Is this the Squier that's selling right now...? 4 Alternative/Unique Guitars | For those looking for something different
Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster
It's a Strat, yet somehow it's a Telecaster. That's what makes it so alternative.
The guitar I want to introduce this time is the first one, the Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster.
Squier Paranormal Custom Nashville Stratocaster
When you see the name,
"Huh? Isn't it just a normal Strat?"
you might think.
But that's not where the fun of this guitar lies.
It looks like a Strat, but the internals are quite eccentric (lol).
First, a major feature is that it is equipped with a Telecaster-style bridge.
A normal Strat would have a 6-point or 2-point tremolo bridge, but this guitar uses a 3-saddle string-through system.
In other words, it adds the stiffness and resonance of a Telecaster to a Strat body.
And what I personally find interesting is,
"Even though it's an unusual Strat, it's still very much a Strat"
aspect of it.
The pickups are three single-coils.
It also has a 5-way selector, and the tone knob is a push/pull that allows you to add the neck pickup.
In other words,
that Strat-like half-tone
and that Telecaster-like snappy attack
You can achieve a wide range of sound creation unique to a 3-pickup configuration
all in one guitar.
And this is why I find it interesting as an "alternative" style guitar.
90s alternative guitarists weren't actually all just "people who used standard guitars as they were."
Jazzmasters.
Mustangs.
Telecasters.
Non-standard shaped guitars.
Old, unpopular models.
Everyone made "slightly off-beat choices" to create their own sound.
Thinking about it that way, I think this Squier also occupies a very interesting position.
Rather than buying a normal Stratocaster,
"Why did you choose that?"
is the kind of guitar you'd be asked about.
But that's where your own sound begins.
Isn't that exactly the alternative way to enjoy music?
Moreover, Squier's Paranormal series is quite different from the old Squier image, as it's a series that actively releases models with unusual specifications.
"I want a Fender, but my budget is..."
It's not just for people who say that, but also for those who say,
"I want a weird guitar that Fender doesn't have."
I think this will also resonate with people who feel that way.
Personally, I really like that Squier is putting out these curveballs in this price range.
I feel like you'll have a longer relationship with your guitar if you choose one of these rather than just buying a standard Strat and calling it a day.
Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic
It has the shape of a Strat, but the internals are almost completely different. These kinds of 'weird Squiers' are the most interesting.
The next one I want to introduce is the Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic.
Squier Paranormal Strat-O-Sonic
Just looking at the name, you might think,
'Is this a Strat?'
but when you actually see it, it's quite a unique instrument.
It has a completely different direction from a normal Strat (laughs).
First, a major feature is that it's equipped with two soapbar-style single-coil pickups.
In other words, even though it looks like a Strat, the sound character is shifted toward something much thicker and more aggressive.
And what I personally find interesting is the size of this guitar.
Instead of the standard 25.5-inch scale of a normal Strat, it adopts a 24.75-inch short scale.
This size is the familiar length found on Gibson-style Les Pauls and the like.
In short,
'Fender looks'
but,
'Gibson-like playability'
it's quite a strange existence that possesses both (laughs).
Furthermore, the bridge is also different from a normal Strat.
Not a tremolo, but a wraparound-style bridge.
This simplifies the structure and gives it a direction where string vibration is transmitted more directly.
And, I think the most "alternative" thing about this guitar is that
you can't really tell what it is
(laughs).
Is it a Strat?
Is it an SG?
Is it a Les Paul Special?
Is it a P-90 style guitar?
It's a mix of various elements.
But 90s alternative guitarists were making exactly these kinds of "unconventional choices."
Jazzmaster.
Mustang.
Old, unpopular models.
Strange, modified guitars.
Not the "highest performance guitar," but
"It's a bit weird, but it's the only one for me"
—that kind of guitar.
Of course, I don't think it's for those seeking the versatility of a classic Strat.
But,
For those who say, "I want something different from the Strat that everyone else has."
For those who say, "I want to make some slightly strange sounds with my guitar."
These are quite attractive options.
And it's interesting that Squier is the one releasing models like these.
In the past, Squier had a strong image as a "budget version of Fender," but the recent Paranormal series feels like it has taken on the role of:
releasing strange specifications through Squier that are a bit hard to experiment with at Fender
that role, I feel.
Personally, I would recommend these kinds of guitars even to beginners.
Rather than buying a standard Strat from the start and thinking, "This is the correct choice,"
it's often the case that you'll develop a longer-lasting attachment to a guitar if you spend your time with it wondering,
"What on earth is this guitar?"
In terms of alternative-style guitars, I think this Strat-O-Sonic is a very interesting one.
Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII
A Jazzmaster, but with 12 strings. For those who love alternative music, this sense of dissonance is irresistible.
The one I want to introduce this time is the Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII.
As the name suggests, it is a model that turns the Jazzmaster into a 12-string guitar.
Squier Paranormal Jazzmaster XII
Description: None
Price: 60,500 JPY
URL:
Number of Reviews: 20
Rating: 4.7
Featured Tag: None
Merchants: Amazon Official Site + Others
...if I were to say that,
“Wait, isn't that just a standard 12-string Jazzmaster?”
You might be thinking that (laughs).
In reality, it doesn't have that “what on earth is this?” vibe quite like the Strat-O-Sonic or the Nashville Stratocaster.
But that’s not where the fun of this guitar lies.
Being a Jazzmaster already makes it unconventional
First of all, the Jazzmaster itself is a guitar with a rather mysterious standing.
Although it originally debuted in 1958 as a high-end model for jazz, it didn't find great success in the jazz world, and later became an iconic presence in surf music, garage rock, and 90s alternative rock.
Kurt Cobain of Nirvana.
Sonic Youth.
Dinosaur Jr.
My Bloody Valentine.
The list goes on and on.
In the sense that it is a “guitar that was appreciated in a place different from its original intended use,”
it is truly an alternative existence.
Adding the 12-string choice to that
Taking such a Jazzmaster and making it a 12-string.
This is where it gets interesting.
When you think of a 12-string guitar, you inevitably have an image of an acoustic guitar.
A shimmering sound like The Byrds.
But when it becomes a 12-string Jazzmaster, the atmosphere changes a little.
The Jazzmaster's signature
slightly softer attack
spacious resonance
distinctive sense of shimmer
is joined by the expansiveness of 12 strings.
It's sparkling, yet somehow hazy.
I think this vibe will really resonate with fans of shoegaze and dream pop.
Actually, it's a guitar you can use quite normally.
This is the key point.
It doesn't have that 'eccentric' feel like the Strat-O-Sonic (lol).
The basic structure is a Jazzmaster.
Offset body.
Jazzmaster-style pickups.
Jazzmaster-like looks.
So,
rather than 'I bought a weird guitar and failed,'
it's more for people who say,
'I like the Jazzmaster, but I want a little more personality.'
It's aimed at those folks.
For 90s alternative fans, this might actually be the perfect choice.
90s alternative rock actually pairs quite well with 12-string guitars.
The shimmer within the roar, like My Bloody Valentine.
The arpeggios like R.E.M.
The expansive guitar sound of The Smashing Pumpkins.
To create that kind of 'delicacy within a wall of sound,' the 12-string option is quite interesting.
I think the Squier Paranormal series is truly interesting.
It's not just a cheap budget version,
'Releasing models that would be a bit of a gamble for the main Fender brand'
is what makes it appealing.
This Jazzmaster XII is relatively orthodox among them.
But it's a guitar that lets you go in a slightly different direction than someone buying a regular Jazzmaster.
Personally,
'I love Jazzmasters. But I want something a little different from everyone else'
I think it's a pretty good choice for people who feel that way.
Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline
It's a Telecaster, but somehow it feels a bit Gretsch-like. It's the 'perfect kind of weird' that alternative fans would love.
The last one I want to introduce this time is the Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline.
Squier Paranormal Cabronita Telecaster Thinline
Description: None
Price: 24,090 JPY
URL:
Number of Reviews: 29
Rating: 4.6
Featured Tag: None
Merchants: empleyado
The name is a bit long (lol), but the appeal of this guitar is very easy to understand.
It's a Telecaster, but not your average Telecaster.
This is it.
A cheat code of a combination: Telecaster + Thinline + Jazzmaster pickups.
First of all, it doesn't even look normal.
It has the shape of a Telecaster, but the body is a semi-hollow Thinline structure.
In other words, it has that slightly airy resonance characteristic of the Telecaster Thinline that appeared in the 1970s.
What's even more interesting are the pickups.
A standard Telecaster uses a combination of a thin bridge pickup and a round neck pickup, but this model is equipped with Fender Designed Alnico Jazzmaster single-coil pickups.
In short,
"A Telecaster body"
"The hollow resonance of a Thinline"
"The thick, slightly quirky sound of a Jazzmaster"
are all mixed together.
At this point, it's already far from normal (laughs).
But, it's actually quite easy to use.
Guitars with such strange combinations tend to end up as
"Interesting, but I never end up using it."
However, this Cabronita Telecaster Thinline is different.
The structure itself is quite simple.
It is a very well-balanced instrument.
Two single-coil pickups
3-way selector
1 volume
1 tone
It has a straightforward design.
It doesn't do anything unnecessary.
That's exactly why you can compete with the sound of the guitar itself.
Why it appeals to alternative music fans
Personally, the reason I think this guitar is suited for alternative music is because
it has a "sound that isn't tied to a specific genre."
That is why.
Telecasters are for country.
Jazzmasters are for alternative.
Les Pauls are for rock.
...there are fixed images like that.
But this Cabronita is a little different.
It has that snappy Telecaster feel too.
But since it's a Thinline, it's a bit softer.
Furthermore, thanks to the Jazzmaster-style pickups, it's a bit thicker and has more of a floating quality than a standard Tele.
This "feeling of not fully belonging anywhere" is what makes it feel so alternative.
And it's a bit Gretsch-like (lol).
Personally, I find this part interesting as well.
The Cabronita model itself is known for a design that adds a Gretsch-like vibe to a Telecaster.
Of course, this Squier version uses Jazzmaster-style pickups, so the direction is a bit different from the original Cabronita, but it has a "glamour that's different from a standard Fender."
Maybe I feel that way because I love Gretsch (lol), but this look is quite attractive.
Personally, it's one of my top recommendations among the four.
If I had to categorize these four,
Strat-O-Sonic → The most eccentric (lol)
Nashville Stratocaster → For those who like to modify
Jazzmaster XII → For shoegaze and ambient styles
Cabronita Telecaster Thinline → The most well-balanced curveball
That's how I'd put it.
"I already have a standard Telecaster (or I don't need one)"
But,
"I want a slightly unusual Fender-style guitar"
I think it's a pretty good option for people like that.
The Squier Paranormal series is really interesting, isn't it?
Squier used to have the image of being a "budget version of Fender," but now it feels more like,
a brand that handles the playfulness that the main Fender brand can't easily release
that's the impression I get.
As long as they keep releasing guitars like these, I think Squier will continue to be an interesting brand.