Squier Stratocaster Battle (Comparing 5 Cheap Strats)

[@MrPolevaulter]

Check out some GREAT cheap alternatives: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5avoIVvnZZqbtUsi=f0_QtJ5zxLDcL1a-

[@MrJabinho]

70's Classic Vibe was 220eur in mint condition (used)

[@dante2431]

Hi, I love your content. Can you please recommend me which Squier guitar buy? I want an electric guitar, I have a fender acoustic guitar but I'm looking for something new and cheap, and with good quality. Thanks and sorry for bothering you! And do you know how to play any song of Queen? That's one of my favorite bands

[@KyLesCaster]

It's ALL about the setup. I have both an Affinity and a Classic Vibe 50s. out of the box, the CV50s was alot better, but once the Affinity was setup right, they are on par. Sure, the Classic Vibe has a fancy lacquered maple neck and real AlNiCo pickups. But the Affinity, with its ceramic single coils, hold up on their own, a beefier sound that distorts alot better. Play enough guitars, and you stop caring about the tier levels, brand name prestige. You just pick one up and if it has that mojo/feel you are looking for, you take it home.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Fair enough, although I disagree with the bit about setup. Some guitars just aren't very good, regardless of setup.

[@GrandpaOnATunedScooter]

I order guitars hoping for the accidentally perfect setup guitar. The classic vibe Tele was close. Only problem with that is the E string can get snagged on the third fret.

[@SlavJerry]

I got affinity strat because well cbs headstock is sexy as hell. and I faced the same problem, it WON'T stay in tune. however a graphite vaseline mix fixed 90% of that. I also find the stock pickup to sounds very dark and dull, so I replaced them with wilkinson wvs 60. also slapped in gold hardwares and wilkinson bridge because why not. now it's a perfect guitar for me. it sounds fantastic, it play great, and most importantly it looked gorgeous.

[@e-henne]

I bought an Affinity Strat early this year. The setup and satin neck were the selling point for me. Mine stays in tune as well as any of my other guitars, and sounds good enough. Perfect workhorse and practice/couch guitar. Plus I can throw it in the car and not have to worry about it when traveling.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@richszmal1653]

Love watching the whammy torture tests.

[@comeback1827]

i love the esthetic of this natural classic vibe and the limited ! with big headstock, and and a "darker/oranger"... more aged varnish at the neck and headstock ! i love ! i need those even if some are betters 😢

[@MPA551]

Look forward to the 300 video. Thanks. The shade of red on that is really nice.

[@capnmoby9295]

Classic vibes looks sexy as hell with that vintage tint finish on the neck.

[@mattsikes919]

Really love that classic vibe strat! Although Fenders Affinity series are pretty solid guitars. I picked up an Affinity telecaster about a month and a half ago that I haven't been able to put down. With a little bit of work they feel and play great! I'll still take my jet over an Affinity stratocaster though.

[@goofyjohn6191]

I've got a squire Strat from 2017 and a partscaster Strat, great sound and always altered and adjusted by me for my personal taste.

[@cubistone]

Nice run through sir. Strats just look and feel right in a shredders hands. The aesthetic is just dope. Whenever i feel the need to reach out and pick up a guitar i always grab my strato about a dozen times more often than my paulie. SSS strats especially are my elixir.

[@heritagesteamandrockfan1988]

Another great vid Elmo I love the mother of toilet seat bit that was bloody funny!!😂 I don't know why but the sonic sounded the best to me maybe because I'm on a real tight budget and used to the sound of cheaper gear but I thought it sounded the most straty! Cheers Elmo keep them coming!!👍

[@MrPolevaulter]

Thanks!

[@TheTubeDude]

I appreciate this brief review.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@justmehere6094]

I'd add Sterling by Music Man to te list, particularly when talking about Classic Vibe level. More features like baked maple necks, good pickups, locking tuners etc.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I've tried two, one was meh, one was terrible.

[@Wabin22]

I went to my music shop to try some strap locks for my new Ltd Arrow, and I picked up the Sonic as it was cheap in case I dropped it.. And I fell in love with the guitar! It playd so fantastical!

[@Rokken2Dokken]

I have a squier contemporary HH FR (licensed). I upgraded to locking tuners (the fender ones don’t align so I had to drill holes) and threw in a TB-4 and it’s a very fun guitar. Probably gets the most play.

[@sonic2000gr]

Based on another video of yours, I bought not one, but two pacificas 112VM (for me and a friend). I play keys for years, but we are both beginners in guitar. We both enjoy them.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cool!

[@GrandpaOnATunedScooter]

Loved that whammy bar bit on the strat. Mines in the post. In purple. If it plays like a harley benton its going back. Ive played 5 out the box snd the fretwork is plain dangerous. Honestly HB just look good on the wall.

[@smithfield06]

I have an affinity Stratocaster, love it never had tuning issues love the neck plays great had it missed, with tusc nut Wilkinson bridge, schaller tuners and Wilkinson alnico sss pickups. Love it plays better than a classic vibe 👍

[@muzishian]

“Mother of toilet seat”…..hilarious Elmo. I agree with what you said about these. I wouldn’t buy any of them either. I’ll be getting a Harley Benton ST Modern Plus lefty soon……well, as soon as they’re back in stock anyway. I’ll remember to use your link as well. I think I’m gonna get my oldest daughter the Jet JS 400 as well. Have you reviewed any of the Sire 7 series guitars yet?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Just the S3 and T3.

[@MookieMaroni]

I've had a Sonic Strat sss for three weeks now. Well intonated, 1/8 turn of truss. Been playing it exclusively on original strings although I have replacement set. Stays in tune, not going to replace a single component. $160 at GC.Been playing cheap and midrange guitars for 40 years. I never polish scratchy frets, just break them in until it's time for a dressing.

[@RickMichaelis63]

Very interesting Elmo… Thanks for the video always appreciated 🙏✌️❤️😎🎸🎼🎶🎵

[@MrPolevaulter]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@bobblake7132]

Nice comparison video Elmo. The two things I have to say are. I do wish that Squier, and Epiphone for that matter would buy some stain to darken their fingerboards. The three most important things in a guitar are sound, feel and looks. It must have all three. Whilst I appreciate your honest reviews I do wish you wouldn’t stress that they are honest simply because you buy all the gear. Not all sponsored reviews are fake and it’s unfair to suggest they are, even if only by implication.

[@MrPolevaulter]

I am NOT suggesting that, and I've even made statements to the contrary. Saying that I my reviews are honest because I buy the gear only implies that buying the gear makes for an honest review. It does not imply that ALL sponsored reviews are fake.

[@theshimmeringcarnelians]

Thanks Elmo. Do you have any recommendations for mods to improve tuning stability?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Lube the nut would be the first.

[@johncollins5552]

Take off the first string tree, its rubbish, not needed. Yhe second one should be replaced with a roller type ideally.

[@rockerbuck967]

Great video, but perhaps you might have mentioned the type of tuners. I've been playing for over 10 years, and I finally got my first guitar with vintage style tuners. Once I learned about them, it was easy. But for a beginner, this might be frustrating.

[@MrPolevaulter]

My bad.

[@onsesejoo2605]

Watching those guitars, they should go bit more off the strat tradition by using a zero fret since there seems to be room for the nut and fret.

[@comeback1827]

@23.55 it will gives the Jazzmaster's harmonics on this string lol ! a nut issue ?

[@williammartinelli9491]

I used to have a squire bullet Strat, but I decided to trade the squire bullet Strat in to the guitar Centre for offender Stratocaster

[@jorgefernandes1387]

Nice and honest review Elmo. Squier wake up...if you still can.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Cheers!

[@greccoox]

I've bought one mustang bass classic vibe and was the worst purchase of my life, I thought i could fix the fret-buzz and after all i ended up losing money. now is time to try harley benton

[@thomashalley7258]

I bought the Olympic white affinity that more aged white and it has less fret sprout than the mexican fender I got rid of. Unfortunately they didn't have the sonic Olympic white that's actually Olympic white.

[@Hiro.the.God.]

I just got back into learning how to play guitar after quitting years ago. I went through several different guitars before settling on the Squier Sonic HSS in Black , with maple fretboard. Many guitars at 200 dollars are pretty much just beginner instruments and the quality is all over the place. Not good. But this particular Squier I have was set up and intonation was done right out of the box. All I had to do was swap the strings and I buffed the frets before installing them. The nut was cut VERY well, and the guitar stays in tune great even using the tremolo. The only con was the 13th fret has some buzzing, annoying but not terrible. Also I will probably have to sand the ends because of minor sprouting. In my opinion it’s a very decent instrument and I think people over react and dis this guitar way too overboard. Edit: the reason I don’t buy Harley Benton guitars is because I live in America and the shipping is over 100 dollars. Making them way expensive here.

[@benjaf2002]

What about theses Squiers compared with Jet JS 400?

[@MrPolevaulter]

Jet.

[@benjaf2002]

@@MrPolevaulter Wow seriously? Even better than Classic Vibe? Read somewhere that jets are as good as mexican fenders, what do you think?

[@Barbarapape]

Squire are just Fenders entry point guitars, i tried to learn on one and almost gave up until my tutor showed me the high action and twisted neck, yes it was an affinity made in China! Do yourself a favour and forget about the decal on the headstock. Elmo has said which brands and models to buy, but even they can make a few mehh ones. Try before you buy, and be prepared to have a good guitar tech do a full setup to make it even better.

[@MrPolevaulter]

Spot on.

[@arnoldr3920]

I have a sonic and it is a great guitar , give the guitar a setup and perhaps in the future a pickup upcrade!

[@davidjones6218]

Top man elmo..👏👏👏

[@HappyGeneRC]

Why not toss in the Debut Strat and make a half dozen?

[@snowflakesarebeautiful8627]

I agree, the debut is an awesome guitar for only $120. Mine played great right out of the box. I did a minor setup and it plays well. Yes the pickups are so so. Find a good pre loaded pickguard, with good p/u's and pickups. l replaced the nut with a graph tech nut and got some solid brass saddles. Surprisingly the tuners are great. Stays in tune like a champ. Now it plays as good as a Mexican Strat, if not better. Plus the cost is a lot cheaper than a Mexican Strat. I highly recommend it.

[@markmcdonald5711]

Why don't they make one with a hardtail bridge, then I would consider buying one.

[@Cracktopus.]

They do, the Squier Sonic Strat has a traditional hardtail and the paranormal strat-o-sonic has a more Gibson style wrapround tailpiece.

[@markmcdonald5711]

@@Cracktopus. Thanks.

[@markmcdonald5711]

@@Cracktopus. Coundn't find one in a lefty model.

[@farmrakmaak]

First thing I do with a strat is block the trem! I like the neck and body style but I hate that trem!

[@johncollins5552]

​@@markmcdonald5711buy a jet js 300 lefty instead thank me later.

[@MAX96MENDES]

Good review video. Thank you Elmo ! - Please stop saying "guitar for beginners". There are professional musicians who play Squier Stratocasters too. There are Multi-platinum music albums which the guitar player uses a SQUIER. - With a very good guitar setup you can have an inexpensive guitar just as good, or BETTER, than a very expensive Fender Strat. Never judge a guitar by the brand name on the headstock.

[@Brykk]

I just recently did a comparison between my cv70 strat against a new prs se ce24 satin. Im at the point that im about done trying to defend squier/fender any more. The quality for the price just isnt there nowadays. I can get the prs that is more attractive, has better electronics, better hardware, and better fit/finish. The cv and the ce24 were within $10 of each other, but the prs blows the squier out of the water, all the way around.

[@mousemr2970]

Another great video. Which websites do you use when buying used music gear, and normal music gear in general? I live in Europe.

[@thekitowl]

Liked the 70’s one .

[@tymanngruter1808]

The first three... skipp em! The last two will do the job after sum love!

[@bluwng]

Contemporary is the best Squier but it wasn’t demoed, something to consider in the future. Whammy bar test are not objective it is a system and the entire system has to be set for usage even then the laws of physics will never allow perfection on a non locking trem.

[@PhillipHolt-f9r]

I'm changing my mind about the CV

[@MattZildjian]

ok so if not the squires, which out of cort, indio, sire, jet, harley benton, eart is the best?

[@kcsvantasticvoyages9729]

I think Sire personally

[@VladimirKuznecov-c9w]

Hello Elmo! 27 minutes in my head was only one question.............. What is in your left pocket?????? To my old ears they did not sound "stratty" sound. Many years ago i bought used strat SX. It has pickups alnico ? which sound is awesome. It will win whammy test becouse of screw witch connect wiggle hell to body of guitar. Who the hell plays wiggle wiggle on strat. It is not Ibanez. I play on Floyd Rose and strings from the begining - they stretch to certain limits. Did You stretch the strings? May be it is a test of strings? Yours truly Vladimir.

[@dazzastar68]

Man, those Sonics are hit and miss. I literally witnessed a whole fret fall out at my local music store.

[@Hiro.the.God.]

I doubt that 😂 that is very unbelievable.

[@bluwng]

@@Hiro.the.God.I’ve never ever seen a fret literally fall out. Even the worst cheese grater frets never did that. He could be telling the truth but for sure is an outlier.

[@alistar3051]

i dont believe any of that

[@dazzastar68]

@@alistar3051 after the strings removed (customer wanted new strings) it must have not been pressed into place properly and easily came out leaving a bare slot)

[@robphillips8351]

Kinda like a truss rod falling out of an Epiphone dot I had before.. it's hit and miss sometimes with QC

[@yontimo78]

How do you see the cheapest ”real” Fender Strato, Player series compared to Squier Classic Vibes?

[@the.communist]

They are better guitars

[@michaelJ415]

Played a little bit at a local GC, none of them would stay in tune, g- b strings were slipping 1 had a dead spot,on it, not GC fault, I’d look for a used made in Mexi, before buying on Line Gotta touchy feely thing before buying,

[@mine_all_the_time0793]

Check squier paranormal, I bought a paranormal esquire as my first guitar, got it set up, and I love, play it everyday, can't put it down. Got it On sale for $330

[@christiantaylor4027]

The best one is your mahogany custom. Just saying.❤

[@daniellarson3068]

How much extra does one pay for these guitars simply because they are Fender products? Maybe, the corporate heads command that the manufacturers have a minimum quality from the factories, but it's just what they need to sell the product. It sure seems like there are a lot of cheaper "No-Name" guitars sold that are just as good (or better) and often for less money. Looks like Elmo thought the same. Thanks Elmo.

[@oneanother1]

Fenders and squires tend to hold their value better, and are more popular on the used market. The classic vibe are made in Indonesia, which seem to have better QC. I'm all for Chinese brands that come with many features, none will probably be setup from the factory. Some of the high end Chinese made ones come with stainlees frets and nicer electronics. Most are CNC machined, so everything should fit fine. The firefly brand is really popular in the us, I suspect they are just the same as clones coming from china.

[@the.communist]

Most of these cheap guitars are all made in the same factories

[@oneanother1]

@@the.communist which brands? Some are made in Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. Harley Bentons are made by the same guitar from iyv. Who makes the knockoff guitars?

[@nesharm]

Worst thing on Affinitys and Sonic are pickups, they sound thin and muddy on clean, you can easily hear it with decent headphones.

[@Spicyketchup04]

Kinda also depends on amp, if you use a expensive amp I think it sounds fine like in the video

[@robphillips8351]

Hey All you need to do is replace all the electronics, hardware, crown and level frets, setup, and maybe replace a neck and you have a great guitar 😆😂🤣 and hey this Will only run you twice the price of the guitar, but hey it'll be nice with the remaining stock body and maybe neck you know 😆😂🤣 .. a squier is like an empty wine bottle..😆😂 that's it it's like an empty wine bottle and you'd have to be pretty drunk to buy one 😂😆🤣 no I'm honestly kidding about that 🤔? Kinda anyways.. yep I must have gotten to drunk a few times as I own 7 of em LoL but 7 completely modded out, leveled crowned, bridge replacement, pups etc.. killer once you work the bugs out of em..

[@constantinez551]

Hey Elmo ;)

[@Mexxx65]

....the Player II

[@oldmanshreds]

This is becoming excruciating. Trying to avoid the "order and send back" -limbo as a seasoned intermediate player who needs somewhat proper strat for tones. If I see someone seriously playing, they are wielding a Fender and hardly ever anything else. Other thing that I think is getting harder for reviewers to pinpoint what they mean by OK, Good and Great as a measure - I mean, compared to what player "level"

[@danielshafer3227]

Freinds dont let freinds buy Squiers. Smart buyers prefer Sires. An Eart wouldn't hurt. You'll be set with a Jet.

[@MookieMaroni]

Nice advice

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

You don't need a cheap pos. You can get American fenders used for less than the cheap junk. They last forever. Infinitely repairable. Parts galore. Why do people buy garbage?

[@robertvarner8195]

You really can't get used American Fender guitars for $200. That's just not true because if you could I'd already have one.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

I know someone who sold 7 USA made fenders 4 teles...3 starts for $50.00 each back in 2015. I reported it to the cops and still didn't get them back.

[@comeback1827]

​@@BryanClark-gk6ie and added a KitKat !

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

@@comeback1827 No! They broke into my house and stole them I got a tip who had done it reported it to the county sheriff's department they said if they showed up in a pawn shop that their computer would red flag the serial numbers' a little over a year later the detective who took the report calls me up and asked for the serial numbers again' I told him that he already had them? so I read them off to him again' he stops me after I gave him 3 of the guitar series numbers and says' one of those guitars ended up in***** pawn shop 17 hours after you reported it stolen' 2 others ended up in***** pawn shop 2 days later after you reported them stolen.... I don't work for the sheriff's department any longer' just thought I'd let you know and I was told not to say anything about it so don't mention I'm the one who told you.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

@@comeback1827 Also my comment will probably get deleted like it has before for exposing the crooked sheriff's department in that county. There's online information available to the public about some of them....certain individuals who were caught in criminal activities' every time I tell what happened to me and try to leave a link to that information my comments get deleted so I guess KZbin is covering up for crooks since it's information for the public to view. They were stole on a Thursday I made the report Sunday morning a deputy shows up and says' I have a warrant for your arrest??? For threatening phone calls...I don't want to do this' I'm only doing my job and what I was told to do. Off to jail I go costing me $$$ bond' lost time from work/attorney fees drug on for over 6 months back and forth to court DA laying it over blah blah blah.

[@boborjanpandacsoki5239]

jets seem far better than these. Price/value rage is bad. Jet 380 has locking tuners and full size tremblock for the CV price. I wouldn't buy these.

[@NMS_Officer]

Older classic vibe had alder body, now all have poplar. Don't spend your money on squiers.

[@claudelee5382]

I have one with the alder body, got it for $270 dollars, changed the pickups , pots , bridge now it’s as good as any high quality guitar and that’s why I believe Fender stopped making them, they realized with a few upgrades an alder body Squire would be as good as their high dollar Strat without spending a lot of money

[@mksnz]

What's wrong with poplar?

[@NMS_Officer]

@@mksnz cheap low density wood

[@comeback1827]

and sound thin even unplugged !

[@comeback1827]

and contrôls are often shitty on thé news compared with the old chineses ones ! maybe thé first indo of 2019 are ok, but After.... mmmeuuh !

[@rutiger6901]

Thank you! I really like this video. I'm a loner, no gigging and no jamming. 11 year guitar obsession.obsession Very relative info to buying a guitar. My takeaway is, stick to Squires, Epiphones or any other beginner guitar that pleases you. They're obviously terrific. DO NOT own a bottom feeder amplifier!! Get a Katana or a Spark 40/50, etc. You too can sound like this.