[thunderman]

I have tried numerous MIM and squire strats over the last 3 weeks and the one that feels best ot me is this Squire strat I have tried just down the street. I guess I am a bit resistant since it is a squire, but it just feels right... does that make sense?

Thoughts?

Also, is a rosewood fretboard or a maple one the better?

Thunder

[Rusty the Scoob]

When it comes to Fenders, definitley try it first IMHO! I'd never order one online unless there was a very good return policy.

Maple vs. Rosewood is a matter of preference. Maple tends to be bright and snappy, rosewood tends to be warmer with less crisp highs.

[hotasaPistol]

If it doesn't feel good you aint gonna play it good.

My daughter plays a squier that was a gift and after having it set up by my buddy it plays like a dream.

this buddy of mine is a great player and is starting to build his own guitars and his favorite to play is a Squire Telecaster....so I guess you never can tell.

I have a really nice PRS Custom 22 that I love but bought a G+L Tele last year and it feels so good the PRS is retired. Haven't played it in a year. Nothing wrong with the PRS....I just like the feel of the tele better

[strumminsix]

When it comes to Fenders, definitley try it first IMHO! I'd never order one online unless there was a very good return policy.

Maple vs. Rosewood is a matter of preference. Maple tends to be bright and snappy, rosewood tends to be warmer with less crisp highs.

+1

Also the fingerboard woods feel different to the fingers. Personally, I do not like the feel of rosewood. Others feel maple is too glossy. My personal favorite is Ebony that with a little lemon oil is a nice smooth surface that feels neither as porous as rosewood nor as slick as maple.

It's all about ***FEEL*** after a trip to Nashville we heard alot of hot Tele players... So I ***NEEDED*** one. I played about 25-30 Teles and settled on the Am Std. I tried about a dozen of them and found 1, and only 1, spoke to me. Bought her that day and she's been a favorite since!!!!

[keirweir]

My personal favorite is Ebony that with a little lemon oil is a nice smooth surface that feels neither as porous as rosewood nor as slick as maple.

I am glad you mentinoed that Strummin. To this point I have always had Rosewood and I always lemon oiled. I wondered about lemon oil on Ebony as my Rez axe will be my first Ebony.

[strumminsix]

My personal favorite is Ebony that with a little lemon oil is a nice smooth surface that feels neither as porous as rosewood nor as slick as maple.

I am glad you mentinoed that Strummin. To this point I have always had Rosewood and I always lemon oiled. I wondered about lemon oil on Ebony as my Rez axe will be my first Ebony.

I use it on Blackie (mahogany body, ebony fingerboard) about 4-6 times a year or every other string change.

She's been my #1 since 2004 and my tech says the fingerboard looks just fine but my frets are slowing wearing down....

[JonnyBoy]

No guitar is created equal, they are too much "hand assembled" still to be identical. they can have consistency here and there but feel is different on all guitars especially Fenders. They vary more than most other brands, but still all makes and models have that in common to some extent. I was going to buy a MIM and almost got the VIBE squier strat a year ago, and I NEVER thought I would buy a Squier for my #1 guitar at this point in my playing career. I waited a week to make up my mind, but I decided I liked the thinner neck, ebony fret board and one tone knob of the showmaster, which was a style I wasn't looking for at first either I always thought those to be heavy metal axes, but this one had a classic look to it though. Beautiful quilted maple over mahogany. Good luck buddy, you seem like you are not just gonna by something and regret it. You are shopping like a pro.

[strumminsix]

I always thought those to be heavy metal axes

That's my Jackson! All black, pointy headstock, etc, etc... But tossed in Pearly Gates, a few toggles and WOWSA!

[thunderman]

I love this squire standard series that I have been looking at.... then I played a highway 1 american and wow..... but for $400 less I can get the squire. The problem is that I can find it in the aligator yellow.....

[JonnyBoy]

So the American made is about $700? That's a smokin' deal for a guitar that will retain its value. The Americans use MUCH better pickups, You won't have to deal with the issue of swapping out pickups, plus they always have a resale value if you keep it in good shape. There are not that many American Made Strats or Tele's I totally disliked playing, usually if they were modded with too hot of pickups would be the biggest reason. I am dying to find out what you eventually pick out, be sure to let us know!!! I feel like I have been shopping for one!!!

[jackr]

I would buy an guitar that I haven't tried so long as there is some return policy.

I have never been much of a squire fan. My daughter has one and the tuners suck. I have played many of them and for a few $$ more you can get something much nicer. And the good thing about guitars is that you can always sell it. Maybe you wont get what you paid for it but it wont be a total loss should the guitar not work out.

Sometimes it takes a good number of hours to bond with a guitar.

[Grateful Dad]

On an impulse I went to Guitar Center in Plymouth Meeting PA and purchased a Fender Jazz bass last week to try out. They have a 30 day return policy so if I don't like it after practicing and gigging with my new band I can return it for a full refund. Pretty cool on their part, tomorrow night is my first practice with it, so far I really like the tone and the action: BIG FAT BOTTOM, warm tone, ahhh a classic Fender bass sound, so I'll probably keep it.

So yeah definitely try the guitar out first before purchase. If you find a willing dealer who has a satisfaction return policy, all the better.

Good luck!!