The Squier Strat I recently bought on eBay arrived yesterday, and so far, I'm very favorably impressed. The quality, condition and playability of the guitar all exceeded my expectations.
First, here are some pics, split up among two posts:
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The Squier Strat I recently bought on eBay arrived yesterday, and so far, I'm very favorably impressed. The quality, condition and playability of the guitar all exceeded my expectations.
First, here are some pics, split up among two posts:
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DVM's Ever-Expanding Gear List:
Guitars - W-A-A-A-Y-Y too many to list. Check 'em all out HERE
Amps & Cabs - "Kap'n Kerrang-aroo" BYOC 18W TMB kit amp head; Mojave Coyote head; Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Lacquered Tweed Ltd. Ed.; Allen Sweet Spot kit amp; BYOC Tweed Royal kit amp; Epiphone Valve Jr. combo + mods; Drive 2x12 cab / Celestion G12M Greenback + G12H30; AB Custom Audio 1x12 cab / Celestion Alnico Blue
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DVM's Ever-Expanding Gear List:
Guitars - W-A-A-A-Y-Y too many to list. Check 'em all out HERE
Amps & Cabs - "Kap'n Kerrang-aroo" BYOC 18W TMB kit amp head; Mojave Coyote head; Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Lacquered Tweed Ltd. Ed.; Allen Sweet Spot kit amp; BYOC Tweed Royal kit amp; Epiphone Valve Jr. combo + mods; Drive 2x12 cab / Celestion G12M Greenback + G12H30; AB Custom Audio 1x12 cab / Celestion Alnico Blue
Pedals/Effects - ZILLIONS, including DVM's Home-built Pedals - See some HERE and HERE, TOO!
DVM's Gear Photos
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DVM, that guitar is sweeter looking than when you posted it the other day - I just love that color.
Mark
* Loud is good, good is better!
Man that is a nice looking nut![]()
Sweet acquisition DVM, yes the color is awesome![]()
M29
Now for first impressions:
For an 11 year-old guitar, it's in remarkably good condition, and obviously wasn't played much. It's a dark wine-red finish, slightly transparent, so you can see wood grain if you look closely under good light. There's not a significant nick in the finish anywhere; the only marks at all that I can find are some light "pick rash", and a few minute surface scratches and a couple of tiny dents on the back. There is virtually no detectable fret wear, no rusting, and all parts are present and in good shape. It is missing one thing--the trem bar, but I can get one of those for a couple of bucks.
Quality-wise, it's great. It's definitely a "real" wood body, and not plywood. Alder? Agathis? I dunno--you tell me! The neck is straight and true, and the action is low, fast and free of any buzzing. And there's not a hint of the dreaded "fret sprout"! The tuners seem to work fine and hold tune nicely, though I really have to play it hard for a while to determine that. I haven't checked with a digital tuner yet, but the intonation sounds right on the money. I cleaned it up thoroughly last night (though it really didn't need much!) and put on a fresh set of D'Addario 10's. I also had a spare tusq nut and set of graphite string trees, so I installed them while I was at it. Plays like a dream!
The pots all work fine, but there's a small amount of scratchiness in the 5-way switch between positions, which some contact cleaner will probably clear up. The pickups were perhaps the biggest surprise. They may not compete with a set of Abby Ibarra's handwound CS '69's, but they have a very typical vintage Strat tone and aren't dull sounding at all, which is what I feared. Good treble definition and clarity, and the neck p'up has that round, bell-like quality I love. So while I may decide to upgrade down the road, these are more than adequate for the short-term. These p'ups can be enjoyed, not merely tolerated!
So that's where I am with the guitar so far. To say I'm pleased with my $86 guitar ($123, if you add in the shipping) would be a fairly collosal understatement. Maybe I can get a clip posted in the next day or two. But I may be too busy just enjoying playing this sucker to bother setting up the mic and recording stuff....:
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DVM's Ever-Expanding Gear List:
Guitars - W-A-A-A-Y-Y too many to list. Check 'em all out HERE
Amps & Cabs - "Kap'n Kerrang-aroo" BYOC 18W TMB kit amp head; Mojave Coyote head; Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Lacquered Tweed Ltd. Ed.; Allen Sweet Spot kit amp; BYOC Tweed Royal kit amp; Epiphone Valve Jr. combo + mods; Drive 2x12 cab / Celestion G12M Greenback + G12H30; AB Custom Audio 1x12 cab / Celestion Alnico Blue
Pedals/Effects - ZILLIONS, including DVM's Home-built Pedals - See some HERE and HERE, TOO!
DVM's Gear Photos
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Just who is the thief on this forum?Originally Posted by duhvoodooman
I didn't know it was 11 years old - that makes it even more impressive in the looks department.
Mark
* Loud is good, good is better!
That's a beaut for sure Vood! Nice score!
I pick a moon dog.
Wow. What a deal!!!! That is a beauty of a Strat, DVM. Congrats!
Now, plug that sucker into a ZYS and the Firefly and post a clip!![]()
Guitars:
Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
Blackstar HT Club 40
Yep, made in '97. I even checked the date in the neck pocket to confirm the serial number. Sure doesn't appear to have been used much in that time, though....Originally Posted by just strum
DVM's Ever-Expanding Gear List:
Guitars - W-A-A-A-Y-Y too many to list. Check 'em all out HERE
Amps & Cabs - "Kap'n Kerrang-aroo" BYOC 18W TMB kit amp head; Mojave Coyote head; Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Lacquered Tweed Ltd. Ed.; Allen Sweet Spot kit amp; BYOC Tweed Royal kit amp; Epiphone Valve Jr. combo + mods; Drive 2x12 cab / Celestion G12M Greenback + G12H30; AB Custom Audio 1x12 cab / Celestion Alnico Blue
Pedals/Effects - ZILLIONS, including DVM's Home-built Pedals - See some HERE and HERE, TOO!
DVM's Gear Photos
Visit MY WEBSITE!
Hmm .. let me guess the string gauge ..11-50? (I try! lol) nice guitar man,those are my kind of tuners ..hope you enjoy playing her!
Rip Dimebag Darrell,Stevie Ray Vaughan,and Randy Rhoads.
Sounds good DVM, classic strat sounds!
I can't say that I've given up on a flanger cause I've never liked the effect either. I also can't say the same about Tremolo. I hate them both equally. - Tone2TheBone 2009
Ah, ha...
My oracle reputation remains intact, I see!
So, it is a cream puff, a sweet deal after all, eh DVM?...:
Cool...I'm glad it worked out well. Nothing like a deal to make you smile. Makes you feel like you got away with something, doesn't it?![]()
A cream puff, indeed! I just plain STOLE this one for $86! I'm half expecting the local gendarmerie to march into my office here at work this morning, slap the cuffs on me, and haul me off to the hooscow! Seriously--it feels, plays and sounds better than the last MIM Std. Strat I played at GC. (Of course, to be fair, that was a "wall hanger" and God knows how long it had been there and what it had been through!)
Yep, your status as resident FretNet oracle is secure!:
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DVM's Ever-Expanding Gear List:
Guitars - W-A-A-A-Y-Y too many to list. Check 'em all out HERE
Amps & Cabs - "Kap'n Kerrang-aroo" BYOC 18W TMB kit amp head; Mojave Coyote head; Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Lacquered Tweed Ltd. Ed.; Allen Sweet Spot kit amp; BYOC Tweed Royal kit amp; Epiphone Valve Jr. combo + mods; Drive 2x12 cab / Celestion G12M Greenback + G12H30; AB Custom Audio 1x12 cab / Celestion Alnico Blue
Pedals/Effects - ZILLIONS, including DVM's Home-built Pedals - See some HERE and HERE, TOO!
DVM's Gear Photos
Visit MY WEBSITE!
Well, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then....Originally Posted by duhvoodooman
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Sounds like it was a great Father's Day weekend in Voodoo land!:
Oooooo another Strat. Good for you Voo!
Guitars/Bass - MIM Fender Classic 50s Strat, MIM Fender Standard Strat, Squier Classic Vibe 50s Tele, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Epi '56 Gold Top Les Paul, Martin DSR acoustic, Sigma Martin Auditorium electric/acoustic, Squier Jazz Bass.
Amps/Cabinets/Modelers - Model 2558 50 watt Marshall Silver Anniversary Jubilee combo w/ Celestion Vintage 30s, 4x12 Marshall cabinet w/25 watt Greenback Celestions, Fender Blues Junior w/ a couple of Billm mods, Line 6 POD 2.0, Roland Micro Cube
Pedals/Effects - Cry Baby Classic Wah, Boss TU-2, Boss NS-2, Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Ross Compressor, MXR Micro Amp, Danelectro FAB Echo, Danelectro FAB Chorus, Danelectro Chicken Salad, Marshall Guv'nor Plus, Marshall Echohead, Duhvoodooman's Zonkin' Yellow Screamer, Digitech Digiverb, Digitech Bad Monkey, Dunlop Fuzz Face, Homemade Loop Bypass pedal, Duhvoodooman's Sonic Tonic (Maxon SD-9 clone +), Voodoo Labs Superfuzz
Sounds great, DVM! What a find!![]()
Guitars:
Fender 2006 MIM Fender Stratocaster HSS in 3TS
Ibanez RG 570 with a bridge Invader
ESP M II Deluxe with a Tune-o-Matic bridge
Eleanor, the magical, mystical Road Worn wonder Tele
Blackstar HT Club 40
An 11 year old guitar? You should be ashamed of yourself. That guitar is still a child.![]()
But seriously, great job on nailing a sweet guitar.:
"No Tele For you." - The Tele Nazi
Ha! Tele-ish now inbound.