Please tell me I'm not crazy, I've had my Simon neil Squire classic vibe next to my '88 strat plus.
If I strum them both unplugged, the '88 sounds maybe 5% louder acoustically
If I strum them both unplugged the '88 sustains maybe 5% longer acoustically.
I've changed the pickups on the '88, SSL-5 in the bridge, CS 69 in the bridge, Fat 50's in the neck
Both sound really really similar plugged in to a peavey classic 50, the '88 sounds a little fuller. thicker. The squire does get a bit muddy the more gain / overdrive I chuck at the pups.
The squire is totally stock, no pots, caps, saddles or bridge block upgrades. I love the gloss neck and playing it, it felt like one of the nicest set up / finished guitars I've ever just walked up to and started playing.
The '88 is worth nearly a £1000 more, I know Jonathan at Feline likes a classic vibe. I know people have said the Classic Vibes are just as good as any MIM effort, I know a squire will NEVER be up to a made in USA standard but is there anyone else who thinks 'Christ that's way too much bang for their Buck?'
Comments
My #1 and only strat is a Squier that's been modded to hell and back and whose current parts probably cost me north of 800 in total, but it's a genuinely exceptional guitar that I wouldn't swap for any CS Fender I've ever played.
I've had Avri, AV65, Roadworn and many other way more expensive JMs that have all gone and the Squier is staying. It's never going anywhere. Ever.
Of course this doesn't stop me constantly wanting and sometimes buying expensive guitars still.. although I wish it would.
only if you have one
it was a bloody brilliant guitar. I wished they would spec a slightly more vintage style neck but it was a killer guitar and my main gigging guitar for a long while replacing a £2.5k CS tele I had at the time
Years ago someone form Fender told me that they knew they had made the Simon Neil Squier too good, so you're not crazy
https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/158819/what-squier-would-a-fender-master-builder-buy/p1
I had one of these until only very recently and it was brilliant. I only moved it on to get some funds together for something with humbuckers. The one mod I would recommend though is to wire the Bridge pickup to one of the Tone controls to tame the harshness.
Sounds like I should have jumped on it as an affordable way to scratch the strat itch.
I ended up buying a Squier J Mascis and it's a great guitar. It's got some nice mods on it and has had a good setup, but it plays and sounds like a guitar at least twice the price.