buying first guitar...whats the difference between SE and Standard

[kayxero]

Hi all. I need some help buying a Strat. =)

I have been a bassist for about 5 years and have become a huge John Mayer fan over the past couple years. This has given me much interest in learning how to play guitar and buy my own strat. I would love to get the John Mayer sig strat in sunburst brown but that is WAY out of price range.

So I decided as a beginner to go the Squier route. I have been searching a lot online about the different series of Squier strat and the differences between them, but have had a hard time finding any info on the SE series.

Because I want to have the same finish and pickguard on the guitar I buy, as the Mayer sig has. I was looking at the SE Special strat pack at 199, the Squier Standard strat at 229. My budget was around 250 but the Classic Vibe 60s strat at 349 looked nice too. But I am mainly deciding between the first two and need to know the difference in quality among them. From all I have read I have gathered that worst to first is as such: Bullet>Affinity>Standard>CV>Vintage.

But I still have no idea where the SE goes, and how much its actually worth given that it comes only in a pack, and that the standard is only 30 bucks more. However, the extra stuff is nice to get me started, having an amp and all.

Any advice would be great. Even if you wanna recommend me doing something outside of what I have picked out. Thanks

[peskypesky]

Model Name Stop Dreaming, Start Playing™ Set: SE Special with Squier SP-10 Amp
Model Number 030-1600-(Color#)
Series SE Series
Colors (006) Black,
(032) Sunburst,
(080) Arctic White,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Body Agathis
Neck Maple, C-Shape,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo
Pickups 3 Single-Coil Pickups
Controls Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Pickup Switching 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Bridge Synchronous Tremolo
Machine Heads Die-Cast Tuners
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 3-Ply White Pearloid on (006) Black, (080) Arctic White;
3-Ply Red Shell (032) Sunburst
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.650” (42 mm)
Unique Features Dot Position Inlays

[peskypesky]

Model Name Standard Stratocaster® (Rosewood)
Model Number 032-1600-(Color#)
Series Standard Series
Colors (509) Candy Apple Red,
(537) Antique Burst,
(565) Black Metallic,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Body Agathis
Neck Maple, C-Shape,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets 22 Medium Jumbo
Pickups 3 Alnico Magnet Single-Coil Pickups
Controls Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Pickup Switching 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Bridge Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo
Machine Heads Standard Die-Cast Tuners
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 3-Ply Parchment on: 09, 65,
4-Ply Tortoise Shell on: 37,
3-Ply Black on: 92,
1-Ply Matte Black on: 43,
3-Ply Mint Green on 30
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.650” (42 mm)
Unique Features Large ‘60s Style Headstock,
Gold and Black Squier Logo,
Engraved Neckplate,
White Plastic Parts,
Dot Position Inlays

[peskypesky]

Model Name Strat® (Rosewood)
Model Number 031-0600-(Color#)
Series Affinity Series
Colors (506) Black,
(525) Metallic Red,
(595) Metallic Blue,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Body Alder
Neck Maple,
(Polyurethane Finish)
Fingerboard Rosewood, 9.5” Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets 21 Medium Jumbo
Pickups 3 Single-Coil Pickups
Controls Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Pickup Switching 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Bridge Synchronous Tremolo
Machine Heads Standard Die-Cast Tuners
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 1-Ply White
Scale Length 25.5” (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.61” (40.9 mm)
Unique Features Large Headstock ‘60s Style Headstock,
White Plastic Parts,
Black Silkscreen Logo,
Dot Position Inlays

[kayxero]

So quality wise where does the SE stand in comparisons to the other squier strat series. Is the SE pack a good buy? Could someone with experience using guitars in series chime in as reading specs do not help me too much =P

Would you say the SE special pack is a good value with all the stuff that comes with it? or is it just basically an affinity and I should go with the standard or maybe even the CV?

[zombiebear]

I have an SE and a Standard, if i were you, i would get the standard, but thats me :P

btw....

Id get an SE over an Affinity.

[kayxero]

Why do you like the standard better. Whats the difference quality and tone wise between an SE and standard?

And I am guessing from worst to first its Affinity > SE > Standard correct?

[leonard d rock]

i may be wrong but looking at the specs, i think the SE and the standard are almost the same guitar. the only difference are the god logo on the standard and the trem which is an easy fix. same body and measurements. what does SE mean btw, standard edition, special edition, standard extra?

[crumbum]

One difference, if I am not mistaken, is that the Standard has the large (70s) headstock. The SE has the smaller headstock.

SE = Special Edition

[leonard d rock]

Originally Posted by crumbum

One difference, if I am not mistaken, is that the Standard has the large (70s) headstock. The SE has the smaller headstock.

SE = Special Edition

so what makes it special over a standard? there must be something or just marketing jargon

[Squirr]

Hi kayxero!
With the $250 budget my advice would be to have a look at the Squier Bullet

Squier Bullet Electric Guitar with Tremolo and more Solid Body Electric Guitars at GuitarCenter.com.

and the VOX Pathfinder 15R

Vox Pathfinder V9168R 15w 1x8 Guitar Combo Amp and more Guitar Amplifiers at GuitarCenter.com.

This will give You a really nice "blues set-up" IMO.

I don't know anything about the quality of the SE Strat, but I do know there are a lot of happy Bullet owners. I also suspect that buying a "starter pack" is a waste of money, since the amp will probably be rather useless. The VOX on the other hand is a little gem, at a bargain price.

I would also recommend visiting the Squier forum Squier-Talk Home lots of Squier knowledge to be found there!

cheers

[peskypesky]

Squirr gives some very good advice. If you need an amp too, get a Bullet. And then maybe this amp.

Vox Valvetronix VT15 15W 1x8 Guitar Combo Amp and more Guitar Amplifiers at GuitarCenter.com.

[zombiebear]

Well a few differences, And i have no idea what the SE stands for =(

Notice on the SE it has a "Bridge Synchronous Tremolo" 6 screws fasten it the body.
While the Standard has a "Bridge Synchronous Twin-Pivot Tremolo" 2 allen bolts allow you to make adjustments.

And then the other pics are the differences in the headstock. I'm personally a fan of the 70's style headstock (:

[Dshillhouse]

I would by a used standard or CV50's or CV60's on craigslist or eBay. I did And got a CV60's that still had the plastic on the pickgaurd for $200.50 inculding tax.
Great guitar. I bought a Rolland microcube for $60 on craigslist so I could take it to the park and play. Just my .02 worth lots of great used Squiers out there right now

[Stratty]

Any of them would be great! SEs(i have one) are very good, standards are nice but I've heard a lot more hype for the cvs. Whichever one u get ur gettin a real good guitar! (but the extra stuff like the amp in the se pack arent very good) I guess u should just try each one seperatley. Welcome 2 the wonderful world of strats!

[kayxero]

ill be able to try them out later this week when I make a trip to NYC. Theres a guitar center in the village I can hit up midday =) thanks for the help guys. Keep the advice coming if theres anymore. I will update you guys once I make a buy at the end of the week.

[Yogi]

Also the Standard has Alnicos and the SE has Ceramics

[frontlinemike]

Dude go hit up a pawn shop and you can pick up a bullet or affinity for around 75 bucks. Then use the rest of your money to upgrade pickups and electronics, and you'll almost have a fender. I would just make sure the neck is straight and the body is solid wood and not plywood. Check under the bridge plate on the back. Happy hunting!!

[Paulbiz]

Id avoid the "pack"...you usually wind up with a whole lot of nothing. Go for the standard.

[wazupwiop]

Search Craigslist or Ebay. Craigslist is great. I got $800 in great guitar stuff for $300. I also got a great Washburn bass that was $400-$500 new for $150 used. My acoustic is $600, my dad bought it for $225 of Ebay.

[Stratty]

The Ses have cermanics and not alnicos?