Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
Post Reply
User avatar
idropinus
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 5:31 am

Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by idropinus » Tue May 09, 2017 10:48 am

For those who don't know the topic:

The Squier Super-Sonic was a guitar manufactured and sold by Squier for two years in the 1990s as part of Fender's 1997 Vista series. Production of the Vista series in Japan was halted in the late 1990s, making these guitars increasingly rare and collectable; In 2012 Fender reintroduced the Super-Sonic as a part of their Pawn Shop series.

The Squier:

Image

The Fender Pawn Shop:

Image

Now, my question is: is it worth to search for a rare CRAFTED IN JAPAN Squier when you can quite easily find the MADE IN MEXICO Fender Pawn Shop reissue?

NOT talking about collectibles, BUT about sound, mechanics, pickups etc, what's better? Crafted in Japan Squier or Made in Mexico Fender?

I'd be happy to hear also thoughts of those who had one of them, or maybe had or have tried both.

User avatar
s_mcsleazy
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 18424
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:30 am
Location: glasgow

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by s_mcsleazy » Tue May 09, 2017 2:21 pm

the pickups in the squiers were lower output compared to the fender ones but the squier pickups had a bit more bass. make of that what you will. or that is at least what i can remember from my old one compared to trying a fender one 3 years ago.
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

User avatar
zip73
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 809
Joined: Thu Jul 09, 2009 4:10 pm
Location: Monterey County, CA

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by zip73 » Tue May 09, 2017 3:23 pm

Had the blue sparkle version a long time ago, and currently own a gunmetal (maroon sparkle) PS.

Color: Squier was definitely prettier, but the metal flake and overall paint job on the PS is better.

Neck: Squier had a thinner neck profile than the PS. Prefer the PS.

Pickups: Both suck, and the lack of tone control is irritating. To remedy that problem, I rewired my PS and installed AV65 Jag pickups.

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =8&t=87390

Worth it to get a CIJ over PS? Nah.

User avatar
RIORIO
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2247
Joined: Sun Jun 17, 2012 9:49 pm
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Contact:

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by RIORIO » Tue May 09, 2017 10:37 pm

zip73 wrote:Had the blue sparkle version a long time ago, and currently own a gunmetal (maroon sparkle) PS.

Color: Squier was definitely prettier, but the metal flake and overall paint job on the PS is better.

Neck: Squier had a thinner neck profile than the PS. Prefer the PS.

Pickups: Both suck, and the lack of tone control is irritating. To remedy that problem, I rewired my PS and installed AV65 Jag pickups.

http://www.offsetguitars.com/forums/vie ... =8&t=87390

Worth it to get a CIJ over PS? Nah.
Agreed, Ive owned both. A black vista and a purple PS to be specific. The Squier was cool to behold but I never really bonded with it TBH. Agree with Zip that both pickups and the lack of tone control is annoying. His jag pickup equipped PS is so dreamy. Something to consider is the 7.25 radius on the Squier and the 9.5 on the PS. My vote is for the PS with some new pickups.

Good luck!

User avatar
jonobolton
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 58
Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:27 am
Location: Glasgow

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by jonobolton » Wed May 10, 2017 7:26 am

The Squier version had a unique neck joint as well, with the heel of the neck extending under the pickguard. I think the Fender version had a standard heel & neck joint.

User avatar
wadeaminute
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 335
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:29 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by wadeaminute » Wed May 10, 2017 6:51 pm

I have nine of these:

Image

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=87333

I like both. I have heavily modified both. I left one of my white Squiers stock, and my orange Fender. If I was forced to choose, I would pick the Squiers.

The larger neck on the Fender was much more useful for the XII string conversion.

The neck joints are pretty much the same - although the neck plates are recessed on the Squiers.

They failed in the marketplace twice - so I doubt that they will be released again.

The least I paid for a Squier was $299 in 1998. The least I paid for the Fenders were $349. (In both cases, when they were being blown out at the end of their runs.)

User avatar
Stratelejazzuar
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 6744
Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:15 pm
Location: K-W, Ontario, Canada

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by Stratelejazzuar » Wed May 10, 2017 8:13 pm

I have a white Squier and when I picked up a Fender at a local shop once, I put it down pretty quickly because the larger neck made me feel like they just didn't reissue the guitar.

I also found it a little strange the Fender used the same Squier "S" branded neck plate on the MIM versions...

As far as pickups go, I like the sound of the Squier vista pickups in mine... sort of a strange splatty HB sound. 8)

User avatar
idropinus
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 5:31 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by idropinus » Thu May 11, 2017 3:43 am

wadeaminute wrote:I have nine of these:

Image
I am struggling so hard to find ONE and you have nine ;D

I think that's one of the biggest Super Sonic collections in the world!

User avatar
simonhpieman
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 626
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:27 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by simonhpieman » Thu May 11, 2017 2:22 pm

wadeaminute wrote:I have nine of these:

Image

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=87333
That photo is AMAZING! Where do live to be able to do that?!

User avatar
wadeaminute
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 335
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:29 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by wadeaminute » Fri May 12, 2017 7:47 am

simonhpieman wrote:
wadeaminute wrote:I have nine of these:

Image

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=87333
That photo is AMAZING! Where do live to be able to do that?!
(with apologies to the original poster, but answering the question...)

I live in a condo building that once was a church. It has a loft / upstairs bedroom and 20+ foot ceilings. Here's the whole wall from a few years back:

Image

User avatar
idropinus
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Apr 11, 2017 5:31 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by idropinus » Fri May 12, 2017 10:31 am

I live in a condo building that once was a church. It has a loft / upstairs bedroom and 20+ foot ceilings. Here's the whole wall from a few years back:

Image
You have the coolest house of all times.

User avatar
indiandysummer
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 804
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2011 3:47 pm
Location: San Francisco, CA
Contact:

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by indiandysummer » Fri May 12, 2017 10:41 am

Jeez dude, talk about a stairway to heaven! :w00t:

User avatar
Logrinn
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 196
Joined: Sat Oct 21, 2017 3:08 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by Logrinn » Wed Jun 09, 2021 1:31 am

idropinus wrote:
Tue May 09, 2017 10:48 am

Now, my question is: is it worth to search for a rare CRAFTED IN JAPAN Squier when you can quite easily find the MADE IN MEXICO Fender Pawn Shop reissue?
A question about this ... wouldn’t the Fender Pawn Shop be the more collectible of these? The Squier were manufactured during three years while the Fender only during one. Presumably the Squier would have been made in more quantaties than the Fender one, no?
Anyone who knows the numbers of how many were made?

I had a Squier one back in the day, but eventually sold it. Then some years ago I got the Fender Pawn Shop one. I find this one being of higher quality. It also made me realise that 24” scale length is the right scale for me and it rekindled my love for playing guitar.
Since looking into this I’ve found that both models are pretty rare, but the Fender one more so, especially here in Sweden.

User avatar
wadeaminute
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 335
Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2010 10:29 am

Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic

Post by wadeaminute » Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:45 pm

I think that the Japanese-made Squiers are more desirable than the Mexican Fenders. A rare instance when the Squiers were of higher quality than the Fenders.
(And don't be fooled - it's all the same company. Marketing and branding = lying.)
The Vista line in 1996 was an attempt to market higher-end Squiers, and it failed. But the guitars were still Japanese-made Fender guitars, just with a Squier logo.
I kept one of my three Pawn Shops - the one I had converted to a XII. Was thankful for the wider neck.

Post Reply