Squier Electric Guitar article
Common Squier Electric Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Squier guitars are reliable, but players consistently make avoidable mistakes that make them harder to play and sound worse than they should. This guide covers the most common errors and how to fix them.
Buying and owning a Squier electric guitar is mostly straightforward, but there are consistent mistakes that players make — especially beginners — that result in an instrument that's harder to play, sounds worse, or doesn't last as long as it should. Most of them are simple to avoid once you know what to look for.
Buying the Cheapest Model Without Trying It First
The Bullet series is the most affordable Squier, and it's sometimes the right choice — but not always. The build quality compromises are real: tuners that drift, inconsistent fretwork, and pickups that sound flat. If you buy a Bullet without playing it first and it turns out to have a high action or inconsistent frets, it's harder to keep motivated. The Affinity costs a little more and is meaningfully better. If you can't try before you buy, the Affinity is the safer default.
Skipping the Setup
This is the most consistent mistake. Budget guitars, including Squiers, frequently come from the factory with a higher action than ideal and intonation that isn't quite right. Playing an unset guitar is harder on the fingers, makes chord changes more difficult, and causes the guitar to sound slightly out of tune as you move up the neck. A basic setup at a guitar shop costs £20–£40 and transforms how the instrument plays. Do it before you spend serious time practising.
Expecting It to Sound Like a Fender Without Doing Anything
A Squier electric guitar is not a Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster. It's built to the same design but with lower-cost components. The pickups in particular are typically a meaningful step down from Fender's American or Player series equivalents. If you're unhappy with the tone after trying the instrument clean, the most impactful fix is a pickup replacement. Budget pickups from Seymour Duncan, Bare Knuckle, or Fender's Pure Vintage range fit directly into Squier bodies and transform the sound more than any amplifier setting will.
Buying the Wrong Body Shape
The Stratocaster and Telecaster look and play differently — and sound differently too. A player who picks up a Telecaster wanting the versatility of a Strat will be disappointed; a player who grabs a Strat when they actually want the cleaner, more direct Telecaster sound will find the five-way switching unnecessary. If at all possible, play both before deciding. If you can't, think about the music you want to play: twangier, simpler tones suit a Tele; more rounded, multi-tonal playing suits a Strat.
Not Replacing the Tuners
Bullet and Affinity tuners are functional but drift under moderate use. Locking tuners are a direct replacement (the same hole size and string-post diameter) and cost between £25 and £60 for a set. They're the single most impactful hardware upgrade: tuning becomes more stable, restringing takes a quarter of the time, and the guitar holds pitch better during bends and vibrato. If you gig with a Squier and haven't fitted locking tuners, you're making life harder than it needs to be.
Storing It Badly
Extreme temperature or humidity changes warp necks and crack finishes. A Squier left next to a radiator, in a cold car overnight, or in a damp garage will develop problems faster than one stored properly. A basic guitar stand or wall mount in a climate-controlled room is all it takes. If you're not playing the guitar for an extended period, a case or gig bag keeps dust and ambient moisture away from the finish.
Where to Go Next
For a full overview of the range, the ultimate guide to Squier electric guitar covers every line and model. For choosing between specific options, the complete buyer's guide takes you through the key decisions. New to playing? The beginner's guide covers the essentials from first chords to first upgrade.
Comments