ralphtown Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I played the 50s classic vibe strat,yesterday. I am totally blown away by this guitar. It feels superb. In fact I can see no reason to spend more on a Fender product unless it was a custom shop creation. So! How can Epiphone react? With posts on here about poor LP build quality etc Can Epiphone respond to this and raise their game? Is there product in the pipeline to restore Epi supremecy? RALPH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexygibson Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Glad to hear that you liked the Strat. I don't like most Squiers that I have played but may give this one a try. I don't really think that Epi will react though as most people looking for Strats aren't looking at Epis. Kinda a different market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gashole Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Glad to hear that you liked the Strat. I don't like most Squiers that I have played but may give this one a try. I don't really think that Epi will react though as most people looking for Strats aren't looking at Epis. Kinda a different market. Yeah...I don't think the Squire to Fender as Epi to Gibson comparisons works out either. I think-or I thunk-that atleast until very recently-Squire wasn't a hair on the n**sack of Epi. They are competeing only in the sense that a guitar player has a finite amount of cash to spend on a guitar...but it ends there. Designs, scale, construction, styles...we're talking kiwi to eldeberries or something akin to that. I had and have US Fenders and Gibsons...I have Epi's...I have had Squiers...the Epi is way closer IMO to Gibson quality then the Squier is to Fender...w/ the caveat that I have been turned off from Squire for MANY years now from owning a couple specimens in the 90's....things can indeed change, and maybe have. Sounds like the original poster is of that opinion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Glad you like it. I have on too. Totally different from my 3 Epi LPs. Not better or worse. Just different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphtown Posted March 1, 2009 Author Share Posted March 1, 2009 Indeed you are correct Gas. Chalk and Cheese but if I were looking for a good guitar for reasonable money and I compared the build quality at this time,I think Fender/Squier have a real winner here. Im prefer the Humbucker tone but I,m also a big Clapton and SRV fan and I really think you should just spend half an hour with one of these guitars to realise this is as good as any modern Fender product for half the price. Quality wise,these CV guitars are miles ahead at this time. But you summed up my feelings perfectly RALPH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Dean Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I've been considering buying one of these next time I get paid. Squier Telecaster Custom 2 P90 They had a couple at my local (still a good 30 minutes away) Guitar center when I went last week. I was surprised by the build quality, they were some of the nicest squiers I've ever played (might just be the particular ones I played IDK). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vomer Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I'm a long-time Squier fan, got an '84 strat. I've tried the CV 50's and 60's and they play great & are really well made. But I don't think they sound that good. I compared them side to side with my Squier and my Fender Japan strat, and there's a kind of weedy edginess in the tone that I don't like. You can hear it on some of the you tube demos. But with upgraded pickups and maybe bridge/trem block these CV's would give most strats out there a run for the money- especially as they cost so little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Squire had already raised the bar with their '51 which was an amazing little guitar. Used to be able to get these on blowout sales for well under $100. I have played a couple of the Classic Vibe Teles and yeah, they are very cool little guitars for the bucks. The bridge pickup can sound really harsh when overdriven. I would replace it with a lower output pup. But for what the Classic Vibe Tele cost, it leaves ya plenty of scratch to invest in mods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin134 Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I always thought of most squires being along the lines of the bolt on epi's like the lp 100, the special 2 and the juniors, whereas the MIM fenders closer to the rest of the epi line. I have seen one Clasic vibe strat and the thing looked and sounded sweet to me. Being a squire I would expect electronics upgrades but from what I saw on this one it might not be needed roight away. A classic vibe model might be whats needed to take care of my telecaster gas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BENT E Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I've got the both the '60 Strat and '50s vibe Tele, both great little guitars. infact I sold my Fender Powerhouse Strat to get them both. The Powerhouse paled in comparison to both IMO. Fender has raised the price on both to $350 per. My opinion is that Epi' needs to raise the bar a little to compete, and I currently own eight Epi's. My last, an '08 MIC Casino, though really nice, the finish and electronics are better in the Squiers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Gosh, if they play, sound, and feel as good as they look, those should be a real "winner!" CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hiberna Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Theres a shop in south west england in a place called exeter called "Mansons guitar shop" (The place where matt bellamy from muse got all his custom guitars from) Are taking squires and moding them, then selling them. I tryed one and they are insane. heres a link, enjoy! http://www.mansons.co.uk/shopping/categories/popular-modded-guitars/ And yeah, Epi do need to raise the bar back to the 90s when they had damn amazing guitars and all the guitars were sexual. Its since the've moved to china i think. Go back to korea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 And/or, at the very least, Start making the "Elitist," in Japan, again! Those did "Epiphone" proud! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I've never touched a Squire, but I have been impressed by the Fenders made in Ensenada, BC. I have two of them (Strat Jr, and a Jaguar HH). From what I have read on the web, the necks and bodies are made in Corona, and the rest of the work is done in Mexico. They look just like the made in USA models to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Welp, I just picked up a 2008 Standard Strat H.S.S., and after several issues were resolved, turned out to be a really nice, full sounding guitar. Had 2 broken neck screws, I fixed that. The 2 singlecoils couldn't even come close to competing with the 'bucker, although after adjusting pickup height, made it acceptable. I fixed that. Frets were dressed/leveled. Techy did that. Neck had too much relief. Techy fixed that. After all these things were done, it's definately a very playable guitar, best 199 bucks I ever spent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest icantbuyafender Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 the duo sonic classic vibe is not just another pretty face. its a looker with attitude. that and the squier '51, and jag-master HH are squiers must haves IMHO. (aside from a tele) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 Here it is... Again, after several crucial repairs, it's a pretty bangin' little guitar...I dig it! And I did most of the work myself, so that was pretty gratifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitar Chico Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 I've been considering buying one of these next time I get paid. Squier Telecaster Custom 2 P90 They had a couple at my local (still a good 30 minutes away) Guitar center when I went last week. I was surprised by the build quality' date=' they were some of the nicest squiers I've ever played (might just be the particular ones I played IDK). [b'] [/b] Tele with P90s? Thats weird... GC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted March 1, 2009 Share Posted March 1, 2009 People really seem to shun Squiers, but I absolutely love mine, and they're not even the higher spec models. I have a California Series Stratocaster and Telecaster. I bought the Strat new a while ago, and the Tele used recently. I haven't played the Tele a lot, because it had 5 year old strings on it, which I removed after a quick play, and now I'm waiting for some parts to arrive, (just a few minor improvements, new bridge and pickguard) before I restring it. What I did play I was pleased with. The Strat is fantastic, and I am very impressed with the standard of finsish that both of these guitars have. I can easily make comparisons between both of the Squiers and my Epi SG G-310, because they're very similar guitars in price, style, and equipment. The Squiers come with much better tuners, the neck seems to fit the body a lot more snugly, and the finish is a lot shinier than the SG. The electronics between the two are about the same, though obviously the Strat has a slight buzz because it has single coils opposed to the SG's 'buckers. I prefer the sound of single coils anyway, and both Squiers sound gorgeous. For a brand that I've heard nothing but bad things about I was very impressed. The SG new cost me $400NZ, the Strat, also new, cost me just $300. Well worth it in my opinion. I would not hesitate to buy one again. I personally wouldn't get any real advantage over a 'higher spec', more expensive model, I don't think they're crafted to a greater standard than the cheaper ones. The Squiers suit my budget and playing ability perfectly, and then some. They really are great value for money in my opinion. I would steer clear of the bullet Squier Strat though, because it's made of cheap laminated wood, and a few bucks extra will get you a California Series made of much nicer Alder. The Bullet Strat would be pretty good for parts though. I'm not sure of the quality, but I'd love to get a Surf Green strat body from GFS, (I love the look of Surf Green) buy a cheap Bullet Strat, poach the neck off it for the GFS body, and maybe even the electronics, pickups etc, and make myself a cheap mess about guitar. I do like the SG, especially that fast neck, but I think Epiphone could definitely make a nicer job of them. If squier can make such a nicely finished axe and sell it for so cheap, then why can't Epiphone? The G-310 should really be $300NZ IMO. It's made of Alder too, so it's not as though it's made of greater materials that justify the higher price. If they Epiphone lifted their quality, I would gladly play $400NZ for another SG of the same spec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluezOldy Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 People really seem to shun Squiers' date=' but I absolutely love mine, and they're not even the higher spec models. I have a California Series Stratocaster and Telecaster. ....[/quote'] I'm glad you're happy with your Squiers, Swoop. I wonder if the people who knock them so much have ever actually played one (I don't mean the lower end plywood ones). I've got an '05 Indonesian-made Tele and there's no way I'm ever going to part with it. As much I love my Epis, the Squier is certainly much, much better value for money (I think I paid around AU$499 for it compared to almost double that for my Epis and that's before the current Epi price rises which have tripled the difference) and is in no way inferior in sound or production quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansmitchell Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I think it's atrocious that squier has more P-90 solidbodies available right now than epiphone. Squier tele custom II vs. nothing on epi's end('56 goldtop is gone). Bring back the P-90 juniors(SG and les paul), make the SG-310 a true special(P-90s, wraparound), make a les paul special with an actual set neck and P-90s, and an epi SG classic just like gibson's. I mean, the P-90s sound a lot better than the humbuckers on epis, and they're not a ton more to produce(if any), and they'd attract a lot more players to buy the cheap epis thinking they'd be good slide guitars, then falling in love with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingfrets Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 I've still got a mexicaster strat around here somewhere. I replaced the pups with a set of GFS reverse staggers that are supposed to approximate the Hendrix sound for a "righty". While I wouldn't go quite that far, they're a much appreciated improvement. It's got loads of that funky "quack". Too bad I don't like the guitar that much. I just keep it for versatility, but I don't think I've played in 5 years or more. As far as Epi stepping up to the plate...I think I'll be too old and/or senile to play by the time that happens... Just glad I bought mine when they were something to sing and dance about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tvyelwhiteflag Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 MATIAC!!! Good to see ya!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Here's my 79 Swamp Ash Strat on the right (before they started calling them USA Strats). Still sounds good with all the original hardware and pickups. I recently bought a Squire Butterscotch Blonde Tele new for $169 and installed Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials in it. I think it plays pretty well, although I like the feel of the MIM Teles a little better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluezOldy Posted March 2, 2009 Share Posted March 2, 2009 Here's my 79 Swamp Ash Strat on the right (before they started calling them USA Strats). Still sounds good with all the original hardware and pickups. I recently bought a Squire Butterscotch Blonde Tele new for $169 and installed Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials in it. I think it plays pretty well' date=' although I like the feel of the MIM Teles a little better. [/quote'] Man, I just love the colour of that Gibson! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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