Squier Contemporary Series Stratocaster - Indepth Review
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- The Squier Contemporary Series Stratocaster rocks! I will go into detail about exactly why I think these guitars are a super value for the money and show you a few things that may cause you some concern if you are considering buying one.
*Please note there is no playing in this review.*
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I appreciate that you called out "synthetic bone" for exactly what it is, plastic. But in fairness after a few beers I like to believe my Honda civic is actually a "synthetic Ferrari"😊
This fuckin guy 🤣
I've had all of those and I love them all. Best bang for your buck. I really like the contemporary Squier. I bought a new players series fender strat for 674 and was so disappointed in it I sent it back. I like to mod those man. Its easy and fun. You just can't go wrong with any of the contemporary series from squier.
I purchased a Squier Deluxe and Classic Vibe custom based off of your reviews and I have not been disappointed, looks like I will also be getting a Contemporary as well
I love it. Check it out when you get a chance. Thanks for watching Kristina!
Hi I'm looking forward to buy my first electric guitar.... And I'm finding it difficult to choose between classic vibe 70's HSS and contemporary HSS.... Any insights on which one should I buy would bet very helpful... Thank you!!
I'm picking one of these up tomorrow for $180
I found the hottest pickup in the neck position and the lowest ohm in the bridge. I just reversed them, what a big difference. Check the ohms
great video!,i love my squire strats i have a few ive gotten and added mods to over the years,the other day my son showed me a white strat on fb market that he liked ,when i first looked at it i thought it was a real cheap kids model becasue of the white head stock so i looked them up and wound up going to buy it last night,the model i got is an hss with a different neck but it has F locking tuners on it,the guitar feels and sound amazing! i ended up giving my son the g&l legacy trib i bought myself last week and this one is now mine !,i scored,scored,scored the guitar,fender 10 amp,cables,strap,guitar stand for $100 holy crap did i get a deal!! and it wasnt a shady deal by any means,i love this guitar! and ive been a les paul guy for 30 years,had and sold atleast 15 gibsons and epis but ill keep this one forever!
Great review as always....you nit-pick every detail...I absolutely love that...those of us that have been playing for years know exactly what you’re saying!!!...rock on my brother!!!
I'm glad its a good thing in your opinion. My wife says the same thing! LOL
Great comprehensive review! Thank you for taking the time to make the video.
Glad it was helpful!
Wish they did some contemperary Squires with 24 frets and the 2 pt trem.
Thats marketing my friend. Imagine that squier with more colors and the F. rose brifge AND the 24 frets.. with a smaller black headstock. No one would buy the 1988-92 ' hm fenders with floyd rose, the new ones or the originals. Im sure there a reason for everything. "Gun metal" blue color.. shell pink.. what were they thinking? . 🤣🤣 Cheers!
Yes. Looking forward to the sound demo
Great video Tony, would like to hear it in a band rehearsal..
Oh....regarding the bridge: this particular design has been used on the Squier Standard Strat for quite some time and has made its way to the Deluxe, some of the Stagemasters/Showmasters and now the Contemporary series. It is called the "Synchronus" vibrato and is similar (but not identical) to the American Standard tremolo.
Thank you for the information Russell
I just want to say that under the pickgaurd they are all routed HSH and it's easy to change the pickgaurd. I load the pickgaurd before I change it.
Chrstopher Thomas so it will fit a normal loaded pick guard into it?
Normal being S/S/S
@@lukyofficial1798 yes a standard strat pickgaurd will fit whatever pickup configuration you want. Although SSS is lame.
This is useful info as I want to put a zebra stripe pickguard on one , that would be awesome
Oh thanks dude! That's exactly what I needed to know about these. Sweet!
This was incredibly helpful man. It's crazy how this video is 2 years old now, but this is still the closest thing to a charvel in this price bracket. Reminds me of something Jake E. Lee would play.
I agree. Looks totally like the Jake E Lee model
Yeah, I'm looking for something along these lines. Thinking about getting the floyd version.
@@williamphillips24 I made a few videos with it as well since this comment, If I set the 2 point up to float I can get most of the floyd sounds and no tuning stability issues. Def a good low maintenance alternative to the floyd. I think this guitar is pretty sick for the money, I left it stock and my only complaint was the neck pickup was a tad on the blurry side of things.
Great review! I just ordered one last night. Can't wait to play it!
Hope you enjoy it!
Very informative description by Tony as usual but not enough playing. Lets hear the thing!
If he played a riff that reminded someone of a copyrighted song he would get strikes.Maybe things will losen up at some point.
I actually own this exact make a model. Same exact color combination as well. I can 100% vouch that what you’ve said in this video is exactly true. I actually just plan on putting some Seymour Duncan pickups in mine and after that I’ll honestly have no reason to buy an actual Fender Stratocaster. This guitar plays and feels EXACTLY like a Stratocaster so with a pickup swap I’ll be ahead of the game. ALSO, I bought mine used for $175 so I got a STEAL! After putting in Seymour Duncan pickups in, I’ll still be ahead of the game 🤣
But yeah man, it’s a very nice guitar. Good review!
you commented on the rear cover... but missed that it was an open slot instead of 6 holes...
and that the 2 center screws are off set - that's usually a Fender part on the better Squiers
- I've only seen them on V-Mod Series or Classic Vibe - I wish I had compared the rear guts and trem block to the cheaper Squiers - i also wish I had checked if thin body Squiers got shorter trem blocks
Nice, it has humbuckers. Must have a really powerful tone. Very good deal here, if you want something to start out with.
Yes, please play the guitar in another video. I would like the link. Thx
Great video! I have to ask, a year later... do you still own it? I just ordered one used from GC. Thanks
Yes I do!
Thanks, just picked up a blue HSS with rosewood neck. Nice..👍🐨🇦🇺
Hi even I'm about to buy one for myself... Do you have any insights on classic vibe 70's HSS
I own 10 guitars1 Gibson acoustic, 1 1954 Silvertone f hole jazz box, 1 Gretch, 1 American Tele with a kill switch, 1 Gretch Baritone, 1 Yamaha Rv620 and my Squire exactly like the one featured here and. That is my overall go to!
I have this guitar. Very happy with it!
Hi, your work is excellent, I understand that this guitar is light, what is the weight? Is it true that this contemporary series are the lightest of the squier? I do not find much information, maybe you can help me.
Jonnathan Vidal Sabogal yes it is quite light.
I personally LOVE my left handed red metalic squier contemporary tele!!!!
Just got mine today. I love it!!
great review. Yes, I would like to hear the guitar.
I have the Red one of this Model/Series I would like a better Nut but cant find the size in the self lubricating Nuts by Graphtech . I also would like a hotter affordable PUP for the Bridge position . Otherwise for the price I'm very happy and would recommend to anyone who's Intermediate or Pro level its that well built . I have 35 yrs experience and play exclusively 80's style Metal,Thrash, Glam , Hard Rock
Thanks for the great review. I have just ordered the HSS version as I prefer rosewood fingerboard.
I want one of these as like you said , it’s like a charvel with a regular modern strat type bridge . I had the slime green charve so cal but I don’t get on with Floyd bridges
The Atomic Punk grab one of these! They are cheap and really good!
ADDICTED TO GEAR I’m going to , I am already sorting other guitar gear and stuff to sell to put towards it.
I love the unfinished type necks, it’s like charvel, Kramer etc. I think they just give it a cursory wipe with a cloth with some satin finish on it and the jobs done lol.
ADDICTED TO GEAR I got it and it is “The One” I love it. I’ve recently had a charvel so cal , a Jackson soloist , a Ibáñez S and a Kramer vintage tiger pacer , but this squier ticks every box for me. I have some Gotoh sg381 trad locking tuners on it and graph tech string trees. My fave neon 80s skateboard stickers, my new old stock ‘nob ease, neon green knobs and a neon pink dimarzio cliplock. It is absolutely perfect for me , stays in tune great . I have previously said finding the right guitarist like finding a wife, and this is ‘the one’ I still like Kramer Jackson and Ibanez and may get another , but this , I will never ever part with, this is my main squeeze
Beautiful guitar ! Body width mate ?
Do you know the details about the pickup routiing? Is it a swimming pool, a hss...
Thanks
HSH
Nice review, I saw that the contemporary necks are 12" compounded. Do you know the radius on the higher frets. Similar to Charvel SD? Thanks
Where did you see this information?
Yes they are a 12 radius. Idk if they are compounded tho. I have the black metallic L/H
great review and really honest, most of the reviews talk about sound of pickup and some cons and pros you speak more
I liked that he just gave good information. playing guitar means nothing when you are hearing it through computer speakers. excellent video.
I constantly tell folks looking for the best value in a guitar. Squier! I have several that I have upgraded I would put up against most any other guitar.
I agree. The really have been producing some very good models lately.
I couldn't agree more. Bought 1 used, didn't have a Squier then. Liked it so much I bought 2 others new. Now I have the CV 70's L/H on order 😈😈😈
Well well, just bought one of these but with the HSS configuration, for 250euros yesterday. The guy i bought it from installed locking tuners, strap locks and replaced all the pickups with an assortements of Warman pickup (didnt knew about this cheap brand). Let me tell you its the best bang for the bucks i ever paid for a guitar. It truly sings and has a quality look and feel to it. I have more expensive guitars and this squier sounds even better... the only drawnback is the jack output who seems flimsy and the nut which can be better. But hey, we are talking about 20bucks upgrades! Its a really quality guitar, chinese guitar are getting so much better!!!
Congratulations Tarass! You will really enjoy this guitar.
between this one and a g&l legacy hss where should i aim? if i buy this strat, i can buy amplifier and some stompbox, but if i go for the g&l i can barely buy the guitar, its worth the buy? if i upgrade the mics in the future would it make a difference? thanks in advance
The G&L is a fine guitar, but the Squier is more affordable and plays very well. Both will be great.
Does anyone know if you could put single coils in it?
Like with the middle pickup
Yes, just change out the pick guard.
with the combination of arm in maple, body in poplar and ceramic pickups timbre not sound very keen no? I'm looking forward to buying one but I'm afraid ... Congratulations on the video and thank you if you can answer me.
Anyone know if you could put a Floyd Rose in this guitar???
Great review ! Very detailed. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Hello I'm looking forward to buy my first electric guitar.... And I'm finding it difficult to choose between classic vibe 70's HSS and contemporary HSS.... Any insights on which one should I buy would bet very helpful... Thank you!!
classic vibe for the win all the way
Contemporary Hss
Hi great review but yes, I would love to hear the guitar in action.
Amazing review. I prefer you opinión much more than the playing, as there are too many variables in the audio chain. Thanks!
I appreciate that!
Hi there, I am going to do some hardware upgrades on my Squier Contemporary Strat, pearl white, HSS rosewood board. I have found exactly what I want in all respects accept one. The nut. In your opinion, does this nut have a flat or round bottom? The neck is 12" radius I'm sure you know. Could you help me? I'm gonna put a Graph Tech Tusq but idk if I should use round or flat bottom.
Thanks
Sorry I don't know because I didn't remove the nut. I feel that the stock nut is fine and I didn't mess with it yet.
Jason hynes...if you need to radius the nut...I’ve seen guys put sandpaper on the neck and sand the nut using the radius of the neck...there are vids out there showing this...hope this helps
Friends this Contemp Strat is nothing like a Charvel. I own a Charvel San Dimas and tried the Squier Contemp Strat in the store last week based on this review. The Charvel neck is on a another planet in terms of quality, can't compare the quality at all.
I agree that Charvel necks are great. The comtemporay neck needs a little love but can be real nice with a little care.
I was going to get one of these - however Fender have changed the medium jumbo frets (which I love) to narrow tall frets (which I hate) in the specs on the Fender site - YYY?
get a mexi strat, about the same price and way better instrument.
@@elymolloy8333 Well, it's here and it's really nice! I've ordered some Bare Knuckle PU's and am a happy shopper! I've had many US Strats, all great in their own individual way, this Squier has something about it though ;-)
Thanks can u review the HSS
How do these compare to the classic vibe guitars ?
I think they have a much different feel to them. More modern
@@addictedtogear
Price is pretty close . Just debating on wich. Thanks for reply.
I have one of these and great guitars for sure 😎
Right on!
I bought the guitar ! I have two dead spots high up the neck 2 high frets. and a grounding issue I need looked at uuuggg Squier ! Honestly i do love the guitar but I think they should be as cheap as the affinity or so I mean the QC is a total hit or miss. So only buy this used for a good price ❤️
Those minor issues should not hinder your enjoyment of the guitar. Pretty easy stuff to fix IMO
@@addictedtogear thank you yes you are correct! i should learn to not sweat the small things in life, i do love the guitar it's one i plan on keeping and playing for years, thanks for the video friend!
Just purchased from Sweetwater! Jumbo frets, Unfinished wood..Yesss!!! Beautiful color. may put my Dimarzios in there :))))))
Great guitar for the money. Upgrade the pickups and you are in business.
Marten Barr of Jethro Tull use to buy a airline seat for his vinetage Les Paul.He concluded technology has made it possible to produce a quality inexpensive guitar.That was decades ago.The last time I saw him he played Fender Stat with humbuckers.
I remove the back plate like Hendrix did on Strat style guitars.It makes string changing quicker.
Sometimes you migh play in a seedy dive bar or for beer drinking friends.A expensive guitar is not ideal at those times.Traveling with a expensive guitar can also be worrisome.I bet that Squire would be perfect for such occasions.
There are many types of plastic they call it imitation bone becase that type plastic is very hard.I bet the bridge nut is fine as is.
Great in depth detailed review.
i really enjoy your review
It's refreshing to hear an honest review without some want-to-be-shredder riffing with too many effects cranked up on 11. Nice job!
Michael Brown thanks for watching
Have one love it!
Great Video, like it and like the Guitar as well :)
Very interesting. Yes, disappointed not hear you play it! :D
that was a really good run down Tony, thank you
Thanks for watching Doug
Have the black with gold sparkles, 349.99
I freakin love that guitar....1v 1t and a 3-way...thats ALL you need to rock...the volume knob is down out of the way of my strumming hand...thats why I can’t play strats...all that stuff is in my way!!!!...yur right, it is like a charvel...i never thought of it that way before!!!!
Hey Larry. Like a Charvel only less expensive! Thanks for watching.
Nice guitar, Tony!
650Thunderbird thanks! I really like it
Curious to hear it. Do it. :-)
Nice thorough review! Thanks! And I don't think you need to play the guitar. It's gonna sound different thru everybody else's rigs and hands anyway so IMHO that wouldn't tell us much.
Thanks for not playing the guitar, there are plenty of demos out there... Great review!
My pleasure! Although many other viewers would prefer me to play.
People see "Squier" on the headstock and are immediately skeptical. It's like there's this Catch22 when it comes to well-appointed, well-made low priced guitars. They really are good guitars, but in some cases (the Laguna brand comes to mind), they actually fail because people are not willing to accept that good guitars actually exist below $500.
I totally agree. I always recommend being open minded and giving it a chance before you decide.
Great review .. I think I need one .. haha Thanks !
🤣 “they should quit using that bullshit term and call it plastic”. Love it!
Jacks on the top, me likey :)
first time here.thank you.
subbed,liked.
I have the black one
Y me quedé esperando el sonido de la guitarra 😢
A... ? It's been a while since I gotting UTOBE videos from you some time now I Subscribe to your UTOBE videos and push like and ring the bell and write a comment . Troy Frost troyster 😎Cool Riffs
How are the pickups?
They are fine! If you like the sound of hotter ceramic pickups then you will like them too.
Rules - #1 AVOID ALL Affinity + Bullet Series for 1+5/8" Thin bodies #2 AVOID ALL "Strat" or "Tele"" decal gtrs for thin bodies -> -> LOOK for "Full Name" Stratocaster + Telecaster decals - OBV in ads on large headstocks - not so obv on Small headstocks but ANY small headstock is worth a closer look
- obv there are no "Short Name" decal Jaguars, Mustangs, or Jazzmasters so see above... and see below for info on any Series etc
ALL Standard Series have Full Name Decals, 1+3/4" THICK bodies, 22 fret striped necks, 3 ply guards, better hardware... plus 2 pin trems in later years - - ALL the Good Stuff just 1 step up from Affinity junk
ALL Deluxe Series get ALL the Standard goodies but SMALL headstocks and a nearly bare wood finish...
[ some have 3 Hot Rails - the Angled Humbucker beats any HSS or HH layout - rather obvious ]
ALL VM or Vintage Modified get the good stuff BUT it has a thick yellow finish AND a mish mash of headstocks and decals like Tele's with Strat necks and Jazzmaster decals [ like Fender Pawn Shop ? ]
ALL CV or Classic Vibe get the good stuff but like the VM it has the thick finish + the 6 Screw trem
- some CV + VM get 21 frets or 1 ply guards or 3 way Tele saddles for vintage looks -
-> -> -> older CVs got real Alder & Ash bodies - that is the secret to their great rep... and why the newer poplar bodies are a joke of sorts...
-> -> I was a firm believer that ANY thick body was a huge leap forward - and they are... partly because they commit to better parts throughout...
but under all that paint someone took a huge shortcut buy using Basswood, Agathis, or the lesser hardwoods
- in other words you don't even have a 90's Fender Mex yet ! !
so.... once you get the thick body, striped neck and 2 pin trem of a Standard or Deluxe Series....
there is NOTHING to be gained by moving up the Squier ladder... unless you get a better wood body or a rare Set-Neck Squier [ seen Set Neck Tele Thinline + set neck F/R Stagemaster - both Standard Series ]
-> -> SPEND the money on locking tuners and a loaded pickguard that you can use to move up the Fender Ladder instead ... Fender Korea to Mex to Hwy 1 to USA
- speaking of pickups... if you have cheap Squiers the "Duncan Designed" stuff seems pretty hot...
but you soon get sick of the tone... esp single coils - I've had DD's SSS HSS + HH plus 3 Hot Rails
- the Hot Rails Deluxe is a Revelation in Angled Humbuckers and a disappointment in D/D
- so easy to put an Angled humbucker in a Strat or Tele etc and change your World
- tie the bridge into the neck tone control so there's no conflict - Master Tone wrecks the 2+4 tones
[ I even had a Fender Mex "Blacktop" - HH with 5 way and split coils and you still get nothing ]
=================================================================================
- and now to burn up some Internet Ink with handy Trivia + Project Squier info
- Newer Affinty Series started getting Striped Necks... even at 21 frets they're a great part and usually found with mint frets - prob the only reason to buy Affinity... not because they're so bad, but because ANY other Squier with a THICK body is so much better for so little money.... new or used
[ some Affinty Series decals on ball will rub off with alcohol - others are under lacquer into the wood ]
- ALL "OBEY" graphic Squiers are Standard Series with 1+3/4" THICK bodies BUT a 1/8" graphic slab laid over the 1 5/8" Thin Affinity body - noticeably less sustain even with Duncan Designed pickups
- they get 2 pin trems and unique "AGED IRON" hardware that's rough to the touch
- they also get NO Pickguard bodies like any HM guitar and great striped necks
- OBEY Tele's get a humbucker at the bridge [ so sad it wasn't SH /--II or //--II ]
- LOOK for Standard Series with See-Thru finishes with 1 5/8" Maple or Mahogany bodies
- a bit of a tradeoff - great wood but less of it - - might be the ticket if you want a lighter guitar
- ONLY "Strat" decal Squier to get a 1 3/4" Thick body is Chinese with 3 ply guards - white or Pearloid
- big hint is a SMALL headstock with no dark insert - some have striped necks - some are plain junk
- you have to look on back for the dark stripe [ and make sure it's not a Bullet Series ]
- note the pots are very stiff to turn - not spin like crackly 1st Gen China junk or Korean
AVOID "MADE in China" = cheap China parts - - LOOK for CRAFTED in China = better foreign parts
older Korean Squiers have great thick bodies - so-so plain necks + crappy wiring
[ if they don't crackle they've been gutted or are newer era ]
- newer "Fender Korea" & Fender China are cheap Squiers - nothing worthwhile other than the decal
[ they started out as Fender decal'd Squiers for the Asian market only ]
- AVOID Made in Japan "Strats" - horrible stuff [ the Great Japan Squiers are ALL "Stratocaster" decals ]
- Made in USA Squiers are rare but have no Fender USA parts... and some have the odd 3 bolt neck
[ I had the rarer 80's Fender USA with "Squier Series" decal at the tip of the headstock ball
- no Fender Logo parts - all the chrome was plain - I'm guessing it was closest to an Early Mex
- early Fender Mex's also came with the Squier Series decal at tip ]
BUY Used - it's always worth what you paid... and if it's cheap wiring you will know !
[ use a multi-tester and a gtr cable to go thru the pickups - vol + tone on full - see what you get in ohms or mV - cheap pickups will all read the same - - good stuff is biased for diff loc'ns on the guitar
- common cheap single coils will read 3-4 ohms while good stuff reads 5-6
- also I must stress that you try it unplugged - that's where you notice Resonance and Sustain
[ I have yet to see a YT channel that tests or compares elec guitars unplugged...
I would love to hear an Alder body Classic Vibe compared to a Poplar CV one
byronofcalgary k
26:18 VERY TRU! Thanks!
Thanks for watching
@@addictedtogear Bought and love the guit! Great review. Thanks
Gosh damn it, from all the colors they could make, they chose worst colors for lefties
What color is the lefty version?
@@addictedtogear This guitar I have left handed. Was only available in Black Metallic. The pickups imo are excellent
David Kastin black is not that bad.
@@addictedtogear Nope it looks good next to my purple and red metallic Strats 😈
@@addictedtogear : gotta be RED
Sharp- looking but lousy ceramics. To upgrade to alnico doesn't make guitar worth it. It uus definitely not a great guitar.
That depends. I usually don't bond with too many pickups that are bundled in todays guitars so i'd swap them out anyways. If you get them used as I did they are well worth it IMO.
You should start the video by playing the guitar a little bit
Why? I find that very annoying when its titled a review, you expect the -> review first. I come to hear about the user's experience with the product, build quality, etc. Titling something a review and having the dude jam out and drag the video on unnecessarily isn't practical. (Not saying he shouldn't play, but that should come after he gives his expertise)
SRNF A review includes what the guitar sounds like. That’s like going to a car dealer to look at a car and not test driving it.
Too much talk, play the thing.
Lol funny!