Fender Squier Debut Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar, Beginner Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Includes Free Lessons, Black with Matte Finish

This guitar is the cheapest Fender Stratocaster that you could buy. Looking at other brands that have a similar guitar that's cheaper or at the same price. I think Fender has managed to make something that is decent and playable right out of the box, whereas other brands make guitars that require massive setup right out of the box with high action issues with staying in tune. If you're going to get a entry-level beginner guitar then you should definitely get this one instead of anything cheaper or other brands. Fender definitely knows what they're doing. I didn't have any issues with the guitar. When it arrived, the action was set properly. The intonation seems to be good and the guitar definitely stayed in tune even though the strings were new. Haven't really replaced the strings because I didn't feel that it was necessary and a couple months I'll probably swap them out for some D'Addarios. Overall, I plan to slowly upgrade and mod this guitar because even though it does play and sound great, there's a lot of cheap hardware that could be easily upgraded for not too much more. Overall, this is a great instrument for a beginner. A cheap guitar is not the only thing that a beginner needs. They also need a guitar that doesn't require setup out of the box unless they're willing to learn that sort of thing, which is a little bit intimidating for some new players. And if you're willing to mod your guitar to save a little bit of money, it is a great modding platform. The only slight issue I have with it is that I ordered the black color and even though the pickguard is supposed to be white, it seems to have a slight tinge of a red Hue that's extremely subtle. It's just weird looking. It seems like they were trying to make it fully white and then some kind of dye or powder from another guitar got on it or something. I honestly cannot tell you why but it just looks a little bit reddish and I don't know why. Hopefully I in the future can replace it with like a more white looking pickguard.

I paid like $159 for a Stratocaster. It sounds great to a new player of guitar. Been meaning to learn to play my whole life, I got this and a 5w spark mini amp, a music teacher and professional blues musician both recommended it. It looks beautiful, also it’s cool. 1. High build quality 2. Tuned and just learning 3. Size is a proper Stratocaster, any guitar, right for me though. 4. I got the spark mini as my amp which is perfect for my use. Any amp will work. 5. I got the bare guitar but it had good strings. 6. I’m a student so can’t rank playability. I have been meaning to learn guitar for 29 years, Stratocaster made the perfect setup for an apartment dweller, and I think this is a perfect guitar for a student. It fits in a case, I keep it on a stand in the corner, I tried a keyboard so it’s super portable by contrast. Normal sized guitar.

This beginner electric guitar is a fantastic way to start learning. It’s lightweight, comfortable to hold, and easy to play, which makes practice much more enjoyable for new players. The classic Stratocaster style delivers clean, recognizable tone, and the controls are simple enough for beginners to understand without feeling overwhelmed. The build quality feels solid for the price, and it stays in tune well during practice sessions. The 2-year warranty adds peace of mind, especially for first-time guitar owners. Tip: The guitar comes in a large brown box, very well protected & just the brand name on the box in case you need to keep it as a surprise for a gift! I highly recommend this beginner guitar & I hope this review is helpful 👍🏻

I wanted to be 100% in love with this guitar and have it be playable right out of the box, and write a rave review. But unfortunately, that was not the case. This was not a guitar that had been returned to Amazon. You could tell it was brand new and never had been opened. When I first saw the color in person, I said WHOA. I love Squier Strats, especially red ones. I actually prefer them over the Fender Strats. I have way too many of them as it is, so when these first came out, I told myself I didn't need another one. But I kept seeing the reviews on YouTube. Not a single person did not rave about this guitar for the price. There may have been something here and there that was a little off, but they all couldn't believe the quality for the price point. I was also impressed by the matte finish. Alas, I am a sucker for a red Squier. I also figured maybe in time it would be one of those collector item guitars like some of the older Squiers are. So I said screw it, you only live once, Christmas present for myself, things are going to cost more from China very soon, and every other excuse I could think of, and ordered it. Going by the pictures, I wasn't impressed with that particular shade of red, but hey, it was red. I let it acclimate in the box indoors for 24 hours, like I usually do. When I finally pulled away the foam bag, I stood still and looked at it, and I really think my mouth was hanging open. I was blown away. None of the pictures do the color justice. It's a beautiful, deep matte burgundy red, like a wine red. It is gorgeous. They didn't cheap out on the pickguard like they did with the Sonic series, and just give it a plain white pickguard. This pickguard has the black stripe in it, which gives this guitar just such a beautiful accent. Some people here complained about the frets being sharp. I could see a couple here or there that I could pretty much even take down with a nail file if I wanted to. Nothing that would ever scratch me, or beginner, or a child with this guitar. Here's where things went south quickly. I tuned it up and plugged it in. Every string buzzed. It was not playable at all. Upon further inspection I saw that the truss rod had been left tightened all the way from the factory. A little loosening of the truss rod took care of most of the buzzing. I tuned it up again. The intonation was off on the low E and A and the low E still slightly buzzed. Some more tweaking and finally it was playing the way it was supposed to be. I can tell you that this guitar is light. It's thin. The pickups sound good. The fret ends are fine. The fretboard is really pretty and smooth. The tuners hold tune well. The knobs and switches work just fine. But if I was a beginner and this was my first guitar, and I didn't know anyone who knew anything about guitars, I would not have known what to do. I would have been even more disappointed than I was. Because of the rave reviews of this guitar, I am sure the one that I got was just a fluke. If anyone got it, I'm glad it was me because it was fixed in 5 minutes. But had I gotten this as a gift for a kid, I would have been really upset for the kid. Yes, I could have returned it, but I like working on guitars anyway. If you know your way around guitars and are getting this for a kid, grab one. It's a great guitar. I would definitely get it for someone, but also tell them if there's anything weird about it to let me know. Do I regret buying this? No way. I love the guitar. Just on the day that mine was made, someone in China was having a bad day.

The Fender Squier Debut Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is an absolute gem for any Strat enthusiast like me. This instrument perfectly embodies what a Strat should be, delivering an incredible sound when tuned correctly, especially when paired with a quality amplifier. I was initially testing this Squier model before diving deeper into Fender’s offerings, contemplating a higher-end Strat investment. Out of the box, the guitar was impressively set up, needing only minor adjustments before I was able to strum freely and effortlessly. Its sleek design and beautiful finish make it a joy to play and a striking addition to any collection. If you're looking to embrace the classic Stratocaster experience without breaking the bank, this guitar stands out as a fantastic choice!

I would say for a beginner this is an excellent guitar, the one I received anyway. Very good action, surprisingly very good tuners. The nut was cut well and the intonation was spot on. Well constructed very solid instrument. I would suggest as with any new guitar to go around it with a Phillips screw driver and make sure everything is snug. The one I got was fine. Also raise the pickups to about 1/4” to an 1/8” away from the strings, the ones on mine were very low. It’ll improve the sound when plugged into an amp. Also the frets could be polished but for a beginner it’s neither here nor there. I bought this to modify after seeing all the hype on YouTube and it’s an excellent platform to do so. Bone nut, leveled a few frets ( very slightly ) polished them, new tremolo bridge ( the stock Squire ones have a very thin block ) and new pickups. Very fun to play and sounds like a Stratocaster. The thinner body makes it very comfortable ( keep that in mind when replacing the block and or bridge as you need a short one ). I’m actually a bit shocked that for little money you can have a very reliable, useable guitar.

The Fender Squier Debut Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar is an excellent choice for beginners, especially those just starting their musical journey. The quality is impressive for the price—well-built, comfortable to hold, and easy to play, which makes learning more enjoyable and less intimidating for new players. My daughter purchased this guitar using her Christmas money, and it has been such a joy to see her so happy and motivated. Instead of spending her time on screens, she’s choosing to practice and explore her passion for music, and that alone makes this guitar worth every penny. The sound is great for a starter guitar, and it truly captures that classic Stratocaster feel Fender is known for. The setup is beginner-friendly, and it feels like a guitar she can grow with as her skills improve. My only wish is that cases and straps were more easily available or offered alongside the guitar, as those are essentials for beginners—but that’s a small detail compared to the overall value.

Ive played and repaired guitars for many years. I've had sharp frets on many guitars of all makes and models but I've never seen or felt such sharp frets. Some were literally like tiny razor blades. Possibly dangerous for someone who picks it up and wants to show off and act like a rock star and shreds their hand. I enjoy buying cheap guitars and moding them and for $120 I couldn't resist. I've modded many Squiers and some come out great and some don't. This one, at least this on, is a fantastic mod platform. The neck is nice and feels familiar and like a fender to me. The edges of the fretboard were nicely rolled which made me surprised about the rough finish on the frets. Tuners are actually usable, if you string the guitar well. Nut was horrible because it's bad material and cut improperly. Not all the strings would ring properly. I replaced it with a hand made bone nut. I had to spot level one fret, which is not bad for a guitar in this price range. I filed sharp frets and polished them. Copper tape on pick guard, in electronics and plug compartment. The pickups are fine clean but with dirt, not great but very usable. The pots, switch, plug, all are fine. After all these things have been dealt with, it's a really good guitar. I'm not a big fan of Squier bridges but this one is ok. I have three Charvel super strats in my personal collection and this guitar will be staying with me for at least a while. It's very good and I'm very happy with it.