Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS: I Bought Another One to See If It Was a Fluke
A few years ago I opened up a Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS and found the worst routing I have ever seen. It looked like dried motor oil and chocolate. So I bought another one, this time sight unseen from a shop on Reverb, to find out if the first one was just a bad guitar or a sign of something bigger. Here is what I found when the second one showed up, and the checklist I use for any guitar I order online.
Why Buy the Same Cheap Strat Twice?
In my original Sonic Strat HSS deep dive, everything looked fine from the outside. Then the pickguard came off, and the body routing underneath was rough, messy, and stained. It was the kind of thing that makes you wonder what else got skipped at the factory.
One guitar is not a pattern, though. I needed another Sonic Strat HSS for a future project anyway, so before I start on that, this was the perfect chance to find out if the first one was a fluke.
Just to be clear: nobody sent this guitar to me. I bought it with my own money.
The Real Test: Ordering Online
The first time, I bought the guitar from a local store and they pulled it from the back, still in the box. This time I ordered from a shop on Reverb and had it shipped to me. I never touched it before it arrived.
That is the situation most people are in with a guitar at this price. You order online, it shows up at your door, and you roll the dice. So this is a fair look at what you actually get.
Guitar 1 vs Guitar 2
| First Sonic Strat HSS | Second Sonic Strat HSS | |
|---|---|---|
| Where I Bought It | Local store, pulled from the back in the box | Reverb shop, shipped sight unseen |
| Price | About $50 less at the time | $249.99 USD |
| Weight | About 6 lb | Just over 7 lb |
| Body Routing | Messy and stained | Clean and normal |
| Out of the Box | Played fine | Played fine |
Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Body | Poplar |
| Neck | Maple, slim C shape |
| Fingerboard Radius | 9.5" |
| Frets | 21, narrow tall |
| Bridge Pickup | Ceramic humbucker |
| Middle and Neck Pickups | Ceramic single coils |
| Switching | 5-way |
| Controls | Master volume, tone 1, tone 2 (bridge pickup) |
| Color Tested | Midnight Blue |
| Price | $249.99 USD |
The detail I still love on a guitar this cheap is that the second tone knob controls the bridge pickup. On a lot of Strats the bridge pickup has no tone control at all, which makes a bright bridge pickup hard to tame. Every Strat should have this.
The price has gone up about $50 since my first video. That is worth knowing if you remember the Sonic series as a sub $200 option.
Weight: Your Mileage May Vary
The first Sonic Strat HSS I had weighed about 6 lb. This one came in a bit heavier at just over 7 lb. Still light, but noticeably different.
That is something to keep in mind with any guitar. They are made of wood, and wood varies. Different pieces, different densities, and different humidity levels all add up. Two guitars with the exact same model number can feel different on the strap.
The Checklist: What to Do When Your Guitar Arrives
If you are ordering a budget guitar online, this is what I check the day it shows up.
- Fret ends. Run your hand along both edges of the neck. This is usually the first thing to show problems. Necks can shrink a little on cheaper models, which leaves the fret ends sticking out and feeling sharp.
- Action. Check the string height and make sure it is playable.
- Intonation. Compare the open string with the 12th fret to see if it plays in tune up the neck.
- Every switch position. Flip through all five positions and make sure each pickup works.
- Every knob. Test the volume and both tone controls for dead spots or crackle.
Mine passed everything. If yours does not, you have a return window, so use it. Do not just live with a problem. The only exception is if it is something you can fix yourself and you actually want to do the work.
What It Sounds Like
For the playing section I went straight into my Neural DSP Quad Cortex using a captured Fender Princeton. No EQ and no compression, so what you hear in the video is the guitar.
The ceramic humbucker in the bridge gives the Sonic Strat HSS more output and more push than a standard three single coil Strat, which makes it a good match for overdriven and rock sounds. The single coils in the middle and neck cover the classic Strat cleans, and the in-between positions on the 5-way switch give you those familiar quacky tones.
The Moment of Truth: Under the Pickguard
This is the part I bought the guitar for. Pickguard off, and the verdict is: it is fine. It is actually normal. No chocolate, no motor oil.
"Some come out great and some come out gross."
So the first one really was just a dud. That is what can happen at this price. Quality control is not as tight as it is on more expensive guitars, so some come out of the factory great and some do not.
The good news is that either way, the body is routed for three humbuckers. That opens up a lot of modding options, and three humbuckers on a Strat might actually be pretty cool. Maybe that is what this guitar becomes. Subscribe on YouTube if you want to find out.
Pros and Cons
- The price
- Played fine out of the box
- Bridge pickup tone control
- Light and comfortable
- Routed for three humbuckers, great for mods
- Quality varies from guitar to guitar
- Tuners feel cheap
- Pickup switch feels cheap
- Fret ends can be a little sharp
Final Verdict
The first Sonic Strat HSS was a fluke. The second one, ordered online and never seen before it arrived, was clean inside, played fine, and passed every check.
Would I buy another one? Yes, if I needed a quick, cheap guitar that works. If you can try one in a store first, do that. If you are ordering online, go through the checklist above as soon as it arrives, and use the return window if anything is off.
Where to Get It
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#landonbaileyyt · squier · squier sonic · stratocaster · hss strat · budget guitar · cheap guitar · buying a guitar online
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