FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

I was checking out electric guitars, and wanted to know if there is any difference between the fender stratocaster and the squire series? And are electrics easier to play than acoustics?

Answer:

I can't compare the playing or sound of the two because I have no experience with a real Strat, but the Squires are supposed to be 'lower end' type Strat's for people who don't want to spend the extra money. Even within the Squire series, there are variations in quality. Yeah they're both fenders, but the squiers are made in the far east somewhere... SquiER Strats generally don't have the greatest pickups compared to the Fender...might be different wood in the body...lower-end finishes. Just little things like tuners, bridges, tremolos and other things they cut corners on to make it a lot cheaper...and yes, they are made somewhere in the Far East. I started out on a Squier Strat and I really liked mine, but what did I know? All I can say is that you get what you pay for, but these would be a decent electric to start on. Yes, but mostly in the grade of components. That is, the lesser expensive Squire models use less expensive tuners, pickups & accessories. As I recall the Squire has a three-way pickup switch (not sure if this is still true but easily checked), whereas, the Strat uses a five-way. Otherwise, the guitars are well designed and very playable. If you have a powerful amplifier, the lower power pickups won't be as noticeable. Generally, the answer is yes. However, it obviously depends on which models are being compared, how well each is set up (i.e., neck adjustments, etc.) and the type of strings used. For example, I have very light strings on my Ovation Legend. I've tweaked it so much it plays almost as well as my Les Paul Standard (well, pretty close...). Best thing to do is try the guitars before buying. Buy the one you like. If you're on a limited budget, the Squire is a good choice. By the way, there also are Strats manufactured in Japan that don't carry the Squire name. These are sold much cheaper than standard Strats and can be identified by the made in label. The differences with the Japanese Strats are similar to those with the Squire. The Squier series are fine for the money but aren't made of quite as fancy woods, and they are imported as well. ANd the electrics may not be the top drawer stuff etiher, but you can upgrade that part acoording to taste/