Electric Guitar Wars Fender vs Squier The History of Fender and Squier Guitars

Hobbies Articles | October 16, 2012

Fender and Squier Electric guitars are often mistaken for each other. Fender now own Squier however in the past they they have had a fierce rivalry. What are the differences between Squier and Fender Electric Guitars?�

Fender is an iconic music brand that create some of the best and most famous electric guitars ever made. The shape of the Stratocaster and Telecaster themselves have become synonymous with the electric guitar, nearly every other electric guitar manufacturer has borrowed heavily from Fenders electric guitars. They are the original trailblazers on the guitar gear scene and they still continue to progress with updated models and various special editions of their legendary electric guitars. Over the years Fender have grown as a company, enveloping smaller electric guitar manufacturers and brands. Many people are confused by the Fender and Squier crossover, hopefully this article will clear up the confusion surrounding these 2 brands and will be able to find the electric guitar to suit you.
Many people think that getting to the top of an industry such as the electric guitar industry is the hardest challenge for a musical instrument company. When you are sitting on top it is the hardest thing in the world to stay there, however, Fender have managed to reach the top and stay there ever since they first burst on to the music scene in 1946. Fender have stayed at the top of the guitar industry since the very beginning, the Fender Telecaster was in fact the very first commercially successful electric guitar in history. From that point on Fender have been sitting at the top with every other electric guitar manufacturer such as Gibson, Ibanez, Epiphone, Yamaha and others trying to knock them off the top spot.
Fender electric guitars are a premium product and therefore you have to expect the premium price tag that comes along with it. For those who are not looking to spend such a sizable amount of money on a guitar the Squier by Fender range of electric guitars could be the much more viable option. Squier were bought by Fender many years ago and they do create similar models but with more affordable materials and components. The Squier Strat for example is modeled after the Fender Stratocaster. Similarly the Squier Tele is modeled after the Fender Telecaster. To the untrained eye one would not be able to tell the difference, the sounds of the different models do differ however so be sure to give the guitar a go in person before shelling out.
Squier guitars are not knock off Fender guitars, far from it. In fact, Squier guitars were bought out by Fender because their good electric guitars are of very high quality and many guitarists would buy Squier guitars instead of the more expensive Fender guitars because the differences in sound quality were so slim. Looking at the Squier Strat vs the Fender Stratocaster, they are pretty much indistinguishable apart from the markings on the head. Fender and Squiers long and storied history is definitely an interesting one and has helped both brands to flourish. I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. Please leave your comments below.