Squier Paranormal Offset Telecaster - is it worth it?

400 bucks isn't exactly cheap for one of these.

I recently went to Guitar Center to try out two guitars, the latest Squier Affinity Telecaster and Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT (I'll write more about that later). While there, I spotted not one but two Squier Paranormal Offset Telecaster models. One in Natural and the other in Surf Green.

If you're on the fence whether to get this guitar or not, here are my impressions of it.

This guitar uses the Jazzmaster body shape, so of course it's ridiculously comfortable to play seated or standing.

The neck felt a bit on the thin side but was also comfortable. It's your standard thin C shape, and if you've played a Classic Vibe Telecaster, then you pretty much already know what this neck feels like. The neck finish is high gloss.

Action on the knobs was good but the pickup selector felt somewhat stiff. This is probably something that could be easily cured with a quick spray of DeoxIT D5.

The tone of the guitar sounded like typical Telecaster, which was expected.

I liked the tuners because they are the slotted vintage style, and the round tuner buttons definitely go along well with the guitar since there are curves everywhere.

What I didn't like...

...can be boiled down to just two things.

First, I just can't get used to seeing a Telecaster headstock shape on a Jazzmaster body. I understand the design decision here since the model of the guitar is literally a Telecaster, but this would have looked so much better with a Jazzmaster headstock.

Second, I wasn't feeling the magic with this one, and I know exactly why. There really wasn't any tonal difference between this and a regular Squier Telecaster. To my ear, the guitar felt like it needed something a little extra and it just wasn't there.

But is it worth it?

This is going to sound weird after what I just said, but yes, it is worth buying one.

While I wasn't feeling the sound and didn't like the headstock shape on this particular body design, the fact of the matter is that this guitar is different in a positive way.

Also, the Jazzmaster shape is the ultimate as far as a sit-down guitar is concerned, since the original Fender Jazzmaster was designed to be played seated first.

Ultimately, if you want something Tele that's different and plays easier sitting down, then you want one of these.

On a final note, I can see this model having actual collector value at some point. This is going to be one of those guitars where a bunch of guitar players will say "I should have bought one of these when I saw it" five years from now. It's probably true this guitar won't have crazy-good collector value, but still, I'm fairly certain it will appreciate in just a few years. It's not like this model will be coming back after its run is completed.

Why are so many watches so hard to read?

Even if you have perfect 20/20 vision, this is a problem.

I own what is arguably the most popular wristwatch in the world, the Casio F-91W. I've been wearing this along with my A158 a lot lately.

I wear this watch often because it is, without question, the most legible digital watch. I've owned many digital watches, and the F-91W is always the most readable. Why? Three reasons. Uncluttered display, excellent contrast, and readable at almost any angle.

Casio G-SHOCK digitals all have what I call LCD wash. Tilt the watch back just a little and all you see is a bunch of 8's on the display. And even for non-G models, LCD wash happens routinely.

On the analog watch side of things, the three that are most legible are Timex Easy Reader, any model by Mondaine and the Casio MW240.

Uncluttered display and great contrast are the reasons you can read these so well. White dial with solid black hands, or black dial with solid white hands. No shiny crap at all anywhere on the dial.

Field and dive watches aren't the answer

You would think that all field watches would have the highest level of readability. They don't. The majority of what you see is dials with unnecessary clutter on them.

Dive watches are supposed to be absolute best for readability, but they also fall short. Most of them have unnecessary shiny crap on the dial, a cluttered display, and a crystal that has no anti-reflective coating at all. Ever wear one while driving during the day? Not a good idea. Reflections happen that hit you right in the face. And then when you go to read the time, more often than not the crystal will smack a reflection right in your face again.

Simple, uncluttered and not shiny is the answer

There are only two things that reflect on the Casio F-91W at a very minimal level. The buttons and the crystal. That's it.

On the Casio MW240, it's the same situation. Only the crystal and crown reflect, again at a very minimal level.

Contrast on both is as good as it gets for maximum legibility. Dial design on both is also simple and efficient.

A few models that mostly hit the mark for great legibility

When I say "mostly", I mean that there is still something about the watch that sometimes has annoying reflections, but at least it has superior legibility.

Casio MDV106 - Analog diver that has a super-clean dial. This is, as far as I can tell, the most clutter-free dial you can get on a watch like this.

Citizen BI1045-13E - Analog diver that is also super-clean and amazingly even more legible than the Casio I just mentioned - if you don't mind hands of differing colors.

Timex Modern Easy Reader - This is the newer version. Only get the dark dial version of this because the light dial is awful.

Bulova Gemini 63B173 - This is a Swiss automatic with a clean dial and excellent contrast - a rare thing these days. Black hands and black indices on silver dial. Sounds like it wouldn't work but it totally does. The hands cut through pretty much any glare the crystal would give off. Very nice looker.

Xaviere XV-550 is the semi-hollow Les Paul you want

By default, the Xaviere XV-550 is what guitarists go for when they want a semi-hollow body Les Paul style guitar.

Before getting into this guitar, let's talk about Gibson and Epiphone for a moment.

In the Gibson camp, do they make a semi-hollow body guitar in a Les Paul shape? Sort of. They have two in a double cut flavor, the ES-339 and ES-339 Figured.

In the Epiphone camp, they also have an ES-339.

Another option in the current Epiphone lineup that is a single cut (meaning more like the Les Paul shape guitarists are familiar with) is the Wildkat.

Yet another option is the Epiphone Uptown Kat ES.

But then there is the Xaviere XV-550.

I said at top that the XV-550 is by default the semi-hollow Les Paul shape guitar guitarists go for. The reason I say that is because when you want a Les Paul style single cut shape with a bridge + stop tailpiece and full-size humbuckers with many color options to choose from, the XV-550 is it.

How many color options? Thirteen. Xaviere even offers a couple of maple fingerboard options should you want that.

Is the XV-550 a "true" semi-hollow?

Yes and no. This gets interesting.

From the product page:

The Xaviere XV-550 is a unique blend of solid body and hollowbody. A solid mahogany body is routed to create a hollow interior. No wood is removed beneath the bridge and tailpiece for maximum sustain and resistance to feedback. A SOLID 3/4" maple cap, elegantly carved and bound in cream binding sporting a highly figured Quilt maple top.

If you want to get super nitpicky about it, this is technically not a true semi-hollow. More like a hybrid semi-hollow...

...but you still get that Les Paul style guitar with the Les Paul style bridge and tailpiece and the Les Paul style pickups. That is what matters here.

It does have a 24.75" scale length. It does have a 12" fingerboard radius. The body is mahogany. The fingerboard is rosewood unless you choose a maple fretboard option.

Most importantly: It does weigh under 8 pounds on average (arguably the best selling point of a semi-hollow for many.)

How much?

Under $300.

Yes, really.

"It doesn't look enough like a Gibson"

Well, that's how the guitar is able to legally sold. You can't have the moon and stars for under 300 bucks.

For the price, you get the semi-hollow Les Paul that neither Gibson nor Epiphone even make. And by that I mean they don't make a semi-hollow Les Paul that has all the stuff Les Paul players want. Xaviere, however, does.

Again, this is why I say that the XV-550 is by default the go-to guitar for Les Paul players that want a semi-hollow single cut version. It's your best low-price option, and not a bad one at that.

Graffiti Yellow Squier guitars make a wild appearance

Too bad these aren't worth buying.

A reader that saw my Graffiti Yellow Fender Stratocasters article I wrote a couple of years ago emailed and said that Squier has Strat, Tele and Jazz Bass FSR editions in this color right now.

I went to check this out, and yes, they exist. But as I just said, they're not worth buying.

As a base of comparison, see what a regular Squier Affinity Stratocaster costs before continuing.

There are two things about these guitars that are quite unfortunate. First, they're not being sold by any USA dealers at the moment (but they might be in the future?) Second, because of that, the prices for these guitars are sky high to the tune of $500 after shipping and tax.

Yikes.

There is the Telecaster version.

And there is the Jazz Bass version.

I could see the Strat or the Tele selling for $300, but certainly not $500. No way are these guitars worth anywhere near that and never will be.

Yes, Graffiti Yellow is a very cool and rare Fender color. But there's no chance I would put down that kind of money for an Affinity model - especially since it appears they're all stock models, just in a special color.

When it comes to special colors, another one is Burgundy Mist. There are some readers of mine who really, really like that color.

Fender has this right now with the Mustang 90.

This particular Mustang is $600. It's just $100 more than the GY Squier, and it's a Fender in a color arguably just as cool as GY is.

If you're going to put down $500+ on a guitar just for a color, the Fender in this instance is the much better value.

In the end, Graffiti Yellow is a great color, but on a Squier it's not worth more than double the price of the same guitar in a regular production color.

Casio watches for a small wrist

This is a list of Casio watches that are small wrist friendly, and includes a few G-SHOCK models.

My wrist compared to other wrists

How wrist size is determined where watches are concerned is whether you wear the before or after the wrist knuckle.

If I am wearing a watch with resin, NATO or leather strap on it, I wear the watch before the wrist knuckle. That part of my wrist measures at 6.5 inches or 16.5cm.

If I am wearing a watch with a metal bracelet, I purposely wear those more loosely, and the watch rests after the wrist knuckle and closer to where the hand begins. That part of my wrist measures 6.75 inches or 17cm.

The average man's wrist size is generally agreed to be 7 inches (17.75cm) around, so anything smaller than that is considered small.

In my experience, the following Casio watches will properly fit smaller wrists between 6.0" (15cm) to 6.75 (17.75cm) inches around.

Quick note on measurements

All measurements will be shown in millimeters. The first number will be lug-to-lug width, the second number is case diameter, and the third number is watch thickness.

G-SHOCK models that fit the small wrist

There are unfortunately not too many G-SHOCK models that will properly fit smaller wrists. There are some who say "just get a Baby-G model", but I can assure you that is not a good solution, because many women's models are too big for the small-wristed just like the men's models are.

DW5600E

Measurements: 48.5 x 43.0 x 14.77 mm

This is still available for under 50 dollars and is the standard G-SHOCK "square". In photos this looks small but it's not. Bear in mind it's almost 15mm thick.

The DW5600E fits small wrists easily, but the only problem you may encounter is "strap gap" if your wrist is thin and flat. Strap gap is when the watch sits on your wrist, but the strap leaves spaces on either side that may cause some discomfort.

GWM5610

Measurements: 46.7 x 43.2 x 12.77 mm

This looks almost identical to the DW5600E, but that's in appearance only. This model has many more features (solar power, atomic timekeeping and so on,) and is in fact notably smaller than the 5600. Lug-to-lug is shorter and it's a full 2mm slimmer.

This model is considered by many small-wristed fans of G-SHOCK to be the perfect size.

DW9052V

Measurements: 48.5 x 43.0 x 14.70 mm

What makes this particular model excellent for smaller wrists is the fact it has a factory nylon strap, which completely eliminates the strap gap problem for those with flat wrists.

If the only thing keeping you from getting a G-SHOCK is the resin strap, then you want the DW9052V. It appears to be larger than the 5600 square but in fact is almost identical in size.

Regular Casio watch models (not G-SHOCK) that fit the small wrist

You will have the most choice here with models that are friendly to the smaller wrist.

This will be listed largest to smallest using the lug-to-lug measurement, with brief description for each. See link for any model to get more information and price.

• AE1000W, measurements 48.1 x 43.7 x 13.77 mm, digital, round
• MW600, measurements 46.2 x 41.5 x 12.40 mm, analog with date complication, round
• WS210H, measurements 45.4 x 44.0 x 13.30 mm, digital, "Tough Solar" model, round
• AE1200, measurements 45.0 x 42.1 x 12.50, digital, square
• AE1300, measurements 45.0 x 42.0 x 12.50 mm, digital, square
• HDA600, measurements 44.6 x 41.1 x 13.40 mm, analog with date complication, round
• F108, measurements 44.4 x 42.6 x 10.30 mm, digital, square
• AW80, measurements 44.5 x 38.5 x 11.00 mm, analog-digital, round
• F200W, measurements 44.1 x 40.0 x 11.50 mm, digital, round
• W96H, measurements 43.9 x 35.7 x 12.50 mm, digital, rectangle
• CA53W, measurements 42.0 x 33.0 x 7.00 mm, digital, calculator, rectangle
• F201, measurements 41.0 x 34.0 x 10.50 mm, digital, small rectangle
• W93H, measurements 41.0 x 35.0 x 9.50 mm, digital, round
• MW59, measurements 40.0 x 36.1 x 8.90 mm, analog with date complication, round
• W201, measurements 39.0 x 35.0 x 9.00 mm, digital, square
• A500W, measurements 39.0 x 34.0 x 9.60 mm, digital, square on metal bracelet
• FT600B, measurements 39.0 x 32.0 x 10.00 mm, analog-digital with nylon strap
• AQ230, measurements 38.8 x 29.8 x 8.10 mm, analog-digital on metal bracelet
• A168, measurements 38.6 x 36.3 x 9.60 mm, digital on metal bracelet
• F-91W, measurements 38.2 x 35.2 x 8.50 mm, digital
• A158W, measurements 37.5 x 33.5 x 9.50 mm, digital on metal bracelet
• A700W, measurements 37.4 x 35.5 x 6.00 mm, digital on metal bracelet (and yes it really is only 6mm thick!)
• MQ24, measurements 37.5 x 35.0 x 7.50 mm, analog, several dial designs available
• F105W, measurements 37.5 x 33.5 x 9.50 mm, digital, the smallest available with electroluminescent night light (similar to Timex Indiglo)
• W59, measurements 37.1 x 35.2 x 8.70 mm, digital

Best all-around: F-91W. This is literally the most popular wristwatch in the world. You can't go wrong with one of these.

Most masculine: AE1000W. Looks rough-and-tough, has 100m water resistance and a genuinely good strap that should last a good long while.

Most convenient: W96H. With this one you get time, month, day, weekday and year all one screen. This is the watch you see me wearing at the beginning of this article. It's actually quite handy to get all that info without having to press any buttons at all.