Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
- idropinus
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Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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:
The Fender Pawn Shop:
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.
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:
The Fender Pawn Shop:
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.
- s_mcsleazy
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
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- zip73
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
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.
- RIORIO
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.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.
Good luck!
- jonobolton
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
- wadeaminute
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
I have nine of these:
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.)
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.)
- Stratelejazzuar
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
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.
- idropinus
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
I am struggling so hard to find ONE and you have ninewadeaminute wrote:I have nine of these:
I think that's one of the biggest Super Sonic collections in the world!
- simonhpieman
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
That photo is AMAZING! Where do live to be able to do that?!
- wadeaminute
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
(with apologies to the original poster, but answering the question...)simonhpieman wrote:That photo is AMAZING! Where do live to be able to do that?!
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:
- idropinus
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
You have the coolest house of all times.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:
- indiandysummer
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
Jeez dude, talk about a stairway to heaven!
- Logrinn
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
- wadeaminute
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Re: Squier Super Sonic vs Fender Pawn Shop Super Sonic
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.
(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.