Squier vs Fender
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- Опубліковано 2 вер 2015
- Squier Bullet
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to think you passed up the opportunity to say "wood. wood costs money. it doesn't just grow on trees."
What a missed opportunity
but a tree is the only thing that produces wood
whoooooosh
tell that to beavis
I have guitars made of all sorts of wood. Swamp ash, mahogany, alder, and morning.
Some of the greatest guitar players in history played cheap guitars because they couldn't afford anything else but they made some of the best music in history.
ie Brian May he could not afford a fender so built his own guitar from scrap wood and motorcycle parts. Now he is reluctant to play anything else
Like prince playing that cheap hohner telecaster copy he made it scream .
Great point!!
Billie Joe got famous playing a strat copy he got for his 10th birthday
@@randomdude9698
Billie Joel played piano, Dude.
(I'm kidding, I know about "Blue", that is what he called it, right? Didn't he also have a few copies of it made at some point?)
I can't believe how in-depth, and educational that was. Thanks a lot! That was some well spent 10 minutes.
Man, I love how you explain each section and break it down. We all know that is cheaper than the other by you educated us extremely well this vid. Thnx Phil
Philip: "gimme some of your time for free. betcha wont be too happy"
Me: watches 10 minute video and leaves happy.
Not only that, he gave us his time when he made that video too. Unless it gets millions of views he did it practically for free.
Technically, you didn't give him your time for free. He paid you with some valuable information. Win/Win ;-)
You hint at it a bit but you don't come right out and say it but: The number one reason the USA Fender costs $1300 is because that is what people are willing to pay for one. Very good point to get people thinking about the components in the instruments. Plenty of people willing to pay a premium without really knowing what they are getting beyond a brand name and knowledge that it's American made.
Not only that, but we feel if something is more expensive, it's better. This is one reason medicine is so expensive. Nobody would go to a cut-rate surgeon. Expensive coffee must be better. When I was a self-employed bike mechanic, a friend told me to charge a lot, otherwise people won't think you are qualified. If Fender started selling USA Strats for $400, I think we'd all be suspicious.
Pretty much this. With everything that he made note of, it doesn't justify 10x the price in sheer cost alone.
I'll pay more just to support my fellow Americans.
Preference, application, budget. I've been playing drums for 30 plus years. There are drum brands out there that produce a really nice product. They don't have the sound that I like, and they are way overpriced. The sister company also makes a really nice product. And it's way more affordable. So what's the difference, besides the price?? Wood options, finishing options, more size options. With the sister company, I have less options. But it would be way more budget friendly, and I can always purchase something "better" later.
Same with Gibson Les Pauls. Gibson charges 2500 for a Standard because the public (at least some) are willing to pay for them. The CEO of Gibson said it himself. It is also why you are seeing huge growth in the Fake guitar market.
This was actually an incredibly helpful breakdown of the differences thank you for making this
“No this guitars fantasic”
Me: Ahem...Marshal Amp-
Marshall’s are good amp
@@nehemiahzo_ a good amp makes a shit guitar sound better though
I'm Trying to get through the back log of your videos and must say they are really good and I can tell how much more professional you have become over a year thank you Phillip from the UK
Brilliant. Strangely, this makes me feel better about my Squier. I know what I'm getting - a pretty good cheap guitar.
For those who are afraid about Squiers, I have to say that I'm learning on a beatiful sunburst 1999 Indonesian (Cort) Squier Strat Affinity Series bought together with a Behringer 30-watt amp for 120 euros and that was one of the best decisions I've taken in my life. I did it because it was cheap and I had read good comments on the internet. It does the job really well, I'm enjoying it a lot and learning fast. Not a Fender, but the quality is surprisingly good for the price, it keeps the tune well, no hurting frets, lovely clean bell sound and an excellent option for entering the world of playing electric guitar. Maybe if I buy something better in the future, I'll keep this lovely guitar because it gave me the joy of playing. It's a nice and honest instrument, it's good for the purpose it's meant to. It's worth every euro of the 180 it costs new in Europe.
with the money you saved you can pay a REAL session guy to teach you. then when you are old you will be able to play about anything. Compare that to the guy that bought a 3000 dollar fender Strat and is still playing the same 5 songs he played 20 years ago.
Investing in REAL lessons is a bargain. i'm not talkin' bout some guy that gives you some tabbed song every week. I mean a guy who will teach music and how and WHAT to play.
@Kaptain Kid Don´t forget the Pickups!
Your review is very nice, very encouraging, very honest. I also have a cheap Asian beginner guitar (in this case, an Ibanez Gio GRX40) and I have bonded with the little fucker. Even the pups are good, which are the first thing to change in order to upgrade (y)
Cort Indonesia has always made quality materials. I have a '01 Squier MII P(J)-Bass by Cort and it still plays nicely with occasional adjustments.
Honestly, they sound just like a Mexican
DANG! You're good at explaining, short, precise, and on point.
Man, you really know your gear and you pack tons of information into relatively short videos. You really have a knack for this.
I did this video a day early because I something to do Friday.
+Phillip McKnight I was just going to ask if you crossed the International Date Line? Muh Ears make No Cents! hehe.. Good video sir! I have explained this to people selling these guitars for what I believe is an inflated price and it pisses them off! They will swear it's the same stuff in my Strat Plus. NOT!
+Phillip McKnight speaking of cheap guitars what are your thoughts on the Squier vintage modified 51
+Martin Cardenas I had a Squier 51, I really liked it. played well for the price. they're also really easy and fun to modify.
+Phillip McKnight what about the pots?
+Phillip McKnight You sir, are what we call well informed. I enjoyed your video and you have a new subscriber.
3.5 years later and this video is still educating people. Thank you for posting it. ;)
Dude ur channel is prob one of the best in media let alone UA-cam. Straight to the point no bs or “please do this so I make more money”. Your awesome dude keep it up
learned a lot more than I was expecting, thanks Phil
I recently got my fender after years of playing squire strats off and on. The thing that surprised most was the weight. I didn't realize they actually used less wood on the squires.
I only can buy Squier, Fender is too expensive.. But, i still can playing music with that cheap guitar..
The important thing is just to pick it up and play - no matter what guitar it is
If Eric Clapton plays a Chinese Squier, he would probably sound better than Lil Wayne playing a $100,000 Dollar Vintage Fender.
@@comeinwitthemilk4036 yes, I agree..💃
@@AndrewHank1 Wow, you right.. let's practice again..🏃🏃
Like he said, many people play at home,they don't push it too much. It's like a computer, i push them too much, I need a macbook and have it for 7 years. No way to make the same, and still running with a cheap HP. But, they are all computers, and you can work with both, but no way an HP to be compared with a macbook.
Excellent video. I've been watching several videos and reading several websites on the differences between these two types of products. This was by far the most informative and easiest to watch. Much appreciated, cheers!
So amazing, thank you for taking your time to explain this in an educational, guided and kinda humorous way (like the hot dog comparison). We need more videos like this.
"Thank you for your time." I appreciate it very much. Thank you for being awesome.
2.5 years later.... still a great and informative video! Thank you!
Great video! I’m binge watching your whole channel and podcasts and learning sooo much. You also seem like an awesome guy Phil! Thanks for all of your hard work!!!
This was a excellent video! Thank you Sir!
Hi Always learning from Philip, you can teach a old guy new tricks. Thanks
5 years later still great info, also shows your presentation has gotten better and better.
Rare to find such a straight to the point, no BS video. Awesome work, and good message at the end.
I have a japanese Fender Squier strat from 1987 and it sounds amazing
Ah - me too. I heard a rumor that Fender discontinued that line cause it was putting American Fenders to shame.
One of the most sensible guitar dudes on UA-cam. Keep preachin'.
Phillip, thank you so much for answering a question I've had for a long time! I finally understand what you get for your money at opposite ends of the price range.
So great - Thank you for having one of the best UA-cam channels out there - Love what you're doing!
Great explanation of those guitars. Most reviews on youtube would either say they are crap or a good deal. But you explain what goes into making them and that you really are getting what you pay for. I own one of those and they are cool to play around with since I am not in the market for a real one. I have a few other nice guitars, acoustic and one electric, but I just like to fool around with that strat and pretend I am Jeff Beck :) ....subbed
Best ten minutes ive spent on a video in a long time!
amazing video man! so much information in only 10 minutes... your definitely the most knowledgable source on youtube.
Man... you rock!! Love the explanation. Finally somebody with knowledge saying all the details. Thank you. I subscribe. This dude is a great teacher!!!
5:15 is my favorite part of the video
The bullet is the cheapest squire. We know they don't have parts com[parable to a USA fender. It would be more interesting to see a comparison of a higher end squire like a classic vibe vs. the USA fender standard.
I'd like to see that comparison here....I'm thinking about a CV Jag instead of a Player series...some reports are that they are a better guitar
I bought a Squier bullet strat for $58 as a beater. I knew what I was getting when I got it, however I was surprised how good it plays (for a $58 guitar). I've done a few things to it here and there to make it better ,and plan to do more mods to it. The thing to remember is when you do mods ,do for the pleasure of customizing your guitar, because you are going to lose money. Fortunately for me, my Bullet is not for sale.
@@desiolle2874 i have a CV jag and am extremely happy with it
I literally just discovered your channel today... and you are literally my new favorite youtube personality.
Thank you for that info, I happen to be in tradition from my Squire to a Fender and in my effort to upgrade, it will help me with more knowledge in making my final purchase. This was a great video
I hafto tell you there are a zillion guitar u tube channels out there in u tube land but only a handful that I look forward to everyday. Yours is one of them. So keep it up if possible.
thank you very much!
That was probably one of the best videos' ever. Keep up the good info!
Within 10 minutes you just gave me a crash course on how guitars are made and the mindset that goes with it. Thank you very much! I bought a Squier last year in Cobalt Blue (kind of looking like the late Glen Campbell's) and yeah, it's ok for my living room playing. Great video! Have a wonderful New Year!
I like this guy; direct, well informed, and he cares. Very good vid thank you.
This is a pretty informative video. I knew most of what Phillip talked about but lots of young people on tight budgets (or Dad's budget) do not. That said, I wish that a decent sounding, playable guitar like the one in the video had been available to me when I was starting out.
As a wind coper instrument player, I'm surprised how cheap even an expensive guitar is.
$1300 buys you a really cheap trumpet.
Guitar players are spoiled when it comes to the cost of a top shelf instrument. Try picking up an acoustic Piano for $150...much less $3000.
Only if you buy a stock guitar. You have the remember that a real y good guitar can cost any amount of money - I had one made in the 80's by a very good luthier and I paid just over £6,000 all in and that was 34 years ago. The same guitar now with the same materials, custom electrics, original Floyd Rose, hand wound EMG pickups imported from USA, etc would be more like £25K now. Save for a re-fret it has never needed any further set-up since I've had it and its been played to death.
@@stuartanthony6409 A custom guitar is not really comparable with an off the shelf trumpet (seeing as that was the example used). Try a Stradivarius violin; one sold in London in 2011 for $15.9 million. That example was probably exceptional, but you'd still be talking a few million for one.
xzysyndrome ... I can pick up an acoustic piano for free on iOS GarageBand. I’m not going to be able to mimic true guitar playing on an app!
same... trombone.
Ive watched a lot of your videos now and this is my favorite one. So much information.
This was a very helpful video, just to help people understand what goes into a guitar and what some of those corners that could be cut are. Thank you for making such unique videos, Phil!
An entry-level Squier is probably not the best comparison. I have a Classic Vibe Strat - and it plays and sounds amazing. A friend of mine - bit of a genius guitarist/composer - plays it whenever he comes around and loves it.
My son has a Classic Vibe Tele - beautiful....
Guess Phil is comparing the lower end Squier/components to explain the 1/10th price point. You are right, don't have to pay much more for a great playing Squier. Even their 'Standard' Strat is a great buy with A5 pick ups. I also have a CV Tele (Thinline) which is very well put together. Relatively low cost upgrades can enhance them further (SD Antiquity 55 A2 bridge PuP is nice).
I have the Squier 70s Classic Vibe Jaguar and love it.
the classic vibes are more expensive than a MIM fender strat.
@@ds-zd9qz What? MIM strats start at $900 now. Classic Vibes are half that.
That's the best actual explanation of Chinese vs American made "cheap" guitars I've ever seen. There are plenty of videos on the subject but you're the only one who actually breaks it down step by step and gives the how and why of it all. I have owned and will buy more great squier guitars but I've always known what I was getting. Some of the Korean made squiers are really great players especially if you change out the hardware. I really like the squier made vintage modified series telecaster guitars with the Duncan design p-90 pickups. For less than $300 they're a steal that sound and play better than some stock USA Tele's. Great video I'm sure you'll get plenty of feedback in the comments on this one.
I like the Squire vintage modified a lot. I own the Squire Fretless bass. It is great.
Mine was made in 2003 Fender Squire Strat sunburst affinity series and it plays and sounds like a £21,000 guitar
Thank you very much for doing this video and posting it! I wasn't aware of any of these things you mentioned about the differences in the types of Strats even though I have been playing guitar (mainly Strats) for 37 years. I really appreciate all of this very useful information you divulged on this great video. Thanks!!! :)
What a great video! Thanks for taking the time to actually explain the differences! I can see spending the money on a squier now that I know what I’m actually getting. Thanks man!
I really appreciate this video. I buy Squier and then hot rod them to my own specs.. Not hard and I end up with a great guitar with everything I like on it. I always change out tuners, pickups, switches, pots and nut. In the end I have less than half the price of a American Fender and one that plays incredibly well.
You could do the same thing with a Warmoth kit and be able to get quality wood as well as being cheap and fully "hot-roddable". I bought my kit for $145 about the same price as a Squier and it sounds better than my Mexican Strat
+Gold Panda I didn't know that Warmoth makes whole kits...
Add up what you paid in aftermarket parts and you might be in the authentic fender bracket. Dont forget labor. Even your labor is worth something if you didnt pay for it.
@@butteredbiskit3497 you'd hafta buy some crazy expensive parts. My favorite "strat" has a set of Alnico singles. that whole assembly was 24 dollars. Mind you if those same pickups had a Fender logo they'd be 150 bucks.
If you take a 1400 dollar U.S. strat and sand off its little "Fender" logo and put it right back on the rack, it will bring 300 bucks. Thats what it is worth as a guitar rather than an object hung in a man cave to admire.
Thank you for this video. The info is very clear. Im happy enough with my squire. It's a lot of bang for your buck. Yea it's a hot dog, But it's a nice hotdog.
Is it "uiqers"? No.
Is it "suqier"? Nope.
Is it "sqruie? Nah.
Is it "rqseui"? Not quite.
It's "S-Q-U-I-E-R"
I can feel and hear the difference between my Fender and my Squier, but I wasn't sure exactly why and in what specific ways they were different. So thanks for this explanation. Really helpful!
Thanks for this video! I think I fell in love with the neck of the telecaster trying a squire affinity. I decided to go up a step beyond and buy a standard from Mexico. When I played the squire again I noticed a big difference in resonance (and the sustain associated with it). Since I prefer clean sounds, this is the only feature that I consider non-negotiable.
I like a crappy sound so I'll take the hot dog.... I play grunge
Inbrains You do realise every grunge band plays expensive guitar right
Lol they're expensive NOW because of the grunge movement but before that, they were cheap guitars usually bought at pawn shops. Jazzmasters and Mustangs were actually cheaper than Strats and Teles in the 80's and early 90's. Now that some bands are famously known for using them, their value has risen due to demand.
mattheau aulisi They still played $500 guitars, either MiM of MiA, no successful grunge band ever played shitty guitars when they could afford high quality ones.
I'm going off old documentaries from few of them in the scene. Not all of them were alike. Specifically, Dinosaur Jr, Early Nirvana, and Early Sonic Youth. Now anyone besides them like Soundgarden or Alice in Chains which some affiliate with the grunge movement, I don't know what they played.
I was a huge Nirvana and Dinosaur Jr fan back in the day and I know Nirvana was infamous for going to pawn shops or any other kind of second-hand shop. And inflation wasn't that bad back in the day, minus 100-200$ would get you closer. J Mascis explained why he plays mostly a Jazzmaster, because he drove a long way from home to a particular shop that said it had a strat for sale for 300$. Gets there finds out strat is 400$, sees a Jazzmaster for 300$ only has enough for the Jazz, buys it. And the rest is history for his case.
I play grunge too. Any guitar can sound good as long as you put a Seymour Duncan JB at the bridge!
Thanks, Phill! That was a great video. ...If you have the time it would be great if you could do the same with a mid range and and American. For example I can't feel the difference between a Tribute G&L and an American. My shop has both and I try to feel the difference. Maybe I can a little bit not twice the worth. Then you have a guitar like my Legator that's costs about as much as an American Fender but is made in Korea. What's the difference there?....I know that's multiple questions but I would love the clarity. ....I love your videos and this was one of the best!!. I have to second some other comments that I prefer the longer more detailed videos from you. Keep it up!
Really excellent, honest video about why American and Chinese Fender/Squier strats are the price they are. Very concise explanations.
That was probably the most honest, straight forward, non-judgmental (excepting the reveal on the expensive manufacturers dropping crap components into their high end pieces because we are uneducated consumers LOL) explanation I've heard in a LOOOOOONG time. Thank you! :-)
Phillip I usually don't comment but I've been playing for close to 40 years and I don't know this stuff, so what you're doing here is much appreciated. I also find it disturbing that manufacturers of top of the line guitars are starting to use some of these sub-standard materials. I would like to think that Paul Reed Smith has more pride and integrity than that. If I spend $3000 on a guitar I want it to be the best it can be. Thanks for a very enlightening video. Mike
Years playing isn't the same as quality of music produced. An instrument makes noise. A musician makes music.
The best musicians are not always the ones who make the most money, and the most expensive instruments are not always the best noise makers.
An engineer defines"substandard" as unable to perform the intended function to specifications. A mahogany, maple, poplar or birch body makes little if any measurable difference in the performance of an electric guitar - not nearly as much as selection of woods has on the performance of an acoustic guitar body (which is much more difficult to craft).
A luthier is qualified to determine what are suitable materials for making guitars to meet his standard. If a customer wants to use a non-sustainably grown exotic species of wood, is able to pay for it, and its a suitable material, and the luthier does not have an ethical objection to using that material, then great. That does not make a sustainably-grown less-expensive wood substandard.
P, you should have stopped at the first paragraph. The more pre-amp gain that is added, material has a less an effect. To say globally, that a pine wood, pot metal, turd PUPS and hardware guitar made in a Chinese sweat shop sounds as good as a PRS is just foolish. Ethical objection to using quality non-sustainable wood? Much of the (exotic) wood is being destroyed by natural events, might as well be preserve in a beautiful sounding/looking instrument.
Your points are tired and unresearched, I'd bet a self educated myopic liberal
This response is oddly bloated and needlessly partisan.
Let's be real here. The type of wood in a solid body electric means literally fuck all outside of how it looks, how heavy it is, and how much it costs. I took the pickups out of my friends 30 year old SG standard and put them in a god damned hondo, a guitar literally made of plywood, and that shit sounded the fucking same. I understand wanting to have a guitar made of koa wood or something else exotic and beautiful, but what the actual fuck is the point of putting it in something where you might as well be using fucking balsa wood for all the difference it makes?
If you're going to have a guitar made of an expensive, interesting wood, make it at the very least semi hollow, otherwise, you're just wasting time, money, and a very beautiful piece of wood just so you can effectively brag about how big your dick is
@@AnArmoredMarch Why semi hollow with exotics?
Insanely informative as always. is this also the same for the Made in Mexico guitars/basses?
Not really, you should look up more information about MIM models. I don't know too much of the details, but the main thing is that like he pointed out at the beginning of this video American workers get about $16/hr when Mexican workers get about $4/hr, but the quality standards are still Fender, not Squier.
And the main difference in the final product is that people see American made instruments as top-of-the line and tend to take any other instruments as 'crap' just because they didn't pay $1500 for them.
Wow, this video gave me a whole new perspective on what to think about. You’re a great teacher!
I'm still playing my 25-year-old MIM Squier. Very informative video. No BS. Much appreciated.
Again thanks for the info. I enjoy my Squier knowing full well thst its not the highest quality. Ive recently started playing again until i become better i cant justify spending alot on a guitar. So my squier will do for now.
William Darnstaedt same here, i just restarted playing and if I do get into it and actually get good, I’ll go for a fender. Hopefully with 1000 worth of ingredients.
Let me tell ya people (from somebody whose played the Reading Festival ((August 11, 1972))) I would totally gig a $99 "Fender" Squier. Things have changed... - big time.
Thank you. I have 2 Fender Custom Shop basses and one Squire Jazz Active V......I REALLY like the Squire. Its a much better buy for the price. 400 dollars as compared to 2000 and almost 4000 American dollars.
BTW, Who did you play Reading with? I apologize, I dont know every musician's pedigree. But I am very interested.
I did Glastonbury a few years ago with a line 6 a squire bullet telecaster and a Yamaha Pacifica. Never had any problem with any of the gear.
@@ChrisHayworth100 the yamaha pacificas have to be by far the very best value guitars in existance.
they are superbly made for the price you can acquire one used.
@@deadprivacy I know, I use mine all the time. If I need a Gibson sound? Bridge pick, too much treble? A quick flick of the tone pot. You know what I mean.
Really a nice job on this video. I've been playing a long time and have several US, Mexico, Korean, Indonesian, and Chinese guitars and parts...and I learned a lot from this video. Well done, and thanks for putting stuff like this on UA-cam.
Thank you so much for building a library of instructive videos!! I just added a Squire affinity tele to my quiver. I used 1500-2000 grit to smooth the neck, frets, and fretboard, a 350 sanding block to roll the edges and a few other tricks like rounding the saddles to prevent breakages! After 2-3 hours of easy work it feels fantastic, even a bit better than the MIM I played side by side with it in the store. I also picked up an LTD ec-1000 after your review. I'm happy to say you were...instrumental, in multiplying my guitar game. Thanks Phil you're awesome! I know it could still use more upgrades but the few I've done got it into the fun to play zone.
Ahhh the wonders of the global economy..
Rob Hernandez is that such a bad thing though
Jorge Chávez Yes and no. But it is the reality now.
Cheers
True that
I have a squier strat given to me by my mom who got it for 250 bucks back in the day with an amp and a case.
Weyoun VI Well keep it. 80's Squire Strats are in a whole different ballpark than those made today, especially if it's say made in Japan - keep it for pity's sake then
Epi Phone I made the mistake of selling a Japanese ‘’91 Jackson Kelly Ke3 Professional. I have a 2017 Jackson JS32-7. For the price it’s a good guitar, but it’s nowhere near the level of craftsmanship the Kelly had. I still miss that axe...
Dude, you have great content. Just Subscribed. Thanks for everything you bring to the table.
One of the most enlightening videos on guitar production I've watched.
Fret quality might be another one. Don't know if there are any alloy differences but certainly the level of finishing is not the same on cheaper guitars.
Thank you.Didn't know that about Guitars.
Greetings from China! I have been watching your videos all day. I am marvelling at your breadth of knowledge. Thanks for these massive and brilliant insights. Keep up the great work!
I found this video to be extremely informative and I think it's important to know these things. Thanks so much for making this!
Good video. I know you picked bottom of the barrel to emphasize your point. There's a sweet spot with these trade offs where you get quality hardware, quality pickups and save on the cheaper finish, body wood, etc... Many companies besides Fender offer great product in this space ($200-$500)
You can take a less expensive guitar like the Squire Infinity, get rid of those "pot metal" tuners if you really hate them (new Grovers tuners $50) and bridge (new Gotoh with metal Strat style trem bar $70), change out the pickups, pots and wiring (Stew Mac Hot wired strat style pickguard, loaded and pre-wired $200) change out the nut for bone or TUSQ ($14) and you have a customized instrument that didn't cost you $1000.
Truthfully the "pot metal" tuners and bridge aren't that bad. They will just wear out a lot quicker. Unless you find during setup that there's a problem with intonation because of the cheap bridge, you can change them down the road. 14:1 tuners were the standard for decades, a lot of great music by great artist were recorded on guitars that had 14:1 ratio tuners, I would replace the bridge and tuners down the road and focus on the tone related components (pots, wiring, pickups, nut material) upgrade those and you'll have a great sounding guitar.
Parts run down (Stew Mac.com or AllParts.com are your friend):
Squire Infinity $200
Tuners $50
Bridge and trem kit ($70)
Replacement nut ($14)
Drop-in replacement high quality electronics and pickups $200
Total with upgrades: $535
Total with upgrades leaving the stock "pot metal" bridge and tuners: $415
Spend 2-hours doing these upgrades and another hour giving your new hot-rodded Squire a proper setup and then go play it against a Fender Mexican strat, American Standard or even (gasp) your high-end Tom Andersen Guitar works. You may be surprised how well your creation sounds.
It's a Strat, it's perhaps the most redundant guitar on the planet and a trivial design. I get that custom finishes cost a bit and the thick poly finish on the cheap models can impact tone, I get that expensive inlay work is labor intensive and will drive cost up. But for those looking for a great solid color, no eye candy, pro-grade functioning instrument to gig with, it's asinine to pay more than $500 for a bolt-on Strat style solid-body. It's disgusting.
I've owned an American Standard Strat (92) and very high quality Japanese built Strat copies (mid 70s lawsuit Tokai). Sold all my electrics years ago and transitioned to acoustics but missed my Tokai, the Fender Classic Vibe hit the sweet spot for. $360 out the door and I haven't even had to upgraded it. Cheers.
@ozlo houser brickballs an MIJ ibanez rg 550/570 costs 999$.
Perfect intonation all around the neck, and 1.5 mm action at the 24th fret low E string. No fret buzz.
Built in Japan. It is every bit as high quality as a G&L
they arent "pot metal" per se i wouldnt think, just cheaper low carbon steel,
@Ozlo Houser used g and l if you can find em? are some of the best value guitars around, theres one on ebay in the uk for about 200 quid at the moment.
american guitars are just getting crazy expensive martin, gibson ,and taylor omg taylor is taking it to a whole new level.
And you can can add 50% or more to that price in the UK for Gibsons especially. That pricing sneaks into their Epiphone range which I would buy over a new Gibson anyday, but at least Epiphones are affordable to the young new guitarists.
Very informative and entertaining, especially for first-time strat buyers. Good job, Phil.
Stumbled across this by chance and this is some fantastic information. Great video man.
Squier is fine. You won't become a better guitarist with a more expensive guitar. It makes sense though to buy a 1000 dollar guitar if really use it a lot. One thing though i hate about squiers: the tremmy bar. They easily brake because of the cheap metal.
Don't care had have both...
A straight neck..
Corect set up.
Quality pickups..
And it helps if yer a good player too..
A good tool is useless in the hands of a bad master...
I just subscribed. This is the 2nd video I have watched from you. Very good. You have a good personality for this type of stuff. Not the over-the-top, cool guy I have so often endured or walked away from for the last several decades.
Go to a NAMM show and you'll soon see why American guitars cost so much.
Advertising and Promotion are a bigger chunk than anyone realizes. Those slick 30 page Taylor catalogs, aren't really FREE! You paid for my catalog and a hundred more when you shelled out your cash for that Taylor. OUCH! Those full page adds and the HUNDREDS of guitars those manufacturers GIVE to stars let alone the " tour support" etc and all the guitars they sell for half price to semi-stars (representative endorsements where artist get stuff at cost) That is the BIG cost. And it gets paid for by the average guy.
How 'bout that Gibson semi-trailer portable show room and the Gibby bus. That is why yer Les Paul cost 2 or 3 grand. Advertising/promotion cost. Those "Dean Girls" back in the day were expensive!!! lol Mr. Zelinsky had to re-comp his investment somehow, oh just tag another 100 bucks on each guitar.
What is Jay Turser's or Agile's advertising/promotion budget compared to Fender's per unit? It would shock you. That is why the same guitar built in the same Chinese factory with identical parts may cost several hundred more than another.
These companies PREY on amateur player's insecurity, don't let them.
The bourbon industry does the same, same bourbon, same mashbill, same barrel, racked in the same warehouse, same level. they will bottle it under multiple labels. They aren't ripping folks off. they just spend twice as much promoting one "brand" over another. and folks are suckers for "Brands" Educate yourself about what is is and who made it.
Thank you for pointing out it's not all that black and white, sir. Cheers :)
@@junglewizz Sure thang, wishing you Holiday Cheer.
@@standswithfist806 , ,so, I play strictly for myself,,,occasionally playing on Facebook live for my friends, who THINK I play good,,,I think I suck,,question is,,I have epic les Paul II, and a spider 6 amp,,as I will never be much better lol, is a ibanez my best bet,,or a better epi and amp,,,something under $500 please,,,my brain on fire from all the UA-cam "what's better, strat vs fender vs squier vs blablabla,,I'm just a noob, I'd take your opinion really seriously,,,ughh,,thx in advance
@@illin1929 Hi Allen, I will take your question seriously. So I need to ask you a few questions: who do you listen to? what is your guitar background?(study?,lessons?do you play other instruments? etc)
Now with regards to Epi, Ibz, Squier, Fender etc, here is my suggestion; Two things REALLY alter the electric guitar:(and it ain't brand name) Neck scale and pickup type. Everybody knows a Humbucker is gonna be fatter than a single coil but the neck scale also affects the tone and the way the guitar feels.
Gibsons mostly have 24.75 scale necks, While Fender(y) stuff is 25.5. If you put an identical set of 10-46 strings on a LP and a Strat, the LP strings will be slinkier. and no matter the pickup type, the LP will sound darker.
BTW PRS guitars are right in between at 25.1 and they s o u n d right in between a Gibby and a Fender don't they. Yes!
That is the real question NOT what brand it is. Every Korean guitar you see with a serial number starting with an "S" was made by Samick and most of the rest were made by Cort. China has a lot of manufactureres but 3 or 4 do most of ALL the Chinese built guitars. Brands can matter but you don't wanna pay too much for a recognizeable logo.
Tell me what you listen to. That is important. If you play country stuff and do double stop bends all the time, you sure don't want a Floyd Rose bridge..etc.
I've done fretted instrument repair for years and worked in GTR shops, , (a long time ago) I'm retired, snarky, opinionated but I love playin' and I can honestly say that I have a good knack for hooking folks up with guitars and a terrible knack for finding drummers a girlfriend/wife..lol.. .Do not let me introduce you to ANY pretty girl...I repeat do not!! lol
I'll talk amps later.....best wishes.....
Sadly Allen was electrocuted at a local guitar shop while trying out an old vintage Supro amp that still had its original 2 prong AC cord. We will never be able to find Allen that just right guitar. We all miss you Allen
i have a squier 60's classic vibe and its an alder body, my dridge is steel, my keys are steel and hold a tuning amazingly and arguably plays better than an american standard, it is the higher end of the squiers but what you're saying isnt true to all squiers, they are great instruments (if you get the right one)
Holy crap! Here I was, thinking this video was going to be a sound vs sound comparison, when it ended up being one of the best "tale of the tape" comparison videos I've ever seen. Good, honest and clear! Man, if there was something I didn't know before, I sure as shit know it now! Excellent video! This video was so informative that it should have ended with the "The More You Know...." PSA jingle at the end!
Nice Job Phil! I've always heard the differences in "quality" but that's the first time I've seen it laid out. Thank you!
Hardly a fair comparison, using the entry level Squier. Squier was an AMERICAN string company bought over by FENDER and set up in Japan to compete with Japanese Fender copies. I would put my Japanese built JV series export Squier with its USA made pickups etc. against anything that came out of the American factory in the eighties. It would be at least as good and for a fraction of the money.
Man, my guitar could beat up your guitar.
@@swagnuscarlson I'm glad you are pleased with your guitar, I prefer to play mine :)
@@paulerwin9512 Oh yeah well my guitar will beat up both your guitars and steal its lunch money, and screw their sisters.
@@andrewloera5641 My guitar has a black belt
@@marijanl3373 My guitar wants you guys to all stop fighting, it's sensitive and I'm worried about how you'll affect its development :(
can you do epiphone les Pauls vs Gibson les pauls? I really wanna know if theres a significant difference for the price
I second this. Even though most likely it's pretty much the same process, I'm not as familiar with the Epiphone manufacturing, factories and component origins. He should do a video talking about a few Epi and Gibson models since they have more variety (I would like to hear this guy go into detail about the most noticeable differences between a $400 Epi ES 335 and a $3,200 Gibson ES 335, for example).
rod rosenkratz yeah same I own an epiphone and it's amazing and it was only 500 and I don't understand the huge price difference cuz it outplays many of the 3000 $ Gibson's I've played
I know, I know for a fact that the pickups and electronics on the Epis could be better and can be upgraded to make them so much better, as well as the tuners and other little details, but to me, a good/slightly upgraded (and well set-up!) Epiphone is rival to a Gibson. I get it, some Gibsons are supposedly overexpensive because of the 'ultra-rare' wood they use but I can only define a guitar above $3000 as a trophy instrument; I personally would not be okay having one; I would rarely even want to touch it or play it at home and I would not dare to gig with it. I don't know, haha, it's different than with other gear, like amps which can be expensive at times too... I find my ideal quality range to be somewhat around $800-$1200 per guitar.
I think the reason some Gibsons (the jazz boxes especially) are so expensive is that there are, quite simply put, fewer around. Same with wine, really. You can have a good Burgundy for less than $10 (really!), but some bottles cost in the hundreds while the wine inside is not going to be 40 or fifty times as good. How could it?
Hubert Van Calenbergh that's a great reference actually
Thank you for the education and for being honest Phillip.
Thank you Phil, I watch many of you videos, but this one explained some things I was not aware of.
Put it to you this way: I waited years to be able to afford an American Strat. Don't get me wrong it is a good guitar, but I will not do it again.
What you said about the copper wire is wrong. Magnet wire has a poly insulating coating which can vary in colour from red, blue, green, orange, yellow. There is no standard colour coating. You cant just look at the colour and say its not pure copper. A coil won't work if you just wrap bare copper. They do not add impurities to any copper wire, anywhere. Because it would be a fire hazard when used at the limits of it's specifications.
Exactly, The parts cost difference in ALL these Strats is negligible. Folks are paying for a Fender decal. Here ya go, Take a 1400 dollar Fender U.S. and remove that Fender logo. Now hang it back on the rack. It is the EXACT same guitar. It will bring 400 bucks because SOLELY as a musical instrument, that is what it is worth.
The MAIN cost of a U'S. Fender strat is the MILLIONS of dollars Fender has to spend on promotion to make folks think there is added value to a U.S. strat.
Those magazine adds, free Fender workshops, Fender concert with the stars" and trade show expenses plus a lot of "Free promo strats given to highly influential people REALLY bump up the cost of a strat.
Just doing quick search for copper wire colour finds all the reds and blues and greens and as you stated, these are just coatings. But apparently there are fake copper wires on some products and most of these are just a copper coating on a cheaper metal, but you'd never know just by looking.
@@alexjenner1108 but that is only for large guage copper, like that used in wiring a home for 120 V. The copper used for winding pickups is about .005". It is NEVER a copper coated product. EVER. It is armature wire and basically has to be copper or the resistance would be so high it would be a fire hazzard in most applications.
Face it. I love Phillips vids but he most likely has a guitar store and a very biased point of view. those 2000 dollar Strats just hang on the wall f o r e v e r before you can sell em. Promotion costs(advertising) is higher on a strat that the materials. Why didn't Phillip EVEN mention promotion costs. (no mention AT ALL!!!)They are literally more than the cost of the parts.
Takes a lot of lawyer money to protect that valuable "Fender" trademark. Lots of glossy adds to make us think a bolt on neck axe could be worth 2 grand!!! That is the BIG cost!!
Thanks for making these videos they help a lot. You answered a lot of my questions.
Great comparison. Just gave it to us straight. No playing ur fancy riffs and licks with different effects on for 10 mins. U literally told us about the guitars. Great work.
Solid info.
squire or Fender? they are only as good as the person playing them, a good guitarist could make any guitar sound good.
You are right on the money. Exactly correct.
True but it doesn't hurt to have quality.
@@cyanscyanide3951 I have a friend who has a Beautiful Taylor, a U.S. Fender and many quality guitars but he has failed to really learn to play. He couldn't strum through even a simple blues progression. Honestly if I said lets play Happy Birthday" and even told him it was a I; V; I; IV progression , he'd be unable to play it. I've worked in music stores and around guitars my whole life. Sometimes "quality" is a security blanket to cover utter inability. It is like folks buying unicycles and talking about the high quality tires but unable to ride the thing.
I like to have quality. I’m far from the best guitarist but at least I can’t blame my equipment. It makes me work harder at it.
@@s_p_onarge8720 Amen, I was kinda kiddin' to Cyan & C because even though I keep a Squier or somethin' cheap on the couch, I do have some pet gear that sure does make things a bit extra special. agreed.
Thank you. This has been the most informative video on this subject I have watched. 😁
A brilliant video and you covered all of the bases perfectly
You are just freaking great man!!!! :D You have the best explenation when it comes to guitars! Thank you :)
+MaT CZ i notice that too that guy rocks