batman
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 2
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Post by batman on Jul 27, 2023 22:59:33 GMT -5
Howdy, beginner guitarist here. wanted to say hi and get thoughts on a new guitar, thinkin squier bullet mustang HH
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Beginner
Jul 28, 2023 11:01:52 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by unreg on Jul 28, 2023 11:01:52 GMT -5
Welcome to GN2 batman! 👍 Have learned the Squire Bullet Mustang HH is made in Indonesia. And it’s $199. It’s a Fender, so this may not apply: My guitar is an ESP LTD M-155. It was made on a Korean assembly line. It’s an HH with 24 frets (2 complete octaves per string). Was ~$300. It did work correctly for a bit, but its sound quality was so awful. So, I had Mars Music install a DiMarzio humbucker, that acts like a p90 (a great sounding single coil), at the bridge location. I worked on this guitar for a long time… and, now, it sounds excellent to me at least. Korean assembly lines don’t assemble most guitars excellently. But, your Squire will allow you to meet the fret board and start guitar! It may turn out better since it’s a Fender, I don’t know. The squire comes with a pick guard; which means any electronic tinkering will require string removal; keep that in mind. (My ESP does not have a pick guard; it has rear access cavities instead; so, like, I could replace a pot (i.e. a tone or volume control) without removing the strings.)
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Post by newey on Jul 31, 2023 21:25:21 GMT -5
batman, unreg- First off, let's get the brand name right. It's "Squier", not "Squire". I have no doubt there is some obscure trademark reason that caused Fender to change the spelling. In any event, a Squier will probably prove to be a good guitar to start out on. If you stick with playing, you'll eventually want to upgrade, but for now, something that's inexpensive but with decent playability should be your goal. The Bullet models are Squier's cheapest, and while I haven't ever handled one of the Bullet Mustangs, in general the Bullets are slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than the "real-deal" Fender models they emulate. If you can afford a few more dollars, Squier's "Classic Vibe" series is closer to the real Fenders (Parts will probably NOT interchange between Squier and Fender's NA-made guitars, however). The ones I have played (just briefly, in a store) were very good. The Vibe series models will probably hold their value a bit better over time, too, compared to the Bullet models, so that's also something to consider. But a few pointers when shopping for a new guitar as a beginning player: 1) Go into an actual brick-and-mortar music store (unless you live far from civilization!) and hold and strum some different guitars. You are in a sense fitting yourself to the guitar, like fitting a suit. Even if you can't play it yet, get a feel for the instrument in your hands. You can't do that over the internet. And, after having done so, you might end up going online to actually purchase the guitar if there's a big price differential (there probably isn't). But consider the benefits of dealing with a local dealer if there are warrantee or repair issues. It also doesn't hurt to patronize your local businesses rather than some global megacorp. 2) Don't fixate on a particular brand or model, try some different things out. You may find something that you like better than the Squier. Above all, don't go with the predisposition to get a particular guitar because your buddy has one (they are not you, see #1 above), and for the sake of all that is good and righteous, do not go thinking you have to have this or that guitar because { insert name of favorite guitar god here} plays one. Your fave guy has probably played a whole bunch of different guitars over the years (and probably sounded just as good on those as he does on his current axe). And, he may be making some coin from an endorsement deal to use a particular instrument. (And, he's not you- see #1 above). 3) No matter what you buy, plan to have it professionally set up as soon as you buy it. You'll probably want fresh strings, and even high end guitars often need some fret work when they come from the factory. Low-end guitars are going to vary more from one to another- looser manufacturing standards are one way it's cheaper. So even more so for that segment of the market. Aske the shop what they charge for a full set-up (this will likely be a range- there will be a basic price, but if the tech finds more problems once he gets into it, and more work has to be done, the cost rises somewhat.) Mentally add that cost to what you will pay for the guitar. It will be money well spent. 4) Unless you plan on strictly playing into/through your computer, you'll need an amp. As above, try some different ones out. Most beginning players buy way more amp than they need. I dunno, maybe it's a prove-your-manhood thing, like jacking one's pickup truck suspension up into the stratosphere. If you get to the point where you're playing gigs and need more power, ok, then go bigger. But a 10 watt amp is loud enough to upset your housemates if not the neighbors. I have owned and played through a whole bunch of practice amps over the years, good and bad sound-wise, and the biggest differentiator is speaker size. I've never really heard any amp with an 8 inch or smaller speaker that sounded good. The amp is an area where you may also want to consider buying used (which is an option on the guitar end as well, of course). Bigger amps are more likely to have been roughly used on the bar-band circuits, but practice amps generally sit in someone's bedroom, and they seldom get used as much as the person anticiapated whent hey bought it. So, some good bargains can be had, subject to the usual caveats about buying secondhand. And, for my unsolicited and admittedly biased opinion, I can't fathom why there is a reason for a HH Mustang. I mean, to each their own, and taste is a personal matter, but a big part of what makes a Mustang a Mustang is its single coil pickups. A HH Mustang (granted, never heard one that I know of) would mostly sound like another 24" scale thin solid body with 2 HBs- in other words, a lot like a Gibson SG. So, if that 2-HB sound is the goal, Epiphone makes an SG copy that's fairly inexpensive- maybe check one of those out, as I said, shop around a bit. Oh, and: Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!
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Beginner
Aug 2, 2023 0:36:03 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by unreg on Aug 2, 2023 0:36:03 GMT -5
Thank you newey for the correction! 👍 I bet that was just my phone’s auto correct. Silly phone. Sry batman.
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Post by sumgai on Aug 2, 2023 13:15:54 GMT -5
have no doubt there is some obscure trademark reason that caused Fender to change the spelling. Time for a history lesson. But wait, why should I scribble a bunch of word salad when I can just link to the definitive page that explains it all? Here we go: A history of the V. C. Squier comanyTherein I found only one small mistake, and that's merely about the timing of when CBS purchased the Fender company. Off by only 5 months, so no big deal. HTH sumgai
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Post by newey on Aug 3, 2023 12:43:34 GMT -5
Clearly, I neglected to google it. Interesting history. I note that Battle Creek, Michigan is right by Kalamazoo, where Gibson once made guitars (some of which were branded as "Kalamazoo"), so apparently that part of Michigan had a cottage industry around guitars at one time.
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Post by sumgai on Aug 3, 2023 15:27:26 GMT -5
so apparently that part of Michigan had a cottage industry around guitars at one time. It's very difficult nowadays to piece together all of the parts and pieces of who built what, where, and when. However, Michigan was known for having a large variety of woods that instrument makers of the early 20th century liked to use. Beyond that I can't say, I wasn't alive at the time to document all the comings and goings-on. HTH sumgai
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rominronin
Rookie Solder Flinger
Building a Franken-Jag-Stang
Posts: 3
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Beginner
Mar 12, 2024 12:32:51 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by rominronin on Mar 12, 2024 12:32:51 GMT -5
Hi, I’m new to the forum but I had to reply here. I’m very biased, just to warn you. I have a Squier Bullet Mustang and a Squier Sonic Mustang (which replaced the Bullet range). Both are great bang for buck beginner guitars. They’re also great if you’re more experienced and are comfortable modifying your instrument. I fall into the later category, having upgraded the neck pickup of the Bullet guitar, and more fundamentally modifying the bridge of the Sonic one. All in all I am very pleased with the instruments and think they are a solid place to start. If you’re interested, here’s what I did to the bridge: rominronin.net/posts/2024/sonic-mustang-bridge-mod
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Post by newey on Mar 12, 2024 21:15:21 GMT -5
rominronin- Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!You'll find lots of love around here for Squier guitars. And for myself, love a short-scale Fender. I have a Duo-Sonic reissue that's my main electric these days.
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