Starcaster Strat Electric
December 2nd, 2007 | 
Author:
The order of the lows and highs of Fender electric guitars?
Low:
1) Starcaster
2) Squier
3) Strat
4) Tele
Is this correct?
Hello there,
Are you asking if that is the order of quality of Fender guitars? If so, then no that is not correct. Your list has some problems with it.
The Squier line has many models of guitars. At the present time, Squier offers one Jaguar, one Jazzmaster and one Jagmaster. Squier has at least 20 different models of Strats (that does not count the left handed versions) and 16 models of Teles. The quality and the price of the models vary greatly. Some of the lower end models are about the same price and quality as the Starcaster. At the other end, a few of the high end models are getting close to the Fender Standard in quality.
Fender makes even more models of Strats and Teles than Squier does. Many of them are made in Mexico. Some of made in the US. And of course there are the custom shop models. That does not even account for all the other models of electric guitars made under the Fender name, like the Jaguar.
There is no simple rule as to quality. A Strat is not always lesser quality or price than a Tele. If you compare a Fender Standard American Stratocaster to a Fender Standard Telecaster (MIM), I believe the Strat is much better quality wise. But even then the comparison is strained because they are quite different guitars.
To further complicate comparisons is the fact that Fender and Squier have changed models so many times over the years. For example, Squier made Stagemaster and Showmaster, both higher quality guitars. Even similar models vary in quality depending on when and where they were made. The Fender Standard Strats and Teles made during the 80s in Japan are much better guitars than the same models made in Mexico later. Those are very close to the American Standard in quality and resale price. Squier was originally made in Japan. The MIJ Squier maybe higher quality than the current MIM Fender Standard. And the market reflects that. A used MIJ Squier may bring more than a used MIM Strat. Then the production was moved to Korea. The early production models of MIK are nearly as good as the MIJ models. It was during the MIK period that Squier started to use cheap shortcuts and quality dropped on some models. I have also seen Fender Standard Strats MIK. Then production was moved to Mexico. There was a fire at the plant that was to make the Squier guitars, so Squier was made at the Corona Fender plant for a few months. The MIM Squier Strats are very good, but not as good as the Fender Standard MIM. The MIM Squier are much better than most of the Squier models made in China and Indonesia. Most of the Squier models made in China and Indonesia were not very good, except they seemed to keep the quality up on the Squier Standard. Then a couple years ago Fender decided to upgrade its Squier line and added some new models to the upper end. The Deluxe, Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified are all very good quality wise. The Classic Vibe probably has more of a true vintage Fender American sound than the current Fender Standard MIM because the Classic Vibe uses Alinco magnets in the pickups like the American models do. The MIM Standard uses ceramic magnets.
Because Fender makes so many models, you cannot even say that a MIM model is inferior to a made in the US model. For example, the Lone Star Strat has 2 Texas Special single coil pickups and a Pearly Gates humbucker. It is an outstanding guitar. It was made in the US for a couple years. Then I think it was dropped and resurfaced a couple years later now made in Mexico. But the MIM Lone Star used the same pickups as the earlier model. I would consider the MIM Lone Star Strat to be better than some of the low end made in America models.
Sorry, but there is no short cut rule of thumb for determining the quality of a guitar made by Fender or its affiliated Squier.
Later,
Whats On My YouTube Today?
Fender Starcaster Strat Pack Electric Guitar with Amp and Accessories.
Here Are A Few Items From Amazon You Might Be Interested In.
| Account limit of 2212 requests per hour exceeded. |
Items recently purchased on this site:
Thanks for visiting!
Tags: starcaster strat electric guitar, by, guitar, fender starcaster strat electric guitar pack, fender, pack
Posted in 