And then there were the right two
Out with the old, in with the older.
The new Fender Player Stratocaster I bought late last month has been returned, replaced with a 32-year-old guitar.
Why was the '21 Stratocaster returned? I could not get the guitar feeling right no matter what I did to it, even after fixing the tight string tension issue with a $10 part.
To be clear, there was nothing wrong with the Fender guitar. It sounded fine, played fine and did everything right...
...but the magic just wasn't there. That's the feeling that was missing.
I specifically bought a Fender Stratocaster after playing my first guitar that I still have, a 1989 Squier II Stratocaster, after sitting in its case for many months.
Since the Fender didn't work out, I said screw it, I might as well try to find another '89 Squier II. I did, and bought it.
I learned a huge lesson by getting this guitar.
I finally understand why guys chase after vintage guitars now
Buying a second '89 Squier II Stratocaster breaks several personal rules of mine, such as:
- Don't buy a duplicate of a guitar you already have
- Don't buy a guitar you can't return
- Don't buy a vintage guitar
Those rules obviously got thrown out the window with this guitar purchase.
At this point in my guitar playing life, what I was trying to find is something that felt as good as my original '89. I found one, in the same color, same generation, same everything. And it plays about 98% as good as my original does, which is as good as it gets. The feel is there, the sound is there, the comfort is there. I got it.
Some words of wisdom:
DO NOT buy this guitar. You will hate it. I love it because I know every single inch of this guitar backwards and forwards. I know all its strengths and flaws.
The Squier II Stratocaster is not like a vintage Fender at all. This is a guitar with ratty sounding ceramic magnet pickups, barely any electronics shielding, a plywood body (yes, really), incorrect fretboard markers at the 12th fret that are spaced too wide apart, garbage tuners, tuner buttons made of plastic that wear out easily, noisy electronics, and so on.
If you like the ratty ceramic magnet pickup sound and want something similar for yourself, I strongly suggest you seek out a 2007-2012 Squier Bullet Strat instead. That guitar has slightly better tuners, a basswood body instead of plywood, and can easily be found. Alternatively, you can get a Bullet Strat HT (hardtail) brand new that has a similar tonal character.
I bought the guitar I did because I know it very well, and that's why I have a much better understanding of why some guys chase after vintage guitars. Certain guitars have a sound and feel to them that the new stuff just doesn't have...
...which is NOT to say Squier used to make them better in the past. Not at all. The Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster and Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster guitars are far superior in every way. I know this. But the Squier II character is the one I prefer. That doesn't make it superior. It just means I prefer it.
I love this thing. You wouldn't for reasons I mentioned above, but I do.
Published 2021 Sep 16