Fender Squier II Strat

Solid black plywood body Squier II Fat Strat, stock S/S/H pups, the no pick guard style. Made in Korea, E9 serial number. 21 frets, standard scale maple neck with skunk stripe on back, 1 volume & 2 tone controls, 5-way selector switch, output plug is on the bottom edge instead of the top of the guitar. Standard tremolo bridge, stock Korean tuners. Chrome metal tele-type knobs. Supposedly manufactured in 1989.

I love the way you get the best of both worlds with a Fat Strat. You can play almost any style of music with the humbucker & single coils. I'm playing through a 100 watt Fender Rumble 100 Bass Amp w/15" Woofer & horn (a decent amp makes all the difference). Dependng on the guitar 5-way switch setting, I can get full rich sounds, bright sounds, or distortion with the humbucker. These stock pickups are really quite decent. Being fairly new to the strat sound, I am very pleased with the variety of sounds this thing makes without a pedal! It has great sustain. Even plywood bodys can get better sounding with age.

The solid maple neck & fret board are both awesome! I have heard Fender used some of their own necks to build certain Squires. I bought it used, so I cleaned it all up. I used 0000 steel wool to smooth out the fret board. Set it all up myself and put on new strings (10's...I'll use 11's next time). Action is fast & smooth. No sharp fret edges at all. I'll get around to having it professionally setup soon. Something I highly recommend. Having the plywood body gives it a less consistent finish, but who cares? It sounds great! The body is a 7 rating in looks, 8.5 in sound, and the neck is an 11.

In 3 years, this guitar will be 20 years old. I think it's done extremely well so far. The finish on the plywood looks fine for its age (and considering that it's plywood!). The Fender care kit did wonders. Buttons are solid, trem bridge seems okay too. The tuners are its weakness. I'll be replacing the stock tuners soon. But that's to be expected. After the new tuners, I'd trust it without a backup. I didn't spend much. It'll be fun to tweak.

Have no idea. But I love the Fender/Squier forum at:
http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&message_area_number=26

I've played as a hobby since I was in Jr. high school in the mid 70's. I've been wanting to get my first strat style guitar for a while. I didn't want to spend too much money, yet I wanted the Strat sound. So, a nice used older Squier was perfect. I love how comfy the strat is on your forarm. It's not too heavy either. If it were lost or stolen, I'd look for another similar type Squire. I've heard it's hit & miss with these Squier II's, but the E9 series is a hit. I think for $75 + shipping...I did great.

Squier II Strat. Not sure of the year, probably 80s. Made in Korea, serial number S985848. There's another sticker at the bottom of the neck, a gold sticker. It had some numbers on it, but I can only read the last one - 6.

Plywood body, black with white pickguard. S/S/S config. One piece maple neck/board, 21 frets. Skunkstripe.

Decent tuners/bridge.

The guitar itself sounds just decent. I'm not using this guitar though. This rating will be on the neck:

The neck on this guitar is where it's at. The neck is AWESOME. The feel, the look. It's one of the best necks I've played.

The neck is so awesome that I just had to put it to good use. I had a Fernandes Strat copy with a nice, heavy body (alder or ash, not sure). The neck on the Fernandes was decent, nothing like the Squier. So I took apart each guitar and attached the Squier neck on the Fernandes body. It didn't fit perfectly, but I made it fit.

I still have the stock pups on the Fernandes body, but they sound good for now. I'll be putting in an EMG 89/SA/SA config.

I just bought this guitar a month ago at a pawnshop. I liked the action it had unplgged evev though the action was high it was a player. the neck is thin and fast very heavy coat of lacquer covering. like the old fenders. The tuners are heavier constructed than the ones that are casted togeather, and they dont go otta tune very easily.there is no origin name anywhere on this guitar. but the squier logo on the neck is done in a very cool gold with black outlining. I took it completly apart and the neck is stamped mar 15 E 1 ! and thats all I can read. The frets are fat might of been re-fretted. because the action was high caused by the upward bow.I live in nevada so I believe that this was a working guitar cause somebody knew what they were doing with this guitar. it had tens strung on it and man this guitar smoked.the body cavities are independly routed. the finish is a thick white pearl. the bridge works just fine. the prior owner had 5 springs installed.The body is heavy but I have tried to identifi it as plywood but I cant I can always tell plywood but this body is grainy giving it a plywood look, but I dont think it is. what ever it is its got sustain and tone to the bone

I have alot of guitars and this is up there with my jap squiers. I dont know if there stock pups but what amazes me is the prior owner shielded it with copper and this thing can sit in an opera (Quiet) the resonants of this guitar growls

fast, expensive feeling. weighted for live playing nicely. very underated guitar perhaps other peoples experiences were caused by getting models that have been stripped of their good parts or properly abused. this guitar was a gem to find

hell solid gold

nope on the dope

Well the one I got is as good as it gets so I was lucky. One thing very important! that I noticed. I tried changing the neck and this ones neck pocket was slightly smaller making it difficult to find the right neck.Remember this one is the pearl body. I bought another squier 2 neck off ebay I thought it would fit... and it did not. it's a shame cause it's a hella hott neck silver logo and very nice indeed. but to wide. so you'll have to watch this

This is a Squier II that I got in 1989 when I learned to play. It was my first electric and I'll never part with it if for no other reason than it was my first electric.
As far as features, it's the same as any other Strat, only cheaper. Cheap and junky, actually. That said, the only original piece of hardware on this guitar is the trem, although not with original saddles, because I put string savers on it.
I've swapped the pickups for a set of EMGs, which came all wired up, ready to drop in. The pots, 5-way selector, and jack were all there. The tuning heads were replaced with Sperzels, and the nut was replaced with one of those great rolling nuts. This thing NEVER goes out of tune.
A lot of people joke about the body, but if you pull the pickguard off, you see the body was routed for the S/S/S pickups. Go to Guitar Center right now and buy a $1200 Strat, pull the pickguard off, and see what you get. A big ass hole that can accomodate any pickup combination. That's so... big business. Were's the soul, man? The soul? I'll tell you where. It's in an '89 Squier II.
It has all the features I'm looking for. Pickups, knobs, a bridge, and tuners.

Things thing sounds like a champ. A champ, I say. Sure, the EMGs make it sound like whatever effects you run it to, but it sustains all day. I've used this thing with a grip of amps and effects through the years and it was always good. Sure, this category is probably meant for when it was stock, but I can't remember that far back. So... 10.

The finish is some kind of crackley, sparkle thing. It's not as gay as it sounds. Let's call it white. It's a solid white. How can you mess that up?
The action on it is incredible. It's so low and so fast. There's no buzzing or rattling anywhere. It's the lowest action of any guitar I own or have owned.

This guitar is, uh... math... math... 15 years old and still going strong. I've dropped it, knocked it over, had it fall off of a wall hanger, had it fall off of numerous stands, and it's fine. Nicks, chips, and plenty of playing wear all over it, but isn't that what builds character? I'm not afraid to get drunk and wave this thing around. After drinking I won't even take my PRS's out of their cases.
I've played it live and it was great. But what kind of dingleberry gigs without a backup?

Never had to deal with the company, knock on wood.

Man, this is my favorite guitar, ever. EVER. If my house was on fire and I could only rescue one guitar, this would be it. My PRS's, my Steinberger, and all the rest of the Jackson, Ibanez, whatever I've got can burn. But I'd rescue this guitar. Sentimental value.
I'm thinking of adding one of those piezo saddle setups to it. Then it'll be complete.
If it was stolen I'd cry like a little girl and drink a few bottles of vodka. I don't know if I'd replace it because then I'd just have a junky 15 year old guitar with no sentimental value. That said, there's one on Ebay right now for 22 euros. Maybe a second Squier II would be entertaining. I could do some really horrible Frankenguitar things to it.

Made in Korea circa 1991. Standard Strat set-up, with 21 frets, three single-coil pickups, five-way selector switch, three pots, crappy vibrato unit, tuneable bridge. I've never thought about what the body is made of--it has a thick coating of black paint--but it's probably plywood. Neck/fretboard is maple with "skunk" stripe on back. Still has original tuners, which work well. Came with a well-padded Fender gig bag.

I use it with a Line 6 Spider 112 Combo amplifier, usually on one of the two "out-of-phase" pickup settings, which produce a full, jangly tone. On the amp's "clean" setting, with a touch of chorus, some delay, and a little reverb, it sounds like heavenly choirs! I've never had a "real" Strat, so I have no frame of reference, but I have difficulty imagining an American-made model making a nicer sound. (I feel no need, at least, to spend a load of money to find out.)

I think the store I bought it from had to set it up, but they did a good job with the intonation, the string height, the pickup settings, and the neck. I've had to readjust the intonation to accommodate the light-gauge GHS Guitar Boomers that I favor, but it still plays like butter.

The five-way selector switch is junk, which makes switching settings in mid-song an adventure at best; moreover, the tone/volume pots are cheap and really kill the sound at lower settings. However, since I generally play solo for my own enjoyment, these things aren't issues for me.

I'd change the pickup selector, the tone/volume pots, and probably the bridge pickup if I were going to use it live, but I would consider it sufficiently reliable with those changes. I've had it for thirteen years now and nothing has broken on it (although, in fairness, I didn't use it much until I bought my Line 6 amp).

Great guitar for a cheapo. I bought it for the price; also, I'd had a Gibson SG, and I wanted to try a Strat-style guitar. If it were stolen, I'd buy something similar, at least, since I'm in love with Strat tones now.

1992 Fender Squier II Strat, Korean Made. 21 frets, standard chinsy Fender style tremolo, although I have blocked it off for better tuning stability and sustain. Came with the standard S/S/S configuration, but I yanked out the bridge pickup and installed a Seymour Duncan Hot rails. Neck and fretboard are maple. The Body appears to be plywood, no joke! Stock tuners that actually keep the guitar in perfect tune. I can't say I could vouch for them with tremolo use, as I have mine blocked off.

This guitar has been kicking around since I bought it for a friend back in '92, neither of us really played it much and it wound up back in my hands for good in the late 90's. When it was new, it did truly play and sound like a $200 guitar, probably the main reason it was barely played. I recently decided to fire it up again and make it a usable guitar. The volume pot had crapped out to the point beyond a simple cleaning to take away the noise, so I soldered in a new one, and put in a Duncan hot rails pup in the Bridge position at the same time, in order to give the guitar a fatter, thicker lead tone. As you probably know, a standard single coil in the bridge postion isn't going to cut it if you play any kind of music that's even a little heavier than say...Jewel. As far as the way it sounds now...Does Plywood sound better with age? It blows away my American strats, all of which cost $800 or more and have REAL Alder and Swamp Ash Bodies. I can nail just about any standard Strat lead tone, from Gilmour to Hendrix to SRV. Believe it or the not, the stock neck and middle single coils really scream. Could it be because Gilmour and Hendrix used standard stock pickups in their most well-known songs and solos? The guitar can nail just about any awesome clean or lead tone, with the exception of nu-metal dropped-D stuff, but whaddya want from a Strat?

This is what really amazed me with the whole aging process, it seems logical that wood will SOUND better over time, even plywood. But it even PLAYS better know, WAY better! I could probably continue to lower the bridge saddles and tweak the truss rod even a little more, but I am very happy with the action. I own 14 guitars and this guitar has the lowest action of them all, with no string buzz or dead-spots!! This defies the logic of all "American-Strat" snobs who seem to think it's impossible to get a non-american Strat with great fretwork and super low-action. It's almost TOO easy to play. The maple fretboard has darkened a few shades over the years, as well as the Creme-Colored paint on the body, it's at least 5 or so shades darker than the paint under the pickuard, which was never exposed to the aging process.

I doubt I will ever take it on a gig, as it's annoying to deal with other players in the crowd who will see fit to ask me 1000 questions about how I am getting "That sound" out of a Squier. It's as sturdy as any strat, for what that's worth, but I will probably never take it out of my house.

Never dealt with Fender, but I live about 3 miles from Fender's home office in Scottsdale, AZ. So I am sure I would have no problems if I needed to go down and have a little "chat" with them : )

One of my favorite guitars, truly defies all standard guitar player logic when it comes to brand names, prices, production country, and materials. I guess that's just another reason I have a soft spot for it, and will probably hang onto it until I die.

it has a maple wood neck the guitar is black and has h/s/s/ configuration with the pickups and locking tunners 21 medium frets and a standard trem

i play lots of grindy punk and metal tunes nd the humbucker in it suits me just fine ive been running it through a peavey studio course 210 and a polytone mini brute and i think it is a very good sound very rich

i bought the guitar used and the only thing i found wrong with it was the strings were set to low and they buzzed and the volume knob makes lots of noise and cuts off if you turn it down

i use this guitar during gigs with no backup and i fully trust this guitar the finnish is a little thin and is starting to wear off but in a gig if you use the tremelo alot have a tunner

i have been playing for seven years now and i love this guitar other gear i have is a washburn g-2v a squier standard strat fender f-200 acoutic a 1940 harmony fhole acoustic a kingston electric as soon as i get some money im going to fix the volume know and put in a different humbucker maybe a high output on

Late 80's I think. Maple neck, three single coils... have swapped the standard p'ups for Lace Sensor Blue/Silver/Red combo. 21 frets, nice old fashioned trem (which is a misnomer, it's vibrato), cheap-looking tuners that stay in tune nicely.

Sounds great. I bought the lace sensors in my My Bloody Valentine/Smashing Pumpkins/Big Muff wall of fuzz days. It's good for that. These days I prefer some mild overdrive or clean w/flanger. It's good for that too, but the p'ups are a bit bassy, which I compensate for w/ a filter effect set to the top end... sounds very SRV with this configuration, if a bit hissy... I think I could do even better w/ a 7-band eq pedal, which I'll maybe get for my birthday. Most of good tone is in the EQing. The P'ups themselves are very clean... the stock pickups had a nice down and dirty tone, but not particularly clear-sounding.

The neck plays very nice for a budget guitar. Not as nice as a Mexi or American standard, but good enough. Good feel. I custom painted it black and green. The electronics (p'up selector, volume, tone knobs) are not great. You get that static sound when switching pickups or rolling off the volume... maybe I'll get those replaced for my birthday too.

The tremolo is great. Stays in tune well, good for surf guitar sounds and blues.

Not top quality, but nice enough.

I'm sure it will be around 40 years from now.

A very nice guitar. If I were rich I'd get an American Standard (I do have a Mexi Telecaster, which is great), but really this is good for me. I play at home and do some recording. Nice tones and fun to play. It was a good deal.

Paid $189.00

nade in Korea 1989

Starting to play again after 20 years. My teacher (met him coaching his son in soccer) picked it out when he was having work done on his strat. It has 22 frets s/s/h pickups, 5 way switch and is cream with no pick-guard everything else seems to be stock. This thing is in mint condition. The guy that teaches me has played with everyone (Bob Seager, Bonnie Raite, Robert Cray, and JIMMY PAGE)!! So I trust the guy when he said we really lucked up on this one. I got a gig bag, lots of picks, and a cord out of the deal. I am currently playing out of a 15 watt orange amp.

the thing sounds great to me.

Action is good and it seems to stay in tune. The intonation is also good

Don't know yet.

Just got it.

Just started playing again after 20 years. I love the thing and would buy it again.

1989 Squire II Strat with an American Strat Serial Number, #E984796; made in Korea. 21 Frets, Solid top, has master volume knob and two tone knobs with 5 position selector switch. I don't think that these are the standard three single pick ups as they scream... they are fantastic. Hard, heavy laminated black body is a great resonating mass for the strings, and the neck is the nicest maple 'U' fatty neck I have ever played... and I'm an old guy who has played a lotta guitars. Small headstock has silver with black outlined 'Squire II Stratocaster Fender' on thick, smooth, high gloss finish. The bridge is a solid Floyd Rose and the tuners are sweet, smoothe Gotohs. There was a heavy gig bag with it

I play this thing all of the time in Rock and even in Church. I use a small Crate Limo amp with digitals, a 30 year old Phase 100 phase shifter, and another 30 year old Phase distortion box. The sound is solid, sweet, full, funky, bright, and all of the above with a change of the selector switch. I share this little gem with my friends who play guitar and they all want it.

The plywood body has slight imperfections underneath the side black paint, but these are hard to see. The parts all are tight and it never seems to go out of tune. Wierd. The neck is amazing. I have never been able to play anything as well.

The Gotohs are fine and the body, neck, frets all hold up under hard thumping, dropping, falling. etc. The top tone knob gets a little crusty if not turned periodically... but after a few cranks it quiets down. This is a rare stand alone, do it all guitar.

I don't contact Fender.

I have played since the early '70's, and know that, like people, each guitar is different and has its own personality. I would not trade this crazy little Squire II strat for a $2500 factory job, as it plays like one now. IF you played this, you would want to beg, borrow or steal it.