| Guitar | Pickups | Best For | Highlights | Price Range | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Squier Sonic Strat HSS | HSS (1 Humbucker, 2 Single Coils) | Rock, Alt, Ambient | Lightweight, versatile, beginner-friendly | ~$180 | Check Price |
| Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster | 2x Single Coils | Indie, Surf, Shoegaze | Retro look, offset style, rhythm/lead circuit | ~$450 | Check Price |
| Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Telecaster SH | 1 Humbucker, 1 Single Coil | Indie, Punk, Country, Rock | Vintage vibe, SH setup, limited run | ~$450 | Check Price |
Editor’s Recommendations:
- Squier Sonic Strat HSS – Versatile and mod-friendly, also the cheapest option. It’ll shred, it’ll do lead, and it is great for rhythm too. And it’s also a real looker.
- Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster – Retro tones and offset cool, easily my fave of the bunch. Perfect for heavier shoegaze / ambient stuff. But it’ll happily fuzz out for some low-tuned stoner rock and metal.
- Squier Classic Vibe Tele SH – Classic twang with modern flavor. If you want clarity and definition with your tone, this thing cuts through like a razor. The neck is fast and easy to play, the tone warm and full bodied. Awesome all-rounder, perfect for any style.
Back in the day, most of us learned on an acoustic and then eventually, after years of pain and struggle and callouses, upgraded to a POS (piece-of-sh*t) electric. Back then, the divide between good and awful was bigger than the rich-poor societal divide we live in today.
You either paid big bucks for a proper electric guitar from Ibanez, Gibson, Fender or Epiphone, or you went dumpster and/or thrift-store diving. It wasn’t great. But that was life back then for aspiring players.
Nowadays, it couldn’t be more different. Much like modern cinema, the entire guitar market is more or less geared towards beginners and aspiring players. And unlike modern cinema, in this context, it’s actually a good thing because the quality and build you get on entry-level guitars these days was unthinkable just two decades ago.
And if you’re into classic cuts like the Strat and Jazzmaster, Squier has some insanely good models right now that are perfect for anyone that wants to play rock, metal or shoegaze — or all three. Here’s my preferred picks for right now.
3 Awesome Squier Guitars For Rock, Metal & Shoegaze
Squier Sonic Stratocaster HSS
Classic Strat Looks, Modern Simplicity
The Squier Sonic Strat HSS is the master of all trades. It’ll do lead, rhythm, the neck is fast, and its humbucker pickup is great for dialing-in heavier tones for rock and metal.
This is the cheapest model on this list but while it might not cost as much, it does deliver spades of value, especially if you pay to get it properly setup one you get it.
Here’s three things I love about this guitar and why I think it’s a great option for aspiring metal and rock guitarists:
- HSS pickup layout gives you single-coil sparkle and humbucker punch
- Lightweight and super comfortable for long practice sessions
- Great mod platform if you want to upgrade later
This is one of those guitars that doesn’t look like much, but you’ll end up reaching for it more than you’d expect. It’s versatile enough for rock, alt, ambient, and even metal, thanks to its HSS pickup configuration.
Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster
Offset Cool Without The Vintage Price
Want something that stands out both visually and tonally? The Classic Vibe Jazzmaster nails the vibe of those quirky offset guitars from the ’60s, without the price tag of an actual vintage Fender.
- Gorgeous retro aesthetics with a period-correct finish
- Lead/rhythm circuit gives you unique tone-shaping options
- Perfect for shoegaze, indie, surf, or experimental players
This isn’t your typical beginner axe; it’s got some quirks, and you’ll probably either love or hate the floating tremolo. But if you’re into dreamy textures or jangly indie riffs, this is a fantastic way to get there.
Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Custom Telecaster SH
Telecaster Twang With A Twist
Here’s one you don’t see every day. The Custom Tele SH throws a humbucker in the neck, giving it a thicker, warmer tone without ditching that signature Tele snap.
- SH pickup config for better versatility
- Bound body and vintage touches that look way more expensive than they are
- Sounds great clean or dirty—country, punk, rock, you name it
This one’s a bit of a sleeper hit. It’s technically a beginner guitar, but it feels like something you’d gig with. And since it’s a limited run, it might not be around forever.
Fun Fact:
The original Jazzmaster was supposed to replace the Stratocaster for jazz players. That…didn’t happen. Instead, it became the favorite of punk rockers, indie kids, and surf weirdos. Go figure.
Which Is The Best Overall?
You don’t need to spend a fortune, and you don’t need to suffer through unplayable necks or garbage pickups anymore. Each of these Squier guitars offers something different with the Sonic Strat being the least expensive option:
- Squier Sonic Strat HSS – Versatile and mod-friendly, also the cheapest option. It’ll shred, it’ll do lead, and it is great for rhythm too. And it’s also a real looker.
- Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster – Retro tones and offset cool, easily my fave of the bunch. Perfect for heavier shoegaze / ambient stuff. But it’ll happily fuzz out for some low-tuned stoner rock and metal.
- Squier Classic Vibe Tele SH – Classic twang with modern flavor. If you want clarity and definition with your tone, this thing cuts through like a razor. The neck is fast and easy to play, the tone warm and full bodied. Awesome all-rounder, perfect for any style.
And yeah, if you’re new to this whole world, it’s easy to get lost in specs and sales pitches. For me, a good guitar is any guitar that makes you want to pick it up and play it, and then go and do it again.
And all three of these Squier models do that which is why they were included in this post.
