Squier is a part of the Fender family and is a brand that focuses on making great instruments for beginners at an affordable price. The Squier brand has been bringing the joy of playing music to everyone since 1982.
Their quality instruments are made with care and expertise to bring you a Fender quality sound at a budget price.
We put this guide together outlining the best Squier guitars on the market, if you’re looking for a good Squier guitar, you’ve come to the right place! This article explores the best Squier guitars on the market, we explain their features and specs, and look at why you might be interested in buying one.
I tested 6 products and found Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster to be the best Squier guitar.
This Squier guitar is fantastic. At a budget-friendly price, you’re getting a tone of value.
From the pickups to the wood choice and design, every element of this guitar feels well made. The quality isn’t miles away from the main Fender versions, which is a real treat given the low price.
The Jazzmaster model brings a different flavor compared to standard models like strats and teles. This extra layer of interest and uniqueness makes this guitar stand out.
This Squier line makes for ideal beginner guitars, and these will keep you rocking for years to come.
My first electric guitar was a Squier Stratocaster, it was the perfect instrument to learn on.
Squier guitars are always a great choice for beginners and intermediate players. These guitars have everything you need to learn and perform guitar. They aren’t as high quality as Fender instruments, but definitely take a lot of lessons from the design process. After all, Squier guitars are owned by Fender, so they use all their expertise and years of knowledge when designing instruments.
I think Squier guitars are probably the best instrument to buy for beginners. They’re versatile, sound decent, feel pretty solid, and have all the classic features of professional Fender guitars.
We loved the Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster for many reasons. This guitar is great for players of all skill levels.
The best Squier guitar for you depends on your style, skill level, budget, and taste.
Squier has a huge range of guitars on its lineup. Some of these are even more expensive than a Fender guitar model. From Stratocasters to telecasters and oddities, there is a ton of Squier guitars to choose from. Some are more suitable for traditional music, others are better for hard rock, and some are great all-rounders.
Squier strats will be a good choice for most players to start with. They feel comfortable and have a broad palette of tones.
Keep reading for our full review of the Best Squier guitars!
Alternatively, check out our guide on the best guitars for beginners.
Fancy looking at some futuristic instruments? Read our guide about the best carbon fiber guitars.
Best Squier guitar in our tests
- Squier Bullet Stratocaster HardTail
- Squier 50’s Telecaster
- Squier Bullet Mustang – HH
- Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster
- Squier Bullet Telecaster
- Squier J Mascis Signature Series Jazzmaster
Best Squier guitar Reviewed in Detail
1. Squier Bullet Stratocaster HardTail
The Squier Bullet Stratocaster is an electric guitar that has a traditional look, but with the feel of a high-end instrument. An exceptional instrument at any price, the Bullet Strat is available in an assortment of styles and colors, including left-handed models.
The Squier Bullet Strat HT is the ultimate in value with sound quality to spare. These guitars are known to be some of the best Squier guitars for new players. These Squier models are ideal for use as beginner guitars and are designed very similarly to the related Fender Models.
Featuring three single-coil pickups, the Bullet Strat has the great, traditional sound you want with the feel of a high-end instrument. Some variations come with a humbucker in the bridge, which brings a different tonal dimension. The sound of this guitar is versatile and broad. With 3 pickups, a 5-way selector switch, and multiple tones and volume knob
The Squier Bullet Strat is a great guitar for beginners because of its low price and comfortable design. This guitar has a comfortable weight and feels, with a slim and comfortable neck. The cutaway is deep which makes it super easy to reach higher frets.
This Stratocaster model is the perfect homage to the original fender model. This hardtail version has a fixed bridge, which doesn’t include the tremolo arm of vibrato models. In fairness, this does increase the tuning stability of the guitar compared to ones with a tremolo, although you won’t be able to do any crazy pitch bends,
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Basswood
- Fretboard: 22 frets, rosewood
- Pickups: (3 x Single Coil) or (2 x Single + 1 x Humbucker)
Pros & Cons:
- Versatile sound, 3 pickups, and 5-way selector switch.
- Light and comfortable.
- Slick feeling neck
- Super affordable price
- May need some setup
- Some tuning inconsistencies with thinner strings.
Verdict:
If you’re looking for a quality guitar at a low price, then the Squier Bullet Strat is a great choice. These have a wide variety of tones, meaning they can sound great for all styles of music. These are reliable, functional, and well-featured. They may be simplistic, but sometimes that’s all you need.
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2. Squier 50s Telecaster
The Squire Telecaster is a classic guitar with a long history of being a heavily relied upon guitar model. It is a versatile guitar that can handle a variety of styles.
The Fender Telecaster has been around since the 1950s. As one of the world’s most popular guitars, it has been used by many well-known artists. The Squire Telecaster is a solid-body electric guitar that was developed as a more affordable version of the expensive Fender Telecaster.
The Fender Telecaster is one of the most popular guitars of all time. From country to rock, surf, or blues, this guitar can do it all. The Squier 50’s Telecaster is a vintage-style Telecaster that looks and sounds like a true Fender.
This guitar has a maple neck and fingerboard with a rosewood fingerboard and 20 medium jumbo frets. It features a single-coil pickup in the neck position and a single-coil pickup in the bridge position. The Squier 50’s Telecaster is an affordable way to get that classic Fender tone.
There are several Squier telecaster variations around, including the Affinity Telecaster range which is slightly different from this one. These telecasters are some of my favorite Squier guitars, and I think are a bit more interesting and exciting than the common Stratocaster models.
Tonally, they sound very different from Stratocasters. They use a different body shape, with a thinner neck, and a completely different pickup configuration. They’re a bit thinner and brighter sounding than a Strat, making them slightly more suitable for the lead position. It has a classic telecaster sound which will be the envy of any guitarist.
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Alder body with a gloss finish.
- Fretboard: 22 narrow-tall frets, Maple Fretboard.
- Pickup Configuration: 2 x Squire Telecaster Single Coils.
- 1.65″ Nut width
- Chrome hardware
- 3-saddle Strings-thru-body Telecaster bridge
Pros & Cons:
- Lightweight and comfortable.
- Inspired by ‘50s Fender Telecasters.
- Strong-sounding pickups.
- High-quality feel.
- More expensive than basic Squier Stratocaster guitars-
- Needed some setup to get good action.
Verdict:
The Squier ‘50s Telecaster is a decent retro-styled guitar at a tasty price. These are similar in quality and price to the Squier strats, but with a different look, tone, and feel. If you could only choose one, the Strat might be more versatile, but the telecaster is more exciting.
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3. Squier Bullet Mustang - HH
The Fender Telecaster is a classic electric guitar with a long history.
The Fender Mustang was a unique, offset-style guitar, introduced in 1964 as a redesign of their student models such as the Duo-Sonic and the Musicmaster.
This lighter, smaller-bodied electric guitar was popular in the punk and grunge music scene and was a favorite guitar of Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain. They have a completely different design and sound to other popular Fender guitars like Strats and teles.
These have a typically bright and cutting sound, with a punchy low end. Their sound might not be suitable for all styles of music but excels for others.
If you’re looking for an electric guitar that is versatile, comfortable, and easy to play, then look no further than the Squier Bullet Mustang – HH. This is the HH version, meaning it comes fitted with two humbucking pickups. These humbuckers have a nice weight and thickness to them, creating a warm, powerful sound. I think the HH models sound better than single coils, as the humbuckers help to offset some of the thinnest of the Mustang design.
The Squier Bullet Mustang is a 22-fret, solid-body electric guitar with a fast-action maple neck and a surf green, Olympic white, or cherry finish. It has a one-piece maple neck with a 9.5-inch radius and a vintage-tint gloss finish on the back of the neck. The overall design is very comfortable, although the offset body shape may not be ideal for everyone.
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Poplar
- Fretboard: 22 frets, laurel
- Pickups: 2 x Humbucker
Pros & Cons:
- Cool offset look, unique retro style.
- Versatile sound, with punchy humbucking pickups.
- Comfortable fingerboard radius for beginners and small hands.
- Almost as high quality as Fender Counterparts.
- Sometimes hard to find in stores and online.
Verdict:
The Bullet Mustang sounds as cool as it looks. These unique instruments have a classic body design that no other guitar comes close to. If you’re into retro, offset instruments, this is the best Squier guitar for you. It’s affordable, sounds and feels great, and will complete your rockstar aesthetic!
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4. Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster
The Fender Jazzmaster is the quintessential rock guitar. If you’re looking for an electric guitar with a wild sound and a sleek design, then a Fender Jaguar is for you. Unfortunately, Fender Jazzmasters can cost a bomb but don’t worry, this affordable Squier Jazzmaster is here to save your wallet.
The Fender Jazzmaster was introduced in 1958 and has been a favorite for musicians ever since. Like the Mustang, this is another offset guitar. It has a slanty, cool appearance, which is popular in jazz, surf, alternative rock, and shoegaze music. Jazzmasters typically use two soap bar pickups and come with a vibrato arm, although the specifics vary from model to model.
The Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster is a perfect guitar for the first-time player. With a traditional body design and a vintage look, this guitar will feel right at home in your hands. The sound of this guitar’s pickups is very nice and recognizable. They have a warm, twangy sound with a thick percussive attack. Experimental bands like sonic youth are known to love these guitars due to their unique design.
The Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster is for someone who is looking for a guitar that is versatile and unique. It has a sleek, smooth look like an exquisite sportscar. Coming in a lake placid blue finish, or other colors, these guitars make any player look cool. They are also slightly longer and larger than the standard Stratocaster size, which makes them ideal for players with larger hands, and creates an all-around more comfortable playing experience.
Squier’s Affinity Series Jazzmaster is an amazing option for those looking to start playing guitar, or for those hunting for a fun new guitar to play with. The Affinity Series Jazzmaster has a traditional body design with a vintage look and feels right at home in your hands. Some even come with black hardware and a white pickguard – a striking look!
The bridge can be a bit finicky and may cause the strings to pop out their sockets when strummed hard. This isn’t the end of the world and is easily fixed with an upgrade. (I recommend replacing it with a tune-o-Matic bridge.)
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Poplar
- Fretboard: 22 Rosewood frets.
- Pickups: 2 x Squier single-coil Jazzmaster pickups.
Pros & Cons:
- Unique offset body contour.
- Excellent, recognizable Jazzmaster Pickups.
- Large neck for comfortable playing.
- Comes with a vibrato arm and often a gig bag.
- A poorly designed bridge needs upgrading for best performance.
Verdict:
The Affinity Series Jazzmaster is a budget guitar that gives you all the tone and performance of the original guitar. The light body and comfortable neck will keep you playing for hours at a time. This guitar is perfect for first-time players as it offers an affordable but exciting option that brings more fun to the table than the standard strat.
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5. Squier Bullet Telecaster
The Squier Bullet Telecaster is a true workhorse guitar. This guitar is designed for players that are just getting started. If you want to be able to play your favorite tunes, then this is the perfect guitar for you!
This telecaster is different from the ‘50s model above, coming in a slightly different shape and size, with different hardware and coloring. This telecaster is also about half the price of the ‘50s version.
Overall, the Squier Bullet Telecaster is a very versatile guitar. It doesn’t have the range of a Stratocaster but is perfect for most players.
The Bullet Telecaster features the classic look of a Telecaster, but with a lower price tag. This guitar can be used for rock, hard rock, country music, blues, or any other genre of music. With the wide range of tones this guitar can produce, it will satisfy the needs of most players. The laurel fingerboard has a smooth, well-refined feel that is a lot of fun to play.
The Squier Bullet Telecaster is a guitar that delivers on both design and sound. With two powerful, vintage-style single-coil pickups, this guitar gives you all the sound you need to emulate your favorite musicians and create a stellar performance. The tone and master volume control provide a good amount of range, making it easy to dial in the exact tone you need.
It has the vintage feel of the original Fender Telecaster that has been reproduced in a cost-effective package. With a gloss sunburst finish, this guitar has the vintage look you desire.
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Poplar.
- Fretboard: Laurel Fingerboard
- Pickups: 2 x Single-coil Squier Telecaster Pickups.
Pros & Cons:
- Super affordable telecaster.
- Sounds great for the price.
- Decent versatility, pretty good pickups.
- Feels nice for the price.
- Needed some setup, and the bridge could be upgraded.
Verdict:
The Fender Telecaster is a staple in the world of rock and roll and has been for over 50 years. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, the Squier Bullet Telecaster is a great instrument with amazing sound, letting new players get a taste of the joys of a Fender Telecaster.
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6. Squier J Mascis Signature Series Jazzmaster
The Squier J Mascis Signature Series Jazzmaster is a reproduction of the guitar used by iconic Dinosaur Jr. frontman and solo artist J Mascis. If you love the heavy fuzz tones of Dinosaur Jr, this signature Jazzmaster could be your dream guitar.
J Mascis is one of the most influential songwriters in modern rock, and this signature model allows you to play like him. The Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster signature model is a guitar that was designed to emulate the sound of the Jazzmaster that J Mascis has been using since the early 80s. You won’t find another guitar that comes so close to his incredible tone. This guitar has a truly unique sound.
The Jazzmaster was originally designed as a more refined and sophisticated successor to the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, and it became the first Fender to use a tremolo bar. The Fender Jazzmaster is a true classic and one of the most recognizable electric guitars ever, with a gold butterscotch blonde finish, this guitar has a super catchy, attractive look.
This Vintage White Squier J Mascis Signature Series Jazzmaster features the same type of tremolo system as the original Jazzmasters, with a floating bridge and tremolo arm.
The neck pickup is voiced to provide a warm, woody tone, while the bridge pickup has more cut and bite. The electronic circuits let you blend between the two pickups as desired, and come with multiple tones and volume knobs. Both pickups respond excellently to distortion and overdrive, making this guitar ideal for heavier styles of music.
This Jazzmaster has been created with the same specifications as J’s original ’62 Jazzmaster, but with a few key upgrades, including a set of Duncan Designed JB101 humbucking pickups for a meatier sound.
Product Specifications:
- Body Material: Basswood.
- Fretboard: 22 x Rosewood frets.
- Pickups: 2 x single-coil Jazzmaster.
Pros & Cons:
- Made in partnership with guitar legend J Mascis from Dinosaur Jr.
- Superior tone with two tasty soap bar pickups.
- Long, easy-to-use floating whammy bar.
Verdict:
This Vintage White Squier J Mascis Signature Series Jazzmaster is a must-have for those who want the sound of the original sludge rock king. This guitar looks exciting and sounds just as nice. For those interested in playing punk, grunge, and other heavy rock styles of music, this Squier guitar is one to check out.
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Buying Guide: What to consider when buying a Squier Guitar
What to look for when buying a Squier guitar.
There are a few things you should consider when buying a new Squier guitar. This section outlines some important things to think about before buying one. It will also help you to work out what kind of guitar is best for you.
Most Squier guitars are high quality and made in partnership with Fender musical instruments corporation, which knows their stuff when it comes to guitars.
Style: Whether it’s a Stratocaster, Telecaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster, or some other style, there are many Squier models to choose from. The best choice for you depends on your aesthetic preferences and the kind of music you want to play. Some guitars also come in multiple different versions, for example, the Stratocaster comes in Bullet, Affinity, Squier Classic Vibe, the ‘50s, and Vintage Modified flavors. Each range varies a little in price, features, and sound. Explore the ranges to find the best one for you.
Sound: Each guitar is tuned to a different type of sound. Squier guitars are relatively versatile, but some models are geared toward particular genres. Again, this depends on the style of music you want to play, but you should listen to some demos to find out what suits your tastes.
The sound is largely defined by the pickups used, the wood, and body shape. You can change the sound quite drastically by changing the pickups or strings fitted.
Pickups: Think about the kind of tone you want. The main choice is either single-coil or humbucker pickups. Single coils are thinner, brighter, and more cutting. Humbuckers are fatter, punchier, and warmer.
Humbuckers also have the advantage of a lower noise floor, creating a cleaner sounding signal.
In general, single-coils are better for lead players, and humbuckers are better for rhythm guitarists.
Price: Squier guitars come in a variety of price ranges. Some guitar lines are very affordable, like the Bullet, and slightly pricier affinity series. With guitars, you generally get what you pay for. More money = higher quality.
FAQs
What are the different levels of Squier guitars?
The different levels of Squier guitars are
Beginner: These guitars are perfect for beginners who want to learn how to play guitar. They’re fairly inexpensive and this is the best way to get your feet wet without breaking the bank.
Intermediate: These guitars will cost around $150 more than beginner models, but they offer more features like an upgraded neck and better pickups (a common upgrade).
Pro: Pro models will be anywhere from $300+. These guitars will be significantly better quality, and often have much higher attention to detail in the manufacturing process. They mostly use high-quality materials, and have better sound, tuning, durability, and feel.
Which is better: Squier Affinity or standard?
The guitar also features a gloss finish to complement the three-tone sunburst. Some of the other features are vintage styling, iconic headstock design, two single-coil pickups with individual volume controls, a 3-way pickup selector switch, and an adjustable bridge.
These guitars are fairly similar overall, although the standard models have a slightly higher build quality, with sturdier bridges and more refined necks.
Conclusion
Overall, I thought the best Best Squier guitar was the Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster
All of the guitars on this will please most guitar players, but we thought this Affinity Jazzmaster has a unique edge that sets it apart from the others.
This guitar just stands out from the crowd. In comparison to standard models like stratocasters, telecasters, this Jazzmaster has a few extra features, different pickups, and a slightly different sound. It’s versatile, it sounds and feels great! If you like rock music
Check out the Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster today!
For more guitar guides, check out this post about the best rhythm guitars.
Noah is an accomplished audio engineer with several years of experience producing music for major companies and independent artists. He enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of audio engineering topics to help musicians and music producers create great music.