NGD - Squier 51

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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guitarsammy
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NGD - Squier 51

Post by guitarsammy » Sat Jun 20, 2020 1:17 am

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Just got this via eBay.

2005, so one of the original run with the fatter neck, top-loader bridge, etc. All original with Vintage Blonde finish and blackguard.

Seems great so far. In excellent condition, neck is 0.86" at the first fret 0.88" at the 12th, a nice full C shape. Not excessively fat, but certainly not what I'd call slim.

7.25 lb, which for its size (it's a very slim body) actually feels nicely substantial. Spanky and resonant.

Seems to distort really nicely into a tube amp, but I haven't had much time with it yet to really describe exactly how it sounds.

Stock tuners seem to hold tune well, and the bridge (which gets a bad write-up on the web) seems stable and isn't buzzing (I guess as it's over 15 years old it's had plenty of time for the previous owner(s) to set it up well, though). Fit and finish all very similar to a MIM Strat I had last year.

The plastic nut (which also gets a bad write-up) seems well cut and perfectly fine to me.

Definitely recommended for the price they're still going for used, an absolutely ridiculous bargain.

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mortron
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by mortron » Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:18 am

Congrats!!!

The '51 is probably the most underrated cheap guitar of the times IMO. They were being blown out as low as $100 at one point which is insane when you actually play one. Wish I had bought more than one. The neck is great and the thin body I really like.

I keep trying to find used ones but they're harder to find in my area... And when I do, people want stupid prices for them.

For what it's worth, I wish I kept mine stock. I have basically swapped most all of my parts out except for the neck and body and control plate. Tuners went before I knew that a good nut setup would have cured things, even tho the action was good out the box. As it came, it was a guitar that did a lot of things in a neat and tidy way. The humbucker sounded good, played well with gain, and single coil in the neck surprisingly pleasant.

Funky single coil neck tones and a humbucker when you want to rock. It's worked for many. It's a straight forward guitar that can do rock, country, and everything you throw at it.

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burntumber
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by burntumber » Sat Jun 20, 2020 9:22 am

I had a first run 51, I'd totally get one again.

Cool guitars, the stock pickups are fine, but the guitar is a good modding platform too if you want to do that.

Why did no one want these when they first came out?

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guitarsammy
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by guitarsammy » Mon Jun 22, 2020 9:53 am

mortron wrote:
Sat Jun 20, 2020 6:18 am
The '51 is probably the most underrated cheap guitar of the times IMO.
You might be right. I wonder if there's anything else out there that offers similar bang for buck, whilst looking so cool *and* is an original design?

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garyptaszek
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by garyptaszek » Tue Jun 30, 2020 11:54 pm

Best colour. I’ve had mine since 2008, it’s been through an awful lot of mods, it’s still one of my favourite guitars to play, every time I get it out I remember why I enjoy it so much.

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Gordon
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by Gordon » Wed Jul 01, 2020 2:34 am

Recently, I was browsing Fender/Squier's website, and I was surprised to see they still appear in their (international) lineup, in sunburst, CAR, and vintage blond:

https://shop.fender.com/en/intl/squier- ... 00503.html

However, I couldn't find a single shop that carried them. It's more in line with their US website, where the model is completely gone. :-[
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SAVEStheDAY
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by SAVEStheDAY » Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:05 am

I think I spent under $100 on mine when they were getting blown out. I love the neck. I did some mods to mine, and it's a really solid guitar. I'd actually take my Squier over the Fender branded Pawn Shop '51 any day.

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Gordon
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by Gordon » Wed Jul 01, 2020 6:17 am

I wish I had kept mine... Fun little guitar.

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Also, this short-lived Squier 51 appreciation thread: viewtopic.php?t=26389
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Re: NGD - Squier 51

Post by SignoftheDragon » Thu Jul 02, 2020 11:48 am

We gave this wrapped '51 away at a show a few years back- now I'm wishing I'd kept it. Fun to play.

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