Black cat

Well, look what just happened; it's a black kitty now. This will retail for more than $600 if it debuts here. Worth your precious money? Up to you, it's your money.

Pic: Fender

Kid's gear

Some kids at work did solo performances this morning. One of them played this guitar & sang. Kids these days are fortunate to have good gear at their disposal for such indulgences. By the way, the parents came down to help set up the gear prior to the performance proper. Salute to parents who dedicate their time & effort in seeing their kids blossom in other aspects of life. Life is too short for merely an academic inclination, kids should be given opportunities to pursue their passion in equal measure at the very least. 

New CVs

I believe these are the newer Squier CVs released lately. That CV 70s Strat ($649) has a four-bolt feature instead of three so the label here should not be taken as a measure of exact reference. No idea how many of us out there are obliged to consider a baritone Tele but it's included in this release ($749). Strangely, I find the single coil tone to be more appealing when it comes to lower tunings but for those of us who are using this at high gain settings, we just want something humbucking. 

Pics: Swee Lee

Starcasting

I saw these recently listed at Swee Lee's web store. I like the idea that the Start-ish big '70s headstock was retained for this Squier Affinity iteration. Obviously, it's aimed at Tom Delonge fans but the signature version omitted the neck pickup, this one offers both. Might have given this a good consideration considering I have a steep interest in single humbucking guitars.

Pics: Squier

Price watch (93): Kitty scalpers

Modded version. 'Upscale' features include Bare Knuckle pickups & Graphtech saddles among others.

No mods but not purchased locally. 

Finally, one listed for less than $1K. The Squier Hello Kitty was listed for $799 when it was still available at Swee Lee.

The Fuzz pedal (Fender) was $159. Would you buy any of these items as an investment? 

Price watch (90)

Swee Lee is listing this for $1,099...

Same seller. When the VM Baritone debuted around 2021, it was listed for USD600 +/- but along the way, this one somehow gained cult status & listed for about USD1K (SGD1,341) in the after aftermarket. I don't recall seeing this black version being brought into the stores here but still, paying that much for a Squier?

Price is too good to be true but understandably so as it suffered a broken headstock along the way. If you trust the standard of this repair, by all means, go ahead.

On a personal note, I prefer broken headstocks to be repaired with splines (above) as an approach to strengthening the broken areas. This is a more assured way but not the compulsory standard to observe, it depends on the type of breakage. Stay away from broken headstock instruments if you can.

Pic: sguitarworks

Kitty '24

That's right, the proverbial feline is back. This is the Squier Hello Kitty ver. 2024. Note the matching headstock - body finish for this iteration. Available now at Swee Lee: $799. It's now about twice the price when it first debuted here.

This is the more palatable Fender (Japan) version with an MSRP of $2,850. 

Pics: GNews / Fender Japan

Price watch (86)

I believe this is one of the most delusional listings I've come across. Why that price tag?

Look at the 'upgrades' but pay particular attention to that last line. 🤦

Price watch (85): Close

If you have to decide between the Fender Player II Strat & an Edwards:

• Fender - a typical Strat, nothing special. Maybe those Alnico V pickups might appease to the contemporary players who are more at home with driven tones.
• Edwards - a typical Strat as well, one less fret + truss rod access at the neck heel. tradition 6-screws bridge. Made in Japan. 
• Something with Fender on the headstock vs Japanese QC... tough call.

If you have to decide between the Squier (Affinity) J-bass & a Bacchus WJB

• Squier - ceramic pickups, laurel fretboard. Good features for something in at this price point.
• Bacchus - roasted maple neck + steel frets, both for a sub-$500 asking price.
• $60 price difference between a good beginner bass & something that offers more in terms of value-for-money. What would hold you back - that Bacchus brand name, yes?

If you have to decide between a Jackson (RR24) & Edwards (Alexi Ripped) V-type outlines

• Jackson - Ebony 'board + JB/Jazz pickups, potent combo
• LTD - Ebony 'board + EMG HZ pickups, equally potent (EDIT: Pic shows the ESP version... oops)
• It's always a little difficult putting money into something with an endorser association but the Alexi Laiho models are popular (till today) with a good re-sale value. But in this outline domain, the RR will always be the standard reference / to beat. A single coil in the neck for the Laiho might be deal breaker for many of us. Then again, it already sounds very good just with the bridge humbucker.

Pics: Davis, Swee Lee

September deals @ SL

Swee Lee is having some discounts on selected products this September: 10% +/- 

I have personally handled the Fender Player Series (Gen 1) Strat & must say it's a good instrument if you are in the market for a no-frills Strat. This one going for $1,199.20 is a reasonable asking price despite my personal vendetta against Mex Strats that exceed the $1K mark. I'm a maple fretboard fan but I find this pau ferro version to be more enticing tone wise.

At the shred end, this Jackson Dinky JS22 arch top going for $272 should be considered. 

Squier Sonic P-Bass for $314 - recommended for those of us in need of a back up or for guitar dweebs looking for palatable bass tones for recording. 

Saving the best for last - this Fender 68 Vibro Champ (reverb) is about $200 off the list price but it's one of the best clean-sounding amps out there. Those looking to attach pedals through the FX loop - this might be a deal breaker - no FX loop. 

Pics: Amazon / Five Star / SL

Affinity Jaguar

This is a good move from Squier. A new Affinity Jaguar model that keeps things simple in the electronics department; a slanted 3-way switch. Nice.

If you dot wish for a dark fretboard material (laurel), then this maple version featuring a sparkling metallic brown finish, is absolutely cool.

Pics: Fender

Affinity Junior

Fender's Junior end of things now include the above Squier model; it's an HSS Strat featuring the oversized 70s headstock (yes!). Junior here refers to the scaled down body dimensions (90% of the standard outline) plus a 24" scale length. This isn't something special as the standard sized Jaguar are indeed 24" in scale length. The fretboard is laurel & frets go up to 20 only. 

Pics: Fender Japan

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Thanks for you generous contributions: Brother Juzryn

Selling: Squier Esquire CV 60s Custom

Good day, folks. Will be unemployed (again) in a few days, letting this go to tide things through.

• Squier: Esquire CV 60s Custom
• Unpadded bag included
• Condition: 9/10
• Pickups replaced with: DiMarzio Twang King
• Queries / confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• No trades / reservations
• Self-collect: Yew Tee / CCK mrt station
• Price: $500 (final)

Debut @ SL

Folks, if you are interested in the Squier Debut Series Strat / Tele, you need not trawl Amazon for one. These are now available at Swee Lee, list price stated above.

Pic: Amazon UK

New affinities

Squier has new Affinity models for us players who are on a strict gear budget. Maybe hardly any for that matter. Nothing too refreshing, a re-hash of familiar outlines but I'm fascinated by the following two models.

I kinda saw this coming - the Starcaster Deluxe. For those of us who are averse to the Tom Delonge Starcaster due to its solitary pickup, this dual humbucking version is it. Don't give me that it doesn't say FENDER on the headstock rubbish because the Tome Delonge model is manufactured at the Squier facility. 

The Stratocaster Jr isn't exactly a scaled down guitar for kids because it's featuring a 24" scale length. This is the Jaguar scale length & they didn't make those for kids. The compressed body might help younger players deal with form struggle. I do not wish to take the sting out of this novelty but Fender Japan did an entire range of Junior models (2022) & those did not get the deserving fanfare so why should these Squier counterparts be any different. 

The list prices for these instruments should be in the $500 +/- bracket judging by the USD references.

Pics: Fender

Debut?

There is currently a cloak of mystery surrounding this Squier model. It is from the Debut Series which are currently not documented in Fender's / Squier's official web page. It is only offered through Amazon in the mean time. Why the attention? It is the most affordable Squier out there listing for USD119. Notable pundits out there suggest it is Squier getting back at manufacturers who are trying to outdo them in their own game. 

Pic: Squier wiki

CV limited edition

This was released at Winter NAMM ('24) & finally available for our consideration (Swee Lee) - The Squier Classic Vibe '60s Limited Edition Series. Prices:

• HSS Strat: $679
• Maple 'board Tele: $649
• SH Tele: $679
• Jazz bass: $679

Antigua returns

The Antigua finish makes a return but not in the Fender range. The models you see above are all Squiers & these are strictly a finish re-visit. Meaning, these models are not the actual 70s embodiment. 

The Antigua finish is also currently offered as a 70th anniversary fixed bridge Strat (Mexican: CLICK) & I managed to get myself a Tele version not too long ago (Japanese: CLICK). If these Squiers make it here, don't be surprised if they cost a wee bit more than the rest rest of their Squier siblings.

Top pic: Yahoo Tech

Price watch (76)

Available at Swee Lee for $1,899. It's listed for more most probably due to its 'upgraded' pickups, which are a pair of Duncan's Black Winter. Folks, the 1221 is equipped with a pair of DiMarzios from the factory. Implying the Duncans as 'upgrades' is frankly, uncalled for.

Yes, the Japanese Squier Silver Series guitars are somewhat valued in the collector's turf. The reputation of these instruments are somewhat positive but there were lemons during the day & these might still be out there. The asking price as stated here is nearly $1K. There are other after-market Fenders out there which could pretty much out perform this Squier despite not being Japanese. If there is perhaps an ardent collector here interested in this instrument for what it is, the $960 deal might just happen. The domestic market here is not made up of serious collectors to begin with. 

American paranormal

The Jackson American Series Virtuoso models are in at Swee Lee. All models are available less the shell pink version. Gloss finishes list for $2,899 & satin ones are $50 lesser.

Also available - Squier's limited edition Paranormal models. All models you see above list for $629, the Rascal bass is $20 more. (EDIT: The 12-string is also $20 more than the other guitars)

Pics: Jackson / New Atlas