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Epiphone Vrs squire strat.


Olipticle

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  • 2 weeks later...

I've handled a number of Squiers and Epiphones. If you compare the very cheapest Epiphones to the very cheapest Squiers, I'd vote for Squier. What the cheapest Squiers have is playability. A beginning guitar player could get very, very, very good on nearly every Squier I have handled .... if he or she puts in the time and plays a lot. The downside is the cheapest Squiers have weak electronics and hardware that isn't horribly durable. I've had to open up the cord jack on a Squier to bend the spring back to shape, cause it deformed and wouldn't hold the cord worth a darn anymore. That's chincy. On a grade A guitar, that spring will never deform.

I don't think the cheapest Epiphones are quite as playable because those I have handled have necks that are way more chunky than those on the cheapest Squiers. But try both, because some people will say the fatter neck fits their hand better.

The more expensive Epiphones, like the $600 or more Les Pauls, are quite nice and totally roadworthy. Ditto the midprice Les Pauls with bolt-on necks. Epiphone still makes the Casino - a truly great guitar and worth the money.

There also are more expensive Squiers that come out all the time in different configurations. I'm sure nearly any of those would sound great and last a long time.

I say shop around. Regardless of brands, the day always can come when you're in a store, play a guitar out of nothing but curiosity, and immediately conclude you can't live another day without buying it.

Led Zeppelin rules.

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well put man great insight, I do agree with you that you have to almost fall in love with the thing and not want to part with it, i felt both ways when i bought both my guitars lol

But im thinking a nice mid range gibson is my next guitar.

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But im thinking a nice mid range gibson is my next guitar.

The next guitar I'm seriously considering is the Gibson Melody Maker. These guitars, a recreation of the late 1950's model, are American built and have a mahogany body and neck, with rosewood fretboard. OK, it only has one single coil pickup, but I don't see that as a disadvantage. These guitars are currently selling in Europe for around £250 (about $435 US).

RB

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Yesterday, I was in a pawn shop, just poking around and saw a Fender Strat with Big "Fender Stratocaster" logo and tiny decal that said "Squier series" ...It was labeled at $120.... I took it up to the counter and asked if it came with a case...they produced a nice gig bag. So, I'm thinking... the gig bag is worth $30 and the guitar was a little dirty, but otherwise mint condition and it playing nicely. So I said, "I'll take it" and the lady behind the counter says, "Those are 30% off today".... I'm totally going OK....another $36 dollars off....it's under $100 out the door! I took it home, took it apart piece by piece, cleaned and polished, put it back together, new strings, adjusted and blocked the bridge, truss rod adjustment, tightened the input jack nut and put it away. Today I played it through my amp and it sounds great!! It really captures the traditional Strat sound! The contacts in the pots and switches were a bit scratchy, but with a little 'breaking them in" they cleaned right up. A good, playable guitar for under $100! I looked them up and they go for about $300+ new....SCORE! :thumbsup:

I love acquiring guitars! :D

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ahaha wow such a great tale lol, your lucky you went into the store that day getting all thoes discounts lol. Did you get any info to when and where it was made? I dunno about the electronics, But the squire my buddy plays has a small cut when switching betwen pickups, Could be a bit loose and needs a set up but i mean it plays great and it a better deal then anything iv seen so far. i think it just may be the contacts. Post some pics id love to see it!

Kudos on the find, Have fun playing with your new toy :P.

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  • 3 weeks later...
Was just wondering which you guys prefer more, I havent had the chance to have either make so i dont know how they stack up. If you had the cash what would you unload on?

epiphone. It's the closest I'll get to a les paul.(I want one because Jimmy Page has one.) B)

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after shopping for 2 years, i just bought an epiphone LP standard. it is great! the neck isn't chunky at all, as i've been playing a classical for the last 4 years. i have a small marshall G15R and these two smoke together. i love strats for slide but the neck on this paul is sweet and making me tighten up a little. as well as the playability, it is a great looking instrument. it's ebony, and looks and feels well-made. i've played ugly axes before that sounded good but this has both.

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The issues with either Epi or Squier is quality control can be iffy. I've played great guitars from both and crappy from both and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the QC, price sure isn't a factor. I had a Squier Affinity Tele that was amazing. At the time it was $99.00 new, the hardware on electronics were so-so but you expect that from a cheapy guitar, but everything worked fine. All in all I was very happy, all I used it for is to beat around in my office. I also ordered a Epi G-400 from Musician's Friend, which is supposedly a decent SG copy and sells for $400.00 new. That guitar was a turd with a capital T. The playability was horrid, sharp fret ends, abysmal finish work, nut cut funny, nothing about it was right. I bought it to install the electronics of Roland synth on it but there was no way I could justify it because the guitar played so bad. I sent it back. You have to be careful and do some pre-purchase inspecting with any guitar but it's double important on budget models, especially the Asian made stuff. The factories those come out of are pretty much sweat shops. Keep in mind Epi and Squier don't make their own stuff, Samick makes most of it and it's all made side by side in the same factories. All that Asian stuff, Dean, Squier, Epi, ESP\LTD, BC Rich etc, it all is made at the same factories.

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