New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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angerjas
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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by angerjas » Wed Jun 19, 2019 10:57 am

Have to say I'm a big fan of how Squier are dropping these just out of the blue like this

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by valley_parade » Wed Jun 19, 2019 11:11 am

^ If anything, I'm wondering if they're a small leak of something bigger Fender/Squier are unveiling at SNAMM in a few weeks.

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by alexpigment » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:21 pm

A few years ago, I would have jumped all over this. I don't know what it is, but this just isn't piquing my interest. If the pickups are the same as on the VMs from a few years ago, then the neck pickup is way too dark even when the bridge is just right. The AOM and stopbar don't do anything for me either.

On second thought, I do wonder what would happen if you modified these with an AmPro bridge and a Duesenberg Les Trem II. Oh crap, I think I want that Walnut CV now ;)

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by higgsblossom » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:43 pm

Image
"500€? That's the price of a J Mascis Jazzmaster!"

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by Stephen_42 » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:53 pm

MayTheFuzzBeWithYou wrote:
Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:05 am
TheOndrakGuy wrote:
Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:47 pm
Looks like I've found my 'finished your PhD' present to myself!

Problem is, I can't decide which!
Well, PhD is a big thing and you worked hard to achieve it... you could treat yourself with more than one guitar! 8)
Especially at this price...
You overestimate how much PhD students get paid :p

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by robroe » Wed Jun 19, 2019 3:05 pm

I hijacked some AMS thumbail code and posted all the photos at shortscale.

http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68049

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by timtam » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:04 pm

Debaser wrote:
Wed Jun 19, 2019 9:06 am
Now who can tell me which WRHBs to get? I need happy, bright tones...
Plenty of high-end options around that attempt to reproduce some characteristics of the original WRHBs, including magnetic pole pieces and larger coils ..
http://www.tdpri.com/threads/list-of-or ... ts.778839/

But two of any of those could set you back almost as much, or more than what the guitar costs. So given the Squier Starcaster's price point it would be interesting to know what the inexpensive GFS ceramic and alnico offerings are like in it...
https://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-WideTo ... c_488.html
Of course it's possible that they won't be very different, or worse.

Swapping to WRHBs could also be an option if you prefer the Affinity colours but not the conventional HBs. But some slightly bigger pickup holes would be required. And the larger pickup rings.

I notice that only the Contemporary has a back plate. So for the others, people will be perfecting their skills for the difficult pickup wiring swaps through the f-holes on semi-hollows. ;) Easiest to my mind is to fish the two pickups wires out through the f-hole, snip them and replace with a screw-terminal block, and then connect the new ones to that. That saves fishing out all the controls. And also makes any future swaps easy.
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by mackerelmint » Wed Jun 19, 2019 6:33 pm

Well, I'll be dipped. Didn't see that one coming.

I'm a little relieved that I'm indifferent to them myself, I'm waiting for the XII.
This is an excellent rectangle

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by soggy mittens » Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:12 pm

three pages in and no one has embedded images into this thread, I just went and had a search and understand why now. :k
If OSG has tort me anything...

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by CROSS_guitars » Wed Jun 19, 2019 11:58 pm

Will there be Squier Starcaster basses?

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by Steadyriot. » Thu Jun 20, 2019 12:59 am

I like how they look and all; but isn't 300 dollars pretty steep for something from the Affinity line?
Especially if 100 dollars more will get you a Classic Vibe Starcaster which; if the past is any indication will be the better guitar.
"If someone duetted with a Bald Eagle, they could rule the Country charts from here to eternity." ~shadowplay

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by TheOndrakGuy » Thu Jun 20, 2019 1:03 am

Stephen_42 wrote:
Wed Jun 19, 2019 7:14 am
TheOndrakGuy wrote:
Tue Jun 18, 2019 11:47 pm
Looks like I've found my 'finished your PhD' present to myself!

Problem is, I can't decide which!
Slightly (completely) hijacking the subject, but what's your PhD in? I'm just finishing off writing up my thesis (oceanography, but I'm originally a physicist) as we speak, and I'm in the market for the same reasons!
It's a weird one... technically literary studies, but it's partially stylistics and based in digital fiction so departments and conferences have no idea where to put me. I'm looking at social media and forum-based forms of fiction; how they're received; spread; and the ethics involved in using these platforms for storytelling (think the Slender Man stabbing and the like).

Congratulations on getting to the writing up! It's a grind at times. I definitely think we've both earned a guitar ;)
MayTheFuzzBeWithYou wrote:
Wed Jun 19, 2019 8:05 am
Well, PhD is a big thing and you worked hard to achieve it... you could treat yourself with more than one guitar! 8)
Especially at this price...
Now, I'd love that, but given how much postgrads and associate lecturers get paid...
"It's not f**ked, the electronics are reliced!"

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by shadowplay » Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:48 am

I find Fenders notion of 'Contemporary' quite baffling. It's like a 80's/90's mentality where (supposed) modernity is throwing out the old pickups and sticking in a pair of (shite looking) tough guy open gibson style humbuckers and a (flex) TOM for that RAWK AND SUSTAIN. It's like they are pandering to that calf tattooed Andersons set, their twatish preconceptions and their dead eye for design.

I often worry about the amount of access tasteless youtoob supercar arseholes have to the manufacturers and worry that the bad taste naff wrapped tail is wagging the dog and I feel the same with guitars.

D
Are you loathsome tonight?

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by rank » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:15 am

It says expected soon. Are they actually out?
We are merely moving shadows.

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Re: New Squier Starcasters - Classic Vibe, Contemporary, and Affinity

Post by 601210 » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:56 am

shadowplay wrote:
Thu Jun 20, 2019 2:48 am
I find Fenders notion of 'Contemporary' quite baffling. It's like a 80's/90's mentality where (supposed) modernity is throwing out the old pickups and sticking in a pair of (shite looking) tough guy open gibson style humbuckers and a (flex) TOM for that RAWK AND SUSTAIN. It's like they are pandering to that calf tattooed Andersons set, their twatish preconceptions and their dead eye for design.

I often worry about the amount of access tasteless youtoob supercar arseholes have to the manufacturers and worry that the bad taste naff wrapped tail is wagging the dog and I feel the same with guitars.

D
It kinda is, though. As far as I can tell, outside of offset world that's what most boutique guitars look like nowadays.

Hell even within the offset world most boutique guitars just consist of taking an offset, throwing out everything good about it, and sticking in some humbuckers and a TOM. In 24 3/4 scale for added rock.

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