Rich's big list of Squiers

I only own 3 Squier guitars. However in less than a year I've gone through 6 of them, chasing tone left and right until I finally ended up with what I have now.

It's becoming a common misconception that I still own a whole bunch of Squiers. I don't. Just 3.

Here's how it's all fared out from beginning to present (Note: this does not include any of my other guitars, just the Squiers)

#1: 1989 Squier II Stratocaster (Dakota Red)

Current status: I still own this guitar

My first guitar, bought new for $212 in 1990. I remember the price because the guy who sold it to us lied and said it was used just so my father would buy it. It was new.

#2: 2010 Squier Bullet Strat (Arctic White)

Current status: I still own this guitar

This is the one known as "Banana". My second Squier ever purchased and bought new in February 2011.

#3: 2001 Squier Stagemaster (Galactic Purple)

Current status: Traded

This was the time when I decided I wanted a humbucker guitar in my setup that was specifically made by Squier or Fender.

The day I bought this October 2011, I had intended on buying a Squier Bullet Strat HSS, but I saw this and thought it was cool, so I bought it. Purchase price was $110.

I got rid of it because I found out she had a 12-inch radius neck, which doesn't agree with my hands - although I did appreciate the HSS setup it had. It was a very nice and very well-built guitar. It was also the first I ever owned with a reverse headstock.

#4: 2012 Squier Cyclone (Lake Placid Blue)

Current status: Returned for defects

Once I found out the Stagemaster was a 12-inch radius (which answered why it didn't feel right to me when playing it), I sought out another Squier with a humbucker in it. The Cyclone was just released.

The Stagemaster was traded for this and it was ordered in the store since it wasn't in stock. When it arrived, there were paint defects, so I had to send it back. I never took it home, because when I found the defects in-store, I sent it back right there.

#5: 2012 Squier Cyclone (Lake Placid Blue)

Status: Returned for defects

The replacement Cyclone arrived, and it was even worse than the first one. Paint defects and neck dents.

Squier had just released the new 2012 Vintage Modified series, so I decided to go with one of those instead.

Like the first one, I sent this one back right there in-store.

#6: 2012 Squier Vintage Modified Stratocaster (Vintage Blonde)

Status: Returned for defects

This guitar was a huge pain in the ass to get because I was given the runaround for months until it finally arrived. I was very happy to get it when it did arrive - until I found a paint chip in front of the bridge. Sent it back.

Given the fact I waited months for this thing only to discover a paint chip, you have no idea how much that ticked me off. Were it an off-the-shelf thing, I would have dealt with it, but to wait months only to get something that wasn't perfect after already receiving two bad guitars beforehand, and well, you can imagine how ticked off I was.

#7: 2012 Squier Vintage Modified Surf Stratocaster (Sonic Blue)

Current status: Traded

I only took this guitar because it was all Guitar Center had in stock where I could have a tech personally inspect it for defects before taking it home.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with this guitar, build-wise. Paint was correct and all hardware was correct - but I hated the sound of the lipstick pickups. I simply couldn't use them for anything.

In an act of desperation, I took the pickup set and electronics out of my '93 USA Strat with the busted neck and put them in the Surf. It worked, but I still wasn't getting the sound I wanted out of it.

I decided to deal with this and make do, but then the bent steel vintage saddles really started ticking me off. You can only adjust those things so much, and I missed the level of adjustment I could get out of block saddles. It was at that point I said "screw it, this thing has got to go and I have to get a guitar that has all the specs I want".

#8: 2012 Squier Bullet HH FSR (2-Tone Sunburst)

Current status: I still own this guitar

And here we are at the Bullet HH I just bought.

I find it a bit ironic that I had to buy another Squier Bullet model just to get what I wanted in the first place.

This guitar was the exact same price as the Squier Bullet Strat I bought in 2011. It's an HH setup, looks great, plays great.

It did arrive with a volume knob that didn't work right. Took it to a shop and had it fixed for 10 bucks. Other than that, no defects.

The money I lost?

If I were to tally up all the costs involved getting to where I am now from Squier #3 to Squier #8, I lost about 75 bucks.

Why so little?

The trade from the Stagemaster to the Cyclone(s) was an even swap, and Guitar Center ate the cost on the VM and the VM Surf after that. When I traded the VM Surf in for the Bullet HH, I actually got credit for that since the Bullet was worth less new.

The cash I lost was basically in the gas it took to drive to Guitar Center so many times. And the 10 bucks I spent on the volume knob fix for the Bullet HH.

So in the end, it was the price of the original Stagemaster + gas spent driving all over the place + a 10-dollar cheap fix for a grand total of $185 to get to where I am now.

Now if I had bought each guitar individually with no trade-ins and no store credit, then oh yeah I would have spent a ton more. But I didn't.

It's easy to assume I blew through a ton of cash considering all the Squier guitars I've been through in less than a year, but the bulk of it was all returns and trade-ins.

Am I done buying Squiers?

For now, yes. I am so done it's not even funny anymore. I will only buy another if something drastically goes wrong (like a major hardware failure or one of the guitars breaks or whatever).

2012 Squier Bullet HH FSR demo and review

It's NGD (New Guitar Day) at the Menga stronghold. Gone is the Surf Strat and has been replaced with the Squier Bullet HH.

A few things out of the way up front.

It's probably true you've only seen this guitar in black, as in black body with black pick guard. There are in fact two other colors available, Candy Apple Red and 2-Tone Sunburst (pictured above).

The guitar is available just about anywhere.

See my video demo of the guitar.

8 V-style guitars for under 500 bucks

V-shaped electric guitars are just cool. I owned one in the past and may again in the future. Do I really need one for anything? Nope. I just like the way they look. My preferred V shape is what's known as a Rhoads V where the bottom fin is shorter than the top.

It's fortunate these days that there are several good low-cost V-shaped guitars out there to choose from. I remember a time when there was no such thing as low-priced V - especially the Rhoads shape which was usually $750 or more.

Every one of the V guitars below is under 500 bucks. Some are less than half that price. Check out each one below and you'll be amazed at how low they can get yet still retain great build quality.

After checking out the guitars, see my notes below because there are certain things about V-shaped axes you should know before buying one.

One other note before showing the guitars: I purposely stick to "normal" looking V guitars here. There are some wacky ones out there like Tyrant X, but those barely qualify as V's to me.

Dean Dave Mustaine VMNTX United Abomination

This is a guitar that looks like it's supposed to cost $1,000 but comes nowhere near that price. This is definitely a "look-at-me" guitar. It's not only a V but has wild graphics on it, and done in a way that doesn't look cheesy.

ESP LTD V-50

One of the best (if not the best) bargain V guitars out there. When you need a basic solid V that crunches like nobody's business, there's no other V that can beat the V-50's price point.

B.C. Rich Metal Master Kerry King V

If the Mustaine model is a little too wild concerning the graphics and you want something a little more subdued but still very noticeable, the Metal Master model fits the bill here.

Jackson JS32T King V

This is what I call the "Guitar player's V". No, it doesn't mean it plays or sounds any better than the other V's I've mentioned, but if the goal is to impress other musicians, having "Jackson" on the headstock matters. This is a real-deal Jackson King V, and yes it also comes in black. The price will shock you - in a really good way. You'll like the price so much you'll probably buy one - unless you like the one you see below even more.

Jackson JS32T Rhoads

For many of you, this is your V. And said honestly, if I were in the market for a V guitar right now, this is the one I'd buy. Ridiculously low price for a true Jackson Rhoads model. Everyone will think you spent a grand on this guitar, and go ahead, let 'em believe that. :)

Kramer Vanguard

This guitar is a bit odd-shaped, but there's a reason for it. That cut at the high-fret portion of the neck gives you ultimate access to those frets for super-easy shredding access. Also, this V does have a double-locking Floyd-Rose system on it.

B.C. Rich JRV Standard

If the Vanguard above has a shape that's too wacky for you and you want a traditional sharp V-shape with a Floyd-Rose setup, this is what you want.

Jackson RRXT Rhoads X Series

Another from Jackson, and just barely under $500 but still qualifies. The difference with this Rhoads other than appearance is that it has far better hardware everywhere and a compound-radius neck (12-inch to 16-inch). This V is as pro-level as you can get in this price range, and is pretty much guaranteed to be the most comfortable-playing of the lot.

Can't decide which to get?

If you've said to yourself, "Yeah! I want a V! But I don't know which to go with...", get a Jackson. Any Jackson. Other guitar players you know will be impressed that you a have a guitar with "Jackson" on the headstock, and on stage the guitar has the "just-right" V shape that non-musician (as in fans) would expect.

The good and bad of V-shaped guitars

There are two and only two things good about V-shaped guitars.

1. They are in all honesty the most comfortable guitars to play when standing up because they're light and balanced perfectly.
2. They look cool.

That's it. You will get absolutely no tone advantages or better playability out of a V-shaped guitar.

As for the bad stuff about V-shaped guitars, it's fortunately a short list, but still a list worth knowing.

1. You cannot play it while sitting down without wearing a guitar strap.
2. V-shaped guitars are not known for lasting long. You may get 3 to 7 years of regular use out of one before it starts having neck problems or hardware failures. This is why very few vintage V-shape guitars exist, because they simply wear out early.
3. Getting a case for a V-shaped guitar is never cheap.
4. When placed on a guitar stand, it has to be set high or you'll bump the fins on the floor and scratch the finish (it's always better to put a V guitar on a wall stand because of this). For the Rhoads shape, a floor guitar stand must have a "fork" (where the guitar rests) that turns because of the offset fins.
5. No matter how much you try to avoid it, you will nick/scratch the guitar on the fin tips. It will happen, so don't be surprised when it happens. It happens to every V-shape guitar owner.

Top 5 things musicians and bands do on the internet that are wrong

I'm going to say up front that I am not a master of knowledge when it comes to how musicians and bands conduct themselves on the internet. However I don't think anyone will disagree with my list below of things musicians and bands do on the internet that are flat out wrong.

1. Making fun of fans

This is wrong on so many levels. If a fan likes your stuff, posts a comment on your YouTube channel, Facebook page, @replies you on Twitter or whatever, and the post is something positive, but you reply back with something negative and make fun of the guy or girl, you're just an idiot, plain and simple.

Of course anyone who plays music would say, "I would never do that!" Oh, yeah? I've seen a bunch of you out there do it without even knowing it.

It's like the old saying goes. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.

The only exception to the rule is when someone spams your channel or Facebook page. That's not cool. But even then it's just better to delete and block the spammer rather than try to get the last word. Consider a silent ban/block of the spammer to be your last word instead. It's just as effective and nobody has to watch you complaining to someone, which nobody wants to see anyway.

2. Having no videos

Do you play? Do you want to get noticed? Sure you do.

But if you don't have any videos, nobody will know you exist on the internet.

The kid who posts crappy videos with his cell phone on YouTube is getting more exposure than you are because he has videos online and you don't.

3. Being political

Fans want to hear your music and don't want to hear you talk about government in any way, so don't do it. The moment you go political, even just briefly, you lose fans.

4. Making it difficult to contact

There's a reason my email address is plastered all over the place - it's so people can reach me easily. Not only in email, but by YouTube message, Facebook message, Twitter, etc. If someone wants to get in touch with me, I make it easy to do. But I've seen some bands and artists that make it difficult for basically no reason.

The worst thing is when a band/artist forces someone to fill out a stupid form just to contact them. That's just stupid. What if a major record label wanted to contact you? Businesses do use email a lot, you know. And they don't take kindly to web forms. In fact, most of the time if there's no email address, they just won't contact you at all even if they are interested in you. Business runs by email. Use it.

"But I don't want spam!" Deal with the spam. It's a fact of life when using email. Get used to it.

Oh, and one other thing. Don't post any "rules about emailing" you either, like "your email must have subject line [blah blah blah]" or some other stupid crap like that. Just put your email address out there and be done with it. People do this all the time and it's a normal thing. Yes, it does mean you'll get spammed every so often, but like I said, if you use email, you get spam sometimes and that's just the way it is.

5. Not having a web site (or at least a blog)

I have a blog (what you're reading right now) on a real-deal domain (meaning dot-com/net/org/whatever), and - surprise surprise - my email address is listed so I can be contacted easily.

If you have no money to register a web site with a domain registrar, at bare minimum at least get a free blog. Use whatever you like.

I strongly suggest having a blog because some people just don't like Facebook and won't go anywhere near it. I can use my own fan base as an example here. I've been told more than once by certain YouTube fans of mine that they absolutely will not use Facebook, but consider YouTube OK. And then there are those who don't even like YouTube because it's Google-owned and will only keep up on what I'm doing by just my blog alone. Yes, really.

Get a web site. If you can't afford one, get a free blog instead. Blogs are really easy to maintain. If you know how to send and receive emails, you pretty much already know how to write on a blog. After writing some posts on there, as long as your name, your artist name or your band name is on the blog, it should be indexed by Google quickly so your blog can be found. You can also let your fans know where your blog is by posting it on your YouTube channel and Facebook page or both.

Rich's 10 recording tips to get songs done fast

Next week I plan on releasing another song. The rough draft is already online, and the finalized version of that should be done before the tail of next week. The only reason it hasn't been done sooner is because I've been dealing with some computer issues (stupid power supply crap), but I'll have that all taken care of next week.

Releasing a song really fast is easy. You don't need a bunch of expensive gear, but rather just the basics to get your production efficiency ramped up.

(Note: I may do a video series on this later, but for now here's the blog version of it.)

1. Learn how to get drums done fast

A bunch of guitar players don't release songs mainly for the reason they can never get the drums done. You've got the riffs, the verse-chorus-verse stuff and the solo all in order, but.. no drums. This is why I bought the BOSS DR-3. Should you buy one of those? That's up to you, but my recommendation is to buy any drum synthesizer whether new or used. If you don't have a lot of cash to spend, grab a cheap Alesis SR-16. Those things are everywhere. Get one, learn how to make your drum patterns and go for it.

Just do whatever it takes to get your drums done so you don't have to worry about it.

One song I made has a really simple drum pattern, but that was the whole point. I did the drums then finished and released the song.

2. Buy a bass guitar

Get one. Don't do that tuning-down-the-guitar thing because it will sound awful. You'll probably only play your bass when in the recording stages. That's fine. Just have a bass so it's one less thing you have to worry about.

3. Doubling-up tracks is not a sin. Do it.

This adds a fullness to the sound and is a standard recording technique that's been done ever since the early 1960s.

Doubling-up works for guitars and vocals - but not bass or drums as with those instruments you can "mud out" too quickly.

4. Three to four-minute songs are the standard

A common mistake a lot of guitar players make is to produce songs that are way too short or way too long. The "happy medium" is 3 to 4 minutes; this is a formula still followed today by mainstream artists across all music genres.

Seven-minute "epics" are usually not something most people would want to listen to, so stay away from those.

5. It is okay to sound "fake"

Ask yourself a question. Are you making music for other musicians or for people? The answer, obviously, is people, as in non-musicians.

There are some uppity guitar player "purists" out there who think that in order to record a guitar, it must be through an amp, must be done using expensive microphones, must be recorded through an expensive mixing board and blah blah blah.

Screw all that.

Just grab a drum synthesizer, your guitar, your bass guitar, something with some decent amp modeling in it (even a cheap multi-effects pedal will get the job done), a cheap mixing board to feed into your computer's sound card, use free multi-track software like Audacity and just do it.

And if you get any complaints from the uppity guitar purists that say "I can tell that's an effects pedal!", whatever. You're making music getting songs done faster while all they're doing is being annoying whiners. Let them complain. Just keep making music.

6. Simplify your hardware so you can produce music the fastest possible way

Some guitar players have piles of gear where it takes them a half-hour before they're even ready to start recording, and that's stupid.

Ideally, you should be able to start up your computer, power on your mixer, power on your effects, plug in, start your multi-track software and be ready to record in less than 2 minutes.

Guitar snobs say this isn't possible. I say b.s. to that because I do it now. Whenever I have an idea for a riff, I can plug in and record a rough track very quickly. While other guys are fumbling around with pedals, knobs, wires, switches, microphones and other crap, I'm recording and they're not.

7. Simplify your songwriting style

The more complicated your songs are, the longer they'll take to record. It's not a sin to do your standard "three chord song" if you want to. As long as you're relatively sure what you wrote isn't ripping off someone else, just get it done and release it.

8. Just got a riff but no song? Record it anyway, because you can use it later

That song I just released recently? That was something I recorded in 2007, five years ago. Yes, really.

Always record any song idea you have, even if it's just a riff. Chances are really good you'll come back to it later (even years later) and make a song out of it.

9. Need an idea for a song? Play a song you like backwards

Many famous guitar players get their ideas from simply taking a song they like by someone else and reversing it. This is not plagiarism since the chord progression will be completely different, and obviously your style will make the song unique to you.

For whatever song you like, just write down the chords it uses and flip them around. You may find some great songs of your own by doing this. For example, if a riff in a song is E D A, flip it to A D E and see if it works. If it does (and you're sure it doesn't sound like any other song you know), use it.

10. Think less like a guitar player and more like a producer

Don't think about guitar gear. Don't think about how many other guitar players you will impress, because you play for people and not for musicians. Just get the stuff you need to record, record quickly, bang out songs and release them.

You can start by making simple goals, such as "I will release one song per month". Anyone can do that. Could you do 2, 3 or even 4 songs a month? You probably could - although I wouldn't suggest doing more than 4 in a month because that's a bit too much.

The point is that as long as you have what's needed (guitar, bass guitar, drum synth, mixer, multi-track software), and you train your brain to start producing more, you will.

Now go write a song.