DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Can you hear the difference between the CV and the '62? And why can't we get a Fiesta Red CV with IL board here in the States?
Paul compares 4 Fiesta Red Strats, from $400 to $60K
- Thread starter DougMen
- Start date
Squier2023
Squier-Meister
They sounded more similar than different to me. IMHO, unless your a pro studio musician or making a living gigging, the less expensive strats or other guitars are fine. The cheaper ones may need a little more attention but they're fine for the most part.
I've had some bad experiences with high end acoustics and I said never again. When I decide on getting back into playing electric, i first thought US made until I saw the prices. The I remembered Squier CV series. And that's where I'm at today. If I come across a good deal then maybe I'll pull the trigger.
I've watched some his videos before. Good stuff. Thanks for posting!
I've had some bad experiences with high end acoustics and I said never again. When I decide on getting back into playing electric, i first thought US made until I saw the prices. The I remembered Squier CV series. And that's where I'm at today. If I come across a good deal then maybe I'll pull the trigger.
I've watched some his videos before. Good stuff. Thanks for posting!
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
I don't know if you've seen any of the other Strat comparisons on YT from Andertons, Astrings, and others, but in most/many of them I actually like the sound of the CV more than others, because those new CV Strat pickups really nail the vintage Strat tone more than many more expensive pickups, and some more modern Strat pickups, like the V-Mods on the Am Pro, and the hotter alnicos on the Player Series Strats. And, any Strat that comes with noiseless pickups is a deal breaker for me, because they just don't sound as good to me as a true single coil, and also don't respond in quite the same was to pick attack either, being a bit more dynamically restrained. Of all the noiseless pickups I've tried, the Dimarzio Area 58 comes closest to a real single coil, but is still a bit dark on top with 250K pots. Of the more expensive pickups from Fender, the ones that I like as much or more than the CV ones are the Yosemites on the Am Performer Strats (my favorite pickups of all time) and the PV 65 used on the AO 60s and Hendrix Tribute Strats.
2k5Bullet
Squier-Meister
I still don't hear anything out of the various price points that would make me chase the next price point. I'm kind of thinking the $ 60K guitar was at one point the same price as the others. In the 1960's it was no better than the $ 400-2K guitar. The $ 5K guitar is somewhat of a relic custom shop & the $ 60K guitar is the production model that the Custom Shop is trying to be. As long as what I have sounds good & as it should for functional, Bullet & Affinity is my price point, being preowned and I ended up with fine guitars for less.
Squier2023
Squier-Meister
Doug, I really haven't listen tomany youtube pup comparisons. When i chose the pups for my build, my goal was find a goos sound set under $100. Initially the Yosemites, Twisted Tele and Vintage 50s were on my radar but all over $100.
I decided to try to keep my build as vintage like as much as I could. IDK why since my sonic blue fits that build. I'll see how it goes, maybe a third Tele might be in my future. Or perhaps a Strat build. If I do that, the PV 65s will probably be my choice.
I guess when it comes to guitars I like the classic look and sound.
I decided to try to keep my build as vintage like as much as I could. IDK why since my sonic blue fits that build. I'll see how it goes, maybe a third Tele might be in my future. Or perhaps a Strat build. If I do that, the PV 65s will probably be my choice.
I guess when it comes to guitars I like the classic look and sound.
antiquityscion
Squier-Meister
To be honest, I hear some tonal differences, but they are so slight, I can't tell with my eyes closed.
stratfreak
Squier-Meister
Then you're not hearing differences. You're seeing differences.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
In 1962 A Strat was $289.50, plus 5% for a custom color, so the guitar was $303.98 when new, which is $3011 in 2023 dollars. The closest current production Strat that isn't from the custom shop is the new American Vintage 61 model, which is $2099, or the American Original, the same basic guitar, except with a 9.5" radius neck instead of 7.25", which is also $2099.
In my opinion, if it weren't for people with more money than brains trying to relive their youth, that would realistically just be a used version of one of those guitars, so would be around $1500-1800.
Overlooking the fact that those models have a nitro finish, the Am Pro is the core model USA made Strat, which is $1699, and those other models really cost no more to build than it, other than their nitro finish vs. the poly finish on the Pro.
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I agree, squier strats sound awesome.
2k5Bullet
Squier-Meister
Still blows my mind when the dollars are adjusted for inflation as it travels back in time from 2023 => 1962. The $ 400 Squier is a $ 40 guitar in 1962.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Yep, we don't know how good we've got it these days. An $849 Player would have been $80, a $1600 Am Pro $160, an Affinity less than $30, and a Bullet $20 or less!
My Mustang in '65 cost $189.
I watched that video yesterday and then found this post. I would be hard pressed to hear differences between any of those guitars. Of course he makes all of the guitars sound great.
When I was looking for a Strat, money was no object (within reason). I wasn't going to spend $3000 for a guitar that I was going to take to jam sessions.
I played a lot of Strats. I have a rule, if it doesn't hit me playing it unplugged, I don't even plug it in. Nothing hit me with all of the ones I played. Then I played the 40th Anniversary Vintage. I didn't need to plug it in! I knew it was the one. The neck just blew me away.
I couldn't ask for better tone and playability. I am very pleasantly surprised and so satisfied with my purchase. And it came setup almost perfect. The only thing I might do is put a set of tens on it (I'm still debating that).
I realize I'm older and my hearing isn't what it used to be. With that said, I think we all have a bias and that plays a big part in what we like. I wasn't even considering a Squier, and when I honestly thought about it, that is exactly what I ended up with.
When I was looking for a Strat, money was no object (within reason). I wasn't going to spend $3000 for a guitar that I was going to take to jam sessions.
I played a lot of Strats. I have a rule, if it doesn't hit me playing it unplugged, I don't even plug it in. Nothing hit me with all of the ones I played. Then I played the 40th Anniversary Vintage. I didn't need to plug it in! I knew it was the one. The neck just blew me away.
I couldn't ask for better tone and playability. I am very pleasantly surprised and so satisfied with my purchase. And it came setup almost perfect. The only thing I might do is put a set of tens on it (I'm still debating that).
I realize I'm older and my hearing isn't what it used to be. With that said, I think we all have a bias and that plays a big part in what we like. I wasn't even considering a Squier, and when I honestly thought about it, that is exactly what I ended up with.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
You should revise your strategy, because I've had Strats that sounded very lively unplugged and sounded like doggy doo plugged in, and other Strats that sounded dull unplugged and heavenly plugged in. It's a solidbody ELECTRIC guitar! The sound unplugged is immaterial. The only thing that matters is how it sounds plugged into an amp!
MyLittleEye
Squier Talker
Of course ideally it does both. I don't have a preference over how my two electrics sound but one of them thrums most satisfyingly when played unplugged so that's what makes it the favourite.
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
That's totally illogical.
stratfreak
Squier-Meister
Not everyone is ruled by logic. 😆
antiquityscion
Squier-Meister
synapse2k
Squier-Meister
For me, the 62 sounded fuller and more articulate. It had more of that quack and that twang. The CV is brighter and has more chime. I don’t think anyone is buying a 62 strat anymore for the sound. There’s so many ways to build a strat to sound exactly how you want these days. Anything over $1500, there’s no real unique unreproducable tonal quality.
True, but if it doesn't play well and feel right, I'm moving on. I played a couple that were nice guitars, I loved the look and unplugged sound. But the fret sprouts were VERY noticeable. No way was I going to buy one that needed a good amount of fret work versus one that had a great neck with nice fretwork.
If I had found one that I was seriously considering (at that time), I would have plugged it in.
See, when I got back home, I checked out the specs on the 40th Anniversary and it checked all the boxes! Plus, it played great. I'm not one that is all radical about "tone wood" but I am pretty radical when it comes to solid necks.
Keep in mind that YouTube's sound compression schemes are going to muddy a lot of nuances between any two guitars.
