I have owned many great “F” hole and thin line guitars. I recently bought a $125 Stratocaster and sold a $359 Telecaster. I am lost as to what I am buying. What’s the difference between a $125 Stratocaster and a $1,000 Stratocaster? A Telecaster and a Stratocaster?

I know what I am hearing but I have no reference point.
Thank you, John C.

http://www.cheapguitarguide.com/squier-strat-vs-fender-strat.html

Talk to Capt. Russ also..

Thank you Donny great article.

John C.
PS, I'm being schooled.

john your very welcome enjoy!!

John, figuring out the value of Fender instruments is a job for a much smarter person than I, and I have over thirty of these "boards". I call them boards because, basically, they are machine cut and just bolted together, wherever they are made.

Mexican made Strats, Tele's "P" and Jazz bases (bottom of the line with a Fender name) are in the $500.00 neighborhood. Squires (made in the orient) are in the $2-300.00 range.

American made and Custom shop instruments go in the $800 up range.

Some of my favorites are Squires.

A 59 Strat (I have my original one) is worth about $29,000.00.
An 82 reissue of a 52 tele is worth over $4,000.00. A Broadcaster is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (have one of them, too).

After playing a 64 Jazz bass 6 nights a week for 20 years, I wanted to preserve what's left. After looking for a year and trying out lots of alternates, I bought another Jazz bass made in Japan. Other than being coated in poly rather than varnish, I could tell no difference. The old pre-CBS Jazz bass is worth about $8,000.00. The new(1995) Jazz cost about $550.00. The Japanese instruments have their followers, and just turned down $1850.00 for mine.

As an investor, Fenders are hard to figure.

They're lots of fun to play, though.

Russ

Hi John,
I had the exact same question a few weeks ago.
As Donny pointed out, there are a number of really good YouTube videos out there, plus some great articles on google.
Do a search. You might not get a full answer, but you will a be a bit closer
Eric

Thank You Eric, good thought.
John C.

I agree with Russ Squiers can be great value at a low price. But the only thing I would suggest is it is worth paying more for a Squier with Seymour Duncan pickups because they are much better sounding than the cheap Fender pickups. A Squier with Seymour Duncans is a great guitar. But I would try to find one in a store I can play first rather than buying one online. I have played some Squiers that have fret ends that really need filing back to the edge of the neck. But that is quite a job to have to do.

Nigel thank you, sounds like a good idea about the pickups.
About frets needing filing – I spent many hours at Jimmy D’Aquesto’s shop in Huntington, Long Island watching him filing frets. It is an art.

Thank you again, John C.

John, figuring out the value of Fender instruments is a job for a much smarter person than I, and I have over thirty of these "boards".
I call them boards because, basically, they are machine cut and just bolted together, wherever they are made.
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Russ I could not have said the last part any better. When I look at a $2,400 fender I see a neck and a body and pickups – the question that comes to mind: What justifies the difference in price? But they do that with stamps and comic books.
Thank you Russ, John C.

PS, Today I will go to Guitar Center and check out the A Squier with Seymour Duncans pick ups. Great idea.
Nigel you do know your guitar stuff.