Growing old gracefully

[Pete C]

Apologies for the lack of posts this year but I thought this might be an interesting one to share as I always like to see other members' gear.

In early 1984 I bought a new Squier SQ series Stratocaster for £199 (built in Japan at the end of October 1983 from the pencil date on end of the neck and the date in the neck pocket) as I couldn't afford a USA Fender which was double the price back then. It was the first 'proper' guitar I'd had after a couple of cheap copies.

I recently found a photo of me with the guitar back in 1984 and took a photo of it with the 2013 US Telecaster which Mrs C bought me for Christmas 2013.

After 30+ years of use - it's been gigged but cared for-  you can see how the white body, pickup covers and control knobs have turned cream and the neck laquer, which was once as light as the Tele's neck, has started to turn amber. Its fared a lot better than I have over that time - hair going grey, spectacles and a few stone heavier !

I love my old Strat and I'll never part with it !  If anybody's looking out for a good vintage Strat the Squier SQs are a steal !

(click to view full size)

(click to view full size)

[64Guitars]

Nice guitars, Pete. That Strat is aging nicely.

[cuthbert]

Very nice guitars, Pete!

I did a bit of a double-take when I saw your 1984 picture - it looked a lot like me, back in 1984! I'll see if I can dig up a photo...

[ODH]

Funny, I have similarly moody, floppy haired pic's from around that time too.

Always nice to see other's guitars.  A mate of mine at the time had a Squier Bullet, which used to make a fabulous racket (perfect for the Gang of Four style stuff we were into at the time).

[fenderbender]

Great photo Pete.
great guitars those Squiers were,still are.
 a pal of mine had one and as you say as good if not better than the real thing.


Tommy

[Johnny Robbo]

I remember the TV ads for those Squier strats that ran in the early '80s - electric guitars weren't a product you often see ads for on the telly (still aren't I guess) which is why they stuck in my mind so well. I recall plunking away on my Columbus Les Paul copy & wishing I could have something like one of those strats. Even now yours still looks like a gorgeous guitar & I still want one

[Groundy]

Nice guitars Pete,
I have a MIM Strat  I got new 23 years ago , It has been gigged for many years and carried around in a Black Big Bag, There is not a mark on it but the laquer on the back of the neck has worn away with years of my sweaty hand probably, lol
And mine also has fared better than me.

Alex