OK Y'all I've been playing my Squier tele for a long time perfectly happy, but was toying with the idea of a Fender Pro II. Finally pulled the trigger and coughed up the dough because of you guys, so if it isn't the greatest life changing event in my personal history I'm holding you all accountable!!! 😎
I took a Squier Mustang HH and modified it to a P90 in the neck position and a lower output Alnico II pickup in the bridge position, and it’s a keeper. I’ve had it over 4 years now. So versatile.
I kind of want a Mustang. I felt that they lacked sustain, almost too much. Maybe a hard tail one would be interesting for me. P90 in the neck is a favorite of mine! Soo good!
Never give up the P90 in the neck, is adjustable with screws and springs or just sponges. My LPS1 Epiphone is adjustable and that is really cool you can make it quack, snort, talk like Syd Straw. Really good 👍
I saw a video from Phil McKnight where he spoke with Fender Master Builder Ron Thorn… care to guess what Ron’s number one is? It’s a Squier. Plenty of people can “make due” with a Squier/Epiphone
This I know. I just personally haven't met anyone who sticks with one. Sure they buy them but it's not the only one, usually it's a bunch of nice guitars and a squier. 😅 But that's super interesting, I bet a master builder can make a squier sing no problem! 🙂 I need find that Phil McKnight vid! Thanks for commenting! It means a lot man!
@@alexradsby I have a tele (2015 china).. I sold my american standard and a mexican to keep the CV as my main... Ive worked setting up almost all of them, the strats, jaguars, jazzmaster, basses, custom, deluxe teles and theyre always the best instruments in my opinion out of the factory
I'm a bedroom player, and for my purposes I see no point in investing in Gibson or Fender. Not only that I'm not crazy for the Classic Vibe series because of the sticky finish, and when it comes to bridges or tuning machines I will go for function over the vintage look every time. If I were a gigging musician I would go at least the Player series. My current amp is a 50 watt Katana. It's an excellent practice amp, but I am under no delusions to its suitability as a stage amp. That would need an upgrade too.
The player series are pretty great though for sure. I know a lot of musicians who gig with them! Ive never used katana myself but everything I've heard about it is good and it sounds great in demos for sure!
Buying guitars is not about making money, it's about the joy you get out of it. A well set up squier is as good as any guitar, forget preconceived notions, more money does not have to equal better. Incedently, I keep all my guitars.
I definitely agree with you. Squiers are amazing guitars, I just think it's a better buy to move a step above it for your own sake. But if you're keeping all of them then its definitely not a problem. 🙂
I wouldn’t go “ well set up squier is as good as any guitar”. I had a really nice classic vibe but you could feel and hear you were playing a really good budget guitar. For example the electronics weren’t great. Pickup Switch had a really annoying static noise every time I switched pickups. Also pickups had too much higher frequencies compared with a better balanced single coil from more expensive guitars. Laquer was also very heavy and Sticky as well. Anyway I still think that was a great strat just not a FENDER STRAT in terms of how it sounded and feel. Lastly, since I don’t have money to get an American strat or les Paul I usually look for other brands that make strat and les Paul inspires guitars that are really incredible like Godin guitars, a Canadian based company with decades of making incredible “made in North America” guitars sometimes at same prices than far eastern guitars, you should check them out
I love squier classic vibe because I don’t baby them. I just leave them out and bang on them without worrying about washing my hands or changing the strings or dusting them. Plus they’re beautiful-they look just like Fenders. I agree I wouldn’t gig with it or cherish it like a Gibson or Fender or something boutique. But it’s still going to stay around because I will always want something to bang around on or let my KIDS bang around on! 👶 I have three CVs. 60s thinline tele and 2 60s Strats. I might get a 70s thinline tele as well with the two humbuckers eventually.
Haha yes that makes total sense. They do look incredible. I always want more guitars especially Squiers but I keep debating with myself about this, feels like every week now because Fender keeps releasing new ones 😅
@@alexradsby I think your take at the beginning is correct. The smart thing to do is not get one unless it was one of your first guitars. But since you already have nicer ones it doesn’t make sense to go down. Unless you just want something to beat on like me. Also it looks good just sitting in my living room. 😂
@@alexradsby one more thing I just thought of! I like the thinline because it sounds good unplugged. I leave one in my living room and play it sort of like an acoustic guitar or something to noodle on if I’m laying on the couch. 🎸 🤘
I really want a thinline, though I want a thinline jazzmaster double bound preferably. One day I might find one 🤞 thinlines / semi hollows makes for perfect couch guitars! 🙂
I know exactly what you mean and I feel the exactly the same way. My first guitar was a Epiphone slash Rosso Corsa and probably won't get rid if it for that reason, but that is the only one. Would rather have it say Fender or Gibson on the headstock. I did buy other guitars like a Gary Holt ltd with a floyd and some Dean Dimebag signatures all Indonesia no china. When it comes to Gibson or Fender I just like seeing Gibson or Fender on the headstock otherwise it just doesn't seem right. Don't know why, but they make me happy.
Haha yeah its a bit weird, I don't mind LTD or Sterling or anything really. Just Fender & Gibson, it has to be a generation thing maybe. i don't know 😅
okay... been playing guitar for 16 years now... had gibsons, higher end fenders, nice gretchs, japanese grecos. I have 3 guitars now... Troy Van Leeuween Jazzmaster which is rad with a proper set up. at first i hated it then i set it up with 11s and its great now for a good portion of things. Now to the next portion... the last two are a classic vibe 60s tele custom and the second is a classic vibe 50s strat. if you can find the chinese ones they made in the beginning they were made with alder bodies and rosewood necks. perfect platform for modding. you can rewire them, get new pots, new pick ups, better bridges and then they play as good as the expensive models. I was blown away by how good they play set up right. the wood resonates well despite the poly finish. if i had to choose between the two though, get the custom 60s tele. sold the rest of my guitars. cause i wasnt playing them enough. the squires somehow took up the favorite spot.
I do believe that squiers and epiphones are great instruments especially if you upgrade them! Nowadays you can't really go wrong buying them, the quality and price are difgicult to beat. It only becomes a problem if you want to sell/trade them to upgrade to mexican/us guitars really haha. I do love what Squier puts out. Always so many beautiful options 🙂
@@alexradsby agreed 110%. the resale and trade becomes hard to justify because of the logo on the headstock and perceptions of quality. I think... and this is crazy to say as a guitarist... but im over trading and buying guitars, so for me i just wanted a decent base that i could upgrade as much as i want. ive been lucky to own dozens of different instruments, now im more so on shaping what i have... addiction to pedals is much cost friendlier ahahaha
Dude I totally feel you. This youtube thing has gone over my head. More guitars doesn't really help me at all haha. I will probably start selling of a couple so I can focus on more important things than gear in general. Getting to know a couple of guitars really well speaks to me way more than owning 10+ guitars.
You’re not a snob, necessarily. You like what you like. Nothing wrong with that. Personally, one of the best playing and sounding I’ve ever played was an Epiphone SG. I’ve also played shows with Squiers that were fantastic. I think that a lot of people, myself included at one point, get lost in the brand name. Doesn’t matter what anyone says, there are some Squiers and Epiphones out there that play and feel indistinguishable from their parent models. There’s a lot of psychology behind this, in both directions, actually. I’m happy with what I have, and I’ve played some very high end guitars. Like I said, you like what you like, brother. People should just leave it at that. 😁
Never owned a Squier before, since I'm not exactly a Fender person, but the Squier Contemporary Telecaster did caught my attention, since it's their modern take of a classic shape. As for an Epiphone, well, I do have a Les Paul Special VE that needs parts replacement and has been sitting in the corner for 2 years. Collapsed bridge, bent tailpiece and a toggle switch that is held together with super glue (didn't have a soldering iron yet at the time 🤣). Might replace the parts and use it in the future, or maybe give it to my nephew if he ever wants to play guitar when he's big enough to hold one. As for the modding platform thingy, I think it was Phillip McKnight that said this: "If you like the guitar, then sure, go ahead and mod it. But if you don't like the guitar, even after modding it, you probably still not gonna like it" or something like that. If was those words that encouraged me to mod my RG, because I genuinely do like it, even though it's not the best guitar ever built.
That makes total sense. I always think modding will make a guitar better but I've realized it's not the case. I still don't pick it up haha. No pickups in the world will help that. 😅
@@alexradsby 60’s custom Esquire. Double bound and in black! In full disclosure, I modded the guitar without ever even plugging it in 😅 I had a target number I wanted to stay under for the complete purchase and I was able to do so. now I have a guitar I’m not afraid to bang around and work on myself. Plus it sounds killer!
The Epiphone LesPaul Special I with P90s is a true heritage guitar. I had it setup very well with new RevWilly (Billy Gibbons) Mexican Lottery 7s and an adjustable saddle wraptail bridge. Good setup P90s all Mahogany with a bolt on neck like the original Specials had when Gibson made them in Kalamazoo. I have a sweet little Peavey Rage practice amp. It sustains like the Gibson P 90s did. My problem is that I broke my shoulder and arm and I still have a torn or possibly a detached Labrum ligament that holds my shoulder in socket. It really hurts and the 12 inch radius is painful for my wrist and hand. I don’t know if a different radius would help, but I doubt it. The tone is awesome. It is like a 50/60s Special. It is the Flat Ebony with grain. I also have an Epiphone DR- 212 12 string acoustic also a 12 inch radius neck with a 1.895 nut. I have large hands with long fingers and it was no problem until I broke my shoulder. It is another beautiful instrument! I have both tuned down, the electric is Eflat and the acoustic is tuned to D. But they are exquisitely setup and the tones are really great. I am going to take it easy on playing and hope it heals. At 61 I don’t want Surgery.
One of my prized guitars is a 1990 made in USA squire. It legit plays like a dream. Also I recently acquire the Jerry Cantrell Epiphone wino. And oh my God it screams quality and you don’t have to break the bank. I work at a local Guitar dealer and let me tell you cost is irrelevant when choosing the right Guitar. All it takes is for the planets to align perfectly and voilà whether it’s 200 bucks or $2000 trust the universe will send you your gem. Love your channel noticed the recent growth in subscribers keep hustling all the best. 😎💯✌️
I would disagree in terms of getting your money back or rather say that's kind of a misconception, It always boils down to percentages. If you buy any guitar new you're going to get back around 50 to 75% of what it cost new...and that's with any brand, especially if you sell it privately. For example, you buy a 40th anniversary squier brand new for $600 you can resell it easily for $400. If you buy a TVL Jazzmaster brand new for $1599 you're gonna probably get around $1100ish for it. But, that also boils down to what you're buying and the demand for it.
Sure yes of course, a lot of times the item loses a bit of value. In my own case I've bought used but expensive used and sold at a profit a couple years down the line. I still believe buying the thing you really want is rhe better choice, not a lot of budget guitars raises in value with time. Thanks for commenting man, i appreciate it 🙂
I've got American, and Japanese Fenders, also USA Gibsons, but my Japanese epiphone elite is amazing, and my Tony Iommi Epiphone g400 is also brilliant, I'll keep those for life
Tony Iommis Monkey SGs from anywhere are excellent. Considering his right fingers were mangled at the tips, I can listen to early Sabbath and never get tired of it.
@@alexradsby You should before the accident my 12 string acoustic with that 1.895 nut that even made my hand on the top frets had to turn and pivot on my thumb and have to turn out of position doing cowboy chords, the tone is really rich like having been EQ’d and I learned to move around the neck instead of CFG in position 1 , I found myself playing sus and 9 overs up the neck while singing. My voice is kind of a deep baritone sort of like Dave Alvin. You find your self singing differently because your hand has learned to go with it.
I'm a bit late to the party, but here's my 2 cents: I've got a bit over 10 guitars, mostly epiphones (lp,sg,ex and fv's) and i am still happy with them, but ever since i got a gibson sg special something changed, and i came to the same conclusion as you did. Its fun to have a big collection of toys in different colors and configurations, but in the end i'd rather have 3-5 really nice guitars. And maybe 1-2 cheaper ones as beaters.
I bought a 2020 Squier Classic Vibe 60s Telecaster for $350.00. I did what is necessary as you would to any Telecaster. I had the pickguard, pickups, and controls shielded and grounded because it's a single coil pickup model guitar. I decided to put in a set of Fender 1964 Telecaster pickups along with a Fender CTS pickup switch and control pots. All of the parts were under $175.00. It's not that expensive to do the upgrades. When somebody plays it they smile. Whenever you resell a guitar you're not always guaranteed to get your money back or turn a profit only highly collectable vintage models are going to do that right now. If your guitar isn't in pristine condition you won't get as much out of it, as if it was. If you're an actively gigging musician you always stand the chance of having it stolen at venue or even out of your vehicle if you leave it in plain sight. An affordable guitar is easier to replace than an expensive one. Prestigious named models are a higher risk of being stolen than a budget one. People in the audience don't know or care what brand name is on the headstock either. I've seen a lot working guitar players using Epiphones and Squier Classic Vibe models for this reason. They don't want to risk having something very valuable taken from them. The odds of it being found and returned are slim and none.
Makes total sense for sure! A lot of guitarist seem to leave their really nice guitars at home and gig with (like you said) squiers or mim fenders etc. Thanks for commenting man, I really appreciate it!
Squiers & Epis are nice modding platforms. I've used quite a few for that. Plus you can take them with you down the road without fearing to have them beat up or even stolen. But at the end of the day, you get what you pay for. They are good instruments, but not fine instruments IMO. And when you end up selling them, the resell value is close to zero. So: ok for having fun, swapping out pickups, trying crazy wirings etc. but you end up spending what you could invest either in a good self assembled guitar or saved on the purchase of a real nice one. My 2¢...
@AlexRadsby With all that said keep in mind you bought that Burny Les Paul copy and I commented on it this morning about how great it sounded when you asked suggestions for different pickups. zand I said it sounded amazing with that sweet ultra low tone but suggested the Nuno Bettencourt Washburn N4 pickups if you wanted. It can be a 2 sided blade. "D"
I agree with this idea when it comes to Squier, not so much Epiphone. The problem with Squier is that you are basically buying a cheaper version of something that could be better. Epiphone does this to an extent with its Epiphone Standard LPs, but it also has other great guitars such as the '58 Korina Flying V which at a Gibson price point is not something that is realistically meant to be played compared to the Epiphone version. Epiphone also has the Casino models which are great guitars.
Yes that makes sense of course! Though I don't know about the resale value of epiphones. I feel like you lose a lot by buying them overall but I totally see your point!
@@alexradsby This is true I think for most Epiphone Les Paul guitars STD. I bought trans green one for 200 about a year ago and traded it for a brand new Marshall 40Cr (still in box, taken out once and put back in). The Casino I bought new in 2008 for I believe 800 with the HSC. I traded that in 2017 for a Highway One Strat (+100 on my end).
I feel the same way. I have an Epiphone Les Paul Tribute. It sounds great and plays well, but I just can't help but want the real thing. It's probably coming from a consumerist mindset, but I can't seem to shake it.
I agree with you on end game. Epiphone and Squier might not be an endgame guitar. But I've bought and sold many Epiphones and ESP LTDs and almost always made a profit. You just need to know how much they are worth on the used market ...
Ah yes definitely. Its not difficult at all and it's a fun journey just to buy & sell just tp try out gear. Personally I actually think LTD is better quality than Epiphone overall too. Definitely keepers in my book.
i definitely agree with the point about selling but as a platform to even learn luthier skills and a guitar you can ding up and not care it is perfect i would definitely buy used and it’s 100% worth the price
I personally don’t see value in buying guitars as a business model or to not lose money. It’s what makes people happy and for some that’s a varietal collection that I continue to learn on. I have quite a few CVs but I also have a Les Paul, American Pro II Tele, and am getting an American Pro II Strat to hand down to ea of my 3 kidz. I’m not a good guitar player and I have a nice collection. It makes me happy and I’m learning😂. I love how you think and would love to be the same but collecting is addictive!! Rock on and keep the cool videos coming!!
I think I would keep buying Squiers if I had the room and the time to play them. But since I both have limited time and space it's not a good idea hence me leaning on it's not "a good financial decision" for me because I tend to sell guitars I don't pick up and play in months. And Squiers and Epiphones are crazy impressive guitars. I barely feel any major differences between them and their expensive counterparts. Dude, I've never tried the American Pro line. They look pretty amazing! 🙂
I have a couple higher end guitars, which are my #1 & #2. Bought a few cheaper guitars to explore sounds and other guitar styles. The guitar I pick up 1st is an Ibanez i bought used for $80 that I modded with a TV Jones pickup in the bridge, I love it. Musical inspiration comes at any price point.
@@alexradsby However, for future purchases, I definitely think about resale value. As I get older, I want to make sure my family can make use of the $ from the sale of my guitars after I'm gone. They wouldn't get much for the modded Squier or know that they should sell the individual parts.
I bought a Squier paranormal jazz bass and it rocks! I have a feeling these oddity type squier guitars and basses are gonna go up in price since I don’t think a tone are made like the CV. I actually just bought a squier Bass VI since they are back in stock and I bought a limited purple one. Before they were going for like over a grand during the shortage of production. So excited for it though! If you buy the right squiers you will be able to double or even triple the price you paid for it.
Theres one squier you need. I just bought one recently and its one of the best guitars ive ever played, and the great news is, squier is making them again and at the moment you can get one for cheap and it still sounds great and looks awesome. Its called a squier supersonic. Fender has made a few, but even those arent as good as the japanese squiers in my opinion. Seriously, even the Chinese ones sound terrific!! At least give one a try. Youll be happy just playing power chords for hours. Even omar Rodriguez-lopez played one with "at the drive in" hes a left though and his is flipped so it just looks like a jaguar lol unreal tone tho. Mines blue sparkle. The original ones go for 1000-2000 bucks now. You can find a few used chinese ones for like 200 tho. Theres a few upgraded that could be made but they arent even really necessary right away. Great guitar. Also, as soon as they stop making them theyre guaranteed to go up in value
I like to buy used up Squiers off of Facebook Marketplace for $40-70 and use them as mod platforms. I practice painting, fret leveling and polishing to get my luthier skills up, without any concern about wrecking an expensive guitar. I try different pickup and wiring combinations using good quality (at least better quality) parts I find on eBay. So far I’ve managed to make one really great playing and sounding guitar without a lot of investment that I can sell without losing a lot of money. My goal is to use these new skills to find a beat up old Fender and bring it back to life.
Your points are all solid. You don't spend money on guitars. You invest it. Some investments are better than others. I did buy a Squier baritone, really enjoyed it, then flipped it for a small profit once it was out of production - but you're right they usually drop in value. My advice would be to go for a limited edition, or made in Japan one.
Oh smart move on the baritone. Those have gone up in price like crazy!. Yes! I totally agree with you with the limited edition or japanese for sure! 👌🙂
I feel you on that Epi/Squier not being the "end goal". I have two Epiphones in my collection that I have for very specific reasons. One is a Korean made '58 style Explorer from 2008 which I consider to be my first "real guitar". The only things I've done to it are swap out the pickups for SD's, and put locking tuners on it, but for over 13 years, I keep coming back to it. It's seen show after show with me and I will never sell it, not only because of the sentimental value, but because I also really love that guitar. My other Epiphone is the Brent Hinds Silverburst Flying V, which I like Brent Hinds and Mastodon fine enough, but the real reason I wanted it is because c'mon, it's a Flying V Custom in silverburst that doesn't cost $6000. But since my time starting playing guitar, I've built a good little collection for myself. I have a Gibson LP, an American made Strat, an MIJ Gretsch Jet, a Greco LP, among others. Definitely not trying to brag by any means, I'm extremely fortunate for my job and that I can have several nice guitars. But when I look at guitars now bored browsing reverb/ebay, any new guitars I get now have to be something really special for me to pull the trigger. Call me a snob, but through my years of playing guitar, I've played the full spectrum of guitars in all price ranges and know what I like and to be quite frank, know how much I'm willing to spend to get what I like, so I totally agree with you on that. Good video! Would love to see you get your hands on the occasional really special release from Epi/Squier one of these days!
I'm the same as you. Good job with a really good salary and I'm basically able to buy whatever I want within reason. I'd love to try out the new epiphones for sure!
@@alexradsby I was tempted to pull the trigger on one of the prophecy models, I'll give Epiphone this, they're willing to try different stuff with the classic guitar shapes, you wouldn't ever see Gibson putting 24 frets and active pickups in a Les Paul
Do those Fenders and Gibson make you a better player. If you are only buying instruments as investments then that is not buying an instrument because you love it and you live the way it plays. I own fenders, but i also own Squiers and epiphones. Great guitars one and all.
I personally wouldn't buy a guitar as an investment. I buy it to play it. Though financially speaking I still believe it's not the best bet if you have an inkling of a tought of selling it to upgrade in the future. I definitely believe squiers, epiphones or any affordable guitar are amazing playing guitars, especially nowadays. No denying that at all. 🙂
I totally see where your coming from. But it’s all perspective. I’ve only bought guitars with the intention to play them and not as investments. So I’m totally happy moding and fucking up all my guitars. I love tinkering and feel better tinkering on a cheap guitar then an expensive one. My main guitar is a 2009 classic vibe telecaster, and i only get positive feedback from how it looks and how it sounds.
I used to play only 1-2 instruments for years but as soon as i made the move to buy american or more expensive I felt that everything about the guitar needs to fit the bill. Especially if you’re spending the money then you really need to know what you like so I keep them stock snd buy and sell until i find the ”one” i want to keep. Nowadsys i only mod a guitar if I really really love it.
I don't really buy Squier or Epiphone because there are just more interesting guitars out there if you beat the bushes. I got an MIJ 62 Reissue Fender used for not much more than a new Squier CV. I got an Agile Les Paul with an ebony fretboard and a case for under $400. Dunno who Agile is but they make a nice guitar and used prices are stupid cheap. Yamaha makes fantastic instruments. Sawtooth makes some interesting stuff too.
I would assume streamliners devalue the same as Squiers and Epiphones, yes! As for quality I personally have no idea. I have never played Gretch! But people keep recommending them to me haha, maybe need to dip my toes a bit into gretch land and try some out 😅
@@alexradsby I bought one just a few weeks ago, personally i'm super happy. But then again, i spent about the last decade and a half playing on a cheap prone to fret buzz squire and on the infamous Fender stratoacoustic. So... of course... any guitar will feel amazing i guess.
i can see how that is a thing for sure. I used to do that as well. Now I look for the complete package if possible. Definitely difficult, modding pickups is pretty given nowadats, not a lot of production guitars that have good enough pickups
I don't have these problems, I have hamster syndrome, everything I buy, collect and don't sell 😉🙃 It's like love to me, when I see a guitar I like, money is not the most important thing. I have Ibanez art 120 and I will upgrade it, because I really like it, I will probably spent more money on parts and magnets then I paid for the guitar, but I don't regret it 😉
Having owned both Epiphone and Squiers. They’re worth owning if you have an idea what to do with it (mods, etc.). I’ve never took resale value into account, I’ve always look guitars as tools cause I don’t like to put things on a pedestal. I have a Classic Vibe Jazzmaster that I adore and would love to mod. Will I upgrade to an higher-end version? I don’t know, I don’t think about that. I just enjoy what I have and just play. If it doesn’t work out, well lesson learned, move on.
If the Jazzmaster is a great guitar then adding some mods will probably just make it even nicer. I personally love some nice Lollar Jazzmaster pickups. 🙂 I only care about resale value because I trade/sell a lot of guitars. Thanks for commenting I appreciate it so much!
@@alexradsby yeah no problem! It’s totally understandable as you buy/sell/ trade guitars. It’s different for me since I just love to play and I work with my limitations. It forces me to be creative in some ways.
lots of fallacies.. youll always lose money upgrading no matter what guitar you have, everyone wants stock especially if its expensive. and most expensive guitars do depreciate hundreds of dollars too you even said you buy/sell so i guess most guitarists have a habit of going through guitars regardless of cheap or expensive botton line: do whatever you want with your money, always a hater out there
Personally I don't have the ear to really hear the differences between an Epiphone body compared to a Gibson. I would assume there would be differences of course if they have the same electronics and pickups. Would have been interesting to do a comparison at some point for sure.
@@alexradsby I have a DC600X with a hipshot trem with active pickups polarity and I have a Delos coming in next month with a gotoh trem and some lithium single coils and a holdsworth humbucker in the bridge and a roasted maple neck 🔥
@@alexradsby definitely make your built bro they are so worth it I worked with flock he is good or maybe they can lend a loaner guitar so you can review them 🤷🏻♂️
You are a snob. JK, all your points are true! Having owned many brands and models, you get into each one knowing (hopefully) that they are better bought used!
I've been changing my opinion a bit since this was filmed actually haha. Squier and Epiphone are releasing some damn good ones now. It's getting more and more difficult to ignore. But it all depends what the end game is, they are great instruments but if your end game is gibson level or similar then you might as well save up and buy a used one. Budget guitars will always just lower in value compared to premium ones. 🙂
@@alexradsby a local kid bought a Gibson Les Paul and was looking to sell his 2021 Epiphone SG Traditional in graphite black so I offered $100.00 and I really enjoy it. Local Guitar Center received a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Pro V (with a broken headstock) and I will have a local luthier repair it for me. Normally $2,700.00 new, I will offer a few hundred dollars for what will be an excellent “players grade” Les Paul 🥳
Of course sound is an important thing. Though you can't deny looks either, its definitely a thing that decides if you pick up the guitar or not. 🙂 I switch most pickups in fenders or squiers anyway.
I was in that same head place if it's not Gibson or Fender it's not good. Somewhere along the way I've discovered that a substantial amount of Epiphone and Squires are equal to the more expensive versions . I can be happy playing these as apposed to paying much more for the name .
Tbh I haven't played enough squiers to really know how good they really are. But the newer ones that I've picked up played and sounded really really good
They are garbage. Even people that like them say you have to swap everything out. Why would you do that. I bought one online that had probably $700 worth of Fender custom pickups and replacement everything. I bought it for $150. Sold it a week later for $190. It sounded great put played like trash. The neck was garbage. And yes all that money to upgrade and it's worth nothing on the secondary market.
