on the fact that everyone who makes these instruments works hard and deserves respect

[@fredla7353]

Except QA... I just received [Jan2022] a brand new Nate Mendel P Bass [Mex] via Musician's "Friend" [Ha!]. I was gone, waited one day too long to return it. Took it to an authorized Fender repair tech [it had an "incomplete ground"..I thought]... I told the guy. I took the cover off, looked for a loose wire, could find nothing, but have no tools to really look]. He said... There was No Ground wire to be loose.". The ground wire was NEVER installed at the factory!! And, Musician's [supposed] Friend was complicit in shipping it to me and refusing to take it back.

[@louisbelanger8792]

Since i put my ex boss jaw bone as a not, works perfectly and has a more high end shouting

[@KevyNova]

I have Fender/Squier guitars made in USA, Mexico, Japan, China and Indonesia. I love them all. The fact is, Fender’s USA and Mexico plants are less than 100 miles apart from each other. So do you want a guitar that was built in Mexico by Mexicans, or do you want a guitar that was built in the USA by Mexicans?

[@borasumer]

This is actually not who build them question, it is more like, what they use and how they build them question. All the Apple products are made in China but the quality is top. Same as the Fender, the wood, electronics, attention to detail, the time spent on the product are way different US models than the rest.

[@johnsacco2430]

BS! look it up they are way, way over 100 miles apart. And if the workers live in the US they are Americans lol. If they live in Mexico they are Mexicans. But here’s the thing it doesn’t matter the nationality of the people. I just think it’s crappy that perpetuate this myth or half truth. Doesn’t matter. Of course the more expensive ones are going to be nicer than the less expensive ones. Have owned Fender from all over and been happy. They each have pros and cons. Plus the law of diminishing returns. Do your own research lol

[@KevyNova]

@@johnsacco2430 I just looked it up and you are correct. For some reason, I thought they still had the plant in Fullerton, which is about 100 miles from the Mexican plant, but Fullerton closed shop in 1985. Where have I been?!?

[@josecolindres2823]

Builded by mexicans or builded in México 🤣🤣🤣you can't say it better.

[@crazypaul3997]

It's not about where they are made it's about the quality components. The components made in Mexico Mexico are less quality components then the American made version. That's what makes the difference not the actual location or who makes 👍🏽

[@robwalker7575]

I bought a Mexican made Fender Tele about 15 years ago as a back up guitar for live performances... probably the best guitar I've ever owned, absolutely love it.

[@REBELSCL]

I honestly think a higher percentage of Mexicans play guitar as compared to Americans. That might be some of the reason.

[@plecogod]

I picked up a 1999 Squire Affinity Strat for $80 in surprisingly great shape that has a neck that I immediately loved playing. For about $220 I upgraded literally everything else. Locking tuners, roller string trees, Tusc nut, pickguard with upgraded pickups and electronics, a pure tone input jack, and a new trem with a full size brass block. It's now one of my favorite guitars to play. No regrets getting a Squier.

[@contactusece7769]

Who cares no one asked

[@plecogod]

@@contactusece7769 It's a public form, I care even less what you think. I will say whatever the F#ck I want!

[@ChuckRiosGuitar]

I have been a working guitarist for 25 years. I have owned fenders from all over the world. I love my USA made ones and now I only use and have usa made fenders and gibsons, but for the money, the mexican strats were workhorses and I have put double the amount of time on mexican made strats than on USA ones. I used the us ones in the studio, the mexican ones for gigs. I also worked for fender for a few years as a tune tester so I beleive your video is quite accurate. Keep up the good work!

[@Mindboggle100]

Chuck, do you know if anyone got fired from Fender production, for being a terrible guitarist? I have seen many videos, of assembly workers, who play the instruments to check them... they all seemed to be quite competent players! Just asking.... would like to hear any anecdotes. Thanks!

[@ChuckRiosGuitar]

@@Mindboggle100 hey! Sorry do disapoint but I never heard of anyone being terrible enough to get fired, it actually has nothing to do with your skill as much as your ear and attention to detail. I worked as a temp through a work agency but I can tell you that it was fun 50% of the time and the other time it was a personal fight to get as many guitars set up before the day ended watched like a hawk and hot as hell (90 plus degrees in summer) on the workfloor. I wouldent go back but I did learn a lot working there and can set up my own stuff.

[@Mindboggle100]

@@ChuckRiosGuitar Thanks Chuck, very interesting... yea it would be harsh to be fired for a lack of "chops". I wonder how many of the floor workers, actually wanted a Fender at home after the heat and stress of the floor? It makes me feel slightly better about my own crappy working conditions! Thanks for sharing, I enjoy reading comments :)

[@johnwelch557]

55+ years of play, work, and two rooms full of guitars, I find I don't care where it's made or what it's made of. I also don't care what it looks like. I also don't care about hardware or original setup. All guitars of literally any price point need some work. I only care about two things, sound and playability period. Any brand or price point can be right or wrong. In fact these days I'm imbarrassed to play high end guitars. They say FOOL to an informed audience. Thanks for your work.

[@ULOVEKYLE]

thats incredibly uninteresting

[@johnwelch557]

@@ULOVEKYLE you either missed the point, or you missed the point. Think about it....

[@donnyhall2535]

No, he didn't miss the point. And what he is saying is sound and playability is his main concern. He's right about the work on any guitar, everyone should know basic maintenance and be able to do a complete set-up on their instruments, because only you know where you like your set-up to be. The quality in any of these models or place of manufacturing, you are gonna get exceptional guitars and complete pieces of shit. You guys should read more into what he is saying, sound and playability is #1 in any guitar. After that it's all just personal preference.

[@neoneapolitan2122]

I agree with what you said and how you rated them. I played a variety of guitars made in USA, Japan, Korean, Mexico, Indonesia, & China. I find the old adage "you get what you pay for" to be true with guitars as far as materials go. However when it comes to things set ups and QC price doesn't really guarantee it will be any better.

[@ramencurry6672]

The best guitar is what feels comfortable. It could be any country of origin. Plus I gut my guitars anyway with after market pickups and after market hardware. As a result of my modifications, my import guitars are just as good as the American ones

[@Weird_Old_Uncle_Kenny]

The only time I had enough cash available to buy an American Tele, I bought a Mexican one plus a really nice tube amp instead all for the price of the American Tele. I recently bought a new MIM Tele, and it is absolutely fantastic and gorgeous - Sienna Burst. My only complaint is the Squiers are selling for as much as my 2012 Mexican sold for, my new MIM cost as much as an American one did just 10 years ago. I recently bought a Squier "Classic Vibe" Jazzmaster made in Indonesia. I tried 6 of them in various stores before I bought mine. None of the 6 felt right, they all had something with the neck that bothered me - sharp fret ends, poor setup, just didn't do it for me. But the 7th one I tried was a dream, and I bought it! I love it, and it is one of my faves to play. Squier quality seems to be inconsistent, but a fantastic individual instrument is very much possible... but try it in the store before you buy it!

[@atheist-karate-guy]

Classic Vibe series is the best thing to come out of Squire since the Japanese days.

[@paulpsycho78]

I have a 20 or 21 boxer mij. Its rad

[@QS-si3cq]

*Squier. It's right on the headstock, neck plate, and title of this video.

[@stevecrocker6904]

a squire is a country gentleman with a nice property

[@roygeiger6911]

V.C Squier was a part supplier for Fender. By 1963, they provided all Fender's strings.​@@stevecrocker6904

[@craiger2399]

I like to buy from a dealer that hand selects the instrument, get special builds from Fender, and makes sure the instrument is close to perfect before sale. More expensive, but high quality. Dave's Guitar Shop and Wildwood Guitars here in the USA do that. Their Fender Thin Skin and Wildwood Ten guitars are phenomenal.

[@ac9110]

That really was excellent. Many thanks for taking the time to post this.

[@Casey3-P-O]

I love my player plus strat. It's amazing. Rolled fretboard edges. Push/pull to activate the neck pickup with the bridge and position 2.

[@JohnAdams-xc5yk]

I have had a lot of factory fender guitars starting in 1959, I always found something I didn't like and ended up changing bridges, pickups, necks, so about 15 years ago I started building parts casters, using usually fender bodies and some fender necks, but haven't used a fender bridge or pickups

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

Ever use a Calaham Bridge? IMHO their Strat tremelo blocks have a big effect on tone.

[@anorak211]

I have 1983 made in USA strat which is utterly fantastic, but the guitar I pick up and play is my Squier classic vibe tele from 2020, what a brilliant guitar.

[@blakjack3053]

Fun fact: Mexico strats are made by Mexicans. American made strats are still made by Mexicans. 😉👍

[@BrianLannoye]

Like others say, I really like the comment about how everyone making these instruments deserves our respect.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

I bought a MIM Tele a few weeks ago with some money my grandmother left me before she passed. The fit and finish is lovely, I got it in limited edtion silverburst and I love it, so pleased with the build and have something to remind me of nan when every I pick it up.

[@steviegaga]

I’ve played bass for 55 years and have owned probably close to 20 either Precision or Jazz basses. My current go-tos are both Encinada, MX made. A Players Series Olympic White fretless Jazz, and a brand new Surf Green Vintana Series ‘50’s Precision. They are among the best 2 I’ve owned. Mexico’s factory has a great vid on KZbin. They have amazingly talented craftsperson’s as part of culture. Also, over 25% of Encinada, MX’s factory workers actually PLAY vs just a job for a paycheck. American - made P and J basses currently approaching double their Mexican counterparts. So all that said, play the instrument first. It’ll sing to you or won’t if you’ve been playing a while. I currently have 6 basses incl my upright, but the Vintera PBass I can’t put down. (Today, I swapped out and set up a Leo Quan Badass II bridge, and the additional sustain is unbelievable.

[@paulscanter5562]

Ensenada?

[@itsonlyme9938]

I am a learner guitar player and I have a fender black top, three piece mahogany body made in Mexico I think its a excellent ax. Its a srat with 2 Gibson style pickups and 5 way switch.

[@jfuel]

Great video! One important consideration for me: I would never feel guilty customizing a Squire or MIM Fender. That “Made in the USA“ designation pushes the instrument into investment rather than experimentation.

[@caerparavel]

You are right that investment opportunity is definitely a consideration. WHO WOULD HAVE KNOWN THE 2003 Epiphone Melody Maker would be impossible to find and so expensive if you do find it? Or the Danelectro Longhorn Bass '98 reissue in any color but Copperburst? Any American made Tele from 2006. It's a gamble. There are tons of guitars and many opportunities. Or you could just enjoy the sound.

[@mikewithers299]

My exact sentiments on what I customize or leave as it is. Most of my Fenders/Squires are made in China and get upgrades as needed. Mostly electronics and hardware, but my only MIM Strat has great hardware already. The only MIA Strat will never get changed so as not to devalue it.

[@waygonner]

I’ve had many USA and Mexico fenders over my 25 years of playing and I prefer the Mexico ones. Playability and tone is easy to dial in on them and I’ve had very high quality on all but one of my ~15 Mexico guitars. Of the 4 USA ones I’ve owned, 2 had electronics issues. Small sample but I am firmly in the Mexico camp at this point. Great video!!

[@fredla7353]

I have two. The Standard sounds awesome. The Nate Mendel...not so much [it is going away soon].

[@davidburns9219]

I bought a Squier CV 60's strat last Xmas. It is a real quality guitar. Sunburst finish is immaculate. neck plays like butter, and set-up was spot on. It all depends on your needs and where you want to go with your guitar playing, as to how much you want to spend on a guitar. I am a hobby bedroom guitarist. So the economical Squier falls into my price range comfortably, and gives me that great strat sound and look, for less than half the price of a player or the 4X more expensive American standard.

[@judythepunk461]

I got a squier classic vibe strat a few months ago, literally plays and sounds as good as my friends american strat when we compared, just a slight difference that's definitely not worth the extra 1000 bucks

[@HumbertoMoura]

I have a Squier and I changed the pickups to TexMex and it sounds amazing. Very good and cheap.

[@mcgrath16511]

have a Squier i picked up at a pawn shop.. hardly used.. swapped the pickups out for alnico ones.. sounds as good as a $1200 strat and i have played American strats that do not play as nice..

[@infowazz]

@Prod RyderWaves i had an Indo Suier strat that sounded amazing. It was super light too. I didn't like the black color so i thought i could just take it apart and sand it down and paint it or leave it natural. Boy was that dumb! It had a thick layer of gray primer or lacquer. I mean it was thick as a brick! Came to find out it was super light cheap wood covered in something to make it durable. It was like balsa wood. Anyways, i gave up and tried to put it back together looking totally destroyed and i couldn't line the neck up right and gave up. Sold it in parts on ebay and got more than i thought i would. The rosewood neck had a nice gold Squier logo. People will pay more just for that logo over the boring black one.

[@martintucker2825]

Yes I bought the classic vibe 60s ,best £380 I ever spent, love the thing

[@patrickdolan.]

It's more about the investment. Alot of USA models will hold their value and some will actually gain value over time. I have some Mexican strats I love just as much as my USA strats but I have a couple USA strats that are just hands down amazing.

[@samthelima]

I definitely agree that it's important to try individual guitars before selecting one, regardless of the price point, because there is some variation in quality. The nice part about hardware is that cheaper or mid-range Fenders and Squiers can easily be upgraded due to their simple designs and pickguard mounted pickups. My go-to guitar is a Fender Standard Tele (made in Mexico) with several customizations (locking tuners and Seymour Duncan pickups), and my backup is an American Jeff Beck Strat. I love them both, and when I play them the large price difference between the two isn't really all that noticeable.

[@damienhaigh7666]

Very good break down. Thanks for taking the time

[@Philtration]

My Fender Strat and Baja Tele were both made in Mexico and I am just fine with that. Both are great guitars. I also have a Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute and a Epiphone ES-335 Pro that are great as well and I am glad that I got all four of these guitars for the same price as a mid range Gibson. This is the golden age of affordable guitars.

[@victorfuentes2158]

I got my first fender guitar and it’s a MIM about two weeks and to be honest I couldn’t be happier. I never owed a fender EVER. I have a Yamaha Pacifica and a blue JBP strat (I searched up the brand I couldn’t find anything about it) that I bought for 60 bucks at a local goodwill and I’ve always admired and embraced the sounds that I have. I work with what I got that that how I personally like it so when transitioning from those guitars that I still love to a fender is great and I can care less about the opinions because at the end of the day it’s my guitar and I absolutely love it and the way it sounds and feels. If you like it which really all that matters then it’s the best guitar ever! Much love!

[@chrishenderson9130]

JB player is what your guitar is

[@chymist66]

Victor you just enjoy your guitars. Forget everyone else’s opinion. It is what you love and what inspires you to play that matters. I’m so pleased you love all your guitars. Getting your first Fender is fantastic though isn’t it!

[@CraigGriffiths]

I find my Mexican fenders to be great. I like to spend time tinkering with my guitars, so I can dial them in perfectly. I have a partscaster I built from Mex parts. Buddy Guy signature neck, TexMex pickup all in a Squier button.

[@OscarBenben]

definitely very helpful, thank's bro

[@springboard8558]

I have a 2010 Classic Vibe Tele that feels great and has a unique mojo. I’ve upgraded the pickups to custom shop twisted tele which makes the difference. I’d recommend chasing after an earlier CV and making some simple upgrades to get an excellent gigging guitar.

[@vectortonto1]

I would agree which is why I bought 5 of the white and 2 of the natural before they started making them in indonesia. These are my favorite guitars even above Mexican and American although my American Tele is sweet

[@johnt.mickevich2772]

I have a Strat and a Tele - both made in Mexico, both absolutely fantastic guitars.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

The MIM teles and strat I bought in 2019 and 2020 were utter junk and will never buy another MIM fender.

[@beau692]

I bought a used Squire Bullet strat years ago for $75.00, and enjoyed playing it. I’ve recently purchased a 75th anniversary MIM ( candy apple red) and both guitars are HSS. The only difference I’ve notice is a slightly brighter sound from the Fender MIM, but both guitars hold tuning and sounds fantastic.

[@idealmethod]

best fender strat i reckon is a classic vibe strat. just sold my usa today! keeping the classic vibe to good a strat to ever sell. try a vibe it may be ur bag!

[@TPD]

really like this! great video

[@jackcullen5293]

I have an American strat ultra with lace sensor pickups an ebony fretboard and Floyd Rose bridge in fab Red I do love it.I also picked up an old Sunn strat and brought it back to life.Thanks for the information 👏

[@michaelroberts1904]

I have a squier standard Stratocaster made in china and a squier standard telecaster made in Indonesia. Both are excellent guitars. And I bought them both used. I paid $364 for both guitars and that’s taxes and shipping cost. Now I can change pickups or pots or whatever for a lot less than the American made.

[@scottyharris8873]

It won`t make any difference. Newt from Aliens. IKEA is simply garbage with lipstick. Your choice to love cheap crap made in countries that want your money.

[@darkelive660]

Just bought an Indonesian made Squier Bullet. After changing bridge saddles, tuners, string trees, polishing the frets, oiling the fingerboard, and setting the action, it's a decent guitar. Pups are a bit shrill, but my plan is to build a franken-strat piece by piece then reassembling the squier when it's all done and giving it to a kid. I was shocked that I got the action down to about .9 mm and the neck with the ever so slightest of relief, less than the .25 mm spec, for sure.

[@phillipholt6005]

I have the SQUIRE BULLET STRAT HSS HT and I don't have all those problems. I wouldn't have bought it if I had to do all that. You can buy a better STRAT cheaper instead spending work and money to do all that.

[@darkelive660]

@@phillipholt6005 Every single production guitar you buy needs work in some areas, especially the cheap ones. How's the intonation on it? How are the bridge saddle height adjustment? Are the frets scratchy? If you don't know what I'm asking, then you would greatly benefit from these upgrades and a setup, to be frank, even if you are happy with what you have. The point I was making is that the guitar is a fine piece.. but I'm a modder on a budget, so I do it over time. SO basically for $300 US as of now, I have and incredibly decent guitar. Why do you think pros travel with techs? Even their expensive af customs need work.

[@Chimp_No_1]

Incredibly important and interesting ! Thank you !

[@michaelrosa2589]

Great video fantastic job of sorting out the differences between the Fender family of guitars!

[@93greenstrat]

My daughter's Squire Affinity Strat feels cheap compared to my old American Standard, but having said that, once you get past the cork sniffing, the guitar is quite good actually. In fact, I'm considering an Affinity Strat for myself. Decent overall value for the money.

[@tannertuner]

The Affinities ARE cheap. The body is thinner, the hardware is undesirable, and the electronics suck. For a few more dollars you can get into the better Squire models. Are they better than the cheap crap beginners could afford when I was growing up? Yeah.

[@HumbertoMoura]

I recommend just change the pickups to TexMex. It's cheap and It sounds amazing. I did this on my Squier and I'm very satisfied.

[@russl9029]

The thing I hate about affinities is the width of the neck at the nut. It is noticeably thinner.

[@Maxibaluco]

You should definetly try a Classic vibe, they are fantastic, I used to have a Standard Squier and a Fender Player made in mexico, I sold the Squier Standard and got a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Strat and its just fantastic, it feels so much better than the Player series MIM Fender, I haven't had the chance to play an American Fender yet, but I have played a MIJ Fender and ohh I can tell, they are fantastic. Out of all the Fenders and Squiers I've played I'd put them this way: 1- Made in Japan Fenders (maybe American Fendrrs could take this place but I haven't played one). 2.- Squier Classic Vibe, just fantastic, its build quality overall is amazing. 3.- Mexican Fender, its not bad honestly, in terms of quality and looks I'd put it just a bit below the CV, but here you are just paying a premium for the brand. 4.- the rest of Squier lineups

[@rhettpendleton3090]

I just bought an Affinity Strat because I wanted something cheap to keep at work. I played it against a few Player Strats, which is what I already had, or close (it’s a Blacktop) and pulling it right off the wall, the Affinity was set up as good as most of the Players, and better than some. The nut was a little sloppy but was the only thing I could find fit/finish wise with the guitar. The action was good, only slightly higher than I like and the intonation is close. I wish it had more gloss on the neck but despite that, moving around on it is actually quite nice. That said, I took it over to my pop’s to show him. He’s got a higher range player 70’s reissue. At a glance you’d think they were the same guitar, but when I started playing his, I immediately could tell how much better it played. I am guessing he’s had it set up but not sure as it’s 4th or 5th string guitar. But it was good, way better than my new Affinity, better than my Blacktop which just recently came back from the tech.

[@MrLegion501st]

To me comes down to budget and what are you going to do with the guitar. As a bedroom player that sometimes feels to exhausted from work to play, that do not jam or play in general with anyone else, I don't want to spend $1000+ dollars on a guitar be played for a couple of hours a week and just collecting dust. That's on my perspective what I will do with it. With that, I will think if a Asian made guitar will last decades, if the woods are good enough: a few months back I bought one of those new Epiphones 2020 SG Standard; I'm not crazy about the pickups, are fine to bad, but the guitars feels overall ok and well made, but good enough compared to an almost 4x times the Gibson equal. I have read several comments from old men saying cheap guitars from now are extremely good for what they are compared to the cheap things they had on the 60s. 70s, etc. Again, this comes down to a mindset thing, to eliminate the prejudge that American made is automatically better and everything else is bad. Many people see guitars more like a relic to pass to their grandkids, an investment item and so on, but I play the guitars to keep them and play the most time I can, so, at least remember that you are supposedly playing and buying the guitars because you like it and enjoy the instrument as a form of joy in life.

[@jaybarber68]

Hi there, I’m a old guy and own 2 1960s Silvertones, and an Airline acoustic. My first guitar, (1976!) or I’d throw it away! They were all made in Chicago. They do not sound very good at all. I play a $149 Squire Telecaster and a $200 Sunlite Dreadnought, that sounds the same as a laminated back and sides Martin, to my ears. The Tele is equipped with pickups that should be replaced with better ones.

[@gustavochiozza6465]

A very interesting point of view! Thanks.

[@johnsloman2807]

I had a US made Strat, dated May 62 (on the body end of the neck), Cost then 168 pounds. It was brilliant. During the 1990s, my wife bought me another Strat that I got to choose from all the various guitars in the store. Just about every country was represented but, by far, the best was a Japanese Strat, with the Fender name on the head stock. Cost was around 250pounds. This still plays superbly, rarely needs tuning during a gig, but needed a replacement tremolo block when the original, zinc block, broke at the arm corner. The replacement steel block brightened the tone a bit and I am still well pleased with the guitar overall. I now also have a Squier series J base, made in China, and I can't fault that. Cost around 175 pounds. It is light weight, compared to a previous bass guitar that I had, but I now use a double strap to spread the weight as I am getting older and suffer with neck problems from time to time. The J base sounds great, through my Fender Bassman, as do all my guitars. Don't forget the amp makes as much difference as the guitar.

[@johne1599]

The Zinc block is my only hardware complaint with Mexican Strats. Vintage tuners have become my favorite to restring. Always feel like I’m stringing a violin with those hole-in-the-center tuners. LOL

[@oelarnes]

My conclusion is that the entire line consists of great value products, and there's no reason to either avoid or reach past whatever price point is right for you. Weigh your budget against the value of the time you plan to spend with the guitar, and the guitar at that price point will be a great choice. I went with the baseline MIM tele. It feels great to hold and play, no QC issues and good intonation and tone. It could benefit from a pro setup and it's obviously not super high end in materials, detail, or finish (particularly, the fret edges are a bit sharp), but I think it's a great product for the money.

[@pacislav]

IMO Fender has a lot of appeal mainly because of the history of the company. The guitars are still good but you definitely pay premium for the Fender logo. There are many companies that offer a lot better value. For example Harley Benton makes really good value products. I have a Harley Benton telecaster copy for about $150, I tested it against Squiers and Fenders in the store. It bested all the Squiers and was almost as good as a $700 Fender Player. Guitar is not my primary instrument, so I didn't care much about the name on the headstock and got the Harley. Being mainly a bass player I have a Fender Precission bass. I prefer to have the original shape by the company which invented the whole thing. But I don't think it is a value product. You can buy a good value Fender guitar strap or cable, but the guitars are more expensive than other brands offering the same quality. (but they are no Fenders... I know)

[@OldBlue83]

Thanks for the informative and well researched video! I have preferred the Mexican Strats and Teles overall for their necks and playability at those price points ... And especially the Road Worn versions for light body weight and pickup sound as well as nitro finishes (if they are not too beat up). I have been really impressed lately with the Squire versions of the old Stats at their price point! I think the American versions are a bit overpriced lately, thanks again.

[@jhrdrake7205]

There is no guitar company called Squire but there is one called Squier. Sorry I am on a crusade to get people to actual spell the company name right.

[@aaronfox2888]

I have a Player Jazzmaster MIM and I love it. Built well and sounds great.

[@geoguitar1950]

Watched the whole video. A great breakdown indeed. Thanks.

[@Bomber848480015]

No mention of fret work, rolled fret edges and intonation. These I find to make a huge difference on playability. I have 6 Fenders and the two Mexican guitars are the hanger queens. I spent money from the get go on locking tuners, bone nuts and getting the setup correct. The intonation was never right until after the work was done. In all I ended up at close to what I would have spent on the USA versions. My preference is a dinged up used USA made Fender product off Reverb vs. a pristine new MIM product. Not because it was made in the USA more because what I like in the guitar is closer to what I want. I love my made in Korea Fender Marauder (except for the gloss neck).

[@winteroutside7014]

i have an elephant ivory nut

[@michaelmccarthy7429]

Funny I just watched an Aerosmith concert on TV Last night and Joe’s Perry electric guitar was made out of plexiglass. How’s that for Tonewood?

Aye! The tone wood myth plaguing the video indeed. I just can’t understand how pesistent this seems to be even with the people claiming they are professionals in the field. If we were talking about acoustic guitars then the quality of the wood would matter sound wise, but with electric guitars nope.. There is a reason why you have to have quality wood(or alternative) in the neck, none which actually have anything to do with the sound but rarher looks and stability. Still you could do the whole body from plywood and you would not notice any difference when played through a speaker. For electic guitars its all about the pickups and electronics and setup.

[@chymist66]

Yeah totally get your comment . There’s a lot of bullshit talked about tonewoods. I get as a scientist that anything in guitar design that changes resonant characteristics may change the sound of the guitar like neck through design or mass of the guitar and yes maybe a very small difference from varying wood densities but it is minimal. I think pickups and playing style contribute more. I can tell the twang of a tele most of the time but I can’t tell you whether it’s Ash, Alder or Pine. I think acoustic guitars maybe have more difference than electrically amplified guitars.

[@chymist66]

Now if you’re talking aesthetics then yeah or overall weight then there are personal preferences and users will be prepared to pay money for a guitar that ‘is easy on the eye’ but it has very little to do with the sound quality. Now single coil 60 cycle hum versus the dirt of a silent hum bucker that makes a huge difference to the sound as do the fingers!

[@randalltindall282]

My experience with electric guitar tone, 95 % comes from the pickup

[@billdaggett7911]

That dude never gave a shit about his tone. He was probably stoned. Try again.

[@chrisgeruxubug5884]

about pickups, those on the AM PRO II series are actually made out of two types of AlNiCo, often AlNiCo 2/3 on round strings and 5 on flat wound strings. Each pickup series within fender has a different approach to the sound of the models they're made to be bolt on - that's what make them interesting to look at. All the details are on the fender website. Great video :)

[@philfrank5601]

What a great comparison, very well done and fair video.

[@Skits_Missions]

My personal opinion is USA made. I’m from Australia. My dream was always a “proper fender” original American made. BTW my very first guitar as a kid was a Squire strat. I now own a American original 50’s Stratocaster and love it. Very heavy but

[@johnhart2861]

Exactly my experience and feeling about this subject. Thanks

[@jowildcat40]

Upgraded my 2020 Squier and that's probably the best guitar I've ever owned. It quacks and it can djent if I want it to, lol. Spent a total of maybe $600 for all new gear including the guitar. Perfect intonation, stays in tune with locking tuners, perfect attack with 9's so I can make the tone sound like liquid. So fun to play, and easy to record with. I can practice for hours and never get any fatigue.

[@saepiumv3813]

Same here. I upgraded my squier telecaster with new insides. Pickups and electronics, super easy to do. Had it set up and it’s my favourite guitar. It plays a dream and sounds fantastic!

[@raoulduke344]

Which locking tuners did you install?

[@ale8n]

Which Squier series are better in terms of quality and playability?

[@jowildcat40]

@@raoulduke344 I think KZbin deleted my last comment. I said I installed the Jin Ho 19 to 1 locking tuners. They're about $37 off of Amazon for the strat or telecaster.

[@raoulduke344]

@@jowildcat40 Thanks very much for replying. Did you have to drill any extra holes?

[@mikesmusicden]

Very informative video; great job!

[@sanathdevamurutenge497]

I have a sunburst solid body lead guitar bought in early 70s built in Sri Lanka with Hofner parts (two H pickups, tremulous tail piece, bolt fret board of ebony wood, base treble volume controls, 22 frets, Locke type tuning knobs). It is still in very good condition.

[@timothymallon]

I bought a MIM Player Series Strat and I love it. However, I found an interesting issue with the ones I saw on the rack. Some of the multipiece bodies were thicker in the middle section than on the edges. What I mean to say is, where the pieces were glued together, the middle piece was thicker. Noticeably thicker in fact. If you looked at the body at an angle, it was obvious. I picked up 3 identical Strats that all had the same issue until I found one where the body was smooth and the same thickness all the way across. I have never seen that with USA made. I have, however, seen that in both MIM and Squier.

[@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388]

Someone didn't program the CNC machine correctly. They should have caught that defect before too many were made.

[@timothymallon]

@@stringspicksandfiddlestick6388 Unfortunately, since I posted that original message, I have seen it a few more times. Always on the MIM and Squiers. It's sad really. I DO love my MIM

[@Xaltar_]

"Made in the USA" doesn't mean what it used to. Between higher production costs/overheads and higher labor costs the US really struggles to keep prices in line with value. The end result is that most USA made guitars today (from all manufacturers) tend to have cut corners, be it quality control, skilled labor or cost cutting across the board. MiM Fenders in particular have come a long way in the last decade but what has really stepped up is the Asian origin guitars. I say Asian because we could be talking Indonesia, Malaysia, China, Japan (always been good) etc. What a lot of people don't realize is that a lot of the really bad guitars from a decade or more ago were built by many of the same workers pumping out much better guitars today. The skilled labor pool in Asia has been growing rapidly where in the US it has been declining. Gibson is more telling than Fender I find, where Epiphone has come along very nicely over the last 10 years or so, Gibson has been falling on it's face. I think Fender's MiM lineup falling between Squire and USA models really helped it keep standards up while still hitting the sweet spot price/value point with the MiMs. Gibson is forced to release stupidly cut down Gibson models to hit those price points. Lazy/cheap finishes, poor QC, sub standard wood selection etc. The problem is that Gibson cultists will continue to allow them to get away with it. A great US made guitar is still great, just as good as guitars of old, the problem is how many sub par instruments slip through the cracks today. The only thing holding back Asian "imports" are the restrictions placed on them by Fender/Gibson/PRS etc. If they were allowed to use the same hardware, woods and finishes I honestly think there would be better, more consistent guitars coming out of Asia than the US. All you have to do is pick up a top end Epiphone with Gibson hardware/electronics to see that it really is just as good as the Gibson variant at $1000+ more. The only thing they generally lack is the Nitro finish and that, in my opinion, is a matter of personal preference. I prefer a Poly finish, it doesn't check, crack/peel, fade or discolor anywhere near as easily. Aside from the lovely smell I really don't see the point of a Nitro finish on a modern Guitar. If you don't want a thick finish then something like a natural oil finish is far superior. I tend to sand down and rebuff my poly finished guitars to thin out the finish, they do tend to be heavy handed with the poly. Poly is far more durable, holds a much nicer shine and is so much easier to touch up vs Nitro. It's like the wood glue vs hide glue argument, there will always be people saying one is better than the other but both views are subjective. These days I prefer buying a more affordable Asian built guitar, stripping the weaker/bad components off and replacing them with high end parts of my own choosing. It's more fun/satisfying and I end up with exactly what I want, even if it isn't worth the sum of it's parts. My attitude took a 180 when I picked up a dirt cheap "vintage" Tanglewood LP copy with a laminated body (fancy way of saying plywood), bolt on neck and thick Poly finish. After throwing in some Gibson Burstbucker pickups (left over from upgrading my SG), high end wiring harness and locking tuners it completely transformed. It sustains for days, sounds amazing (semi hollow solid body) and has an insanely low action that I absolutely love. When I moved country for work it was the only guitar I took with me, the rest of my collection went into storage and were eventually sold. I don't regret it anywhere near as much as I would have thought.

[@EbonyPope]

Exactly. The saying you get what you pay for is also true for China. There are very skilled luthiers and with the entrance of CNC machines it's possible to produce very good guitars for a low price tag. It's the same story like with Japan all over again. First they complained about the copycats and a few decades later everybody wants them. Harley Benton is offering incredible bang for the buck and constantly improving. And some of their guitar kits seem to be really nice to tinker with.

[@SwiftyMcswift777]

Sir you’re a man that knows what’s going on in the world of guitars!🎸Great Comment!!!

[@kwedds]

Agree with you for most of your comments. However, having a master built Fender JM made to order as well as a PRS private stock, there isn’t really anything else that comes close. Yes,they’re insanely expensive, but they’ll be heirlooms, handed down for generations.

[@TheAtticradio]

Very interesting !

[@ronj9448]

The key is that weak/ poor quality components are the flaw in Asian Fenders. Yes you can upgrade or update them but you quickly come in line with a MIM guitar. I think Fender understood that because in the last few years they bumped them up a bit. Now the price point spread of the MIM and USA has room to maneuver. A hotrod MIM can still be substantially cheaper than a USA. But the wrinkle on USAs is you can pick up "last years" or used ones at 25-30% off. So the more you know the more value you can get for your money.

[@jameswestervelt6808]

The AO line is incredible. Very warm vintage tones. Also, more time put into production per instrument.

[@colinmorgan6733]

I have a Fender Strat Plus USA I bought in 1995 and a Fender Tele Mex Deluxe I bought in 1997. Both play excellently and are still in great condition apart from the small odd gig marks.

[@ktown0173]

The only thing that truly matters is the pickup, amp, and overall setup. “Tone wood” is an engineered term made to create a sense of luxury. The only difference between alder and poplar is the looks and the cost

[@Chris.Biard42]

I don't agree, some woods and guitars have a better résonance...we find a much better résonance of the guitar when unplugged when we compare sheep models and custom made model....sorry the same for cars, a 5000€ car won't be the same thana 50000€....people that do not have the money for a US model try to convince themselfs that a 500€ guitar will be the same....that simple!

[@allenblack9890]

When thinking of tone wood I would also add that weight can make a difference in a heavy vs lighter guitar. I prefer lighter guitars. Have owned a Jap Squier Strat in the past. I currently on a Japanese Fender Pink Paisley Tele which is a fantastic guitar. Both guitars are made out of basswood.

[@tannertuner]

With wood, it’s the tight grain from trees that grow very slowly in very cold climates over hundreds of years, then how long it is seasoned after it is cut. Older, tighter grained woods will simply be stronger and more stable through changes in temperature and humidity. I have a Made In USA Fender Musicmaster bass and a Squier Bronco bass. Basically an identical design except for the shape of the pickguard. You can tell the difference in how the necks respond throughout the year. Tonally? Yeah, the electronics are different (I think there’s an extra cap on the tone pot in the Musicmaster that darkens the tone) and the Squier gives you a broader tonal spectrum. I would have to install identical electronics to compare if the woods affect tone or sustain. But as far as stability, the old Musicmaster blows the Bronco away. The Bronco feels cheaper.

[@jackgriffith9229]

Nonsense! A precision heel routing is crucial ! If the heel routing is less than perfect the entire guitar 🎸 is garbage because the neck will shift and move even with shims. I’ve seen brand new guitars with such huge gaps between the neck and the body that Fender should be ashamed of it absolute lack of quality control!

[@keovisethmarkuswiesner8495]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGGVpXyjmMpmd6c

[@MichaelJ023]

The MIM line has really come up in quality. Even though my 91 MIM Strat was constructed well, it really lacked in quality electronics. Over the years I replaced the pickups, pots, switch, and jack. They were really cheap. Also it’s hard to believe they put Squier Affinity level ceramic pickups in MIM back then. I’m pretty sure I paid $600 in 1991 (approx $1000 today) for it, so that is quite surprising. The modern Squier classic vibes are much better than the 90s MIM.

[@3DLasers]

So that guitar you paid $600 for 3 days ago would cost you like a grand to replace now huh ? Yep, that'd be Joe Biden and the gang for you... 🤪

[@epiccartman5579]

what year do you think it is

[@3DLasers]

@@epiccartman5579 This is the year 2525 and we’re just barely alive. Hey could you call 911 for us we’re all out of beer… 🤒🤕

[@3DLasers]

@@epiccartman5579 What do mean where are we ? We’re up here in the future of course, where are you ? And if you tell me you’re in the future like that last guy did I’m just going to hang up the telephone here because everybody knows that’s impossible. Hmmm, although if there was actually a mirror universe and it was going the other way through time and… I‘ll have to sleep on that one, that’s a pretty big question… 🌍 ✨

[@user-xb6fl9ri6g]

This is why I love the used/custom build scene. :Picked up an ash/maple strat with custom electronics, reversed neck, flawless finish for less than a used MIM.

[@daw162]

as far as trem and mass. three years ago, I made two stratocasters - one was 6 1/2 pounds and one was 11. The latter was ash body and bubinga neck. They sound drastically different unplugged, but the typical fender standard pickups are so low output that the guitars are indistinguishable plugged in. Specifically, the heavy guitar sustains for a very long time, but the pickups don't have enough output to pick up the tail end of the sustain like a higher output pickup would.

[@bradleylovej]

I think there's a reason they do that, though. I really like single-coil pickups, and they tend to sound best when they aren't too 'hot.' Lower output helps accentuate the magic of single coils, it allows the gentle, bell-like chime to shine through. Or at least that's how I perceive it. Ever picked up an old fender? I own one from the 70's and it's pickups are even weaker than my '11 strat. And the tone is way more 'strat-y' and bell-like.

[@Frank-in-NY]

I've always put the quality of the instrument on the parent company. So a manufacturer when outsourcing says "Built me this guitar for my cost of $50, that I can sell for $250, you get a $50 guitar. Go to China and say build me a that will cost me $500, you're gonna get one high quality instrument. Workers are workers. My Japanese Vehicle is built in Kentucky, it's just as good as the same vehicle built in Japan, and I've owned both over the years. What annoys me is paying premium from one company for the same material. I can buy a bass guitar for $150 with a Rosewood Fretboard, and have to spend $2,000 at another company, just in order to have the option of a Rosewood Fretboard.

[@GTRxMan]

Excellent analysis and pretty much my experience as well. I have a 90s vintage American Standard Strat and agree with your hardware assessment. The tuners are fine, the pots feel a bit cheap compared to other similarly priced guitars and the trem is absolute garbage. My Mexican Tele plays well, but again, the pots feel cheap and the Pao Ferro fingerboard takes some getting used to visually.

[@davidzimmermann6086]

congratulations, this video is really well done!

[@JulesGuitar]

Thank you so much!

[@jeffroq]

Great video. My recent experience. 3 new pro 2s all had to be sent back with quality issues. I have since bought the same tidepool player Strat which is great. I wonder if the workforce in Mexico has suffered less changes or something. I'm a lefty and think that left handed guitars suffer at the QC stage due to just not getting played as much. One of the Strats I sent back had the additional pickup options wired up incorrectly, I was not getting the advertised configurations. Im well happy with the Player Strat, I've put locking tuners on it and lefty taper pots, saved £1000 over the Pro 2, so I bought a Charvel Pro Mod DK24HH with the change 👍

[@danmcnay4905]

Great video! As a lifelong musician that owns a lot of clasic ("collectble") guitars, I think something needs to be said that most guitar snobs won't say. The modern USA & Mexican Strats are of WAY higher quality and playability than many of the vintage years and they all know it. There is definitely a soul in the vintage guitar that does not yet exist in the newer ones, but after decades of gigging these guitars and passing the souls of the players into them it will be interesting how people view these in the future. I have USA, Mexican & Japanese Strats with the only real tangible difference being electronics and hardware quality. To be brutally honest, my Mexican made Strats are my favorites overall for off the shelf guitars. They sound great, and even surpass the USA models in many ways especially with pickup upgrades. The guitarists in my recording studio are shocked when they play them as they believed the marketing hype. The real truth is, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE IT IS MADE. Pick up a guitar and spend time playing it. Trust me, you will know when it feels right. When it does, even a P.O.S. Frankenstrat built from scrap parts can change the world of music. Rock on!

[@parasportz]

I agree and I have heard this said before about Epiphone quality vs older Gibsons because the CNC machining has a more consistent finish than the older handmade ones but the handmade ones have 'soul'. Very well put.

[@fenatic7484]

When Joe Bonnamassa played Rory Gallagher’s Strat, the one with the finish played off and had been played for all those years , Joes Dad was a Gibson dealer and he played a lot fancy Gibsons. He picked it up , restrung it and he could feel it. He took it out and did some of Rory’s songs and it was like he said it made him a better guitar player!He understood what the blues were about. The mileage on it like you said is what made it what it was.

[@rickycompton2610]

In my Opinion I think the Fender Mexican factory is turning out some great guitars especially the EVH Wolfgang specials to me there build quality it a couple points higher than the Fenders the turning out but I will say I bout a Jim Root tele in 2018 made in Mexico it played amazing straight out of the case I think your spot on with your numbers great video

[@lightfoot413]

I have a 2021 Squier Affinity..I upgraded the block to brass.the pick ups to alnico and the pots and switch from small to large,,The sound resonence and sustain differences were remarkable.It is so much better sounding and I love to play it..Of course I had a tech set it up and put ten dollar Fender strings on it..Love it for a 200 dollar upgrade parts and labor and with the thin body it weighs only 7.3 pounds....

[@garydunn5797]

I actually don't mind the cheap Poplar. It resonates sound vibrations so well that you don't even need to plug the guitar into an amp to hear it very clearly. Almost an acoustic unplugged quality. The single coils bite deeply into the body and you can definitely feel the bright jangly twangy vibrations it produces through the wood. You can feel the bridge humbuckers really resonate through your chest through the Poplar with a good dirty growl way more than other woods that I've owned of more expensive quality. Someday, Poplar will get its overdue respect.

[@J0nny61]

My 2021 FSR American Stratocaster is the best instrument I've played, I love it and it's perfect. My Chinese made Classic Vibe Tele which I think is a 2014 is a close second. It's pretty much flawless also.. Both needed a bit of a setup as all guitars do, but mostly string height to get the action to your personal preference. My friends Mexican Strat is a great instrument but not the same quality as my USA one. I suspect my Classic Vibe will wear out quicker than both the Strats I've mentioned. Time will tell.

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

No doubt your Squier CV might have fret-wire or pots that wear out more quickly than the parts on your USA Strat, but remember they can easily be replaced and that your CV should last you a lifetime if you want it to... :)

[@minkorrh]

But can you honestly justify the price difference between the US and Mex guitars?

[@J0nny61]

@@minkorrh Not really but I love the way it plays and sounds and will pass it on to one of my grandchildren as a family heirloom.

[@oliviermoreno122]

Nice video but I expected to hear more about Made in Japan Fender guitars ! The craftsmanship and quality control on these guitars is just excellent. Buying a second-hand Reissue one from the 80's or 90's, replacing the electronics and pickups for quality ones, and possibly upgrading some parts (bridge, nut) is one of the best options to consider as a Strat/Tele guy. Doing this will cost far less than acquiring an US model (which would be a worse guitar, 80% of the time) I had 8 quality strats in my life. 4 of them were US one and 4 were MIJ. I chose to keep 2 and these are MIJ. Better playability, better sustain, better tones and simply better guitars.

[@williamphillips24]

When I got my 2021 Player HSS, I was planning on replacing the pickups with Lace Sensors immediately, but after the first full volume band praco, I wasn't feeling that they needed it. The neck and middle singles are really quite nice while the humbucker was a bit meh tbh. I replaced the lot anyway (red dually, silver, blue) because I had the already, but it was a close thing, lol.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Have owned and played 50s 60s 70s 80s etc etc all types, I recently got to play a Fender 70th anniversary Esquire and It sounds lovely. Light body, good hardward ,a real pleasure to play. I know its supposed to be a limited run but it proves to me that they can manufacture great guitars. Second place goes to who-ever makes the Japanese versions. Japanese bodies and finishes with USA hardware is pretty hard to beat.

[@LCA84]

6:10 I agree. There's a certain hype over MIK Squiers, but most of them are pretty crap compared to modern Indonesians, Chinese and even Indian Squiers. From 1987 to 1995 all MIK Squiers were plywood. And there were just a few special editions with decent quality. The "gold logo" MIK Squiers from 96-97 are very good, so as the Fender Lite Ash, made by Samick since 1989. In my opinion the Classic Vibe series are the best Squiers ever made since the MIJ Squier Series. They're even better than the Mexican, American and Brazilian Fender Squier Series from the late 80s/early 90s. I also have a Fender Jaguar Bass made in China, the Modern Player. It is by far the best bass neck I ever had. The wood selection and the neck stability are superb, the high mass bridge is a looker and the overall feel is from a superior price range. I'd never let it for a MIM or MIJ Fender PJ bass.

[@winteroutside7014]

in the 1970s gibson les paul had plywood bodies

[@teedub127]

My favorite "brand name" guitar is my 2004 Squier 51, I've modded it a bit but it plays as nice as most Fenders, I played.

[@winteroutside7014]

@@teedub127 i want a LP because it has a shorter scale and my fingers barely move except to punch people which is why they are ruined

[@LCA84]

@@winteroutside7014 They had sandwich bodies. 3 ply body. Not plywood.

[@winteroutside7014]

@@LCA84 you need to read the definition of ply , yer two ply Bud

[@mikelovesplayingguitar761]

Fascinating and thorough comparison of Fender’s guitars. I have an American Pro 2 Strat that’s amazing. I got a great deal on it before prices soared. I owned a Mexican Player Plus HSS Strat and it was about half the price and a great instrument. I wouldn’t say the American one is 2x “better” but I do prefer it. One other thought when it comes to overall value is whether it has a case or gig bag. Thx for a great video. I just subscribed to your channel.

[@trebleboost7]

The Pro II is pretty special. I like it more and more as I play it. What trim did you go for? I got mine before the hike too.

[@leomuzzy6554]

I love my Hello Kitty Strat! The knob fell off and I PC-11ed it back on and now it's perfect!

[@paulthurston2883]

I have a 2010 MIC Classic Vibe, 50s Strat. Alder body, great fretwork. Sounds and looks fantastic. The only upgrade I made was swapping out the pot metal block for a custom made SS one.

[@danielpark2991]

Once bought a USA strat. My Japanese one was equally as good for half the money. Still got the 30 year old Japanese Stratocaster. Still love it

[@donnyhall2535]

I have a Squier Bullet Tele and it honestly plays, feels and sounds just as good and sometimes better than other Fender brand guitars that I own now and have in the past. My classic vibe jazz bass is perfect, no need for any other bass. As far as set-up, I personally don't care because the first thing I do is make sure everything is working and nothing is broken. Then I change the strings to my favorite strings, do a a fret level and dress, adjust the nut if needed, get my action at my preferred height and intonate. Then a new set of strings to play. I always tune a full step up at first and let the guitar set for a day or two, it allows the strings to stretch as the guitar settles to the climate in my house. After that if I need to tweak anything then I will. But the quality between all the models and where they were made, their really isn't any difference. You'll get good and bad in them all. Everyone should know how to set up their own guitar to their playing style, otherwise they'll never be happy with any guitar because today it might be great but tomorrow the neck could move and the action might be .090 or be stetting on the frets. So basic maintenance is key to any guitar being a great guitar.

[@jerroldshelton9367]

I understand the praise for the Squier Bullet Tele. I've got one (Indonesian) and have no complaints.

[@scottyharris8873]

IKEA... it's a personal choice.

[@donnyhall2535]

@@scottyharris8873 what???

[@ianbartle456]

@@donnyhall2535 If that was too hard, try focusing on just the last two words. :-)

[@donnyhall2535]

@@ianbartle456 don't play me like I'm an idiot. I know what personal choice is. Not sure what IKEA has to do with it. We're talking about guitars, not cheaply made swiss furniture.

[@mickymiller6130]

I bought a Squire 70's vibe strat from Indonesia and I love it.

[@ChristopherOrth]

Good vid! I have guitars from all price ranges and manufacture countries, and they are all wonderful. That said, I do have an Ultra Luxe Telecaster and it is nothing short of an exceptional instrument in every way. Hands down tied with a hand made Robin for the best guitars that I own, buy a large margin. I can't speak for the rest of the Fender line, but the ultra luxe are worth far more than I paid for it.

[@MatGurman]

I’ve been playing my whole life and have found cheap instruments of today are infinitely more playable than they were in the 60’s and 70’s. I have purchased a few Chinese and Korean Squiers that had weak necks, so much so that they could not be used in a professional situation (others were stunning). In particular, a mid 90’s Korean Squier. I like to use hand pressure on the headstock at times to shape pitch but this instrument would actually go out of tune even with high end tuners and slippery nut. It’s the wood that was the issue. That is where I find the biggest problem with cheap instruments. The hardware and nut can be changed but the inconsistent wood quality makes some cheap guitars unreliable. I’ve changed necks and found I’m still stuck with a dead sounding body. Most of my off shore instruments have been great and purchased sight unseen. A dud can occur any level though. I had a 2008 American (I can’t remember the model, Deluxe I think with the S switch) that had epoxy filling gaps in the neck pocket. The neck would not stay put and would slip under normal playing. It made tremolo use impossible. Fender said this was not a defect……. That’s when I stoped buying American Fenders. The QC is shameful. It can be bad with lower priced instruments but a bit more forgivable. Now, take a look at a Indonesian PRS. They are stunning and VERY consistent. I guess it comes down to how a company enforces QC more than where it is being made.

[@stevecrocker6904]

I have Korean and Chinese Squiers - but no Squires

[@MatGurman]

@@stevecrocker6904 Thank you for the spelling correction. Infinitely useful!

[@Dany12156]

I second that . Last Summer i saw in the shop Fender AM Pro II Strat with Sienna Sunburst transparent finish and there was triangle shaped hole on the front next to the pickguard that was filled with BLACK(why???) epoxy and was visible from 10 meters. Ive asked whether it is some defect discount on this gutar and got answer that it is not defect and that it is being sold for a full price. Thats really strange attitude to the quality. After they damaged the body, they could move it to batch, that will be painted non-transparent and this would resolve the issue, but looks like noone cares.

[@MatGurman]

@@Dany12156 You are spot on. Fender used to repaint bodies on new stock. I purchased a yellow 57 reissue back in the mid 80’s that I decided to put a Floyd on (horrible idea). When the screws were removed it revealed the body had been several colors previously (green, red and also black before it was yellow). Other companies have their tricks. Ovation used to use black putty to fill holes in ebony finger boards. I noticed this on mine in 1975 right after purchasing it because the putty was soft and came off in my fingers!The dealer told me it was not a defect but allowed me to return it. It’s unfortunate but ethics don’t seem to be a big concern when they effect profit for manufacturers.

[@fenatic7484]

@@MatGurman Was it Floyd Rose or Seymour Duncan made that really good heavy trem block and the 4 or 5 spring heavy duty claw? I really wish that I had a Tele with that trem with a P90 on an ashtray bridge with that trem system with the front two Strat Almico 5s in front with a 7.5 neck radius and locking tuners. Maybe a “Dad Bod” rib cut . That would be my dream! But being busted up and 61 I couldn’t remember if was Rose or Duncan who made that super strong trem block and claw.

[@jamiewhite6798]

yes all of the guitars can feel close however only the USA models have resale value. so therefore they are worth more and will continue to be.

[@1scooterpilot1]

80's Japanese Fenders hold their own too.

[@jasonstacey8577]

If you look on eBay at the minute ,a lot of the player series still sell for a good price, second-hand.

[@charlesbolton8471]

@@jasonstacey8577 I’m not saying that Mexican Fenders won’t hold their value. However, the current selling prices of used guitars is higher than normal due to both the rapid increase of new guitar prices and the pandemic related decrease in new guitar availability. When the industry returns to normal (stores around me are starting to reach pre-pandemic inventory levels) used prices will drop back down.

[@jasonstacey8577]

@@charlesbolton8471 yes maybe it's just what I've seen them go for lately

[@ralphdubofsky4951]

I own a 1997 American Deluxe Plus Strat with a Cobalt Blue finish. I have the "Rainbow" set of Lace Sensor pups, which I totally LOVE! Blue at the neck, Silver in the middle, and Red at the bridge. I have a Floyd Rose floating bridge/tremolo (which I also love) and the Fender locking tuners with an LSR nut. Neck is maple C-shape with a maple fretboard. The body is Ash. Living in the Boston area at the time I bought it, I went to 4 different Guitar Centers and played 35 different Strats before finding mine. I've owned 3 previous Strats....all USA.....and, this one is by far the best of them all, and it's the only one still living with me. It cost me $895.97 plus an $80 dollar hard case. I was told by the store manager that this guitar was set to be in the introductory sales of the Bonnie Raitt Signature Series, but was rejected at the last minute because Bonnie wanted a Rosewood neck and no Floyd Rose. According to him, there were only 200 or so made for the initial promo, and they were spread around their biggest stores in their biggest cites. So....serendipity baby. It IS worth the search if the resources are available in your area. I have 3 vintage Gibsons because I bought them all new when I was a young axe slinger, never sold them, and now they're worth an insane amount of $$! 1967 ES 335 TDC, a 1972 LS-6S, and a 1969 Dove acoustic. But, since the day I bought it, my '97 Strat has been and remains my #1.

[@santin4reel]

Wow that roasted pine professional II Strat looks beautiful..I want it!😍😍😍

[@Andrew-qq8fb]

My Squier Affinity plays much better than my MIM. The Squier was setup perfectly when I bought it. A good setup is worth its weight in gold. IMO play every instrument in the store and pick the one that is setup well because that ensures you got a good one.

[@JLBREMER]

Same. Felt like better build quality and heavier. I think the Fender sounded better but felt cheap and light. I have the Jimi Hendrix Fender.

[@whyguy3651]

There’s no way squier comes anywhere close to the player series strat. Since they changed it over to the player series they’re sooo much better. On par or even Better then the USA made guitars

[@arewestilldoingphrasing6490]

@@whyguy3651 Classic Vibe Squier Strat was one of the best guitars I played

[@jasonstacey8577]

Set up doesn't mean it's a better guitar, it just means it's setup better.

[@beefnacos6258]

I've never in my life played an infinity that's even close to an MIM fender. But rock on regardless!

[@kwedds]

Now that I’m in my 60s and can finally afford pretty much any guitar I want, I just don’t feel like dealing with MIM or Chinese product. It’s correct that buying US will not guarantee superb quality ( which is kind of sad, considering that some cost more than 10 times the lower price point models) but I’ll stick with it anyway and just make sure that they are near as “ perfect” as they can be.

[@ronj9448]

There is no guarantee of superb quality BUT you don't buy those! You keep trying them out until you find one that sings to you. It will be a lot faster with a USA guitar in my opinion. I've done that and been quite happy. I've also walked away from instruments that impressed the heck out of me 10 years ago that I still regret not buying.

[@multipipi1234]

I'm in my 60s and had every guitar. My go to is a Mexican Tele ....and I have been playing for over 50s years. In that time it's always been sound over headstock. Oh...Mike Rutherford plays a Squire Bullet live. I guess he feels the same.

[@ronj9448]

@@multipipi1234 The early Bullets were made in Japan - great quality.

[@multipipi1234]

@@ronj9448 Hi Ron ...if you check this out...not Japanese.

[@kwedds]

@Mark Seymour No thanks, couldn't give me one!

[@JohnnytheTMaker]

I got myself a 700$ Mexican 21 Jazzmaster, i only played it dry in the store but fell in love with it. It has the most beautiful sound, a beautiful neck with beautiful wood patterns AND THE WORST SOLDERING I EVER ENCOUNTERED. The toggleswitch missfunktioning continuously. I found a random screw in there when i opened it that caused a rattling sound after it came lose somewhere. Even being an electricians worst nightmare i love that thing

[@seanandben]

A comment that some may or may not find useful. The finish on Rory Gallagher's strat didn't wear away from use alone. Rory had a very high acid content in his perspiration and that was the main cause of the paint stripping off his guitar.

[@rockingroller9000]

This can be debated all day but the feel, sound and “satisfaction” of a USA strat make it worth it. The satisfaction for me is the sustain and feel of the body. Had my strat since 2014 and nothing has come loose or shaky on it. With all pieces of it screwed on, it feels like 1 solid unit. The squier series has parts come loose and fall off all the time. Yes you can always tweak it and make it all come together but it goes to show that my 2014 strat, over all these years of playing it, has not seen anything compromised in the body, neck, or hardware.

[@Hiro.the.God.]

That’s all in your head. I’ve bought 300 dollar guitars 10x better than an over priced fender all day.

[@rockingroller9000]

@@Hiro.the.God. all in my head? I literally own one and compare it with other fenders. You own crappy 300$ guitars because you can’t afford a nice american fender. Then you try to justify your purchase by labelling american fenders as “over-priced.” I’ve owned the same guitar for 8 years and it’s been fine.

[@AlexVoinotGuitar]

Good video, thanks! My experience is somewhat similar, with multiple manufacturers, not just Fender/Squier. I've got an Edwards (ESP) 335 copy, made in Japan, and, with a luthier-made Telecaster, they're by far my best made guitars. I would consider these flawless, and they play like a dream. My American Standard Strat (2008) is not that far behind, but I've owned/played my fair share of American/Mexican/Chinese Fender/Squier guitars, and they can definitely be a little hit or miss. That's why I always recommend playing before you buy. If you go through the racks, you can find amazing Squier Affinity guitars, that might even sound decent, despite the stock ceramic pick ups.

[@patrickwoo6067]

Made in Japan the best...!!!!

[@kkteutsch6416]

I've bought an used Squier strato some 22 years and it's still in a very good shape, I only substitute the frontal microphones plate 5 years ago ...

[@anthonycraig1458]

Really good video. Must admit I've not had great experiences with Mexican strats. Bought a second hand 50s road worn which was ok but after the novelty of it, it just felt nothing special. Managed to get a US 56 reissue and there was a huge difference, it just resonated so much better (even when replacing the Mexican pickups with identical pure vintage 56 pups). The neck was superbly finished off on the US model. Recently got a H.E.R. chrome glow strat and although it's well made, the frets and neck were clearly not finished to the same standard as the US model I have. Not necessarily badly put together, just not as nice or as comfortable to play. Interesting comments about 2 or 3 piece bodies, Fender often made bodies out of multiple pieces back in the 50s and 60s (the custom shop discovered Eric Clapton's Blackie was a 3 piece body!). Of course the big issue not talked about is wages. How much is someone in Corona paid compared to someone in Mexico or China? That's going to affect retail prices massively.

[@ronaldgoebel2174]

I am a guitar tech and I feel the Made In Mexico and some Squires are superior to USA made Fenders hands down! And you are right. Fender guitars are really not made in the USA anymore. Hence the Corona California label instead of Made in USA.

[@EvilMerlin]

Did you watch the video? As for Fender American guitars, they ARE made in the US, but have over 15% imported parts, such as knobs, pickups etc. My goodness.

[@xjohn1970]

We are all Guitar Techs

[@ronaldgoebel2174]

They are assembled in USA. Very few parts are made in the USA and I don't buy into the whole tone wood debate. Wood makes no difference at all so if the wood parts are made in USA I don't care cause the sound comes from the pickups and your hands only!

[@EvilMerlin]

@@ronaldgoebel2174 MOST parts are made in the US, not "Very few".

[@jetporter]

As long as the guitar has a straight neck and good frets, the main thing about the sound is the first player and second the pickups and electronics such as capacitors and rheostats. I think I like the sound of your red American Strat better than the Blue player one, but I'm sure that's down to the pickups. I'm not sure I believe that wood selection has much to do with it. Some guys will credit the rosewood on the American's fretboard for the warmer, bassier sound, but I'm not sure I believe that.

[@jakeforder9435]

I completely agree. Tonewoods greatly affect the sound of an acoustic guitar but electric guitars are all about the pickups. In my opinion, if you want a high quality Fender buy the parts separately and put it together yourself, spending most on a nitro finished 'aged' neck

[@solarismoon3046]

@@jakeforder9435 The type of finish has no more to do with the sound than the colour of the instrument! I am so sick of people glorifying lacquer as it if were the end all - be all finish medium. It was used back in the fifties because it was easy to get and easy to use. It wasn't like Fender could go to a paint jobber and say "Hey - give me a quart of polyester!" It hadn't been invented yet. The only reason that people put such importance on such an unimportant idea is because of SNOB APPEAL! I've owned and played instruments made from all different types of timber and finishes and none of them said "I have a polyurethane finish" or I have a lacquer finish" or for that matter "I have a polyester finish"! They sounded like the pickups in them no matter what wood they were made from or what type of finish was sprayed on them. Don't buy into all the hype. You'd be better off buying a Squier Classic Vibe guitar and modifying what you don't like than you would buying expensive after market parts or name brand parts thinking that makes a better guitar. It's like buying a Squier and sanding off the decal and putting a Fender decal on the headstock thinking that makes it a better guitar. I bought this exact same Strat (Fender Player Series Stratocaster) in Tidepool because I couldn't get the Chinese made Classic Vibe Telecaster. I decided on a new Strat to replace my 1956 Stratocaster which has severely worn frets. It won't take a fret dress or re-fret. So I bought something that wouldn't need to be modified and I'm perfectly happy with it.

[@jakeforder9435]

@@solarismoon3046 It is rather like the snobbery in wine tasting: the greatest influence on which is not the flavour, it's the label.

[@ianbartle456]

@@jakeforder9435 We can all unexpectedly founder on the reef of expectations. Labels buy into all that big time.

[@BillyJoefromMtVernonMo]

I have about a 10 yr old Mexico 50's series Strat with a maple neck and I love it. I bought it new and have had no issues with it at all

[@julysanchez8580]

love my made in Indonesia classic vibes 50s esquire ! very good quality! especially the fret job!

[@andrewsorensen2316]

Around '04, I was talking with a Fender Guitars product rep. Someone asked "what's the difference between American and Mexican Fenders?" The rep shrugged and said: "... about 100 miles"

[@solarismoon3046]

Sadly what most of these people reading and leaving these comments will never understand. 🙄

[@lucasoheyze4597]

Because it's just factually incorrect

[@OswaldoCastil]

I wish I saw your videos eight months ago before buying my American Professional II Precision Bass. That instrument was a huge let down for me. The truss rod makes haunted seesaw noises and the E string tuner cracks like a poor rheumatic back whenever I try to tune it. I should have settled with my Squier Vintage Modified instead, but the fact that it's a Fender kinda makes me proud though. Your channel is absolutely phenomenal. You make the most unbiased and insightful videos I've ever seen when it comes to guitars. They're rare those.

[@jpj1776]

Won’t buy another Fender. Brand new am pro hardly ever played, pick up just quit. Customer service non existent.

[@scottyharris8873]

Unbiased? Lol... no he is not. He is very opinionated!

[@ianbartle456]

Definitely haunted - try looking up a priest which a solid reputation in performing successful exorcisms. Get this right - and you'll be playing like Jaco.

[@johne1599]

From my experience with Strats, the neck cut-out in the body is not parallel with the body from the factory. I get that Fender does that for the floating tremolo, but there’s a better way to set the floating tremolo AND get great action. I start with Stew-Mac maple shims to get the string height the same up and down the fingerboard. The rest is in how you setup the bridge, including: 1) matching the correct # of springs to counter your string gauge tension, 2) proper adjustment of the 2 claw screws to get the spring tension correct, and 3) adjusting the screws that hold the Strat bridge so that it can pivot properly on the body and return in tune. That’s the part that took me awhile to learn how to do properly and get total control over my Strat action. Finally, all that’s left is setting the pickup height and intonation. I never screw the bridge down solid on the body. If I wanted that, I’d get a Tele.

[@bluesteel48]

I still play my 1965 L plate Fender Jaguar. I purchased it brand new when I was 17 and playing in a surf band. Other than dirty pots it’s never given me any trouble. Quality was excellent back in those days.