Squire Deluxe stratocaster dreamin'
I'm getting a Squire Deluxe strat when it comes in, already reserved, in pearl white.
However, I went to the store today and played a new mexican Fender blue std strat and was really impressed even though it had corroded strings. It was sweet and smooth but could bite when you kicked in the tone and switch selections. I played mostly blues and then played a Squire Affinity strat. The Affinity was not in the same category of playability, looks, tone, or feel. The controls were rough when dialing them and the build quality did not approximate the mexican Fender std strat.
I will get a mexican Fender std strat if the Squire Deluxe pearl white doesn't seem like a better guitar to my touch and ear and eye. I can get a used mex std strat for about 250 metallic red in near new shape but I didn't play it to see if it emulates that same sweet mellow tone the blue one produced.
Hopefully the Squire Deluxe will be an overall superior instrument.
Am I being unrealistic in expecting the Squire to outshine the mexican Fender std strat? It was quiet too, I must add.
I don't really care about names on the headstock, I go by tone and playability and looks and feel; but I have found that the Fender' I own and the Epi's generally sound better than the other brand names; even though I immensely enjoy playing my less expensive guitars, especially the SX GG1 Jr that is a copy of a gibson LP Jr with two P90's and solid mahogany including a set mahogany neck and it stays in tune, just like the ESP's . That SX LP Jr with the 2 stock P90's is really fun to play and feels great, looks great with an awesome really awesome antique burst finish. It is hot too and the tone is like none other. It's my only P90 and I'd get another P90 set up as a goal. I'd like to get a noiseless P90 with the same great bite and power.
Hope these observations and experiences playing some of these guitars help some people who are thinking about getting a Squire Deluxe strat, like I am. I'm really grooving on the idea of getting one and I hope I don't get disappointed when I actually hear one. I'm expecting it to sound sweet and smooth, have great build quality, look great, and play really well; better than the mex Fender std strat. Having that Fender name on the headstock is kind of neat though, I have to admit; but I will be going on the overall characteristics compared.
I think Squires are becoming to Fender more like Epi's have become to Gibsons, in terms of respectablilty. It seems like until very recently Squires had a stigma attached to them, whereas the Epi's have a proven reputation; I mean the Beatles played them. I will back Squire if I see that the quality is consistent with my Squire std tele and improving. I never thought this would happen, but I'm an open minded type guy. I never thought I'd get a fender amp and I now have two and they are my best amps, and I have two great Fender Hwy ones. For me, in my life, things change for some reason or another, kind of metaphysically; certain things become really appealing that weren't a short time before, like my Behringer GM110 analog modeling amp; what a great cheap amp, 30 watts, 98 dollars at audioallies.com, extremely hard to find these days because they have been largely superceded by the more digital Behringers. Never thought I'd buy a Behringer amp but it is great.
I love my Vox Pathfinder 15R though and take it to my lessons, etc. It's my portable amp that I have on standby for a quick grab and go routine and it has great quality and super tone.
Duffy
Winfield, Pa.
New SRV fan, bought my first SRV disc yesterday, "The essential SRV and Double Trbl". An suggestions on any other "must have" SRV discs?
:dude: If you want an overview, Greatest Hits 1 and 2 cover most of the range (obviously). I liked Blues at Sunrise because it showcases his phenomenal talent earlier in his career.
