Phil they are made in different factories by different companies the Strats are made by Cort and the Tele’s by Samick. Look at the serial numbers IC on the Strat and IS on the Tele.
I just bought a 2017 Squier Standard Series tele used, like-new last weekend for $110. Full thickness body, rosewood fret board, Steel block saddles...made in Indonesia (It was $379 when new). I think Fender underestimated the intelligence of the larger audience. Sure, they will catch some buyers that are too lazy or inexperienced to look deeper - but they are definitely not making friends with the players and they are trashing the used market.
@@joecoach7268Yep, my Indo Strat from '03 cost me $125. Near excellent condition. Best playing Strat I've owned. Indo's are hit or miss, but I've had no issues with these guitars (4) at all and for Way less expensive. Even my Jem is from there, just had the cheaper bridge issue but it's worth modding it because of the cost. 👍🏻
You could buy two of the new Fesley fst1000 strats for the price and they have roasted maple quarter sawn necks, wilkinson bridge and pickups, grover machines, stainless steel ball end frets etc. totally destroy this junk for half the money.
I mean... Over the holidays Costco had a cort acoustic guitar with a spruce top for like a couple of hundred bucks.... This might be lesser than a Costco guitar. 😂
I love the way Phil treats every instrument with both honesty and seriousness. This is a product that would push my buttons big time, but Phil keeps it objective and professional.
Yeah, if they took a Classic Vibe, put the gold decal (black decal looks Bullet Strat cheap) on it, I might give them a $100 bump. But at THIS price, for THIS guitar? That’s a hard pass for me.
Phillip your videos have been crucial in my guitar playing. I started at 8 years old and am now 26, and until I came across your channel I was NEVER taught how to properly set up a guitar. Thanks so much, you’ve made my collection play its best.
Man - I love the demo room. I pointed it out in your Fender tele video you just did - but there was something about the new room that I couldnt put my finger on and I just figured it out - the difference is the focus you have brought forward. In this new room, I am completely dialed in to the playing demo. In the previous videos when you had the demo in your studio, I was distracted by all the guitars in the background and trying to check them out while you were playing. I feel like I am taking in and remembering the sound demo much more clearly in your new room. WINNING!
Buy your Fender Player II this weekend before the new 25% tariff on Mexican goods is expected to go into effect on Monday (2/3) in the U.S. If they go into effect, I expect Player IIs to jump up to roughly $1k MSRP. Hope I’m wrong, but it doesn’t look that way at the moment.
Great break down as usual. Haven't watched many of your videos over the last couple years because I've been travelling Asia. The biggest change in your videos is your playing. Much better! You have improved in a big way! Great video AND great playing!
Philip, you are the most knowledgable and reliable evaluator of guitars out there. Thanks as always for your honesty, and expertise. This guitar leaves so much to be desired.
Unfortunately.....Philip's guitar reviews have now become the worst in youtube. Too much bias enters into his reviews. Too much personal likes and dislikes. And has started to sound like the "typical" guitar collector snob.
@@Mexxx65 Download the data sheet. Who else is giving you that kind of detail? I taught luthiery and I've yet to see any bias that he doesn't talk about.
Thanks for another fine video! A couple of years ago I picked up a new Affinity strat at a garage sale. I stripped off everything down to just the body, neck. and bridge. Replaced everything else with great parts. Fit a hardwood block in the trem cavity and put about an hour on the fretts, etc. Now it looks and plays great and I am still way under the price of the guitar you are reviewing. Plus, doing all the work myself was easy and I learned a lot.
@@WizDawg yeah I wonder if this is their way of stemming losses from the old MIM Standards competing with the current Players. Which…is just another marketing exercise.
If someone wants a good value import the $430 Squier Classic Vibe has better specs, if someone wants the Fender branding the Fender Player Series 1 can still be had for $700 and also has better specs while being made in Mexico too. This is an import like the Squier classic vibe, is priced almost the same as a Fender Mexican Player series and has worse specs than both. It’s a total flop in my mind. Too bad a lot of less informed buyers will see the logo & prob fall for this.
I'm sorry to tell you that those same satin finished block saddles were standard on alot of old American standard strats also. Some came with traditional bent saddles but the ones that had block saddles looked exactly like that. Chrome Bridge with satin finished block saddles.
I miss the days of $350 MIMs and $700 MIAs, but that’s the world we live in today. I have a poplar partscaster Strat that sounds amazing. Mine is surf green. Poplar is “paint grade” wood for sure.
What's the bridge post spacing. I've learned the hard way that the squiers have a smaller spacing on the 2 point trems from being built under metric measurements overseas which makes upgrading the bridge very difficult.
Phil just taught me that I already have a better playing Fender Strat than the one reviewed here. I got used for around $250, mine just happens to say Squire on the headstock 😂 (2010 CV w quarter sawn maple neck).
Considering what The Harley Benton's & Firefly's of the world are giving you at a much lower price point I believe you are spot on with your analysis of this Fender series. Thanks Phil
I have an American Standard Strat that I bought 1987 with the silly "little spring "that everyone promptly lost. Eventually I put in a Callaham tremolo block, tremolo arm and GraphTech saddles and nut. Overtime I put in some truly excellent Pickup Wizard pickups from Canada (where I'm from). I play it often and enjoy it. Is it an exceptional guitar? I can"t say but it sounds terrific and all my friends (including my guitar )teacher love it. In the end, a Stratocaster is a Stratocaster. Some personalization may be in order, but I love this version of the American Standard Stratocaster.
It looks really cheap even in this video on my phone. The pickups also sound similar to a Squier since the Affinity’s uses ceramic pickups too and that doesn’t 100% mean they are always worse but I don’t like them compared to Fender MIM ones Like I said in the Tele video, go for a used Fender MIM or a Squier CV and mod it with a much better guitar body
@@jefb3705Yes, and like I said Ceramic doesn’t mean it’s worse. It’s ultimately a preference and there are some really great sounding ceramic pickups just like there are really great Squiers in a sea of many dud Squiers. However, the ones in the sound samples of this guitar outside of this video sound like leftover Squier single coils pickups that weren’t used on their affinity line
I think the differences you’re noticing in the neck carve is due to the factory. Not sure if you noticed but the Strats are coming from Indonesia Cor-Tek (ICF prefix) & the Teles are coming from Indonesia Samick (ISF prefix). That seems to be a consistent difference even on the CV Squiers from Cor-Tek & Samick.
Great first review of the new Standard. It sounds good but it looks like they've made some savings in manufacture. One of the best sounding and playing Strats I've owned was a MIJ Squier from 1984. I prefer it to a MIM Standard with a Fender logo.
Yeah, a Squier, with a bigger trem block, and a big price. I'd take a Classic Vibe 1st, or something used. For this price it's quality should match a PRS SE or a Sire, and you can get off-brand decent Strats with roasted necks and Stainless steel frets for under $300. Add $300 to buy a Fender decal apparently...
The Squier CVs also come with Alnico pickups and a bone but for an actually somewhat authentic Fender sound. Fender should’ve let this idea die in the conference room, what an embarrassment to call this the “standard” for an otherwise great brand.
Love your vids Phil. A couple questions & comments, as an owner of one myself and a fellow reviewer. How are satin chrome steel block saddles & a full size block not better than a Squier? Aren't they a thin pot metal. I know this isn't stainless steel, but isn't is still a notch up? This nut width is matched with the Fender AUII, the Player II & Squiers are narrower, so this is Fender width. My neck edges, relief and action are fabulous, but I know qc varies, but it was as good or better than all my 4 Squiers, all 4 Players (1,II,70th & Plus) & my Vintera II. This neck profile feels closer to a Player series than an Affinity to me, well really a cross of the two, and definitely better fit and finish than the Affinities. The electronics are pretty standard for Fender MIM's and the pups are like the older MIM ones. Even the tuners are like the old MIM. Hard not to call this a Fender. I know it's poplar and laurel. Though I believe they have done poplar before, in some MIJ models, right? I agree about a used MIM over this for the money & can see why one might still buy an Affinity just for the $$ savings. However, neither of my Affinities nor my CV feel better than this. But like you said, we're all different. Thank you for all you helpful info over the years.
Poplar is not an issue for me. Squiers have had them for years & we like them. Also PRS SE Silver Sky has poplar & no one is complaining. My daughter got a 90s Mexican Tele that’s poplar. They used it before moving to Alder.
Yes, that look on inexpensive poplar sunburst finishes is distinctive, Phil. It's an oversaturated burst with dark grain filler highlighting the tight straight grain. Not bad in itself, perhaps, but it's unlike alder bodies, and is a reason I would opt for solid colours. Thanks for the review, and I would ask if you could also look at the new Standard Acoustasonics. Perhaps as those aren't trying to copy anything traditional they are less controversial (?) in an Indonesian build.
Hi Phillip, Curious, what's the body thickness ? Is it the same as MIM or the same as a Squire ? Thanks for covering the neck profiles it's nice to know someone is.👍
These remind me of my 90's "Squier Series" Strats I have or have had (owned multiples MIM,MIK). Sometimes the necks were good, sometimes they were odd but the one thing they all shared was the bad electronic components and the lack of that "stratocaster" sound. They make good mod platforms, though.
The good thing is it has a big tremolo block. But still, I don't like the satin maple fretboard or even laurel fb. I am waiting for the acoustasonic standard series review, Man. Thanks for sharing
This Fender series should not be called Standard. They made a big mistake. This is an insult to my Made in Mexico Fender Standard Stratocaster. I hope that the similar names will not affect the prices of used Mexican-made Standard guitars.
I think the bad quality nut slots is a common thing. My Indonesian Squier contemporary jag has barely deep enough nut slots; I had to send a previous one back because it was so shallow the strings would just pop off, and you can't just put material back. Lots of little things are fixable post-factory, but incorrect nut slots are a pain.
I bought a Squier Strat Deluxe in 2017 and it has incredibly similar specs. It's not only my favorite guitar, it's the one that my kids all want to have when I'm out of this trip on Earth. They all own Fenders and Gibsons. It's SO easy and comfortable to play.
Those Deluxes were like Squier's version of the American Standard: 9.5" neck radius, 2-point Synchronous vibrato, and a 22-fret neck w/skunk stripe. I also liked the Contemporary Strat that came out prior to the current version..
A friend got the telecaster, he came to play on my 20 years old squire with japanese slightly flamed maple neck, and he almost cried from deception he went from excited to feeling ashamed he bought on internet without trying before, that guitar is going back to where it came from 🤔
For the future sound demos, would you please consider doing a short snip of playing through a Spark mini miked up or some cheap amp that most people would have? Because, if someone is considering this price point of guitar, they don't have Synergy money.
Then you can't hear any difference between guitars because the amp is always the limiting factor. Do a spark as well, sure. But doing only spark is a bad move. Consistently using a high end amp for all guitar demos give a repeatable and comparable vid, and one where the amp isn't limiting the performance.
@@bobdobslobyes I absolutely disagree. It can't make the guitar sound better. All it can do is reveal it's potential. In a guitar comparison vid (because let's face it we're all making mental comparisons between this and it's alternatives) there's no point masking the ability of the guitar.
I think Fender's problem is they're trying to shoehorn this line in between the Squiers and the MIMs, but realistically, there are many good strat and tele offerings in the low range from the likes of Harley Benton, Donner, Eart and others. Really, with that competition and with the possible exception of a few models like their CV series and guitars like the J Mascis Jazzmaster, the Squiers need to go DOWN in price. Significantly. What they should have done is promote the CVs to a full Fender nameplate, call it the Standard series, up the price by maybe $50-$75 more just for doing that and slightly reduce the price of the remaining Squiers to compete with the other Asian made stuff.
Hoping that this is not an excuse to downgrade the build quality and specs of the Classic Vibes, Affinity’s, and Paranormals, while keeping the prices the same and then pushing people towards these to continue getting what they got with the Squiers. This seems like a backdoor guitar version of shrinkflation. They could have followed PRS’s or G&L’s lead but instead Fender chose to emulate Gibson and Epiphone. Right move for short term profitability but long term bad move for player loyalty, and therefore, long term profitability. Not sure why PRS is able to do things right coming out of the same factory but Fender can’t. Maybe it is by design. But I’ll try to give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the fact that these are early runs and they are still in the steep part of the learning curve. Hopefully the feedback will be loud and clear that rebadging something for a 40% premium with little to no differentiation is not fooling anyone. I can understand that yes there should be some premium attached to using the Fender logo, but there also should be a premium that is earned by upping the content a little bit. Slightly better cuts of wood and fewer pieces, even if it’s still Poplar, and better hardware is not too much to ask. The pickups are less of an issue because they are the easiest thing to change, is subjective, and there isn’t anything inherently wrong with ceramic. But there is no excuse for a four piece body of a cheaper wood on a $600 guitar. Again, if PRS can do better in spite of less volume and economies of scale, then so should Fender. 🤷♂️
Fender made the choice to risk putting their name on what could have been a really nice Squier at $429 because they saw a chance to bring their margins up or maybe just not drop off either way it's a NO for me at this price point
This is BY FAR the greatest guitar channel on youtube! Love the no BS approach, knowledgeable reviews, honest opinions and tasteful playing. I love Fenders but this strat might be a dud. IMO they are cheapening the brand name. Guitar sounds fine, sounds like a strat. But like you said there are better options in that price range. There's no shame playing a Squier strat but playing a Squier strat with a Fender logo slapped on the headstock on the other hand... I'll just stick with my modded Affinity strat for now.
I recently broke my trem arm doing basically what you described, except the guitar was a newish 2024 custom shop strat lol. To be fair, I was using 2 steel bearings along with a small spring to raise the arm height.
I've already gotten offers for these brand new on Reverb for $533. The early reviews haven’t been too kind, but I can already see the future titles on here when prices drop "Unbelievable Fender for $450!" "Overlooked Fender for $500!" "Great Inexpensive Fender for Under $500??" "$400 FENDER??" Etc, etc...
Phil, that strat body has coarse grained wood and north American poplar lumber doesn't look like that. Our commercially sold poplar is fine grained and resembles something in between cherry and soft maple as far as the grain patterns go. I suspect the Indonesian factories are playing games with the wood species that they're actually using in this new line of guitars. In other words if they run out of actual poplar, they're still going to continue building with whatever wood they have on site or can get quick. If it happens to be agathis or okoume, I'd bet they use it until more poplar gets delivered.
Having watched this and the Standard Tele video, I’m glad I got my Squier CV Tele a few years ago. Same or better and components and Qc for less money from what I can tell.
(1) Micarta theoretically is one of the hardest composite materials. I wonder how it'll behave under my StewMac nut slotting files in comparison to e.g. "bone". Can you test it under the low E string and pass the knowledge? (since you have a couple of them Standards now and we don't). (2) Do you think the pickups are closer to the old Squier Standards or the ones on the MIM Standards? PS. (1) This was yet another very informative, great video. Thank you. (2) Imo a 3-piece body could actually be better than a 2-piece depending on where the seam is. But a 4-piece is certainly very disappointing. As for the wood species used I've heard that even some of the early 90s American Standards shared the same body material with their Mexican cousins (ie. poplar). Also I think that laurel might actually exhibit better mechanical behavior than indian rosewood (which is called rosewood, has been traditionally used in luthiery but is NOT brazilian rosewood, a far better material).
There is more than enough good second-hand stuff out there that no-one needs to waste their money on this. Particularly in the current market. I got a 2002 special order thinline ASAT recently for £900.
Because of the multi piece bodies, the original American Standard used a veneer on sunburst finishes. Also the saddles are very similar to the old American Standards.
How does the satin neck finish feel? The carve is closer to a Squier per your comment in the video, but I don’t think I heard a mention of the satin finish feel. Closer to a Squier also or more like the MIM necks in that regard?
Sounds alright to me. It seemed to hold tune when tremolo was used. I would consider one when they go on sale. And I'm sure they will eventually. Or perhaps the used market down the road.
Five or six years ago, I bought an Olympic White, Squire Vintage Mod 70's Strat that was made in Indonesia (ICS) It came with bent steel saddles that were stamped "fender" on them. I think that i would prefer it, over the new fender Standard. Partially, because it had Alnico pick up magnets.
With my ‘03 MIM Strat I very slowly replaced the pickups as I shaped the guitar for what I needed it to do. The stock pickups held up for a long time tone wise even though they don’t have a bottom plate or anything like that.
Bro, by now you really deserve your own signature line of pantyhose :)
😂🤣
😂😂
lol
@@gregdude92 haha classic but tree … eggs back in the day mum would buy those …
Should really call the segment pantyhose and g strings
Phil they are made in different factories by different companies the Strats are made by Cort and the Tele’s by Samick. Look at the serial numbers IC on the Strat and IS on the Tele.
Very interesting!
oooh that's a very good catch.
I just bought a 2017 Squier Standard Series tele used, like-new last weekend for $110. Full thickness body, rosewood fret board, Steel block saddles...made in Indonesia (It was $379 when new). I think Fender underestimated the intelligence of the larger audience. Sure, they will catch some buyers that are too lazy or inexperienced to look deeper - but they are definitely not making friends with the players and they are trashing the used market.
@@joecoach7268Yep, my Indo Strat from '03 cost me $125. Near excellent condition. Best playing Strat I've owned. Indo's are hit or miss, but I've had no issues with these guitars (4) at all and for Way less expensive. Even my Jem is from there, just had the cheaper bridge issue but it's worth modding it because of the cost. 👍🏻
..and yet my 2024 Squier Affinity Tele is an ICS🤷♂
Phil said it looked like a Costco guitar
🤣
He's right. It just gives off that utterly cheap child's guitar vibe.
You could buy two of the new Fesley fst1000 strats for the price and they have roasted maple quarter sawn necks, wilkinson bridge and pickups, grover machines, stainless steel ball end frets etc. totally destroy this junk for half the money.
@@zaphodrahja Harley Benton too.
Not having a Fender logo saves a LOT of money, as well as top notch build quality and playability on the HBs.
Costco is a SCAM!
I mean... Over the holidays Costco had a cort acoustic guitar with a spruce top for like a couple of hundred bucks.... This might be lesser than a Costco guitar. 😂
This line makes me more thankful than ever that I got my MIM Standard Strat back when you could still find them for $350.
Back when they were made better.
What year did you buy it
For fucking real...
I got the same in 2005 for $450. Those days are gone, I guess.
@@profile2047 2021
I appreciate Phil’s honesty and Fender is why I build my own guitars now.
I like the screen name!
@ Thanks dude!
I love the way Phil treats every instrument with both honesty and seriousness. This is a product that would push my buttons big time, but Phil keeps it objective and professional.
Crazy that they didnt even make them as nice as a classic vibe.
Classic Vibe’s are better than a lot of Fenders. Especially the original alder ones made in china.
@@Acemechanicalservices Yes. My Pine 50's Tele is great. I have 3 CVs and I love them all. Would only buy a CV if I wanted a Fender-style guitar.
Yeah, if they took a Classic Vibe, put the gold decal (black decal looks Bullet Strat cheap) on it, I might give them a $100 bump. But at THIS price, for THIS guitar? That’s a hard pass for me.
@@captainkirk70
I have the old 50’s strat and the tele custom CV’s. Great guitars!
@@AcemechanicalservicesJust wrong, but I'm glad it makes you feel better. 😂
Hi Phil! Thanks for doing these two videos. Very informative.
Phil, you are truly a treasure for the guitar community. Keep up this awesome content!!
Phillip your videos have been crucial in my guitar playing. I started at 8 years old and am now 26, and until I came across your channel I was NEVER taught how to properly set up a guitar. Thanks so much, you’ve made my collection play its best.
Man - I love the demo room. I pointed it out in your Fender tele video you just did - but there was something about the new room that I couldnt put my finger on and I just figured it out - the difference is the focus you have brought forward. In this new room, I am completely dialed in to the playing demo. In the previous videos when you had the demo in your studio, I was distracted by all the guitars in the background and trying to check them out while you were playing. I feel like I am taking in and remembering the sound demo much more clearly in your new room. WINNING!
We made way too many squires.
How do we sell these?
Slap Fender on the headstock call it a standard.
Hold my beer.
Sheeit. You may be on to something here.
😂😂😂😂
Pretty much, its weird. It used to be "squire made by fender" now it's "fender made by squire"
@@PerpetuallyTiredMusician The. Name. Is. SQUIER.
Squier.
Buy your Fender Player II this weekend before the new 25% tariff on Mexican goods is expected to go into effect on Monday (2/3) in the U.S. If they go into effect, I expect Player IIs to jump up to roughly $1k MSRP. Hope I’m wrong, but it doesn’t look that way at the moment.
Looking at this, makes me very happy I got my Fender Player II strat for $650 over the holidays.
Great vid! Still have my American Strat I bought in '92 for $750. Plays as nice today as ever.
Nice, I have a '91 I still play.
That's around $1700 in today's money, so about the same as the current American Professional II. Not much has changed.
Great break down as usual. Haven't watched many of your videos over the last couple years because I've been travelling Asia. The biggest change in your videos is your playing. Much better! You have improved in a big way! Great video AND great playing!
Even though, I am not interested in buying one. I still LOVE watching just for your Geeky Stuff deep dives. VERY informative. Thank you Phil!
Philip, you are the most knowledgable and reliable evaluator of guitars out there. Thanks as always for your honesty, and expertise. This guitar leaves so much to be desired.
Unfortunately.....Philip's guitar reviews have now become the worst in youtube.
Too much bias enters into his reviews. Too much personal likes and dislikes. And has started to sound like the "typical" guitar collector snob.
And that's the point, knowing what the expert say @@Mexxx65
@@Mexxx65 But we respect his opinion.
@@Mexxx65 Download the data sheet. Who else is giving you that kind of detail? I taught luthiery and I've yet to see any bias that he doesn't talk about.
@@mark.guitar I'm a big boy now. I can find and read full specifications for any new guitar these days.
Awesome run through. I watch your channel because you speak to how you see it. Very rare around here!
I really like the enhancements to "the geeky stuff". Neat new format.
Thank you Phil, always like to see the latest Standard Sunburst 3 pickup Stratocaster. Like seeing a new baby in the family.
I really appreciate your videos. Honestly, that bridge looks exactly like the one on a Squire I bought used for $150.
Thanks for another fine video! A couple of years ago I picked up a new Affinity strat at a garage sale. I stripped off everything down to just the body, neck. and bridge. Replaced everything else with great parts. Fit a hardwood block in the trem cavity and put about an hour on the fretts, etc. Now it looks and plays great and I am still way under the price of the guitar you are reviewing. Plus, doing all the work myself was easy and I learned a lot.
A $300 guitar with a $300 sticker on the headstock.
One of the more cynical branding/marketing plays I’ve ever seen, in an industry full of them.
Complete money grab that devalues the brand overall kinda imo. I’m confused why the called this the “Standard”.
@@WizDawg yeah I wonder if this is their way of stemming losses from the old MIM Standards competing with the current Players. Which…is just another marketing exercise.
@@WizDawgNot the first time Fender has pulled this stunt either. History repeats itself 🤦♂️
My guess, this is made for the Asian market, and suddenly trades to rest of the world..?
thats a perfect description of this guitar line!
I appreciate so much what you do. You really take the guesswork out of the way for me every single time.
If someone wants a good value import the $430 Squier Classic Vibe has better specs, if someone wants the Fender branding the Fender Player Series 1 can still be had for $700 and also has better specs while being made in Mexico too. This is an import like the Squier classic vibe, is priced almost the same as a Fender Mexican Player series and has worse specs than both. It’s a total flop in my mind. Too bad a lot of less informed buyers will see the logo & prob fall for this.
Old ones, newer aren't that good.
I'm sorry to tell you that those same satin finished block saddles were standard on alot of old American standard strats also. Some came with traditional bent saddles but the ones that had block saddles looked exactly like that. Chrome Bridge with satin finished block saddles.
Also, the slope of the tremolo unit floating affects string height when the intonation is adjusted.
They video I have been waiting for. So thats a friday morning surprise. Will grab a coffee; watch and enjoy
The 90's MIM with Sunburst had Laminated Alder on the back and top which it was painted black on the arm curve and the tummy cut.
I miss the days of $350 MIMs and $700 MIAs, but that’s the world we live in today.
I have a poplar partscaster Strat that sounds amazing. Mine is surf green. Poplar is “paint grade” wood for sure.
@@rockthebeef yeah, and this is the reason i've always search for used fenders and squiers..
Thanks for the analysis Phil. Now I'm curious about the Acoustasonic version, I think that's the only one of the bunch that might be worth it.
Thanks Phil. Always look forward to your videos 😎👏👏
What's the bridge post spacing. I've learned the hard way that the squiers have a smaller spacing on the 2 point trems from being built under metric measurements overseas which makes upgrading the bridge very difficult.
I mean damn, Alder is a really cheap wood. They can't even make it a 4-piece alder body? I'd rather have my Classic vibe.
It's not grown in Indonesia, so it isn't as cheap over there are poplar. And fender don't want their "lesser" tiers using "higher" tier components
Thanks - Sooo many Fender Strat models ..... Your playing is a bonus
“Looks like a guitar from Costco” 😅
Phil just taught me that I already have a better playing Fender Strat than the one reviewed here. I got used for around $250, mine just happens to say Squire on the headstock 😂 (2010 CV w quarter sawn maple neck).
Sounds like confirmation bias based cope, right? 😂
A lot of that about at the minute! 😂
Thank you, Phil! Very insightful as always.
I also wonder about future resale value for these on the used market.
$175?
Like any other Indonesian import.
The same as Epiphone set necks, no resale value future
There's almost nothing of value in that entire build. I'd say $100 for the Fender logo and $50 for everything else.
Thnx; I absolutely love my Squire Classic Vibe and at $375 on sale what a bargain! I wondered after your tele video how it would stack up.
Great video thanks for the deep dive. 👍
Considering what The Harley Benton's & Firefly's of the world are giving you at a much lower price point I believe you are spot on with your analysis of this Fender series. Thanks Phil
Firefly s are. Way better quality SS frets bone nut ect. ❤
Thank you for the honest review, Phil. You are a brave man!
Thanks for a great and fair review.
I have an American Standard Strat that I bought 1987 with the silly "little spring "that everyone promptly lost. Eventually I put in a Callaham tremolo block, tremolo arm and GraphTech saddles and nut. Overtime I put in some truly excellent Pickup Wizard pickups from Canada (where I'm from). I play it often and enjoy it. Is it an exceptional guitar? I can"t say but it sounds terrific and all my friends (including my guitar )teacher love it. In the end, a Stratocaster is a Stratocaster. Some personalization may be in order, but I love this version of the American Standard Stratocaster.
It looks really cheap even in this video on my phone. The pickups also sound similar to a Squier since the Affinity’s uses ceramic pickups too and that doesn’t 100% mean they are always worse but I don’t like them compared to Fender MIM ones
Like I said in the Tele video, go for a used Fender MIM or a Squier CV and mod it with a much better guitar body
Some MIM have ceramic pickups too
@@jefb3705Yes, and like I said Ceramic doesn’t mean it’s worse. It’s ultimately a preference and there are some really great sounding ceramic pickups just like there are really great Squiers in a sea of many dud Squiers. However, the ones in the sound samples of this guitar outside of this video sound like leftover Squier single coils pickups that weren’t used on their affinity line
I think the differences you’re noticing in the neck carve is due to the factory. Not sure if you noticed but the Strats are coming from Indonesia Cor-Tek (ICF prefix) & the Teles are coming from Indonesia Samick (ISF prefix). That seems to be a consistent difference even on the CV Squiers from Cor-Tek & Samick.
Thanks for your honest opinion.
Great first review of the new Standard. It sounds good but it looks like they've made some savings in manufacture. One of the best sounding and playing Strats I've owned was a MIJ Squier from 1984. I prefer it to a MIM Standard with a Fender logo.
Great honest review!
The Two-point block saddles were satin on the 90's American strats.
Yeah, a Squier, with a bigger trem block, and a big price. I'd take a Classic Vibe 1st, or something used. For this price it's quality should match a PRS SE or a Sire, and you can get off-brand decent Strats with roasted necks and Stainless steel frets for under $300.
Add $300 to buy a Fender decal apparently...
The Squier CVs also come with Alnico pickups and a bone but for an actually somewhat authentic Fender sound. Fender should’ve let this idea die in the conference room, what an embarrassment to call this the “standard” for an otherwise great brand.
Love your vids Phil. A couple questions & comments, as an owner of one myself and a fellow reviewer. How are satin chrome steel block saddles & a full size block not better than a Squier? Aren't they a thin pot metal. I know this isn't stainless steel, but isn't is still a notch up? This nut width is matched with the Fender AUII, the Player II & Squiers are narrower, so this is Fender width. My neck edges, relief and action are fabulous, but I know qc varies, but it was as good or better than all my 4 Squiers, all 4 Players (1,II,70th & Plus) & my Vintera II. This neck profile feels closer to a Player series than an Affinity to me, well really a cross of the two, and definitely better fit and finish than the Affinities. The electronics are pretty standard for Fender MIM's and the pups are like the older MIM ones. Even the tuners are like the old MIM. Hard not to call this a Fender. I know it's poplar and laurel. Though I believe they have done poplar before, in some MIJ models, right? I agree about a used MIM over this for the money & can see why one might still buy an Affinity just for the $$ savings. However, neither of my Affinities nor my CV feel better than this. But like you said, we're all different. Thank you for all you helpful info over the years.
Poplar is not an issue for me. Squiers have had them for years & we like them. Also PRS SE Silver Sky has poplar & no one is complaining.
My daughter got a 90s Mexican Tele that’s poplar. They used it before moving to Alder.
because prs fanboys are nuts. prs makes a strat copy made in Indonesia that costs even more and nobody (or very few) complains
Putting together your own strat is far better.
Yes, that look on inexpensive poplar sunburst finishes is distinctive, Phil. It's an oversaturated burst with dark grain filler highlighting the tight straight grain. Not bad in itself, perhaps, but it's unlike alder bodies, and is a reason I would opt for solid colours. Thanks for the review, and I would ask if you could also look at the new Standard Acoustasonics. Perhaps as those aren't trying to copy anything traditional they are less controversial (?) in an Indonesian build.
Hi Phillip, Curious, what's the body thickness ? Is it the same as MIM or the same as a Squire ?
Thanks for covering the neck profiles it's nice to know someone is.👍
Would love to see a review of the standard jazz bass
These remind me of my 90's "Squier Series" Strats I have or have had (owned multiples MIM,MIK). Sometimes the necks were good, sometimes they were odd but the one thing they all shared was the bad electronic components and the lack of that "stratocaster" sound.
They make good mod platforms, though.
The good thing is it has a big tremolo block. But still, I don't like the satin maple fretboard or even laurel fb. I am waiting for the acoustasonic standard series review, Man. Thanks for sharing
This Fender series should not be called Standard. They made a big mistake. This is an insult to my Made in Mexico Fender Standard Stratocaster. I hope that the similar names will not affect the prices of used Mexican-made Standard guitars.
Why would they want to make this the new standard that sucks
Are you waiting on a profit from a Mexican Strat?
Mexican Fender snobbery .. lol I remember people being mad at a Fender being made in Mexico.
I think it will have the opposite effect on MIM Standards
I hope your mim loses value cause I want more guitars
good work Phil👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 we trust your insights
I think the bad quality nut slots is a common thing. My Indonesian Squier contemporary jag has barely deep enough nut slots; I had to send a previous one back because it was so shallow the strings would just pop off, and you can't just put material back.
Lots of little things are fixable post-factory, but incorrect nut slots are a pain.
How much better is the next step up from this new standard? Is the player series next? I wonder how that compares with price/specs.
So, Fender in name only. Thanks for the heads up! 🤘
I bought a Squier Strat Deluxe in 2017 and it has incredibly similar specs. It's not only my favorite guitar, it's the one that my kids all want to have when I'm out of this trip on Earth. They all own Fenders and Gibsons. It's SO easy and comfortable to play.
They know they can still find them at stores and don’t need to wait for you to die, right?
I play my 2020 CV 70s Strat the most also. It is just a great little guitar
Squier Standard and Deluxe seem to go under the radar. I think they are really nice guitars.
@@hamburger-n5pit’s their DAD’s guitar- it’s not about the literal model JFC lol
(What do you expect to hear from gear heads though…)
Those Deluxes were like Squier's version of the American Standard: 9.5" neck radius, 2-point Synchronous vibrato, and a 22-fret neck w/skunk stripe. I also liked the Contemporary Strat that came out prior to the current version..
A friend got the telecaster, he came to play on my 20 years old squire with japanese slightly flamed maple neck, and he almost cried from deception he went from excited to feeling ashamed he bought on internet without trying before, that guitar is going back to where it came from 🤔
Thanks for sharing 👍 Think I'd rather buy a G&L or Sire, or just a Squire as a last resort.
My 1986 American Standard has satin saddles
Mine does as well.
Those were really nice, I do not know if the ones on more affordable guitars are the same, I would hope they are.
My buddy's 94 does also.
For the future sound demos, would you please consider doing a short snip of playing through a Spark mini miked up or some cheap amp that most people would have? Because, if someone is considering this price point of guitar, they don't have Synergy money.
Then you can't hear any difference between guitars because the amp is always the limiting factor.
Do a spark as well, sure. But doing only spark is a bad move. Consistently using a high end amp for all guitar demos give a repeatable and comparable vid, and one where the amp isn't limiting the performance.
@@PaulCooksStuff If you are saying a Spark is a limiting factor, do you disagree that a $3500 stack is making this guitar sound better than it is?
@@bobdobslobyes I absolutely disagree. It can't make the guitar sound better. All it can do is reveal it's potential. In a guitar comparison vid (because let's face it we're all making mental comparisons between this and it's alternatives) there's no point masking the ability of the guitar.
Thanks Phil! 😎👊🎸
I think Fender's problem is they're trying to shoehorn this line in between the Squiers and the MIMs, but realistically, there are many good strat and tele offerings in the low range from the likes of Harley Benton, Donner, Eart and others. Really, with that competition and with the possible exception of a few models like their CV series and guitars like the J Mascis Jazzmaster, the Squiers need to go DOWN in price. Significantly. What they should have done is promote the CVs to a full Fender nameplate, call it the Standard series, up the price by maybe $50-$75 more just for doing that and slightly reduce the price of the remaining Squiers to compete with the other Asian made stuff.
🎯💯
Hoping that this is not an excuse to downgrade the build quality and specs of the Classic Vibes, Affinity’s, and Paranormals, while keeping the prices the same and then pushing people towards these to continue getting what they got with the Squiers. This seems like a backdoor guitar version of shrinkflation. They could have followed PRS’s or G&L’s lead but instead Fender chose to emulate Gibson and Epiphone. Right move for short term profitability but long term bad move for player loyalty, and therefore, long term profitability. Not sure why PRS is able to do things right coming out of the same factory but Fender can’t. Maybe it is by design. But I’ll try to give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to the fact that these are early runs and they are still in the steep part of the learning curve. Hopefully the feedback will be loud and clear that rebadging something for a 40% premium with little to no differentiation is not fooling anyone. I can understand that yes there should be some premium attached to using the Fender logo, but there also should be a premium that is earned by upping the content a little bit. Slightly better cuts of wood and fewer pieces, even if it’s still Poplar, and better hardware is not too much to ask. The pickups are less of an issue because they are the easiest thing to change, is subjective, and there isn’t anything inherently wrong with ceramic. But there is no excuse for a four piece body of a cheaper wood on a $600 guitar. Again, if PRS can do better in spite of less volume and economies of scale, then so should Fender. 🤷♂️
But the the fender logo is too expensive, the fender logo alone cost $200 for the black label. The gold one cost more.
@@oneanother1 😂😂😂😂😂!!! There’s real gold in dem der ink!!!
Fender made the choice to risk putting their name on what could have been a really nice Squier at $429 because they saw a chance to bring their margins up or maybe just not drop off either way it's a NO for me at this price point
Any chance of seeing a deep dive of the standard acoustasonic?
This is BY FAR the greatest guitar channel on youtube! Love the no BS approach, knowledgeable reviews, honest opinions and tasteful playing. I love Fenders but this strat might be a dud. IMO they are cheapening the brand name. Guitar sounds fine, sounds like a strat. But like you said there are better options in that price range. There's no shame playing a Squier strat but playing a Squier strat with a Fender logo slapped on the headstock on the other hand... I'll just stick with my modded Affinity strat for now.
I recently broke my trem arm doing basically what you described, except the guitar was a newish 2024 custom shop strat lol.
To be fair, I was using 2 steel bearings along with a small spring to raise the arm height.
I've already gotten offers for these brand new on Reverb for $533. The early reviews haven’t been too kind, but I can already see the future titles on here when prices drop "Unbelievable Fender for $450!" "Overlooked Fender for $500!" "Great Inexpensive Fender for Under $500??" "$400 FENDER??" Etc, etc...
Phil, that strat body has coarse grained wood and north American poplar lumber doesn't look like that. Our commercially sold poplar is fine grained and resembles something in between cherry and soft maple as far as the grain patterns go. I suspect the Indonesian factories are playing games with the wood species that they're actually using in this new line of guitars. In other words if they run out of actual poplar, they're still going to continue building with whatever wood they have on site or can get quick. If it happens to be agathis or okoume, I'd bet they use it until more poplar gets delivered.
Well does it look like Indonesian Poplar? Who says theyre using North American poplar? Not arguing, i know nothing about wood lol
I think I'd rather have a MIM or a Squier. If I'm paying that match for Indo made, I'd rather have a G&L Tribute. Appreciate the video, though!
Hey Phil, watch for the cease and desist letter from Fender😂
Having watched this and the Standard Tele video, I’m glad I got my Squier CV Tele a few years ago. Same or better and components and Qc for less money from what I can tell.
Be nice to see a comparison between these Fender Standards and the Epiphone Standard SG it’s the same price point.
Will be referred to as the Shattocaster in future.
soo...MIM prewire on a squire body, got it. Appreciate the video!
(1) Micarta theoretically is one of the hardest composite materials. I wonder how it'll behave under my StewMac nut slotting files in comparison to e.g. "bone". Can you test it under the low E string and pass the knowledge? (since you have a couple of them Standards now and we don't). (2) Do you think the pickups are closer to the old Squier Standards or the ones on the MIM Standards? PS. (1) This was yet another very informative, great video. Thank you. (2) Imo a 3-piece body could actually be better than a 2-piece depending on where the seam is. But a 4-piece is certainly very disappointing. As for the wood species used I've heard that even some of the early 90s American Standards shared the same body material with their Mexican cousins (ie. poplar). Also I think that laurel might actually exhibit better mechanical behavior than indian rosewood (which is called rosewood, has been traditionally used in luthiery but is NOT brazilian rosewood, a far better material).
There is more than enough good second-hand stuff out there that no-one needs to waste their money on this. Particularly in the current market. I got a 2002 special order thinline ASAT recently for £900.
Great review. I'll take the Sire for this price, or a Fire Fly for much, much less.
The saddles are satin on my 1990 American Standard.
Because of the multi piece bodies, the original American Standard used a veneer on sunburst finishes. Also the saddles are very similar to the old American Standards.
Phil, I think you should mention that truss rod is 4mm. it is in metric :)
Excellent review and thank you, I'll just purchase another squier lol
???Phil, how does the body thickness compare to real Fenders? I meant to ask after the Tele video. So a Fender by Squier? Got it!! Thanks!
It feels like something made to be sold on Amazon.
How does the satin neck finish feel? The carve is closer to a Squier per your comment in the video, but I don’t think I heard a mention of the satin finish feel. Closer to a Squier also or more like the MIM necks in that regard?
Sounds alright to me. It seemed to hold tune when tremolo was used. I would consider one when they go on sale. And I'm sure they will eventually. Or perhaps the used market down the road.
? Hi Phil, are the saddles the same width as American or are they narrower like squires? Thanks for the always fantastic content.
Five or six years ago, I bought an Olympic White, Squire Vintage Mod 70's Strat that was made in Indonesia (ICS) It came with bent steel saddles that were stamped "fender" on them. I think that i would prefer it, over the new fender Standard. Partially, because it had Alnico pick up magnets.
With my ‘03 MIM Strat I very slowly replaced the pickups as I shaped the guitar for what I needed it to do. The stock pickups held up for a long time tone wise even though they don’t have a bottom plate or anything like that.
do a jm or jag with rhythm circuit and trem and im sold. even a mustang with the sliders id be good with.
Poplar guitars are usually finished in solid colors because of the grain and mineral stains the wood has.