If you’re wondering if Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS is a good electric guitar or not, don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place! In today’s article, I’m going to take a very close look on that cheap model to see if it’s worth it. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most popular entry-level guitars out there, but is it actually good?
The truth is that Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS features a really good quality. It’s not the best guitar in the world, but it’s more than enough for any beginner who wants to start their musical journey. Surely, it’s definitely worth the money.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes this guitar so good and popular. Firstly, let’s look at the specs and the main advantages of the HSS model. We’ll also see if it has any cons as well. Of course, you’ll also be able to hear how it sounds, so stay tuned!
Specs & Pricing
Squier Bullet Stratocaster is one of the most popular cheap guitars in the world. Many people choose it as their first electric guitar. It is not surprising though – this inexpensive model offers a pretty good quality.
The guitar features a lightweight poplar body and a comfortable C-shaped maple neck with a laurel fingerboard. It looks like a true Fender Stratocaster, although it feels a little bit different. Undoubtedly, a lot of guitarists are going to love that timeless and legendary aesthetic!
The manufacturer equipped this model with a humbucking bridge pickup and two single-coil pickups in the middle and by the neck. This pickup setting allows you to experiment with your tone. It’s definitely a bit more punchy and aggressive than the regular SSS pickup setting.
When it comes to pricing, this is one of the cheapest electric guitars available on the market right now. And that’s what makes it so popular! Considering the low price, it will be really tough to find something better at this price level.
Overall, this is a really basic guitar. Although it’s not recommended more advanced guitarists, all the beginners are going to absolutely love it. This is a great instrument to start your musical journey on! That’s why I highly encourage you to check it out.
Here’s the sound demo.
Who Is It For?
Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS is a perfect instrument for all beginner guitarists who are searching for an inexpensive and reliable electric guitar.
Thanks to the HSS pickup setting, this Strat offers a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. As a result, you can use it in a lot of different genres of music. Whether you’re into blues, rock, grunge or metal – it will be an excellent choice.
Additionally, this is one of the cheapest Stratocasters available on the market right now. That being said, if you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a new hobby, getting this particular model will be a good idea.
Overall, I’m sure that all amateur guitarists will be satisfied with the overall quality of this Bullet Strat. It’s cheap, it looks great and it sounds surprisingly good – isn’t it all that really matters?
Here’s an another sound demo.
My Experience With Squier Bullet Series
I had the pleasure to test all of the Squier Bullet guitars (Stratocaster, Mustang and Telecaster) and I have to admit that all of them featured a really good quality.
This is an entry-level guitar, so it’s obvious that more advanced guitarists won’t fall in love with it. But honestly, there’s nothing to complain about. Especially at this price level!
I have no hesitation in recommending all of the Squier Bullet guitars to all amateur musicians who want to start playing on an electric guitar. It will be really tough to find a better electric guitar at this price level.
If you’d like to read more about the Squier Bullet Mustang or Squier Bullet Telecaster, feel free to check out my separate reviews of these guitars.
Disadvantages of Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS
As I mentioned before, Squier Bullet Stratocaster is a basic guitar. It is not perfect, so it has a few disadvantages. Here’s what you need to know before you add the cheapest Squier Stratocaster to your own collection.
Firstly, the original strings in this model aren’t the best. If you want to get the most out of that guitar, you should consider changing the strings to some better ones. But this is not a massive issue and I’m sure that beginners won’t even notice the difference.
Additionally, this model tends to have problems with the fretwork. Most of the time, they’re not polished well enough. This issue tends to go away after a few weeks of playing, so don’t worry too much about it. But you may experience some buzzing, especially during bending strings.
It is also worth mentioning that Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS features a pretty basic tuners and pickups. They’re not bad, but they’re not amazing. I’m sure that amateur guitarists won’t even notice that. But the truth is that since it’s a cheap guitar, it doesn’t sound as good as some high-end Fenders.
Summing up, the main disadvantages of Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS are:
- it has a set of basic strings
- the fretwork is far from perfect
- the tuners and the pickups are basic, so more advanced guitarists may prefer to upgrade them
Considering how inexpensive this guitar is, these disadvantages are totally understandable. You can’t expect it to be the best guitar in the world. But it’s definitely one of the best entry-level electric guitars out there! It will work perfectly fine as your first guitar.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you’re not satisfied with the quality of Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS and you are looking for something else, don’t worry! The market is full of other great guitars.
Here’s a few alternative options for guitarists who don’t want to get the Bullet Strat. Of course, it all depends on your budget and the kind of music that you want to play.
Squier Affinity Jazzmaster
Squier Affinity Jazzmaster is an excellent electric guitar that can be used by both amateur and more advanced players. I personally own this Jazzmaster and I’m frequently using it for live gigs. It’s a really good and inexpensive guitar!
The Affinity Series is a bit more expensive than the Bullet Series, but it definitely deserves a lot of attention. If you are okay with spending a bit more on your first guitar, I highly encourage you to check out all the guitars from this series.
This is also a really versatile guitar, so whether you’re into jazz, blues, rock or metal – you will be satisfied.
Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Stratocaster
Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Stratocaster is a bit more expensive Strat made by the same manufacturer. This guitar is perfect for all lovers of old-school rock music. It has a very interesting vintage aesthetic.
In my opinion, all guitars from the Classic Vibe series feature an excellent quality. They often have problems with the setup, but once you adjust them, they’re absolutely killing it. I think that these guitars can easily compete with some Mexican-made Fenders.
If you’re searching for a high quality guitar that’s going to last you for years to come, you should definitely check out the Squier Classic Vibe Strat. It’s way more expensive than the Bullet Strat, but it’s definitely worth the money.
Epiphone Les Paul Special
Epiphone Les Paul Special is an another very popular guitar suitable for all the beginners. It’s cheap just like the Bullet Stratocaster, but it has a different pickup setting – two humbuckers. This pickup setting gives you even more punch, so it’s perfect for rock and metal!
Les Paul guitars sound and feel a bit different than the Stratocasters. Is it better than the Squier Strat? Well, that’s debatable. It all comes down to your own personal preferences. But I’m sure that it will be more than enough for all the amateur guitarists out there.
Ibanez AS53
Ibanez AS53 is an affordable semi-hollow body guitar suitable for both amateur and more advanced guitarists. Since this is not a solid body guitar, it has a bit different body shape than the Squier Bullet Stratocaster.
I personally own the AS53 model and I have to admit that this is one of my favorite guitars! In my opinion, this is the best semi-hollow body guitar available on the market right now. Honestly, I don’t think that you’re going to find a better instrument of this type at this price level.
Overall, this is an inexpensive and versatile guitar. It’s also pretty loud when it’s unplugged, so you can easily practice on it even if you don’t own an amplifier.
Squier Affinity Starcaster
Squier Affinity Starcaster is an another affordable and interesting guitar manufactured by Squier. Just like Ibanez AS53, this is a semi-hollow body guitar.
Who is it for? Well, I think that it’s suitable for both beginners and more advanced guitarists. It features a really unique large headstock, so it definitely draws a lot of attention. It’s also available in a few really cool colors!
Undoubtedly, anyone who’s looking for a cheap and versatile semi-hollow body guitar should consider adding the Starcaster to their collection. This is a really underrated model and not many people are aware of how good it can actually be.
FAQ
Where is Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS made?
Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS is currently manufactured in China. All Squier guitars come either from China or Indonesia.
Why are Squier guitars so cheap?
Squier guitars are cheap because they’re manufactured in China and Indonesia. The manufacturing costs in these countries is really low, so as a result the final products – Squier guitars – are usually really affordable.
Do Squier guitars hold their value?
Squier guitars are cheap, so they’re not good for investing. They also don’t hold their value very well.
Who owns Squier guitars?
Squier is a brand owned by Fender.
Summary
As you can see, Squier Bullet Stratocaster HSS is a great guitar. It’s inexpensive and it offers a surprisingly good quality. Of course, you can’t expect it to be the best guitar in the world, but at this price level it will be tough to find something much better.
What do you think about the Squier Bullet Strat? Would you add it to your own collection of guitars? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!
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