I have the exact same guitar. My late wife bought me it for Xmas 2012. I love it and it is very precious to me. I have a Mexican fender strat in Fiesta red. It has been modified with Seymour Duncan pickups and an Eric Clapton mid boost thingy. It cost 7 times more than the Squier. Only being a home playing guitarist for my own amusement. I can't tell much difference!
Hi Paul :-) Happily, I'm in roughly the same place as you regarding a difference between Strats although I do have a few favourite Squiers. The ProTone models, Classic Vibes and Yako plant guitars are usually pretty good and for some reason the 20th Anniversary Affinity models seem to have a bit of something special going on. As for the USA and Mexican Fenders I find that they vary widely from guitar to guitar. I try to keep anything I like these days because sometimes buying a repeat model doesn't always work out! Cheers, Gary :-)
Yako Strat Lovers Unite!!! My "number one" baby is a 1997 Squier Affinity Strat (ser# YN750107), born&built at the Taiwan Yako factory. In high school I traded the original rosewood neck for a 1993 MIM Squier maple neck which is still on it, and at this point only the battle-scarred Alder body & neckplate w/serial number engraved remain of the original guitar. Thanks to the snowman cavity routing I have a Seymour Duncan P-Rails in the neck & DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, and this has been the configuation since 2009. It's been through hell and back, but it's one hell of a workhorse and fits my hands better than any other guitar I've ever owned/played. I'm very lucky my parents got me this one, now knowing the unique history and devoted following of these Yako Squiers. Cheers!
Hi Robo :-) Yup, the Yako plant guitars are top notch. I like the 20th Anniversary models, too - they seemed to play better (mostly). I'll be honest with you here, I genuinely can't tell the difference between a good Squier and a "proper" Fender. Cheers, Gary :-)
Great stuff Foxy. I have had quite a few of these. I'm keeping a couple, just because they are simply fun things to play. In years to come they will be more desirable, as everyone mods them.....
Hi Steve, nice to hear from you. Do you know what? A mate of mine who has an array of expensive guitars comes round to my place and the one he seems happiest picking up is the Yako plant Squier. Out of all of the Fenders/Squiers, my two favourites are these and the Pro Tones, although the Pro Tones have quite a narrow neck but they look cool and sound great. Cheers buddy :-)
Your Argos comment was on point lol that’s exactly how I started and it did get me started but I always wondered this can’t be right good video these are good guitars
Great video My cousin gave me his YN in the early naughties as an upgrade from my Argos axe and always really really enjoyed it but lusted after a “proper strat”. I got my hands on a Designers Edition, ‘super rare’ all the bells and whistles etc. It lasted a couple of years and got sold. You couldn’t buy my YN, they are brilliant! I hope someone got themselves a bargain
Hi Foxy, great video, I also picked up a 96'YN in sunburst in mint condition with a road case, plays fantastic. The trapezoid tuners always stay in tune!.
Hi Neventure and thanks :-) Oh my, those tuners! Everyone goes on about how rubbish they are but like you, I always find they do their job and hold pitch absolutely perfectly! Y=Yako, N=Nineties. Wonderful guitars. Cheers, Gary :-)
I have the exact same guitar but with black 1 ply pickguard and black knobs. I just upgraded it with custom shop 69s last year and it has been flawless. I believe this year was alder body. It is considerably heavier than any squier strat I even had.
Hi there and that's a nice upgrade :-) The older Squires seemed to weigh in more than the new ones do. I particularly like the 90's Yako plant guitars. Cheers, Gary :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow thanks brother I appreciate it and it is like I always said I never will buy a guitar for its brand because they tend to fool you. I prefer mine over any american standard.
I have a 97 in torino red. You are right. They are lightyears ahead of the current affinity or bullet strats. A full size alder body, metal switch, full size pots, 22 frets, etc. I love this guitar!!!!!!!
Absolutely correct. Without doubt the most guitar you can get for the least outlay. Even if they were twice the price I'd still want one because the build quality is tremendous and they feel like proper guitars :-)
Got one of these for 100$ in excellent condition few years ago. YN68xxxx serial. Minimal setting up was needed, just fresh strings and some cleaning basically. Stays in tune forever. So easy to play that it feels like the guitar plays itself and im just there to witness it. These guitars reall are built different. Do not miss on these if you see one on sale.
Hi Duke :-) I totally agree with you about the quality of the 90's Yako Plant guitars. So yours is a 1996 guitar I think. They had the most powerful pickups ever fitted in a Squier Strat as memory serves. Cheers, Gary :-)
Beginner here doing my research as you advised 🙂. I've started out on what does seem to be a decent guitar. It's an Indonesian made EVL K4 Cort. But I keep looking around and thinking about perhaps getting another guitar to see what it feels like. I found a local guy selling a YK6 for 100. Should I be dishing out now before I can actually play? Or should I stick with the Cort until I get better to justify purchasing another guitar? Great videos BTW!
Thank you and I'm happy that you like the content :-) My first advice is always that your guitar has to make you go gooey-eyed when you look at it. That way you'll be more inclined to pick it up and play. Next up is buy from a trusted source and make sure the string height makes it easy to play. You can always ask your local tech (just have a look in Google) to go round with you to make sure it's ok. They probably wouldn't even make a charge. Hey, good luck on your journey and watch as many videos as you can and play with as many different people as you can - you'll always come away learning a little something :-) Kind regards
Yes! A guitar for all seasons. I have an old Squire in a box, in a closet filled with junk, that once upon a time I was going to mod with new pickups and a new neck. Sadly, it was easier to buy a couple new ones, but your review has me feeling guilty about my Squire. Mine is not as nice. I think it's a 2000 Indonesian with a nice red sparkle paint job. It's got a very narrow neck which I don't like, but it's worth upgrading for sure.
Hi Jonathan, I used to do the upgrading thing but figured out that for me it was easier just to buy a guitar that fitted my requirements at the time - cheaper, too. That said, there's something very satisfying about putting your own instrument together. It gives you a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you built your own custom job :-) Kind regards
1996 Strat actually has a neck that is very similar to that of a vintage 1962 American Strat. I know it because I had a chance to compare my 1996 Squier with Dave Simpson's 1962 Fender. Very close.
Hi Gary.....I have FOUR of these..two 96, 1 97 1 98. Changed the bridge to Wilkinson, Tuners to Lockers, pickups on each vary..but 2x HSS , 1X HH and 1x HSH. I agree with you that they are excellent.
Chris!!!! How lovely to hear from you :-) I don't know about you but I find that the older I get, the better I was :-) Dear oh dear, you were always mucking about with that sort of thing and even when I came to that gig you played in South Shore I realised that no matter what guitar or amp you used it always sounded like you - I could pick you out of a herd in an instant and that's even if you were using an Inkling Farteep 30 watt Bizzer! Remember those? :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow Absolutely. Came across one that is in Sunburst and in absolutely mint condition. What is most surprising though is that it appears to be a one piece body, front/back wood grain is absolutely consistent. When was the last time you've seen even American Strat body being a one-piece? 🎸 🤔
I just bought one of these guitars and love it (minus the tuners). My problem with the tuners isn't the tuner ratio but, the drilling positions on the headstock. The low e is so close to the front of the neck that you can't find upgrades to swap out. Look at it closely and you'll see what I'm talking about. I was hoping to put locking tuners on it but, can't find anything close to fit it. I guess it stays the way they built it.
Hi there Alan :-) Oh mate, that's a nuisance. This one's long gone but I always (wrongly) thought all of these would take decent tuners. I feel your pain buddy. Cheers :-)
Thanks Michal :-) They really are terrific guitars and offer so much greater value for than an actual Fender and the pickups are more powerful than a standard Strat :-)
Hey love the sound and setup you have there! Amazing playing also 🙂✌️ I just got the exact same model as yours in the same color haha did you do any upgrades to yours to get it sounding so great? Mine has been sitting for a while and cleaned up ok
Thank you :-) I would rarely upgrade a guitar, it's too expensive and you're probably better off just buying one that's got the things you want already in it. I do set them up myself and perform any work needed to get them to factory spec because, of course, the properties of wood and metal change according to their environment. What I will tell you is that I use a little Blackstar ID Core 40 amp and it's been my favourite since I had a Vox AC30 back in the early seventies :-)
Thanks Alroofador, it's much appreciated :-) The first concert I went to was with my dad, too. We saw Tony Christy at the Blackpool Opera House. I was particularly impressed with the brass section. Cheers :-)
Hi there Marcola :-) You have a Squier made in the Yako plant from the 1990's. These are one of the best instruments you can own. The SB name indicates you have standard black. It's unlikely that it's a 50's model and this will possibly predate the Affinity guitars. Regardless, it sounds as though you have bought n excellent instrument. Cheers :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow ahaha SB é Sunburst Man ... Eu já vi uma 50th aqui no UA-cam de cor Sunburst, assim como também já vi várias Affinitys dessa cor .. Realmente não dá pra saber. Foi um período de mudança da Korea para a China e as guitarras desse ano (96) não seguiram um padrão específico ,de acordo com minhas pesquisas. (Pelo menos as YN) Thank U 👊🐸
Mexican Strats represent terrific value for money. Apparently, there's a weekly visit from Corona Plant personnel to ensure the highest quality is maintained. if you blindfolded me, I'd probably find it pretty difficult to know one from the other :-) Kind regards
Sheffield lad indeed but I thought he was American until I saw him on the Good Morning show. You can understand my disappointment, too, when I first saw Ozzy Osborne in an interview.
Hi Alroofador :-) It's a solo job these I'm afraid. Being in a band is great but I'm not fit enough for all that humping these days and even though equipment seems to have lost a lot of weight in recent years, it's still a chore so I'm limited to doing two videos a week on't Tube; Wednesday and Saturday. Cheers, Gary :-)
You may have previously shown your credentials on your channel. Do you have them to hand? Would you be prepared to reveal yourself to new subscribers? 🙂
You may well be an 'obvious lover'. TBH you do look like abit of a charmer and I'm a hetro man (not that it matters). I tried being an obvious lover in my yout. For some reason both my girlfriend and I were ejected from that late night bus. Thrown off for having no tickets. public transport my cork.
![Мифы, в которые мы верим #17 [ПИРАТЫ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nVWFOtzL7ok/mqdefault.jpg)
I have the exact same guitar. My late wife bought me it for Xmas 2012. I love it and it is very precious to me. I have a Mexican fender strat in Fiesta red. It has been modified with Seymour Duncan pickups and an Eric Clapton mid boost thingy. It cost 7 times more than the Squier. Only being a home playing guitarist for my own amusement. I can't tell much difference!
Hi Paul :-) Happily, I'm in roughly the same place as you regarding a difference between Strats although I do have a few favourite Squiers. The ProTone models, Classic Vibes and Yako plant guitars are usually pretty good and for some reason the 20th Anniversary Affinity models seem to have a bit of something special going on. As for the USA and Mexican Fenders I find that they vary widely from guitar to guitar. I try to keep anything I like these days because sometimes buying a repeat model doesn't always work out! Cheers, Gary :-)
Yako Strat Lovers Unite!!!
My "number one" baby is a 1997 Squier Affinity Strat (ser# YN750107), born&built at the Taiwan Yako factory. In high school I traded the original rosewood neck for a 1993 MIM Squier maple neck which is still on it, and at this point only the battle-scarred Alder body & neckplate w/serial number engraved remain of the original guitar. Thanks to the snowman cavity routing I have a Seymour Duncan P-Rails in the neck & DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, and this has been the configuation since 2009. It's been through hell and back, but it's one hell of a workhorse and fits my hands better than any other guitar I've ever owned/played. I'm very lucky my parents got me this one, now knowing the unique history and devoted following of these Yako Squiers. Cheers!
Hi Robo :-) Yup, the Yako plant guitars are top notch. I like the 20th Anniversary models, too - they seemed to play better (mostly). I'll be honest with you here, I genuinely can't tell the difference between a good Squier and a "proper" Fender. Cheers, Gary :-)
Great stuff Foxy. I have had quite a few of these. I'm keeping a couple, just because they are simply fun things to play. In years to come they will be more desirable, as everyone mods them.....
Hi Steve, nice to hear from you. Do you know what? A mate of mine who has an array of expensive guitars comes round to my place and the one he seems happiest picking up is the Yako plant Squier. Out of all of the Fenders/Squiers, my two favourites are these and the Pro Tones, although the Pro Tones have quite a narrow neck but they look cool and sound great. Cheers buddy :-)
Your Argos comment was on point lol that’s exactly how I started and it did get me started but I always wondered this can’t be right good video these are good guitars
Hi Mike and thanks :-) The Squiers are a great beginner guitar. Easy to play, affordable and suited to a wide variety of styles. Cheers, Gary :-)
Great video
My cousin gave me his YN in the early naughties as an upgrade from my Argos axe and always really really enjoyed it but lusted after a “proper strat”. I got my hands on a Designers Edition, ‘super rare’ all the bells and whistles etc. It lasted a couple of years and got sold. You couldn’t buy my YN, they are brilliant!
I hope someone got themselves a bargain
I absolutely could not agree more. I would genuinely have one of these over a "real" Strat. The only variation I like better is the Pro Tone :-)
Hi Foxy, great video, I also picked up a 96'YN in sunburst in mint condition with a road case, plays fantastic. The trapezoid tuners always stay in tune!.
Hi Neventure and thanks :-) Oh my, those tuners! Everyone goes on about how rubbish they are but like you, I always find they do their job and hold pitch absolutely perfectly! Y=Yako, N=Nineties. Wonderful guitars. Cheers, Gary :-)
I have the exact same guitar but with black 1 ply pickguard and black knobs. I just upgraded it with custom shop 69s last year and it has been flawless. I believe this year was alder body. It is considerably heavier than any squier strat I even had.
Hi there and that's a nice upgrade :-) The older Squires seemed to weigh in more than the new ones do. I particularly like the 90's Yako plant guitars. Cheers, Gary :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow thanks brother I appreciate it and it is like I always said I never will buy a guitar for its brand because they tend to fool you. I prefer mine over any american standard.
I have a 97 in torino red. You are right. They are lightyears ahead of the current affinity or bullet strats. A full size alder body, metal switch, full size pots, 22 frets, etc. I love this guitar!!!!!!!
Absolutely correct. Without doubt the most guitar you can get for the least outlay. Even if they were twice the price I'd still want one because the build quality is tremendous and they feel like proper guitars :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow after seeing your video, I want a black one too now!!
Those old Yako plant guitars are my favourite Strats ever and a lovely old Ritchie Blackmore ‘Blackie’ style looks great in any situation 😊
@@FoxysGuitarShow I am searching for one as we speak but they are rare!
Full size body like mim standard strat?
Got one of these for 100$ in excellent condition few years ago. YN68xxxx serial. Minimal setting up was needed, just fresh strings and some cleaning basically. Stays in tune forever. So easy to play that it feels like the guitar plays itself and im just there to witness it. These guitars reall are built different. Do not miss on these if you see one on sale.
Hi Duke :-) I totally agree with you about the quality of the 90's Yako Plant guitars. So yours is a 1996 guitar I think. They had the most powerful pickups ever fitted in a Squier Strat as memory serves. Cheers, Gary :-)
Beginner here doing my research as you advised 🙂. I've started out on what does seem to be a decent guitar. It's an Indonesian made EVL K4 Cort. But I keep looking around and thinking about perhaps getting another guitar to see what it feels like. I found a local guy selling a YK6 for 100. Should I be dishing out now before I can actually play? Or should I stick with the Cort until I get better to justify purchasing another guitar? Great videos BTW!
Thank you and I'm happy that you like the content :-) My first advice is always that your guitar has to make you go gooey-eyed when you look at it. That way you'll be more inclined to pick it up and play. Next up is buy from a trusted source and make sure the string height makes it easy to play. You can always ask your local tech (just have a look in Google) to go round with you to make sure it's ok. They probably wouldn't even make a charge. Hey, good luck on your journey and watch as many videos as you can and play with as many different people as you can - you'll always come away learning a little something :-) Kind regards
what fantastic channel! new thumb - and red button
Lovely, thank you :-) I'll try and keep 'em coming :-) Kind regards
Yes! A guitar for all seasons. I have an old Squire in a box, in a closet filled with junk, that once upon a time I was going to mod with new pickups and a new neck. Sadly, it was easier to buy a couple new ones, but your review has me feeling guilty about my Squire. Mine is not as nice. I think it's a 2000 Indonesian with a nice red sparkle paint job. It's got a very narrow neck which I don't like, but it's worth upgrading for sure.
Hi Jonathan, I used to do the upgrading thing but figured out that for me it was easier just to buy a guitar that fitted my requirements at the time - cheaper, too. That said, there's something very satisfying about putting your own instrument together. It gives you a great deal of satisfaction knowing that you built your own custom job :-) Kind regards
1996 Strat actually has a neck that is very similar to that of a vintage 1962 American Strat. I know it because I had a chance to compare my 1996 Squier with Dave Simpson's 1962 Fender. Very close.
Hi Gary.....I have FOUR of these..two 96, 1 97 1 98. Changed the bridge to Wilkinson, Tuners to Lockers, pickups on each vary..but 2x HSS , 1X HH and 1x HSH. I agree with you that they are excellent.
Chris!!!! How lovely to hear from you :-) I don't know about you but I find that the older I get, the better I was :-) Dear oh dear, you were always mucking about with that sort of thing and even when I came to that gig you played in South Shore I realised that no matter what guitar or amp you used it always sounded like you - I could pick you out of a herd in an instant and that's even if you were using an Inkling Farteep 30 watt Bizzer! Remember those? :-)
Ah! My man again. Talking about the axe I'm revisiting for one reason or the other.
Not disappointed. 🎸 🤔
Hi :-) I think these were the old Yako plant items and they're utterly brilliant. Loads of power (more than a USA Strat) and great to play. Cheers :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow
Absolutely. Came across one that is in Sunburst and in absolutely mint condition. What is most surprising though is that it appears to be a one piece body, front/back wood grain is absolutely consistent. When was the last time you've seen even American Strat body being a one-piece? 🎸 🤔
I just bought one of these guitars and love it (minus the tuners). My problem with the tuners isn't the tuner ratio but, the drilling positions on the headstock. The low e is so close to the front of the neck that you can't find upgrades to swap out. Look at it closely and you'll see what I'm talking about. I was hoping to put locking tuners on it but, can't find anything close to fit it. I guess it stays the way they built it.
Hi there Alan :-) Oh mate, that's a nuisance. This one's long gone but I always (wrongly) thought all of these would take decent tuners. I feel your pain buddy. Cheers :-)
I have one i only change the pickups If you like sound of glass I have Big respect for this guitar By the way Great video Keeep on ROCKINNN !!!
Thanks Michal :-) They really are terrific guitars and offer so much greater value for than an actual Fender and the pickups are more powerful than a standard Strat :-)
Hey love the sound and setup you have there! Amazing playing also 🙂✌️ I just got the exact same model as yours in the same color haha did you do any upgrades to yours to get it sounding so great? Mine has been sitting for a while and cleaned up ok
Thank you :-) I would rarely upgrade a guitar, it's too expensive and you're probably better off just buying one that's got the things you want already in it. I do set them up myself and perform any work needed to get them to factory spec because, of course, the properties of wood and metal change according to their environment. What I will tell you is that I use a little Blackstar ID Core 40 amp and it's been my favourite since I had a Vox AC30 back in the early seventies :-)
You are great and entertaining. Also an obvious lover. My first ever gig was seeing John Mayall with my dad.
Thanks Alroofador, it's much appreciated :-) The first concert I went to was with my dad, too. We saw Tony Christy at the Blackpool Opera House. I was particularly impressed with the brass section. Cheers :-)
Excelente video ! Tengo una del 96 igual que la que tienes en la mano muy bien conservada! Estoy en Italia cuánto puede costar hoy ??🇻🇪🤝🤔
Hi Richar y gracias :-) generalmente entre 100 y 200 euro dependiendo de la condición. Salud, Gary :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow está muy bien cuidada bueno gracias amigo y te felicito por tus videos !! Yo tocó el bajo y algo de guitarra! !!! 🤝🤝🇻🇪🇻🇪🇻🇪
Tenho uma YN
Como saber se é 50th ou Affinity?
A minha está sem o logo
Pela cor , no catálogo?
A minha é SB
Hi there Marcola :-) You have a Squier made in the Yako plant from the 1990's. These are one of the best instruments you can own. The SB name indicates you have standard black. It's unlikely that it's a 50's model and this will possibly predate the Affinity guitars. Regardless, it sounds as though you have bought n excellent instrument. Cheers :-)
@@FoxysGuitarShow ahaha SB é Sunburst Man ... Eu já vi uma 50th aqui no UA-cam de cor Sunburst, assim como também já vi várias Affinitys dessa cor .. Realmente não dá pra saber. Foi um período de mudança da Korea para a China e as guitarras desse ano (96) não seguiram um padrão específico ,de acordo com minhas pesquisas. (Pelo menos as YN)
Thank U 👊🐸
I was actually thinking of getting a mexican strat .
Mexican Strats represent terrific value for money. Apparently, there's a weekly visit from Corona Plant personnel to ensure the highest quality is maintained. if you blindfolded me, I'd probably find it pretty difficult to know one from the other :-) Kind regards
You can find a used Mexican strat for $350. They are good buys for the money just please don’t spend $600 or more for a new one!
They've stopped using helium now. It wasn't light enough for what they wanted.
Hahahahahaha, that's so funny :-) Kind regards
Tony Christy!!! A Sheffield lad.
Sheffield lad indeed but I thought he was American until I saw him on the Good Morning show. You can understand my disappointment, too, when I first saw Ozzy Osborne in an interview.
Ahem, I originally come from the Black Country! Went for tea at Rob Plant's many years ago, and accidently set light to one of his dogs LMAO!
It's easily done and I'm certain it wasn't intentional :-)
Gary, thanks for your replies. Are you still doing your 'ting' on youtube and, do you play in a band or just play with yourself these days?
Hi Alroofador :-) It's a solo job these I'm afraid. Being in a band is great but I'm not fit enough for all that humping these days and even though equipment seems to have lost a lot of weight in recent years, it's still a chore so I'm limited to doing two videos a week on't Tube; Wednesday and Saturday. Cheers, Gary :-)
You may have previously shown your credentials on your channel. Do you have them to hand? Would you be prepared to reveal yourself to new subscribers? 🙂
Hi Alroofador :-) I checked UA-cam's policy on this and it's in contravention to their rules and reg's. Cheers, Gary :-)
an obvious blues lover I meant!! :-)
Hi Alroofador :-) I don't know, you build a chap up just to let them down again hahahahaha. Cheers, Gary :-)
You may well be an 'obvious lover'. TBH you do look like abit of a charmer and I'm a hetro man (not that it matters). I tried being an obvious lover in my yout. For some reason both my girlfriend and I were ejected from that late night bus. Thrown off for having no tickets. public transport my cork.
Hahahahahaha, that's funny :-)