Squier Paranormal Stratosonic Review

[@cliffwarner7549]

I'm not typically a Squier, or even really a Strat kind of guy, but this guitar has me intrigued. First, the scale length; second the P-90s (even though they aren't yours); third the push pul pots for series/parallel options and also the phase switching. I'm curious to see what more you do with it! Thank you!

[@dwightshumate7614]

We got these in our shop a few weeks ago and I fell in love with them. I always give myself 2 weeks to come down off the new gear high and if I still love it I snag it.

[@haysfordays]

I'm.going to come back to see if you grabbed one!

[@dvynal2964]

Did you get one?

[@jevonwhite5193]

Did you end up getting one?

[@waffleshadow6840]

i actually love how it looks and sounds, I will def look into getting it, always wanted one with P90s in it

[@Zilmayjaink]

Not a nut snob here but 😅 The nut is actually graphite, which means it is self-lubricating, improving tuning stability. All of if not most of the Contemporary series have them.

[@juffurey]

That's actually not bad

[@jason698]

The specs from squire say it's a graphite nut

[@Steinstra-vj7wl]

Great guitar. Look forward to the coming video with your new pickups. That out of phase setting sounds already good.

[@shanewalton8888]

"The neck is very different from a Gibson....It is very nice. " lol

[@haveagoodone5830]

Frankly, this guitar sounds very cool. Don't you get the feeling budget pickups have got a lot better lately?

[@Patrick.B223]

Top work from Squire! Love the finish.

[@RobertFisher1969]

I’m very happy with mine. And its a perfect companion to my Toronado. Now I need to finally get a Nighthawk to have a Fender-y Gibson as well.

[@juffurey]

Check out Harley Benton, I got a HH tele with a Fender scale length but Les Paul style neck (D profile, 12in radius) and tunomatic bridge, it's fun to play but there's definitely work to do on the frets and fretboard.

[@jet_black]

They released an American version around 2009-2010 I want to say. I worked at Sam Ash at the time and I drooled over it. Nows my chance .

[@familiarpurrson8744]

That sounds very, very nice. Kind of wish I had the scratch to buy it from you when you're done.

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

It is exactly a Epiphone SG special, superstrat edition. They're even using Okoume, which is a mahogany substitute.

[@rickc2102]

I look all white but my dad is okoume

[@shayh.3556]

But this has push/pull out of series etc whereas does Epiphone offer that? Nope

[@sassycat]

Can't wait to see the follow-up video.

[@jerichostevens2711]

I love strats, and I plan on adding this to my strat collection... I have the traditional strat, the nasvhille stratocaster, and soon this one..

[@rocknrollmouseuk]

Great sounding and looking guitar - strangely after taking inspiration from other guitars, it isn't an "almost" anything (ie not an almost LPJ, not an almost strat, not a...) Squier have made a unique guitar, great sounding great looking. Thanks for the great video 🙏

[@mikethebloodthirsty]

It's like a Epiphone Wiltshire with a fender headstock.

[@juffurey]

Stuff like this is why there's no other channel like yours, thanks Dylan!

[@bradyazell]

Bought one of these a few weeks ago during a Reverb sale ($300 new). Put in a pair of used Gibson P90's and also some Kluson vintage black tuners. It's a killer guitar for under $500.

[@jevonwhite5193]

What do you think of the playability, neck and fretwork?

[@bradyazell]

@@jevonwhite5193 The one I got is damned near perfect. No sharp ends, no buzzing. Great feel. At this price point it was a steal!

[@markkasick]

I used to have a Squier ST-336 MIJ that had a Gibson scale neck. I foolishly sold it for probably next to nothing . It had a peghead painted black like that. At the time I didn't know what I liked about it but it was the scale length. I would buy a regular Strat with that neck in a heartbeat.

[@jdkimple]

I’m digging it. It fits the area between two of my favorite guitars right now. I could just use this to gig with.

[@IanSinha-bc6bc]

I just received mine today…. IT. IS. COOL. I’ve been using the outbid phase for a bit of funk, and the series setting sounds just like a Les Paul The sustain is fantastic I tend to play quite clean so I’ve not checked how it sounds dirty yet, but I think it’ll be good Neck feels a bit dryer than I’m used to

[@jevonwhite5193]

How do you like the playability, neck and frets?

[@ralphgilbert3579]

I would love having a guitar like that. Don't have any with P90s yet. Yet...

[@captainchaos3053]

In my experience p90s will fit onto just about any electric guitar with little or no real modification. Get a soldering iron and a few cheap parts and build something truly custom.

[@grishnackh5774]

Amazing guitar, looks and sounds good. And great price as well. I’m considering buying this particular one or the nashville strat.

[@joes.3083]

I want one of these guitars, they look pretty cool.

[@charlesharper7292]

It's a Frankenstein! I got a red one. Love it...

[@dw7704]

I have an Epi Special, so not high on my wishlist, but the extra seres/parallel/phase options are cool, and I am sure they will endear this guitar to some players

[@christopheraaron8299]

I put humbucker sized P90s in my Epi Special. They sound amazing.

[@PatrickGeneLeBlancHardy]

I can't wait for the next video on this Guitar 🎸 Thanks for sharing ✌

[@Brykk]

This video definitely has my curiosity piqued. I prefer a shorter scale guitar (my go to is a prs 245) and i love the strat style body (my second fave is a classic vibe 70 strat).

[@rickc2102]

yeah my 594 is my instant go-to, short scales for life

[@charlesthomas6748]

Squire will most definitely take you higher. Made in Indonesia high quality musical 🎶 Instruments 🎶 🔥

[@WilliamJOHNSONJR]

Actually Made in China (and my frets are perfectly finished )

[@charlesthomas6748]

@@WilliamJOHNSONJR i have a Squire starcaster that I bought from sweetwater. Sweetwater told me it was made in Indonesia. I know the fender starcaster was made in China and the 2 guitars are identical. I don't really care if it was made in anywhere. I love the new Squire quitars. Classic vibes player player.

[@WilliamJOHNSONJR]

@@charlesthomas6748 Well, it shows on the headstock where it was made ... MIC in the Strat O Sonics case ...

[@charlesthomas6748]

@@WilliamJOHNSONJR my starcaster is Indonesia

[@WilliamJOHNSONJR]

@@charlesthomas6748 So ? I do not know about Starcasters ... I do know, that my STRAT O CASTER ... is MIC ...

[@dogguitarbluesman]

Playing since 68' when I wanted to know about this axe I came to church to hear Dylan Preach about the joys and sins if any.

[@charleswallace5818]

Thanks for sharing. Love that guitar. Hope to be back on patron soon. Stay safe and be blessed

[@xBlitzerx]

I bought the TV yellow version. Needed fretwork out of the box. Replaced the tuners with gotoh vintage locking. Also had the cavity shielded. May eventually pop some Gibson P90s in it, we'll see.

[@jevonwhite5193]

What do you think of the playability, neck and fretwork?

[@xBlitzerx]

@@jevonwhite5193 In the process of selling it. Not for me. Nothing really wrong with it after I had that basic setup done. Just can't connect with it. Someone else will I'm sure!

[@williekenk]

I love the paranormal series, and I’m excited to see the evolution of this guitar. I’ve got a Squier Paranormal Cyclone, which I’m loving. Would be very cool to see what you’d do with one of those too.

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

If you put a Warmouth neck and body on it, put on a pair of Seymour Duncan pickups, replaced the controls with CTS pots, and put on a set of Ernie Balls Slinky's, you'd have something there. A typical cob job.

[@ITigerbaum]

Seeing the title I almost skipped it, but I'm relieved it was a Gibson/Fender thing. I didn't think you'd go there, or try to cram the guitar down my throat. 😅

[@senacht]

You hooked me the minute you said P90s! And although I might be one of the few who actually like the sound of out of phase pickups I still think having that setting is a major plus. Want one! And yeah…add a set of Dylan P90s for sure plus plus some Stringjoy strings…a David Gilmour gauged set of nickels…

[@Tonetwisters]

This is a very cool guitar. Were it made in Indonesia, it would also be a buyable guitar.

[@andresilva8444]

Can both pots be pulled for Series AND Out-Of-Phase?

[@CRP2426]

Yes. Usable??m

[@DimiLeventis]

I really wish they offered the option of a Maple board for this model, I'm really interested in getting one to be my open tuning and slide guitar.

[@DimiLeventis]

Now that I think of it, this is probably the second best guitar to achieve the Brian May tones for Queen covers, after the actual Red Special, of course

[@chizorama]

Got to try one out, love the neck, very comfy. The only thing I don't like is the wraparound bridge, would've preferred if it was stringthrough over a tune-o-matic, but hey, nothin's perfect. Still a great idea, a mutant that takes the best of both worlds & throws in P90's to boot, definitely on my wish list.

[@johncollins5552]

Would it be a hard mod, I never cared for wrap around bridge either.

[@chizorama]

@@johncollins5552 Depends on how good you are with a drill, I wouldn't attempt it without a drill press, or at least practice on a cheap guitar first.

[@Elksniffer1]

​@chizorama this is a cheap guitar

[@shayh.3556]

On sale right now! Thinking about getting one

[@amirluqman1399]

i will definitely get a pair of your pickups when i can afford them. im a student now so i got no money but one day for sure!!

[@RoyHayward-ng5rp]

I think I may have to get one of these. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the wrap around bridge

[@65Superhawk]

Me either. Got one used for $250. My plan is to upgrade it to a tune-o-matic and a stopbar

[@johncecilia4517]

Similar to Red Special with out of phase and series options. Play some Queen riffs in next video

[@tcelikyay]

i hope they make a telesonic too :)

[@BrianBrazilHarmonica]

Hi Dylan, How much does it weigh?

[@stancoleshill8925]

I think everyone changes out the pickups just to show how proficient they are in changing out pickups. The same thing happens in the motorcycle industry. I know because I own a highly collectable bike from 1970 and it is quite a challenge to keep up with maintenance and repair, but it is highly desireable which has always puzzled me just like a guitar that has half the paint worn off and looks like crap but still would fetch $12,000 because someone used to play it. If you don't like the pickups in a guitar why would you buy it ? When you buy a car, do you order a small engine and then change it when you get it home ?

[@marksguitars5617]

Cool guitar, got one partially based off your review, do you think regular braided cable P90s can be retrofitted? I have a set of Lindy Fralin. I see all that spaghetti in the cavity. Thanks for sharing

[@jevonwhite5193]

How do you like the playability, neck and frets?

[@DennisJPolson]

Check under the wrap-around bridge; I heard that it is supposedly made by Epiphone. 🤷‍♂️

[@kennyallums7984]

Roller tune o matic and deusenberg les trem imo. What’s a little drilling between friends?

[@nbs-spike5822]

I, too, am also broke. I am also sick and tired of Strat's, Tele's, and Les Paul's. Until this guy. I want one so bad.

[@Strizz484]

Beautiful guitar, it's a bit reminiscent of my Fender Modern Player Jaguar that came out in the early 2000s (just ordered your P90s to swap into it btw!)

[@kbadr]

This is an interesting direction for Fender to take, but isn't it essentially the JA-90 with a strat body?

[@outwook]

JA-90 is semihollow with a set neck

[@kbadr]

@@outwook Gibson scale length and p90s, though.

[@vpsaravia]

reminds me oft the Jim Atkins Tele, is that a 25.5" or 24.75 " scale lenght?

[@natashanyxx9486]

May I suggest, “Fibson”?

[@M5guitar1]

Question: How do I hide this from my wife after I buy it? Update: I just bought one, the blue one on a Fender direct sale $300 thanks to a tip by Landon Bailey. The neck and body are excellent, the pickups are fine, but I may swap later. The volume Push Pull is noisy crackly in the Up position, that's a serious drag. I may need to upgrade. I NEED A SCHEMATIC! Please Help, anyone!

[@DoctorBiobrain]

You can have them ship it to my house.

[@M5guitar1]

@@DoctorBiobrain It arrived yesterday. It's the limited edition blue so it blends well in a pile of clothes in the corner of the room...camouflage.

[@DDE_ADDICT]

It is a worthwhile guitar

[@picksalot1]

Scale length (saddles to nut) is different than String length (tuners to the string ends). "In relation to what impacts these things the most, the scale length is a secondary issue to the string length. It’s the tension created by the total string length being tuned to pitch and the tension placed on the soundboard that defines the tone, response, and feel of the instrument. On a 25.5"-scale instrument strung with standard medium-gauge strings, the tension created is around 189 pounds. A shorter-scale instrument strung with the same medium-gauge strings has approximately six pounds less string tension pulling on the soundboard. This directly affects the tone and response of the instrument enough that most players can hear and feel the difference." From Premier Guitar online

[@DylanTalksTone]

That’s an acoustic guitar.

[@Tiago_007]

I got this guitar today. Yellow…looks are 10/10. I don’t know why, but I’m getting crazy high pitch feedback hiss when using the bridge pick up with heavy distortion. I have 4 guitars with P9Os as well, and this doesn’t happen. Anyone have any idea? I’m thinking in returning the guitar?

[@ASneakySavage]

I had the same problem, try using some copper tape in the control cavity and the pickup cavities? It seemed to lower the feedback quite a lot for me so totally worth a try 👍

[@mikec6733]

Any neck dive ??

[@erickleefeld4883]

I wonder if the Squier division got a deal on a bunch of surplus Epiphone-branded hardware from a supplier (the bridge, obviously, and maybe the pickups, too?) and voila, the Strat-o-Sonic is released.

[@whssy]

This is a very cool guitar but I am sadly a bit broke at the moment. Also - would have loved to have seen a vibrato on it. But it really is about time I got something with P90s - but something else interesting has always come along when I was about to hit "buy" on something (when I had a bit more cash).

[@charlesharper7292]

If you're a bit strapped for cash, check out Harley Benton. They make pretty damn good guitars. Four of mine are HBs. Love em. I did order this Squire in red. But HB has a very large selection. My first active pickup guitar came from HB as well as my first guitar with P90s, a LP Jr.

[@pyratoothNL]

Currently in the process of creating a strat-style partscaster with P90s. Hoping I'll get similar tones as theses!

[@PearlHarbor138]

i really really really want one of these x.x i've wanted one since it was leaked haha

[@TrashM0nk95]

How are the post on your bridge? I went to buy one the other day, loved it, but while looking it over the bridge post were leaned toward the headstock by a few degrees

[@TheDemolitionKings]

I have a Fender Telesonic that always turned guitar geek heads when I played it live. I wish Squire would take a leap on that one.

[@richszmal1653]

Can not wait to see the next vid.

[@MrTomservo85]

Man. That sounds like a Tele. I want one

[@TomTheWise_]

Is the neck an conversion neck (similar to what Warmoth and other neck manufactureres do)? What i mean with that: can you put that neck on an traditional Strat body and it becomes an 24.75" scale Strat while remainign intonation, the same as putting an standard 25.5" Neck on this paranormal body and still intonate quite good? Or is the bridge placement and fret positioning on it unique so that both only work together and are not interchangable with other Strat parts?

[@AndrewGonzalesArtistry]

If you put the 24.75” scale neck on a traditional strat body, you’d have to change the position of the bridge and bridge pickup as they would need moved 3/4” closer to the neck… which is quite a bit.

[@DamianS1893]

I think this guitar looks better than an SG.

[@dvynal2964]

Do you also smoke?

[@sd3falco]

@@dvynal2964 lol

[@flrpitflrp1965]

So some people were getting the tailpiece that were actual Epiphone labeled

[@ThomasDeLello]

Afterthought... If the Epiphone bridge is made of cheap Chinese pot metal, then why not replace it with a good Gibson one...? and if there is an aftermarket bell brass replacement available, I'd consider that. Your thoughts please...?!

[@norseman61]

This Stratosonic (LOVE that name) reminds me of the TC-90, minus the thinline aspect. As far as the “sacrilege” question, if it doesn’t bother Fender (Squier), why the hell should it bother anyone else? Well, except for Gibson, that is!

[@twanger3000]

Fender's specs say the nut is graphite; you said it was plastic. Which is accurate? Thanks!

[@DylanTalksTone]

Graphite

[@zacharywatson885]

Heard the audio for this video before I started watching it. I thought “Oh, he is doing a Strat review … wait, maybe that is a filtertron on a Jet … hold on … is he doing another Junior?” Put eyes on the screen and thought, “Don’t know if I like it, but mission accomplished.”

[@bear5141]

Where'd you get it at I just checked Sweetwater and they're on backorder and they're asking $499

[@Jonwsm]

Can I ask... When the volume control is pulled out, is your bridge pickup silent?

[@cowbelljunkies]

I've got the same question after receiving the guitar a couple of days ago. Can not get any volume from the bridge pickup when the volume know is pulled out. When it's pushed in the bridge pickup works but sounds way too thin. Very frustrating because otherwise I really like the guitar.

[@chancemiller9340]

SERIES Push/Pull question: If the Volume ("in series") push/pull pot is UP (OUT) and the pickup switch gets flipped to the bridge pickup, is the guitar supposed to go silent? VOLUME KNOB UP and Bridge Pickup ONLY = Kill Switch on mine. Is that wired correctly?

[@raymeedc]

I’ve been playing & collecting these for 25 years or so, USA Peavey Firenza, a better guitar by far, but I like the style, rite up my aisle ✅

[@bandpassmess]

Fender LISTENS to its customers Even the price conscious . They really went all out !

[@methatlovescats3602]

Theres alot of complaints about it rattling/ buzzing.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Sounds like they just need to set them up. No big deal

[@timziegler3765]

I’m on the sweetwater list for the jazz master

[@nellayema2455]

I have the Jazzmaster XI and the Strat-O-Sonic. Both are fantastic--especially for the price. The XI is the only electric 12 that I've seen sub $1000 that has 12 individual string saddles. Also, it has a carbon fiber reinforced neck.

[@timziegler3765]

@@nellayema2455 Thanks I can’t buy the parts for 400 I’m a builder and the quality of these products are becoming amazing as far as fit and finish

[@SouthpawBluesman]

So it's a Jaguar remade (probably poorly, looking at the massive drop in quality in Fenders in the last 15 years) and smashed out to the budget market.... Maybe Fender could just design something new?... or is that too much to ask? All strats sound basically the same, regardless of the price, when you plug them into a decent amp, no matter who makes them so why spend money on a Fender when you could have a guitar for half the price that sounds exactly the same or better? I love my strat but I wouldn't buy another one... Great video Sir, I like your honesty and technical knowledge 🤘🤘

[@jasujokelainen5073]

That is so freaking cool!!

[@jimcunningham5376]

Is it para normal or a couple -o-normal ??

[@bigmuffexpress]

I've run into some serious quality control issues with this guitar. I have had to return 2 of them because of wobbly bridge posts, buzzing frets despite a proper set up, and a loose and buzzing truss rod. Here's hoping third time is the charm as I love this guitar but this is getting ridiculous.

[@TheMichaelseymour]

thats one versatile geetar !

[@soulagent79]

These are the same kind of older Asian P90s companies like Epiphone abandoned a couple of years ago. Fender also uses them on their Mexican instruments. Their dimensions are slighty off, so American made replacements probably won't fit.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Nah… they fit perfectly

[@haysfordays]

A slightly different beast but anyone here own a Noventa Strat or an SX Hawk P90? I had both and kept the SX after putting them back to back.

[@edennn10367]

Wanna get one of these and throw a set of your white p90s in there tbh

[@Iggytommy]

This guitar is very up my street. Strat meets Les Paul Junior. Very cool. I love Squiers.

[@outwook]

Anyone remembers Gibson Theodore? : D

[@DavidJolie-r3z]

I bought one of these - noticing a lot of hum on my drive channel and static clicks when I touch the tuning knobs. Seems like this guitar is missing a ground. Anyone else having this issue? If so, how did you solve it?

[@DylanTalksTone]

If it was missing a ground it wouldn’t work. Your amp is just noisy and you have static in your room

[@mikeanthony5684]

Cool guitar , just wish they had actual P90s installed.

[@ASneakySavage]

Bought this guitar recently and its great! but the only thing I would change is the bridge, the only problem I have is that I don't know what would be a direct replacement without having to plug the holes and re-drill them? anybody know if there is a drop in replacement that would work?

[@joserui7910]

You must confirm your measures; after, you may choose between the models of Tone Pros AVT 2M System ll Wraparound . No re-drill.

[@jason698]

The specs from squire say it's a graphite nut

[@johncollins5552]

Just lacks a trem? What would fit, I dont like the strat one.

[@johncollins5552]

Coil tap?

[@DavidHBurkart]

Wow. Just WOW!

[@spiffymongo4030]

We live in the greatest time in history to buy an electric guitar.

[@lrvogt1257]

I think it's rather nice but I'd prefer Gibson P90s and scale with a Strat body.