1994 G&L S500 vs 1983 MIJ Squier vs 1997 MIK Protone Squier

[Soli Deo Gloria]

I have a mid 90's G&L S500 and recently I found a good deal for a 80's SQ serial date mij Strat and a late 90's mik protone squier strat. I've heard so many good things about those two guitars, I'm contemplating whether to sell my G&L to get one of these two guitars.

If you guys have any thoughts please chime in.

Thanks!

[darwinohm]

I'll bite. I would keep the S-500. I think that the 80s MIJ Strat is a decent find. There are Squires and better Squires but I think you have by far the best of the 3. Others may know more about this than me. --Darwin.

[blargfromouterspace]

I've had Japanese Squiers in the past and my bass player has that he's had from new. While they play nicely, the hardware on the Squiers is not of very good quality and I'd imagine that if you traded you'd be left full of regret and wanting something better. The Squiers ARE nice guitars, and their reputation in so good because they can be had very cheap. YMMV.

[Soli Deo Gloria]

BTW,

the MIJ Squiers are SQ serials. I think they aren't as highly sought after as the JV ones. But I hear they are of the same great quality.

I'm just trying to regret getting something knowing I have something good (S500) in my possession. I just see myself continually looking for something better.

Sidenote...

Someone had a CS Fender strat on CL and I offered him my G&L plus some cash and he replied he'd only give me $250 value towards my mid 90's S500...

some people

[Boogie Bill]

Ah, well if your '94 S-500 is in really good shape, I'll give you at least $300 for it, and then you can get the Squier!

Bill

[Philby]

I have a '96 S-500 and a '85 MIJ Fender strat. The strat is a Japan market only A-series, the first Fender labelled instrument after the JV Squiers were discontinued (picture below).



IMHO the S-500 is built MUCH better. It has better tuners, better tremelo system, better stock electronics and pickups. On the other hand the MIJ strat has HEAPS of mojo now that all the paintwork is yellowing. The Japanese really went to a lot of trouble to make their strats vintage correct. I much prefer the lovely neck on the strat as well, but that is a personal taste thing. I've dropped some Fender 57/62 American pickups and wiring in it and couldn't be happier.

But for an 'off the shelf' guitar the S-500 is hard to go past.

[Soli Deo Gloria]

Well, I wasn't saying that I would be trading the S500 for the SQ, it was just a question in terms of the build quality. IF the SQ was just as bit as great as my S500 I was going to buy the SQ and sell the S500 later.

I went a head and met with the guy with the SQ and tried the guitar. I didn't like it much. The radius was 7.25 and I like flatter necks. I just didn't bond with the SQ well enough to pull the trigger on it.

S500 still lives.