Squier Review: Mini Strat

History:

Purchase: Purchased last May from Musicians Friend for $99. It was a birthday gift for my twelve year old son who wanted to learn to play guitar.

What I Like About This Squier Mini Strat: I was pleasantly surprised to find that this little guitar was really quite good. After I bought it I started hearing horror stories about Asian made guitars, but I must have been lucky, this little guitar plays easy and has a good feel to the neck. The scaled down size is perfect for my son. And although the pickups are not high quality, it sounds pretty good. And, best of all, my son likes it and its small size and ease of use have encouraged him to continue to practice despite the frustrations that one encounters when learning any new instrument.

What I Do NOT Like About The Squier Mini Strat: The strings that came on the Mini Strat were less than spectacular. A quick string change using a spare set of Super Bullets from my guitar case made a big difference. Also, the strap lugs work loose every now and then and have to be tightened up. The pickups hiss a bit more than I like, but overall they sound pretty good.

Squier Mini Strat Quality Rating: Despite the low price and poor reputation of Asian-made guitars, I found this to be well constructed and the fit and finish is very nice. All the bolts and screws are tight (although the strap lugs loosen up every now and then).

Review Summary: For a youngster of small stature who wants to learn to play electric guitar, it is hard to beat the Squire Mini Strat. It is fairly light, easy to handle and sounds good – oh, and its looks are pure Fender. Perfect for the aspiring rock star. You can find other scaled down guitars, but most are a disappointment. The Mini Strat is not a high quality instrument – but for the money, it delivers good tone, good construction and good value. I give it a 3 out of 5 because the reality is just that – this guitar isn't meant to be a 5. It is meant to be a scaled down strat copy for those who want a small electric guitar and for kids on their way to arena stardom. And it does so, admirably.

Rating of this Squier product: 3

This Squier Mini Strat Electric Guitars Review Submitted By: Fast Eddie

Review Date: 2003-01-31