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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 11, 2019 10:06:18 GMT
From what I've been told and read the Japanese Squier's were quality instruments. I've had a dabble on one (a friend owns) although it's battered to f**k, it did feel and play nice. There is one for sale in mint condition in my local guitar shop but for really silly money. To be honest I've not heard anyone I've known who has a Squier complain or have negative feedback on them. I have seen mention of the poor quality of some of the Asian Squire's but I'm lead to believe it was certain factories at fault. Before I purchased my first Squier I researched what was best to avoid or what ones to purchase. Apparently the serial numbers are your best guide, both mine are Chinese and begin CY which is China Yako factory. The Yako factory is actually Taiwan (not getting into politics of if Taiwan is really China or not). The Yako factory also builds for other name brands. Cut a long story short most Squier's are reasonably good quality, the guitar snobs will obviously turn there nose up but hey ho!
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 11, 2019 10:35:07 GMT
When you buy a Fender today, you get a roller string tree which you don't on a Squier. I call it artificial differentiation. If you spend the big money for one of the fancier Fenders, you get a rounded neck heel. I buy Ibanez.
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 11, 2019 10:43:11 GMT
Apparently the serial numbers are your best guide, both mine are Chinese and begin CY which is China Yako factory. The Yako factory is actually Taiwan (not getting into politics of if Taiwan is really China or not). The Yako factory also builds for other name brands. Past the stage of basic ability, quality is a decision driven by the targeted price point. Spend more time levelling frets and you get a better neck. Don't and you make more for the same money. That decision is based on reputation. Can we sell quality to fools who will call it Chinese Junk? No? Well, then, we'll have to keep telling the Chinese to do quantity instead. There is no more to it.
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Post by Vincent on Jan 11, 2019 10:50:35 GMT
DefJef There is an article somewhere that suggests that the Fender Japan division actually saved the parent company from going bust but I cannot find it at all. Looking back at the 80's. We might read somewhere that you could not give Gibson Les Pauls away. This is not true because I would have taken them all gladly. However it seemed most younger players wanted strats, but not made by Fender. Jacksons, Ibanez and Charvels were the plat du jour and they had to have pointy headstocks with big dive all locking tremolo systems. Fender responded with the Contemporary series but it was not so well received. Maybe the headstocks were just not quite sharp enough. Whatever, it didn't gel with the hair-lacquer and it was doomed to fail. While this was happening a war between Kahler and Floyd Rose users emerged but we have moved on* *to the apple v android battle.
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Post by LeoThunder on Jan 11, 2019 10:58:04 GMT
However it seemed most younger players wanted strats, but not made by Fender. Jacksons, Ibanez and Charvels were the plat du jour and they had to have pointy headstocks with big dive all locking tremolo systems. Fender responded with the Contemporary series but it was not so well received. Maybe the headstocks were just not quite sharp enough. They were Fender. You can't win the generation battle. The kids don't want their dad's stuff.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 11, 2019 11:06:42 GMT
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Post by Vincent on Jan 11, 2019 11:12:17 GMT
However it seemed most younger players wanted strats, but not made by Fender. Jacksons, Ibanez and Charvels were the plat du jour and they had to have pointy headstocks with big dive all locking tremolo systems. Fender responded with the Contemporary series but it was not so well received. Maybe the headstocks were just not quite sharp enough. They were Fender. You can't win the generation battle. The kids don't want their dad's stuff. This is not true. I recently gave several vintage guitars including the JV Squier that I mentioned earlier to my own kids.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 11, 2019 11:15:03 GMT
It was the Indian ones that were a disaster blindwilly3fingers. The relationship didn't last long though because there were so many rejects that didn't even leave the factory. You may find some old Mustang branded strats around that were a way of getting shot of some substandard Squiers. In the end it was Japan that actually saved Fender and even taught the Mexicans how to build Squiers and Fenders using modern industrial methods. The whole Squier book is a really good read on the subject. I've just ordered that book, thanks for posting it. I never knew it existed, can't wait to read that.
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Jan 11, 2019 11:16:54 GMT
They were Fender. You can't win the generation battle. The kids don't want their dad's stuff. This is not true. I recently gave several vintage guitars including the JV Squier that I mentioned earlier to my own kids. Don't suppose you Would you like to adopt another son?
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Post by r3v3nt0n on Jan 11, 2019 11:48:08 GMT
The trouble with Harley Benton remains that they may require some finishing up, like fret levelling and some might just have problems. They are not fail safe, not fool proof. They should be inspected by someone who knows what to look for and occasionally returned if the issues are found not to be fixable. Is it fair to say so close and yet so far? I have owned quite a few LP copies and played many more. None of them were as good a real (-on-point-) Gibson. That said, I have an old Epiphone LP that is great and I will often pick that up in preference to a Gibson Standard but it is not quite the same to be honest. It is almost there Question is, how close or how far from Epiphone a Harley Benton is.
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Post by Vincent on Jan 11, 2019 12:12:20 GMT
r3v3nt0n Epiphones have been made all over Asia and consistency/quality can be a problem much like Harley Benton or any other similar budget brand so opinions as with most things will differ. No easy answer.
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Post by Vincent on Jan 11, 2019 12:15:21 GMT
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