Fender Squier Strat or Tanglewood Jetstream
David J. A. Lewis
in a music shop, at the Fender Squier Strat for 109 pounds in the
window, and the nice salesman showed be what the guitar could do, and
I was very impressed, but the shop a few doors away has a Tanglewood
Jetstream in the window for 69. Both are new. As I have only just
bought the book and was thinking about my first guitar, I'd be very
greatful for some info.
--
Dai
Disclaimer:
The messages posted are my own views, and are in
no way intended to represent those of my employer.
David Galbraith
build quality is much better than the Squier. If you can stretch to it the
best budget guitar available is the Yamaha Pacifica 112 which retails at
£199. This is by far the best quality cheapo instrument you can buy. The
Tanglewood is made in Korea and well put together - I suspect your Squier
will be made in China and they're frankly just no good.
Ultimately though, it's down to personal preference but I know that I'd go
for the Yamaha first then the Tanglewood.
Good luck with whatever you buy.
Dave Galbraith.
David J. A. Lewis <lewi...@cf.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:375D18...@cardiff.ac.uk...
David J. A. Lewis
build quality. I don't think my budget can stretch to 200 though, but I
will keep an eye out for second hand ones.
David Galbraith wrote:
>
> Personally I'd go for the Tanglewood given the choice between the two. The
> build quality is much better than the Squier. If you can stretch to it the
> best budget guitar available is the Yamaha Pacifica 112 which retails at
> £199. This is by far the best quality cheapo instrument you can buy. The
> Tanglewood is made in Korea and well put together - I suspect your Squier
> will be made in China and they're frankly just no good.
>
> Ultimately though, it's down to personal preference but I know that I'd go
> for the Yamaha first then the Tanglewood.
>
> Good luck with whatever you buy.
>
> Dave Galbraith.
>
> David J. A. Lewis <lewi...@cf.ac.uk> wrote in message
> news:375D18...@cardiff.ac.uk..
David Galbraith
the Chinese versions. The on;y problem is with the pickups on the mexican
versions. They're not very clear. However, when time and budget allows you
can update them I'd recommend Kent Armstrong pickups. They're British made,
cheap and very very good.
dave galbraith
David J. A. Lewis <lewi...@cf.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:375D25...@cardiff.ac.uk...
JNugent
>Thanks, the Fender was actually made in Mexico, but I take your point on
>build quality. I don't think my budget can stretch to 200 though, but I
>will keep an eye out for second hand ones.
If you can still get that Mexican-made Fender for £109, then go back and
bite the dealer's hand off! MIM Strats are highly-regarded, even in the USA.
David J. A. Lewis
testicles.
Steve Cobham
<lewi...@cf.ac.uk> wrote:
>Thanks, I went and bought the Strat and fair play, it's the canines
>testicles.
Well done!
You got a great deal.
A good guitar to start with, and there's lots of scope for upgrading
it.
Replacement tuners and pickups are easy to find and easy to install.
While you're changing the pickups, put a US-made Switchcraft 5-way
switch in. The cheaper ones are noisy and also prone to faliure after
a short while.
Steve.
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David J. A. Lewis
>
> Thanks, I went and bought the Strat and fair play, it's the canines
> testicles.
The only thing is, I would have thought it would come with a leaflet or
booklet of some kind. You know.."Congratulations on purchasing you
Fender Squier Stratocaster, used properly it will give you years of
trouble-free service.....etc" But nothing, a guitar, in a foam bag, in a
box, held together with polystyrene blocks, and a plastic bag with the
trem and a couple of allen keys.
Steve Cobham
<lewi...@cf.ac.uk> wrote:
>David J. A. Lewis wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, I went and bought the Strat and fair play, it's the canines
>> testicles.
>
>The only thing is, I would have thought it would come with a leaflet or
>booklet of some kind. You know.."Congratulations on purchasing you
>Fender Squier Stratocaster, used properly it will give you years of
>trouble-free service.....etc" But nothing, a guitar, in a foam bag, in a
>box, held together with polystyrene blocks, and a plastic bag with the
>trem and a couple of allen keys.
When I got my Strat Plus, along with the case, a good quality lead and
a Fender strap, came a very basic little booklet - about 16 pages A6
size - about how to set it up: what manufacturers of everything from
toasters to TVs sometimes call an "owner's manual".
Squiers don't get such "deluxe" treatment, I'm afraid.
Incidentally, keep those hex keys *very* safe. I work on a lot of
guitars - about 60% Strats or Strat clones - and I'm continually
amazed at how many different sizes of hex keys are needed to work on
all models. Standardisation of screw/boly/nut/fastener size seems to
be non-existent and the right tools - particularly the correct size
hex keys - sometimes very difficult to find. I have *lots* of hex keys
that I have to plough through before I find the correct size for the
guitar I'm working on. One key I have is the only one that will fit a
certain model of acoustic guitar when the trussrod needs adjusting.
If you've got hex keys that fit your guitar, guard them with your
life!
Now all you really need to make up a *very* basic toolkit for most
jobs is a good quality crosshead screwdriver of the correct size. Not
too small - you don't want to round out the screw slot.
You're fairly lucky to get the keys.
A few shops seem not to include them with the guitar. Perhaps you got
yours because they were packed with the whammy bar.
Mind you, I've known people buy a new Strat and not even get the trem
bar with it!
Aaron Turner
: can update them I'd recommend Kent Armstrong pickups. They're British made,
: cheap and very very good.
I was under the impression that the Kent Armstrong Sky brand were UK
designed but manufactured in Korea. Nice pickups, though. I have them in
my Tele and they are various nice (and clear).
Aaron Turner