Been looking for one over the last couple weeks. Maybe that's long enough, but I can't seem to find these for <$200 used. Are these guitars somewhat rare compared to Affinity and CV? I don't think I can pay $200 for a used one when I can get it new for $249. Just wondering... what would you guys pay for one in Good condition? I am not looking for Mint necessarily or even Excellent condition.
Squier Standard Tele - how much should I pay for a used one?
- Thread starter mj6thbuif
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Mr Scallywag
Tele-Holic
It's a different price market her in Australia, but a rule of thumb for me is 60% of new value for one in good condition.
I'd agree with 60% of new street price which is $250. Most if not all online dealer will discount the street price by 10%-15% if you take advantage of sales or simply ask for a price match. So you should be able to buy a new one for $215-$225. If sellers are asking $200 used and won't budge I'd simply buy a new one and have done with it.
old guitar player
Tele-Afflicted
They sell used for up to $150 here depending on age and condition.
Kerberos
Tele-Holic
I just picked up my first Tele, a Squier Classic Vibe Thinline. I've played a 1966 Fender Jazzmaster since I was 15. I got lucky, and snagged a used Classic Vibe Thinline for $249.99 US, to give you an idea of what you can find out there with a little patience. I believe this Squier was built in 2013, and is in darn near mint condition, just one small defect in the finish, no big deal. Check with Guitar Center Used gear, and well as ebay. Good luck! 
seekir
Tele-Holic
I looked for a 22-fret strat for months locally (the standards have 22, most other squiers I've seen have "vintage" 21-fret necks). I eventually got lucky. Found a decent 2005 with a hard case for $110.00 with significant strum wear on the body, pickups, and pick guard that now looks and works great after a lot of buffing and a new pick guard. It was badly out of whack—poorly cut nut, trem and saddles grossly out of adjustment. It couldn't be intonated with the existing nut before I cut its slots deeper, and probably seemed like an untunable loser to anyone who played it in that condition, so it may have been undervalued by the owner. The Standards do seem to be rare on the used market, I don't know if that's because they're appreciated more or simply aren't produced in numbers equivalent to the bullets, Affinities, CV's, VM's, SE's, etc. For someone with basic setup skills, guitars like my '05 Standard are a great buy. I also found a much newer near-mint Squier CV 50's BSB Tele with a gorgeous neck (no case) and bought it for $200.00. Both were a steal IMO.
Last edited:
darkwaters
Friend of Leo's
That's my standard to the left. Great guitar. The 60 % formula sounds right to me. Good luck.
I have the same experience here in Europe. There seem to be a lot of second hand stratocasters around, especially Bullets & Affinities. Only a very small portion of the market here are telecasters, most of which are second hand Classic Vibes. I rarely find a second hand standard telecaster over here.
It seems like first time (more likely younger) players are more attracted to the stratocaster model, and generally buy cheaper guitars. Older buyers (like me, in my 40s) tend not to sell their guitars as quickly even if they have a lot more than they need.
But the standard telecaster certainly is worth the money. I even love the standard pickups.
el cheapo
Friend of Leo's
- My Squier Standard is my #1, and buying one used is the best way to go if you have some setup skills. I bought mine new for $225, so a good used price would be half retail plus 10 or 20 percent depending on condition. I also don't see a lot of Standards for sale secondhand. I suspect it's because people in general are very satisfied with them. Good luck to you in your quest!
I also have time on my side so am glad good deals can be had with a little bit of patience. I may also be better off going local and not wasting money on shipping. Based on responses here, think $150 for a Standard or $225 for a CV may be good deals to look for.
Nice... I like the HB on the neck. Did you have to cut into the body to make room for it? What about wiring... is it any different than upgrading to a different SC?
Strats have never felt right to me. Maybe I'll give it another shot cos I really like the 3 pickup setup and was always interested in a HSH or HSS.
seekir
Tele-Holic
Strats are more versatile in terms of tone, and to me, comfier to play with their contours and rounded edges. If the trem's an issue, you can block it of course. This guy on the Squier forum found a Standard strat that looks mint in the photos, pretty similar to the Indo model I bought—for $60.00 less than I paid for mine. The one he found is a maple neck with a soft case, but it appears to be in much better shape than mine was before rehab:
https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/intervention.115539/#post-525894
https://www.squier-talk.com/threads/intervention.115539/#post-525894
Bellacaster
Tele-Afflicted
I found a Squier standard strat special edition black with matching headstock for $50 at a yard sale. My neighbor was selling another Squier standard strat for $100. I think the 60% rule of thumb is good, but if you are patient, you can find them for a lot less. I'd keep checking Craig's List or go to a lot of yard sales.
darkwaters
Friend of Leo's
Thanks. Yes, I can't say that it's "standard" anymore.
The body came routed for a humbucker, as luck would have it. I don't know if that's normal for Squire Standards. I'm guessing they just cut the body blanks that way to make it easier if they decide to do a run with humbuckers.
I didn't do the wiring myself. Electronics isn't my forte. I had it done by a pro. I'm not aware that it gave him much trouble, only that he had to remove the neck and, of course, cut the pickguard and drill holes for the humbucker screws. I did ask him to replace the 250K volume pot with a 500K.
I'm pretty pleased with how it sounds. So much so that I recently picked up a second hand Duncan Little 59 and had the guy install that in the bridge. (I'm a big fan of humbuckers and P90s.) Turned out great !
One thing I should mention is that the original nut was plastic and pretty subpar plastic at that. The first thing I did was replace it with a good bone nut. If I ever buy another, if I did nothing else, I'd replace the nut immediately. Other than that she's a very well built guitar and the CAR finish was perfect.
seekir
Tele-Holic
The one I found was originally a "Black & Chrome" Standard. I think that may be what the $50.00 guitar Bellacaster found at the yard sale he's talking about was, they have black painted headstocks. These come with mirrorred pick guards, and most of the newer ones are HSS, my '05 was SSS, but the body was routed to accept HSH. I replaced the guard with a black one from guitarpartsonline.com, black screws, black switch tip, and a black trem arm. This seemed more appealing to me than the mirror motif, 'specially if you need a sinister-looking guitar. Grand total for the new parts: $27.70.
Say I was willing to go Strat, is this a good deal? The seller is willing to go $125 for just the guitar. It looks like a Standard, but I don't know where it is made (or if that even matters). Also, I don't know how old it is but I would be getting it at 50% of the current price of the Standard.
(link removed)
(link removed)
seekir
Tele-Holic
It's a Standard ("Standard" in the circular part of the headstock, 22 frets, two-post trem). Looks worthy, check it out if it's close by. I think it's a skunk stripe Indo, the origin will be on the back of the headstock, and he hasn't posted a picture of the back. Might be a plain-neck Chinese. I haven't tried the Chinese ones, maybe someone else here knows about them, but I'm pretty sure it's an Indonesian Standard. Main concern is fret wear, but I'd wager that this was a guitar/amp package bought by someone who didn't realize learning guitar isn't a walk in the park—generally these aren't played much before the new owner decides they aren't going to follow through and decides to bail.
seekir
Tele-Holic
The Serial number on the back of the neck has the year of manufacture. IC-last two digits of year (followed by other numbers to identify the unit I guess). My 05:
The CL guitar has dark allen-screw posts like Indos I've seen. The Chinese ones I've seen have chrome posts with slot-heads, and no skunk stripe.
The CL guitar has dark allen-screw posts like Indos I've seen. The Chinese ones I've seen have chrome posts with slot-heads, and no skunk stripe.
Last edited:
