So, a Squier, or a MIM Fender?

[Jerry D]

I've been out of the electric market for awhile. I have a nice vintage Tele (see signature), but would like to acquire a Strat, but get into one fairly cheaply.

Cosmetic preferences are sunburst with a black pick guard, but of course looking mainly for sound/playability.

[Davis Webb]

DO NOT buy a Squier Strat. Unless you want to spend $$$ upgrading.

MIM Strat, yer gonna love it. Go HSS so you can metal it up when ya need to.

[RedJoker]

Originally Posted by Davis Webb

DO NOT buy a Squier Strat. Unless you want to spend $$$ upgrading.

MIM Strat, yer gonna love it. Go HSS so you can metal it up when ya need to.

Weird, I have a Squier strat that I love and plays amazingly well. I guess I just got lucky. I don't think you can go wrong either way. As always, play before you buy if you can.

[catdaddy]

Yeah, I have a Squier CV '50's Strat that is a great guitar. No upgrades needed.

[rmp]

the Classic Vibe Squires are really hard to pass on.

Very good bang for the buck there.

[clintj]

Yup. Avoid the Affinity and basic Squiers. The Classic Vibes are nice, possibly even better than the MIM ones.

[skiltrip]

I have a MIM Telecaster. It's a 2001 or something like that, I forget. But it's incredible. The action, neck, everything is fantastic. I paid under $400 for it new in the store. I think they were price at around $359 back then or something. I'll NEVER get rid of that guitar.

The stock pickups were fine, but I put a Duncan '48 Broadcaster pickup in the bridge, and it's a jangly rock machine.

Can you tell how much I like that guitar?

I've had a couple Squiers in my time. I will say that they are making pretty good stuff, but as someone mentioned above, they beg for upgrades when you get them. I no longer have any Squiers, but I'd buy more Mexican made Fenders in a heartbeat.

[Old West]

I own a 2008 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Strat and a 2006 MIM Tele Standard. The quality and fit and finish of my Squier far exceeds the Fender. I absolutely would not hesitate to buy another Classic Vibe or even a Vintage Modified Squier. I think they're great instruments.

Now, this is just one case, so take it with a grain of salt. I'm sure there are plenty of MIMs out there that exceed the quality of most higher-end Squiers.

If it were me, I'd take a Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified Squier over a MIM standard-series any day. Now, if you're talking the Classic Player-type MIM stuff, that's a different story...

[Gutch]

On a whim last Christmas, I picked up a used Squier Thinline Tele cheap (<$200) on eBay. It's turned out to be a great playing and sounding guitar. Pickups aren't as hot as you would expect, but plays and intonates very well and sounds great! The hollow mahogany body gives it a different voice than a solidbody Tele (warmer, more air), but still offers plenty of twang. Put a compressor and a little overdrive in front of the amp, and you'll never notice the difference.

Highly recommended cheap guitar...

[Ed-in-Ohio]

MIM for sure. Since 2006 (factory upgrades) the MIM Strats and Teles have been outstanding.

[The Growler]

MIM would be better. That said, QA seems pretty hit or miss. I have a friend who got a MIM Strat and it is really good. I know another that had finish runs and the body had clearly been dinged before the paint applied and wasn't steamed or anything to fix it first. But that one sounded good and the dealer made a good adjustment on the price for the finish issues.

[TNO]

There are some really great examples of CVs out there. No need to upgrade but if you do they are 100% to US specs so parts will fit. The MIMs are fine but I haven't found many that seem to have "it".

[Malty]

I cannot speak for the cheap Squiers but I have the Classic Vibe 50 and it is built better and sounds better than my MIM.

I can't say it would be true for other folks, but the CV did completely fool those two crazy Brits in a famous YouTube blindfolded test ;-)

[Davis Webb]

Yeh I would say the Classic Vibe is worthwhile. I thought you meant regular Squiers, which I do not recommend. The CVS are fine.

[Jerry D]

(I'm the OP). Thanks, everybody.

So, if I'm flipping through a catalog, like Sweetwater's, how do I identify the MIMs? I suppose it's just by the price, like $1,200 for an American, $500 for a MIM?