Plastics can be made hard, soft, slippery, grippy, whatever you need. You can even make plastic items in such a way that you can vary the properties through the thickness of the material. Unlike bone, it doesn't have hidden defects and soft spots. This is like bitching about cheap Chinese electronics on the internet from your iPhone. You're just broadcasting your ignorance and prejudice. It's a cheap applause line with no substance behind it.
+john m Changing the nut is quite easy to do, but a bit nerve racking the first time you commit to removing one. GraphTech nuts run about $12 on Amazon and $15 straight from GraphTech. There there is no comparison to the shitty, not even nylon, thing that originally came with my Taiwanese Yamaha acoustic. Compared to bone, it is like sanding on granite vs shale. The original plastic nut was softer than my fingernail. I could put a temporary dent in it. Bone nut blanks and shitty plastic blanks are at the "shelf space cost" level. Say $5-7. Fossilized mammoth tusk are quite a bit more expensive, but with the same inconsistency problems of bone. Nut files are the expensive parts, even outside of StewMac. So, buy a pre-slotted one and sand the bottom down until you get the 1st fret action as you like. Be careful, go slow, don't let impatience get hold of you.
I bought one of these in metallic red solely for use as a mod platform. I don't really do humbuggerers on Strats so I bought a set of Fender Pure Vintage 59 Strat pickups. The guitar plays great and the thin satin neck is a joy to behold. Anyone looking for a good Squier for modding, you should seriously consider this model.
I've still got my MIJ Contemporary Strat HH that I bought in the fall of 1984. I think it's cool that Squire has put the design back into the spotlight and people are digging it. It's a shred machine when you want it to be but it can also clean up really nicely. I prefer the contemporary model because it's what I'm used to.
Thanks Phillip for reviewing what is actually my first Strat! You're right it did sound good, but I added a single coil in the middle and swapped out the zebras for double white alnico 2's with 4 conductor wiring. Can't wait to get it back from my guitar tech friend.
Phil it's videos like this one which make me rely more on you than any other guitar channel on UA-cam. It's your honesty about gear. If it sucks you let us know. If it's good you let us know. While it probably doesn't seem like a big thing to you it's a HUGE thing to me, and I'm sure to others as well, because I lack the knowledge you have about guitars. So, I would like to say thanks for all your efforts and please continue with the videos.
Phil they sell tubes of graphite powder (3 gram tube) where the keys are in Wal-Mart (probably other stores as well). I buy a couple tubes and they last over a year! And it's about $3.
I went for the pearl white HSS model because I prefer the rosewood fretboard. I was afraid that the single coils will be noisy but they weren't. I am happy with this instrument, it was really worth it price. The nut seemed to be a bit tight on mine too (but I will fix that anyway when switching for 0.10 strings) but otherwise I could not find any quality issues. Good fret job, no sharp edges, very comfortable neck. The body is quite light but resonating well. The 12" radius fretboard is a great improvement for me compared to my previous 9.5" radius strats.
I just bought the active HH Floyd Rose, version in Olympic White. It has the reverse headstock which is truly diggable. It was new, in the box, but I bought it from ChicagoMusic Exchange and they un-boxed it and checked it out before shipping it to me. I paid $245 shipped to my door.
Just string the guitar up via the string locking method, file the nut slots a little wider and replace the string trees with rollers, guitar will stay in tune 10x better.
I replaced all my fender clone and other guitars i have with roller string trees and my guitars stay in tune much better,i bought my roller string trees on ebay for about a buck or less for a pair of them!
Elvin taking the tail of the string back round the capstan in a clockwise direction and under the string as it emerges from the hole. As you tension the string, it tightens onto itself preventing slippage. Slippage is always undesirable!!
Or just buy staggared locking Tuners and remove the string trees like I did with mine which is the same one color everything . The Canndy Apple Red is dark enough you cant really see the string tree holes unless you look close problem solved & and Tunning stability is fixed forever . Plus string changes are a snap lol
@@brandoncalabria2470 - not really no - I've only tried my friend's HSS so can't really make a comparison - what I can say is it's a fantastic guitar, looks great feels and plays great and sounds great - if it had a fender logo on the headstock it would be double the price easy. Apparently the general specs of the body, neck, bridge, nut, and tuners are all the same though so in terms of how they feel and play, they'll be pretty much the same - it really just comes down to whether you prefer the kind of tones you'll get from the HSS or HH configuration. Personally I think that the HSS is going to be a bit more versatile - especially if you mod the electronics to give the option to split the coil on the bridge humbucker and add a second tone knob to give it the same kind of config as a standard strat - but that's a purely personal thing
I appreciate you doing videos on affordable models. Love watching the pricey ones too but it's nice to see one I can go get myself. Keep up the great work!
I've wanted an HH strat, but the Charvels are around $850. Based on Phil's recommendation, I ordered one of these, and it's exactly as reviewed. I like a real forceful clean sound, to bring out the percussive nature of the instrument, and this delivers. Gets dirty too, and pairs up well with a Vox Valvetronix. Thought I'd post this, because I like the idea of Phil checking out new guitars from a techie standpoint before we buy them, like having a mechanic look over your new car. It was good to go right out of the box, and I'm really pleased with it. Thanks for the heads up, Phil.
I used a dry graphite to lube the slots and have had great results . My wife picked it up a year or two ago as she works at Home Depot and I asked her to grab me a tube which will last me another 10 years or more unless it goes bad . I love this guitar same color and everything only problem I had was fret sprout unlike Phil ? I plan to install a Hotter pup in the Bridge eventually but it does 80's Metal and Glam Metal proud and that's my area so yeah great Guitar for the price you will be surprised in a good way ! I still want a Charvel San Dimas but for now this is just fine with me \M/ !!!
I want to make an EVH frankenstrat replica, this guitar looks like a nice base. But I don’t know if the under pickguard cavity is hss routed (it’s the one right for the evh) or is a single cavity, or hsh, so that’s the only thing that keeps me apart from this guitar. Do you know what’s under the hood? Nice review btw!
I have arthritis so I haven't played any of my old Ibanez Jems and Universes regularly in many years. On the rare days when I can still play a few bars, I'll take a random one out of its case and try to relive happier times. Each of them is always still in perfect tune. I don't know what the big guys' catalogs have now for "sub-$1000 Super-Strats," but I'd encourage people to explore the market in used guitars before automatically heading to Guitar Center. A brand new $1000 guitar of any brand or model is not necessarily superior to what you can buy on the used market for the same price.
JMacQ77 absolutely agree on that point. I have two CVs - a gold anniversary strat and a 50s tele in butterscotch. Both are better made than my Gibson LP studio which has taken thirty years to get how I like it. The tunomatic bridge had deformed. The neck had no relief, and the trussrod was loose - no tension. The humbucking pickups were way too hot. Eventually, I swopped them for classic 57s and rewired it 50s style. Now the mud has gone and it has great clean and just breaking up sounds. Both Classic vibes sounded and played well straight out of the box. I Sold a U.S.A. deluxe Strat in mint condition. The money that fetched bought both Classic vibes with change left over. The Deluxe was very comfortable to play, but was dull characterless and a disappointment. I hope it has taught me not to be badge snob.
I use high gloss SC1 clear coat to lubricate the nut slots. This stuff is insanely slippery. Just spray a bit on an ear scoop apply it to the nut slots and your good to go. Enhances the tuneability and tuning stability drastically on all my guitars and it lasts for months. Great review, btw...
Love the Classic Player JM in the background, I have one and its great! Also not surprising to see a Schecter hanging along all those expensive axes, they make amazing value instruments
I like that the light parts of the zebra pickups are white and not that horrible cream color. All zebra pickups should be that way in my opinion. Great video!
I don't have a Strat yet. Looking for something less expensive than my other guitars that I wouldn't be afraid to knock around with for taking on trips, etc.. This seems to be right up that alley, plus I love the finish..painted head stock is sweet! Thanks for the review Phil! As always very enjoyable video with great information!
Are you going to do a review of the Squier contemporary Active Stratocaster? I'm really interested in how versatile that would be, also how would that compare to the sound of a Les Paul?
I have one from 85, it is a Gibson scale. The ST331 and it is great. The pickup is amazing. I like these, but am thinking the one with the Floyd is what I want. Glad Phil checked them out.
My first guitar was a black Squire strat with a Floyd Rose style tremolo and locking nut. It had a rose wood fret board and really small frets, back in 88. I have never seen one like it since.
Phil, quick question: When you request these for demo / review, do you ask for them to be a literal 'out of the box' (as in do you really believe that Fender wouldn't have given it a thorough 'once over' before sending it out?) - simply by way of comparison that I have found the squier series Q.C. to vary quite a lot here in Australia. Compared to the 'out of the box' Ghost Fret, how do you feel about this squier being a 'supplied' guitar as opposed to being one of your independent internet purchased instruments? Your review of this strat draws a similar conclusion to my experience of checking them out locally at different stores, except that the instruments Q.C. isn't as consistent between different stores (read into that what you wish)... Having said that for the price, they are an absolute ripper. If I had kids, this would be a no-brainer first guitar.
I have that exact one color and everything . I love it I put a Graph Teck self-lub Nut on it and Staggard Slipshot open gear locking Tuners . Paid $400 plus $50 for the Tuners and $11 for the nut and it's a Shred worthy BEAST !!! I love it and prefer it over my Schecter SVSS which was more expensive and has EMG 70's in it . I was never a Strat guy until this Guitar but its got that feel that we all look for ..
Wow ..... that is great fiddle. Squier has been uping their game since the CV series. I never thought nut sauce would have so much impact on a std trem. Zero to hero ..... great vid Phillip!
I have a Contemporary Telecaster. The problems I had with it was the tuners weren't the best, one of them you'd be turning and wouldn't even start tuning the string until after a few turns. Also the frets were all over the place. To fix these I upgraded to locking tuners, and took it to a guitar shop to get a fret job. Other than that all it needed was a good setup, which all brand new guitars need anyway straight out of the box
Thanks for the review. I think a lot of people judge Squier by the $100 to $150 models. The better Squiers are really good. I have the expensive "F" and "G" models but just the name no longer has any mystique for me. If it plays good, sounds good, and looks good, I buy it.
Just ordered a used one in white to mod. The 12" neck radius was very appealing on a stratocaster to me and overall It's a good deal even at the retail price. Hate to say it but I've been loving these higher end Squier's way more than the Mexican Fender's lately. If anyone thinks a new nut and maybe some graphtech tusq string trees would be beneficial I would love to hear back from you. Thanks
Received the guitar and it's a real pos unfortunately. There was a severe ground noise issue. Terrible fret job that buzzes like crazy with bad fret sprout. I did check it with a fret rocker not that i had to. As Phil pointed out the nut is tighter than a nun and is impossible to keep in tune. To be fair I ordered this guitar used from a "reputable" music store in Chicago who's name I won't mention but you can probably figure out. After specifically asking them to check for high frets and buzz before sending to me they still sent me this terd that would need to be on an episode of Sharpen My Axe to be playable. I still think it's a great guitar if it's done right and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Squier as this is the first bad one iv'e ever purchased. If it wasn't for the bad fret job I would keep it and fix the rest of the issues as its a beautiful guitar and has a ton of potential.
Great review of a reasonably price guitar that is a good value as long as it’s the style you’re looking for and plan to keep it. I love the looks of the matching headstock.
Love my Archon. I had to send it back a couple years ago due to an odd problem on channel 2. Doug hooked me up and they fixed the issue plus a couple of other mods. I am looking at the white squier right now.
Seems like a great guitar at the price, love the matching headstock (big fan of matching headstocks). Cosmetically, the only flaw for me is the 'zebra' bobbin look. I think all white would have looked better. And since it's a Strat, all white would, I think, give it a weird doubled up single coil appearance, which I think might look cool.
Hey Phil. They currently make an HSS pickup configuration of the Squier Contemporary. Would you please do a review of that one since it is the most versatile. I'd like to see what kind of clean tones it puts out because it also has a 5 way switch instead of the 3 way.
I would suggest checking out Angled Humbuckers at the Bridge - Hot Rails, mini-buckers or stacked coils - Squier made a Hot Rails Deluxe that had Duncan Design Rails - they sound a little gritty but it's a huge insight that angled HB's take away some of the unwanted brightness and give you an elusive tone the HH and HSS can't - in fact it is THE 70's Strat tone personally I would buy a used SSS "Standard Series" Squier for the 2 pin trem and thick body, and just order a complete harness you can move from guitar to guitar - have everything coil tapped and tie bridge into a tone pot - boom - done - Swiss Army Strat - 10 tones with a universal coil split.. 20 or more tones with 3 mini toggles
So how does it compare to the other HH Strats on your wall? What would it take to make it competittive to them using the "Sharpen My Axe" process - $350 Squier HH Contemporary Strat + $XXX in upgrades to get a guitar similar to the other HH Strats?
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Fender made them from '96-'00. I have Big Apple from '98 - Duncan 59 neck and a Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge, 5-way could split coils. My favorite Strat.
Wow! If I would have known that a syringe worked so well I would have used one a long time ago. Thanks for turning me on to them, Phil! Gee, I wonder what other uses there are for a syringe in music?
I want a Squier Contemporary Strat in that ocean blue metallic in HH but that guitar is only available in HSS. The red metallic color looks great. Just wish there was an HH version of the blue Strat.
I wish they'd make a Contemporary Telecaster with a Floyd Rose. I had an 80's MIJ Contemporary Tele with HH pickup configuration, but that Schaller trem was a nightmare. Fender has an opportunity to do it right for this generation, and I hope they do.
One of my regrets is not getting an mij fender contemporary strat when the market was a little cheaper. Back in 2005 I could pick one up for sub £300, now I'm looking at £550+ for the model I like. I'd did get a nice 90s mij photo flame strat with Floyd Rose many years later tho.
This is fine if you’re just a metal head. However, I think you should have reviewed the HSS model so we could hear how versatile this series can be for those who play ALL genres of music.
Hi there..........What is the better guitar in your opinion.........Squier Contemporary Active Stratocaster HH or the ..........Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster ............Thanks
I think I might get one and one of those Spark aps. It will l help me to learn. Soo, that would be active pickups. Sounds so clear. I love it. I can hear that. I think I could choose a sold state amp. Just so long as it's good and clear in the clear section, you can mess with tone at the amp. That's for now. One day, I'll just buy a head separate and build the speaker. I can do that. We'll see where I'm at in five years. I have a little music. Grade two. I love rock n roll. I used to play E flat concert tuba.
Tried this at the weekend and wasn’t really different to my Cort G200DX. In fact the Cort was more resonant. Ended up picking up a used VM 70s Squier and it’s far superior. In the same quality bracket as a MIM fender.
I'm kind of Ride or Die for SSS when it comes to Strats, but a friend of mine bought the HSS Contemporary about 6 months ago and it's nothing short of awesome - there's not a single thing I can find more than the tiniest most nitpicky fault with on it. Looks amazing, sounds amazing, plays amazing They could change not one thing on this guitar except for putting a Fender logo on the headstock and double the price - if they added a coil split and a third tone knob (a mod my friend is working on right now) this would be a $1000 guitar
I've been looking at these on ebay for the last few days and I must say I'm pretty tempted on a Black HH one and a blue HSS. I'm wondering if a Floyd Rose would drop easily in one of these since it's a two post screws that holds the Standard Bridge? Will it work without any additional mods other than a locking nut on neck?
For lubing the nut I like a product called Tube-o-Lube. It's powdered graphite. Discovered it when my son was a Cub Scout using it to lube the axles on his pinewood derby cars. Under $10 on Amazon, or you can find it other places too. A little dab will do you, so basically enough to last for several years unless your working on guitars for a living. Check it out!
I wanted to have flatter radius on my next strat and was going to get one from Warmoth but then this model came out and I jumped on it. I got the Pearl-White HH with black strike plate version and I love it, right out of the box the action is low the pickups play great on my clean blastar with Tight Metal pedal and all I am thinking about it locking tuners. So considering the neck from Warmoth was going to cost me 300 bucks this was a steal!
Hey Phil thanks for posting. What I'm really interested in is if the Humbuckers are 4 wire so they would be splittable. Would make it more versatile? Do You know?
I like the guitar for its color pattern. I have the blue one as my first guitar HSS. I since then have better ones. Would dimarzio true velvets fit in this thing for the singles? 🤔. It never stayed in tune for more than 2 minutes either so it needs locking nuts. Not sure what to upgrade the hum bucker to
Thank you so much for this review. I had the chance to try that same strat at GC but the guitar was missing a string so I couldn't get a good impression of it. :D
Phil, with a maple neck like that, can you use the Stew mac Emery board style file and the Micro mesh sanding trick to wear in the fret board like you do with the rosewood fret boards? You always say not to do it on Maple necks, but I never knew if that was because they were finished or if there was another reason.
If the playabilty of the guitar is very good , at this price point you could stick a set of Fender Select PU`s and some locking keys and have a giant killer for a song. That`s a pretty good deal.
I did have to buy a spring to go in the Trem hole it would either be to floppy or to tight . The spring got it just right after I cut a bit of the spring off . The spring also came with a nice Silver magnet to cover the trem hole so you dont lose your spring and it looks great when the Trem is detached its nice strong magnet so its not gonna fly off . You can find them on E-bay for $3 bucks worth it just for the magnate hole cover piece lol Otherwise Fantastic Budget price Guitar . After 40 yrs of being a Guitarist I would easily put it over more expensive Guitars I have owned . In my Top 3 for sure and totally Gig Worthy after fixing the Nut issue Phil Mentioned !! If ya see one for sale under $400 grab it you wont be sorry !!! Oh I play Metal , Thrash and Shred mostly 80's early 90's . Not a Fan of todays stuff but it could handle it easily ...
You mention the neck pickup has a strat type of sound but I was surprised to hear a strat-like tone from the bridge humbucker as well. Pity there’s no coil tap. Sounds like a good guitar, although for me I’ll be wanting 3 single coils and and a five way switch from a strat type of guitar but that’s just my opinion. I owned a Squier strat back in the day and it was a really good guitar for an amazing price before some bastard burgled my place. I had the last laugh since he left the much more valuable Yamaha classical, not cool enough I guess.
I bought one of these used with a missing neck pickup, and a half disassembled bridge pickup. I had all the electronics replaced with USA parts and and Van Halen matching pickups from guitarfetish.com . This thing sings, it sustains for days, Kossoff style.
How would an experienced guitarist (I'm somewhat but more 30 years drumming ) compare the rare 2001 Ibanez S370RRF to this? Thanks. I have the MIM FSEdition strat and LOVE it. I also have the Ibanez above. I'm loving this fender here squire. But I dont want something I already get the tones of...thanks all that care to comment.
Great review Philip. Is the body slimmer like the Bullet/Affinity bodies or is it "standard" like the Squier Standard / Classic Vibe / Vintage Modified ... and obviously like the Fenders?
I got one of these. Do you know if a Fender Mexico roasted neck will fit in this? Love the guitar and the neck works and is very good in feel but I se a hump coming at around 12th fret and I know where that goes in a while.
what would you recommend for a special Floyd rose not staying leveled after big dives? i tried tome WD40, kinda worked but i dont want to do it again because i'm afraid of hurting it and my jack sons body.
Sounded great, if I was in the market for a guitar I would definitely look at this. As others said, I'd swap the nut, tuners, and string trees. Is is just me or is the headstock a little bigger? Maybe just an illusion because its painted.
Hey everyone, For this video I used my PRS Archon and PRS 2x12 cab. Thank you for the review requests.
Phillip McKnight do you prefer this squier over a mexican charvel?
Phillip McKnight did you split coiled it?
Check the ohms
looks like you found my first guitar THANK YOU
synthetic bone nut? That's what we used to call "plastic" back in the day.
Plastics can be made hard, soft, slippery, grippy, whatever you need. You can even make plastic items in such a way that you can vary the properties through the thickness of the material. Unlike bone, it doesn't have hidden defects and soft spots. This is like bitching about cheap Chinese electronics on the internet from your iPhone. You're just broadcasting your ignorance and prejudice.
It's a cheap applause line with no substance behind it.
+john m Changing the nut is quite easy to do, but a bit nerve racking the first time you commit to removing one. GraphTech nuts run about $12 on Amazon and $15 straight from GraphTech. There there is no comparison to the shitty, not even nylon, thing that originally came with my Taiwanese Yamaha acoustic. Compared to bone, it is like sanding on granite vs shale. The original plastic nut was softer than my fingernail. I could put a temporary dent in it.
Bone nut blanks and shitty plastic blanks are at the "shelf space cost" level. Say $5-7. Fossilized mammoth tusk are quite a bit more expensive, but with the same inconsistency problems of bone. Nut files are the expensive parts, even outside of StewMac.
So, buy a pre-slotted one and sand the bottom down until you get the 1st fret action as you like. Be careful, go slow, don't let impatience get hold of you.
@Markle2k
bitching? ignorance and prejudice? i believe it was a joke. pretty funny, at that. lighten up, francis
hyuk hyuk hyuk
And also real nature artificial synthetic wood ...
I bought one of these in metallic red solely for use as a mod platform.
I don't really do humbuggerers on Strats so I bought a set of Fender Pure Vintage 59 Strat pickups.
The guitar plays great and the thin satin neck is a joy to behold.
Anyone looking for a good Squier for modding, you should seriously consider this model.
I've still got my MIJ Contemporary Strat HH that I bought in the fall of 1984. I think it's cool that Squire has put the design back into the spotlight and people are digging it. It's a shred machine when you want it to be but it can also clean up really nicely. I prefer the contemporary model because it's what I'm used to.
Thanks Phillip for reviewing what is actually my first Strat! You're right it did sound good, but I added a single coil in the middle and swapped out the zebras for double white alnico 2's with 4 conductor wiring. Can't wait to get it back from my guitar tech friend.
it's my first too! I love the neck and I have the red one too
I really like the "how hard is it to fix" aspect of the review. It's something us non-techs appreciate.
Phil it's videos like this one which make me rely more on you than any other guitar channel on UA-cam. It's your honesty about gear. If it sucks you let us know. If it's good you let us know. While it probably doesn't seem like a big thing to you it's a HUGE thing to me, and I'm sure to others as well, because I lack the knowledge you have about guitars. So, I would like to say thanks for all your efforts and please continue with the videos.
I love the matching headstock
I've had mine for well over a year now. Customized the hell out of it. My contemporary has not disappointed at all.
Phil they sell tubes of graphite powder (3 gram tube) where the keys are in Wal-Mart (probably other stores as well). I buy a couple tubes and they last over a year! And it's about $3.
I went for the pearl white HSS model because I prefer the rosewood fretboard. I was afraid that the single coils will be noisy but they weren't. I am happy with this instrument, it was really worth it price. The nut seemed to be a bit tight on mine too (but I will fix that anyway when switching for 0.10 strings) but otherwise I could not find any quality issues. Good fret job, no sharp edges, very comfortable neck. The body is quite light but resonating well. The 12" radius fretboard is a great improvement for me compared to my previous 9.5" radius strats.
I just bought the active HH Floyd Rose, version in Olympic White. It has the reverse headstock which is truly diggable. It was new, in the box, but I bought it from ChicagoMusic Exchange and they un-boxed it and checked it out before shipping it to me. I paid $245 shipped to my door.
Just string the guitar up via the string locking method, file the nut slots a little wider and replace the string trees with rollers, guitar will stay in tune 10x better.
I replaced all my fender clone and other guitars i have with roller string trees and my guitars stay in tune much better,i bought my roller string trees on ebay for about a buck or less for a pair of them!
string locking method?
Elvin taking the tail of the string back round the capstan in a clockwise direction and under the string as it emerges from the hole. As you tension the string, it tightens onto itself preventing slippage. Slippage is always undesirable!!
@@ejpurkis THATS WHAT SHE SAID !! lmfao Come its funny LOL
Or just buy staggared locking Tuners and remove the string trees like I did with mine which is the same one color everything . The Canndy Apple Red is dark enough you cant really see the string tree holes unless you look close problem solved & and Tunning stability is fixed forever . Plus string changes are a snap lol
Tons of reviews on the HH, would like to see the HSS.
short review - they're great
@@5ynthesizerpatel can you point out some of the differences maybe?
@@brandoncalabria2470 - not really no - I've only tried my friend's HSS so can't really make a comparison - what I can say is it's a fantastic guitar, looks great feels and plays great and sounds great - if it had a fender logo on the headstock it would be double the price easy.
Apparently the general specs of the body, neck, bridge, nut, and tuners are all the same though so in terms of how they feel and play, they'll be pretty much the same - it really just comes down to whether you prefer the kind of tones you'll get from the HSS or HH configuration.
Personally I think that the HSS is going to be a bit more versatile - especially if you mod the electronics to give the option to split the coil on the bridge humbucker and add a second tone knob to give it the same kind of config as a standard strat - but that's a purely personal thing
@@5ynthesizerpatel this was excellent thank you for your input
@@5ynthesizerpatel love mine! Great guitar I grabbed used for $369. Its easily worth well beyond the $429 asking price as someone stated above
I appreciate you doing videos on affordable models. Love watching the pricey ones too but it's nice to see one I can go get myself. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the review Phil! As always very enjoyable video with great information!
How about the one with active pickups?
I have the 2016 model of this guitar. I love it! It is my first electric guitar and I am very pleased. Mine holds a tune well.
I've wanted an HH strat, but the Charvels are around $850. Based on Phil's recommendation, I ordered one of these, and it's exactly as reviewed. I like a real forceful clean sound, to bring out the percussive nature of the instrument, and this delivers. Gets dirty too, and pairs up well with a Vox Valvetronix. Thought I'd post this, because I like the idea of Phil checking out new guitars from a techie standpoint before we buy them, like having a mechanic look over your new car. It was good to go right out of the box, and I'm really pleased with it. Thanks for the heads up, Phil.
I used a dry graphite to lube the slots and have had great results . My wife picked it up a year or two ago as she works at Home Depot and I asked her to grab me a tube which will last me another 10 years or more unless it goes bad . I love this guitar same color and everything only problem I had was fret sprout unlike Phil ? I plan to install a Hotter pup in the Bridge eventually but it does 80's Metal and Glam Metal proud and that's my area so yeah great Guitar for the price you will be surprised in a good way ! I still want a Charvel San Dimas but for now this is just fine with me \M/ !!!
I was going to request this vid 😂, glad you've done it 👌🏽
These look to be $349 on Sweetwater. Great bang for the buck I would say.
I bought the HSS model in black through Guitar Center for under $300 on special. I think its a hell of buy. Love it.
@@johnhunsinger2625 they used to always be $300, these are the new renamed "Deluxe" Squiers, and they bumped the price up $100 to match Classic Vibe.
I want to make an EVH frankenstrat replica, this guitar looks like a nice base. But I don’t know if the under pickguard cavity is hss routed (it’s the one right for the evh) or is a single cavity, or hsh, so that’s the only thing that keeps me apart from this guitar. Do you know what’s under the hood? Nice review btw!
Thanks for posting this review on this Squier guitar. I have a 20th anniversary edition Squier stratocaster, and Ive enjoyed it.
I have arthritis so I haven't played any of my old Ibanez Jems and Universes regularly in many years. On the rare days when I can still play a few bars, I'll take a random one out of its case and try to relive happier times. Each of them is always still in perfect tune. I don't know what the big guys' catalogs have now for "sub-$1000 Super-Strats," but I'd encourage people to explore the market in used guitars before automatically heading to Guitar Center. A brand new $1000 guitar of any brand or model is not necessarily superior to what you can buy on the used market for the same price.
JMacQ77 absolutely agree on that point. I have two CVs - a gold anniversary strat and a 50s tele in butterscotch. Both are better made than my Gibson LP studio which has taken thirty years to get how I like it. The tunomatic bridge had deformed. The neck had no relief, and the trussrod was loose - no tension.
The humbucking pickups were way too hot. Eventually, I swopped them for classic 57s and rewired it 50s style. Now the mud has gone and it has great clean and just breaking up sounds.
Both Classic vibes sounded and played well straight out of the box.
I Sold a U.S.A. deluxe Strat in mint condition. The money that fetched bought both Classic vibes with change left over. The Deluxe was very comfortable to play, but was dull characterless and a disappointment.
I hope it has taught me not to be badge snob.
I use high gloss SC1 clear coat to lubricate the nut slots. This stuff is insanely slippery. Just spray a bit on an ear scoop apply it to the nut slots and your good to go. Enhances the tuneability and tuning stability drastically on all my guitars and it lasts for months.
Great review, btw...
I own one and absolutely love it~! Mine is in ocean blue. I've also done a few upgrades.
Love the Classic Player JM in the background, I have one and its great! Also not surprising to see a Schecter hanging along all those expensive axes, they make amazing value instruments
I put locking tuners and pearly gates and voila it’s a monster. Mine is pearl white! I’ve owned it for about 3 years and it’s still a keeper!
I like that the light parts of the zebra pickups are white and not that horrible cream color. All zebra pickups should be that way in my opinion. Great video!
I don't have a Strat yet. Looking for something less expensive than my other guitars that I wouldn't be afraid to knock around with for taking on trips, etc.. This seems to be right up that alley, plus I love the finish..painted head stock is sweet! Thanks for the review Phil! As always very enjoyable video with great information!
Are you going to do a review of the Squier contemporary Active Stratocaster? I'm really interested in how versatile that would be, also how would that compare to the sound of a Les Paul?
I have the Fender Japan Contemporary from 1984. Didn't know they were doing them again.
that series is awesome
I have one from 85, it is a Gibson scale. The ST331 and it is great. The pickup is amazing. I like these, but am thinking the one with the Floyd is what I want. Glad Phil checked them out.
They're doing them again in name only.
Was Tokai making them then?
No, Fender Japan. There were almost no Fenders made in the USA that year.
My first guitar was a black Squire strat with a Floyd Rose style tremolo and locking nut. It had a rose wood fret board and really small frets, back in 88. I have never seen one like it since.
Thanks Phil! I appreciate your informed concise opinions.
Phil, quick question: When you request these for demo / review, do you ask for them to be a literal 'out of the box' (as in do you really believe that Fender wouldn't have given it a thorough 'once over' before sending it out?) - simply by way of comparison that I have found the squier series Q.C. to vary quite a lot here in Australia.
Compared to the 'out of the box' Ghost Fret, how do you feel about this squier being a 'supplied' guitar as opposed to being one of your independent internet purchased instruments? Your review of this strat draws a similar conclusion to my experience of checking them out locally at different stores, except that the instruments Q.C. isn't as consistent between different stores (read into that what you wish)... Having said that for the price, they are an absolute ripper. If I had kids, this would be a no-brainer first guitar.
The 2021 Contemporary Series is a huge step up from this.
I have that exact one color and everything . I love it I put a Graph Teck self-lub Nut on it and Staggard Slipshot open gear locking Tuners . Paid $400 plus $50 for the Tuners and $11 for the nut and it's a Shred worthy BEAST !!! I love it and prefer it over my Schecter SVSS which was more expensive and has EMG 70's in it . I was never a Strat guy until this Guitar but its got that feel that we all look for ..
Sounded like a good honest review. Well done.
Wow ..... that is great fiddle. Squier has been uping their game since the CV series. I never thought nut sauce would have so much impact on a std trem. Zero to hero ..... great vid Phillip!
Thanks Phil for this review, I will get one on these in pearl white. This Squire rocks!
Played one recently and it was fantastic. Really liking the recent Squires
I have a Contemporary Telecaster. The problems I had with it was the tuners weren't the best, one of them you'd be turning and wouldn't even start tuning the string until after a few turns. Also the frets were all over the place. To fix these I upgraded to locking tuners, and took it to a guitar shop to get a fret job. Other than that all it needed was a good setup, which all brand new guitars need anyway straight out of the box
Thanks for the review. I think a lot of people judge Squier by the $100 to $150 models. The better Squiers are really good. I have the expensive "F" and "G" models but just the name no longer has any mystique for me. If it plays good, sounds good, and looks good, I buy it.
Andertons did a cool video on T-style guitars recently. Squier Contemporary was the worst rated but the Classic Vibe got high marks.
Just ordered a used one in white to mod. The 12" neck radius was very appealing on a stratocaster to me and overall It's a good deal even at the retail price. Hate to say it but I've been loving these higher end Squier's way more than the Mexican Fender's lately. If anyone thinks a new nut and maybe some graphtech tusq string trees would be beneficial I would love to hear back from you. Thanks
Received the guitar and it's a real pos unfortunately. There was a severe ground noise issue. Terrible fret job that buzzes like crazy with bad fret sprout. I did check it with a fret rocker not that i had to. As Phil pointed out the nut is tighter than a nun and is impossible to keep in tune. To be fair I ordered this guitar used from a "reputable" music store in Chicago who's name I won't mention but you can probably figure out. After specifically asking them to check for high frets and buzz before sending to me they still sent me this terd that would need to be on an episode of Sharpen My Axe to be playable. I still think it's a great guitar if it's done right and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Squier as this is the first bad one iv'e ever purchased. If it wasn't for the bad fret job I would keep it and fix the rest of the issues as its a beautiful guitar and has a ton of potential.
Great review of a reasonably price guitar that is a good value as long as it’s the style you’re looking for and plan to keep it. I love the looks of the matching headstock.
Love my Archon. I had to send it back a couple years ago due to an odd problem on channel 2. Doug hooked me up and they fixed the issue plus a couple of other mods. I am looking at the white squier right now.
Seems like a great guitar at the price, love the matching headstock (big fan of matching headstocks). Cosmetically, the only flaw for me is the 'zebra' bobbin look. I think all white would have looked better. And since it's a Strat, all white would, I think, give it a weird doubled up single coil appearance, which I think might look cool.
That bridge pickup sounds freaking killer for what it is.....
I'm like this guitar.
Hey Phil. They currently make an HSS pickup configuration of the Squier Contemporary. Would you please do a review of that one since it is the most versatile. I'd like to see what kind of clean tones it puts out because it also has a 5 way switch instead of the 3 way.
I would suggest checking out Angled Humbuckers at the Bridge - Hot Rails, mini-buckers or stacked coils - Squier made a Hot Rails Deluxe that had Duncan Design Rails - they sound a little gritty but it's a huge insight that angled HB's take away some of the unwanted brightness and give you an elusive tone the HH and HSS can't - in fact it is THE 70's Strat tone
personally I would buy a used SSS "Standard Series" Squier for the 2 pin trem and thick body, and just order a complete harness you can move from guitar to guitar - have everything coil tapped and tie bridge into a tone pot - boom - done - Swiss Army Strat
- 10 tones with a universal coil split.. 20 or more tones with 3 mini toggles
So how does it compare to the other HH Strats on your wall? What would it take to make it competittive to them using the "Sharpen My Axe" process - $350 Squier HH Contemporary Strat + $XXX in upgrades to get a guitar similar to the other HH Strats?
If I'm not entirely mistaken, a Stratocaster with the HH configuration used to be known as a "Big Apple Strat" (?)
Siggy Guitarist back in the 80s ☺
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Fender made them from '96-'00. I have Big Apple from '98 - Duncan 59 neck and a Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge, 5-way could split coils. My favorite Strat.
Wow! If I would have known that a syringe worked so well I would have used one a long time ago. Thanks for turning me on to them, Phil!
Gee, I wonder what other uses there are for a syringe in music?
That actually has really good Clean sounds for high output ceramic pickups. I'm kinda impressed
I want a Squier Contemporary Strat in that ocean blue metallic in HH but that guitar is only available in HSS. The red metallic color looks great. Just wish there was an HH version of the blue Strat.
Minor complaint: the tip to the trem bar isn’t black like the knobs.
The red paint with the zebra pickups are awesome
I wish they'd make a Contemporary Telecaster with a Floyd Rose. I had an 80's MIJ Contemporary Tele with HH pickup configuration, but that Schaller trem was a nightmare. Fender has an opportunity to do it right for this generation, and I hope they do.
I like this series, looks promising.
One of my regrets is not getting an mij fender contemporary strat when the market was a little cheaper. Back in 2005 I could pick one up for sub £300, now I'm looking at £550+ for the model I like. I'd did get a nice 90s mij photo flame strat with Floyd Rose many years later tho.
Really dig the contemporary series. Great video Phil
This is fine if you’re just a metal head. However, I think you should have reviewed the HSS model so we could hear how versatile this series can be for those who play ALL genres of music.
Hi there..........What is the better guitar in your opinion.........Squier Contemporary Active Stratocaster HH or the ..........Squier Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster ............Thanks
I just bought a new contemporary telecaster, and its excellent out of the box. Get more tele-shirts Phillip Mcknight.
I think I might get one and one of those Spark aps. It will l help me to learn.
Soo, that would be active pickups.
Sounds so clear.
I love it.
I can hear that. I think I could choose a sold state amp. Just so long as it's good and clear in
the clear section, you can mess with tone at the amp.
That's for now.
One day, I'll just buy a head separate and
build the speaker. I can do that.
We'll see where I'm at in five years.
I have a little music. Grade two.
I love rock n roll.
I used to play E flat concert tuba.
Quite pretty... I think it´s going to be a best seller this year, specially this Strat.
Man they look so classy, I hope they make more colors.
Tried this at the weekend and wasn’t really different to my Cort G200DX. In fact the Cort was more resonant. Ended up picking up a used VM 70s Squier and it’s far superior. In the same quality bracket as a MIM fender.
I think the pickups have the leads in there for splitting the coils. These are great mod platforms.
I'm kind of Ride or Die for SSS when it comes to Strats, but a friend of mine bought the HSS Contemporary about 6 months ago and it's nothing short of awesome - there's not a single thing I can find more than the tiniest most nitpicky fault with on it.
Looks amazing, sounds amazing, plays amazing
They could change not one thing on this guitar except for putting a Fender logo on the headstock and double the price - if they added a coil split and a third tone knob (a mod my friend is working on right now) this would be a $1000 guitar
I just got one of these! Pickups are a little muddy but plays epic
I've been looking at these on ebay for the last few days and I must say I'm pretty tempted on a Black HH one and a blue HSS. I'm wondering if a Floyd Rose would drop easily in one of these since it's a two post screws that holds the Standard Bridge? Will it work without any additional mods other than a locking nut on neck?
Why cant Squire's manufacturer lubricate the nut slots before they ship them, you have shown how easy and quick it is to do.
Phillip I found the hottest pickup in the neck position and the lowest ohm in the bridge. I just reversed them, what a big difference.
For lubing the nut I like a product called Tube-o-Lube. It's powdered graphite. Discovered it when my son was a Cub Scout using it to lube the axles on his pinewood derby cars. Under $10 on Amazon, or you can find it other places too. A little dab will do you, so basically enough to last for several years unless your working on guitars for a living. Check it out!
I wanted to have flatter radius on my next strat and was going to get one from Warmoth but then this model came out and I jumped on it. I got the Pearl-White HH with black strike plate version and I love it, right out of the box the action is low the pickups play great on my clean blastar with Tight Metal pedal and all I am thinking about it locking tuners. So considering the neck from Warmoth was going to cost me 300 bucks this was a steal!
How about Hob-E-Lube dry graphite lubricant on the nut. Better staying property than a liquid.
I think the active version is really cool
Hey Phil thanks for posting. What I'm really interested in is if the Humbuckers are 4 wire so they would be splittable. Would make it more versatile? Do You know?
I like the guitar for its color pattern. I have the blue one as my first guitar HSS. I since then have better ones. Would dimarzio true velvets fit in this thing for the singles? 🤔. It never stayed in tune for more than 2 minutes either so it needs locking nuts. Not sure what to upgrade the hum bucker to
Thank you so much for this review. I had the chance to try that same strat at GC but the guitar was missing a string so I couldn't get a good impression of it. :D
Phil, with a maple neck like that, can you use the Stew mac Emery board style file and the Micro mesh sanding trick to wear in the fret board like you do with the rosewood fret boards? You always say not to do it on Maple necks, but I never knew if that was because they were finished or if there was another reason.
Sounds very similar to the Squier Bullet Mustang. Might be the same pickups.
If the playabilty of the guitar is very good , at this price point you could stick a set of Fender Select PU`s and some locking keys and have a giant killer for a song. That`s a pretty good deal.
I did have to buy a spring to go in the Trem hole it would either be to floppy or to tight . The spring got it just right after I cut a bit of the spring off . The spring also came with a nice Silver magnet to cover the trem hole so you dont lose your spring and it looks great when the Trem is detached its nice strong magnet so its not gonna fly off . You can find them on E-bay for $3 bucks worth it just for the magnate hole cover piece lol Otherwise Fantastic Budget price Guitar . After 40 yrs of being a Guitarist I would easily put it over more expensive Guitars I have owned . In my Top 3 for sure and totally Gig Worthy after fixing the Nut issue Phil Mentioned !! If ya see one for sale under $400 grab it you wont be sorry !!! Oh I play Metal , Thrash and Shred mostly 80's early 90's . Not a Fan of todays stuff but it could handle it easily ...
I'm digging the matching headstock paint. Though I kinda think that it would be better if the logo was white to match the pick guard.
If the place you buy this guitar from has a luthier just request that they file the nut for you as a condition for your purchase.
Nice review mate!
I'm sure it's a great instrument, but what's the point of a Strat if you can't get that gorgeous "in between" sound?
You mention the neck pickup has a strat type of sound but I was surprised to hear a strat-like tone from the bridge humbucker as well. Pity there’s no coil tap. Sounds like a good guitar, although for me I’ll be wanting 3 single coils and and a five way switch from a strat type of guitar but that’s just my opinion. I owned a Squier strat back in the day and it was a really good guitar for an amazing price before some bastard burgled my place. I had the last laugh since he left the much more valuable Yamaha classical, not cool enough I guess.
I bought one of these used with a missing neck pickup, and a half disassembled bridge pickup. I had all the electronics replaced with USA parts and and Van Halen matching pickups from guitarfetish.com . This thing sings, it sustains for days, Kossoff style.
Nice guitar a good set up and maybe a pick up change ..great guitar does not break the bank
How would an experienced guitarist (I'm somewhat but more 30 years drumming ) compare the rare 2001 Ibanez S370RRF to this? Thanks. I have the MIM FSEdition strat and LOVE it. I also have the Ibanez above. I'm loving this fender here squire. But I dont want something I already get the tones of...thanks all that care to comment.
Great review Philip. Is the body slimmer like the Bullet/Affinity bodies or is it "standard" like the Squier Standard / Classic Vibe / Vintage Modified ... and obviously like the Fenders?
I got one of these. Do you know if a Fender Mexico roasted neck will fit in this? Love the guitar and the neck works and is very good in feel but I se a hump coming at around 12th fret and I know where that goes in a while.
what would you recommend for a special Floyd rose not staying leveled after big dives? i tried tome WD40, kinda worked but i dont want to do it again because i'm afraid of hurting it and my jack sons body.
Phil the type of guy to send a guitar back to Fender covered with nut sauce. 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼Nuttin' but love, brother. ❤️🎸❤️
I saw they got a tele version. I'm not a fan of painted headstocks, but of it's that good it may be my next guitar.
Sounded great, if I was in the market for a guitar I would definitely look at this. As others said, I'd swap the nut, tuners, and string trees. Is is just me or is the headstock a little bigger? Maybe just an illusion because its painted.