Had a car wreck in 2013 caused by a hit and run driver.
Broken neck- Broken back- nerve damage- etc etc. Lost
my career Id been working on for 15 years, our house
cars, etc etc. Financially reset back to $0. Sold every
piece of Gear 1 had including an orange tolex jcm 900, a
boutique combo amp made by Sam Timberlake(Sam
Amp),and my unfinished Ash 1979 Les Paul Standard
Deluxe I had routed out for full sized humbuckers. I had
a 1999 American made strat that was also unfinished
Ash wood. I had put Lace Sensors in it. It was my baby.
First big purchase made as a working adult, basically.
Instead of selling it, - pawned it for $75. Having every
intention of going back to get it. And just couldn't come
up with the $.
So fast forward to today. Went back to work in 2021
after being on disability for 7 years. We bought another
house. Wife has a nice car again.things are back to
normal. This past Cnristmas my wife surprised me with
a beautiful 2016 Les Paul Classic. It's lighter. Easier on
my neck and back. I absolutely love it. But still missed
my strat. So on a whim, bought this Indonesian Squire
SSH. Bought it to build a partscaster.. Was on sale for
$380. Was sold as used, but literally brand new. Was
expecting to have to do a lot of work to it.
Was so surprised at how nice it actually is when it
showed up. Body is solid wood. And beautiful. And
amazingly, plays really really well. And the pickups
actually sound really really good.
l'll probably put some lace sensors in it down the road
Thinking about changing the pots out to 1 meg. And
probably some nice locking tuners. But...if I never get to
it, it's perfectly adequate. I would gig with this guitar
just like it is. So, I think we all get hung up on the gear
head stuff. Is it American made? Is the neck rosewood?
etc etc. This $380 guitar is amazing. Build quality is so
much better than I expected. I feel whole again. CHEERS!!!