Squier Sonic specs

In a hurry? Here’s our verdict

I’ve been pleasantly surprised by just how addictive the nimble Squier Sonic is to play. It’s been passed around the office and tested by multiple guitar gearheads, all of whom have enjoyed its fun, lightweight feel.

Its scaled-down body makes the Sonic very easy to pick up and play for extended sessions, while its HSS pickups can compete in virtually any musical genre. It won’t be the best tool for regular performers or technically demanding styles, but for newer, younger, or smaller frame players looking for their first electric, it’s an unbeatable choice.

Main takeaways

• Great build quality: There is nothing that detracts from the feel of the instrument, and it’s quite comfortable to play for hours on end
• Good initial setup: After a quick tune-up, the Sonic was good to go out of the box, with no additional tinkering required to get it playing nicely
• Versatile sound from HSS pickups: Playing with modelling amps, I could get most of the sounds I wanted out of the Squier Sonic
• There are things it doesn’t have, and that’s fine: Stacked up against the Squier Contemporary or a mainline Fender, there are obviously hardware features the Sonic lacks, but for its intended players and use cases, that matters very little

Squier Sonic Stratocaster review

First impressions

My immediate impression was, “That’s pretty small!”, and while it’s not a tiny guitar by any means (it’s a full-scale length, after all), Squier’s reduction of the overall body size was apparent straight out of the box.

However, this isn’t a bad thing at all! It made it a breeze to play while standing, even without a strap, and gave the sense that it’s a fun guitar that you can easily manoeuvre without feeling weighed down.

This reduction in size does come with some disadvantages, which I’ll mention later, but for first-time players, that won’t matter one bit. I think it’s a great chance to help novices get accustomed to solid-body electrics.

Speaking of getting accustomed, the neck felt instantly comfortable, courtesy of the C neck shape. It’s slender enough to easily reach all frets and will certainly help ease those tricky barre and CAGED chords.

As for the looks, I opted for the historic Fender Tahitian Coral colour, which offered a subtle coolness reminiscent of sunny California beaches – a nice contrast when you’re currently in less-than-equatorial England.

Importantly, up until this Squier Sonic, the Tahitian Coral colour was exclusively associated with the Fender Custom Shop and rare vintage originals, so it’s a fancier pink than you might have imagined!

Playability

As I’ve mentioned before, this thing is light. Weighing around 2.7kg, it’s a breeze to play it whilst standing or sitting. This relaxed feel makes it much easier to express yourself on the fretboard as it gives the instrument an almost “floaty” feel.

Matched with Fender’s C neck shape, it’s a supremely enjoyable playing experience. The neck on the Sonic is just thin enough to be comfortable for practice and jam sessions.

Compared to the Squier Contemporary Stratocaster, the Sonic is noticeably lighter. That said, the Contemporary’s higher-spec roasted maple neck is smoother in the hand and has undergone a baking treatment to make it a much more gig-worthy tool.

In short, the Contemporary’s baking treatment makes the wood far more resistant to temperature and humidity changes and will help keep your intonation stable as the neck won’t bend and bow much. However, the neck of the Sonic has not undergone this wood treatment, so you don’t have that level of resilience against various gigging and rehearsal climates.

Repeated gigging is not something you should be worrying about with the Sonic, it’ll do just fine for recitals and shows with friends, but might not stand up to professional use.

The most important thing… the sound

The Sonic

Sparkly, spangly, and delightfully clucky – these are the single-coil sounds that Fender is celebrated for, and the Sonic has those in spades. Its HSS (humbucker bridge, single-coil middle, single-coil neck) pickup layouts are widely regarded as the most versatile configuration because of the range of sounds they afford players.

Designed for “massive sounds”, the Contemporary’s twin Squier Atomic humbuckers produce the tones they’re named for: big, meaty humbucker roars.

It’s tailored to produce the tight modern distortion prevalent in today’s metalcore and progressive metal tracks, almost akin to an active pickup.

However, as an instrument focused on enhanced features, you’re not restricted to the hefty output of humbuckers alone. With no middle pickup on the Contemporary, the five-way switching offers split-coil tones instead. This allows you to still capture the twangy charm of traditional Strats.

There’s no denying that this guitar will surpass the Sonic if you’re pursuing an aggressive, heavy sound, especially when paired with high-gain gear or advanced modellers or plugins. However, when it comes to nearly every other genre, the differences between the two are minimal.

The Fender

Now, onto the Fender’s made-in-America alnico single coils. Despite it being my own guitar, I’m not a fan of the bridge position single coils, finding them overly bright and harsh, whether clean or distorted.

Surprisingly, in this case, I actually prefer the Sonic’s humbucker bridge! However, for the middle and neck positions, the Fender’s Noiseless pickups offer a bit more warmth and character in the mid-range, making them overall more pleasant. But that’s probably to be expected given the significant price difference!

Build quality

The tactile feel of the Squier Sonic isn’t worlds apart from the Contemporary or the high-end Fender. Despite the premium finishes of the Contemporary and the Fender, they’re still polyurethane-based and feel similar.

A noticeable gap in quality arises in the neck. The Sonic’s smooth build is commendable, but the maple wood cut is evidently lower-grade, and the satin finish lacks the finesse seen in the Contemporary’s or the Fender’s sleek gloss. As mentioned earlier, the Sonic’s neck hasn’t had the same baking treatment as the Contemporary’s, meaning it’s intonation stability is more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes.

Imperfections in the wood and streaky grain marks across the fretboard are visible on the Sonic, whereas higher-end guitars use more select cuts to achieve a better aesthetic. Importantly, this doesn’t significantly impact playability or reliability but does affect the overall feel.

On both Squiers, the maple is sourced from younger trees for efficient building and is usually comprised of multiple cuts of wood to form the fretboard, neck, and headstock. This is in contrast to Fender’s “slab” build, which comprises one entire piece of maple from an older tree, displaying a richer grain and more developed colour.

Hardware

Hardware is a crucial aspect of the Sonic. The guitar’s smaller overall size led Squier to use a slightly smaller bridge, which is adequate for playing and learning but limits future upgrades if you’re interested in modding.

In contrast, the Contemporary’s Floyd Rose bridge offers a completely different playing experience and is full-size, allowing for potential swaps if necessary.

When comparing the Sonic and the Fender Strat, there are several notable differences in the bridge. Firstly, the Squier Sonic’s trem bridge is decked, meaning it’s flush with the guitar body. Higher-end Strats typically come with a floating bridge, which facilitates easier pitch bends both up and down (although this isn’t always the case).

The tremolo action on the Sonic is quite stiff, requiring significant pressure to affect the pitch. In contrast, floating bridges offer much smoother action, allowing for pitch modulation with simple pressure or pulling motions using your picking wrist.

Secondly, the Sonic’s less expensive bridge lacks the bent steel string saddles found on higher-end models which contribute to sustain and intonation stability.

Overall, to an experienced player, the hardware compromises are apparent as soon as you pick up the Sonic. That said, none of these elements matter much for at-home playing and jamming, and would only become a problem for performers who gig regularly.

Who are Squier Sonics suited to?

If it’s not already apparent from Fender’s description of the Sonic or the numerous references to beginners that I’ve made, the Sonic is primarily aimed at newer players.

However, I say “aimed” because it likely suits more than just student guitarists! Its small and lightweight design makes it a fabulous riff machine to pick up and noodle on at a moment’s notice.

Designed and backed by Fender, novices get a quality, trustworthy brand at a budget-friendly price, with a guitar that’s not simply filled with compromises to reduce costs but loaded with features to facilitate learning.

During the period that the Sonic and Contemporary Squier Strats have been next to my desk, I’d always gravitate towards the Sonic for its super-comfortable hold and easy-playing feel. The upside of this is that it’d be a great choice for experienced players wanting a Strat to throw around on the cheap.

A brief history of Squier

Squier, originally named the V.C. Squier Company, has a storied history that dovetails with the rise of Fender guitars, the brand it’s now a subsidiary of. Established in 1890 by Victor Carroll Squier in Michigan, the company first made its mark as a manufacturer of high-quality strings for violins, banjos, and guitars.

Its reputation for craftsmanship led to Fender selecting Squier as its exclusive string supplier in the 1960s. This partnership deepened with Squier becoming a subsidiary of Fender, producing more affordable versions of Fender-designed instruments.

The Squier brand is tailored predominantly towards beginner and intermediate musicians, offering an accessible entry point into the distinctive Fender family of instruments. By providing budget-conscious alternatives without sacrificing quality, Squier ensures that the barrier to entry for new guitarists is as low as possible.

That’s particularly evident in the Sonic series, which bring the bar even lower thanks to their cost and reduced size.

Notable models that seal Squier’s reputation include the Classic Vibe series, echoing the vintage aesthetics and sounds of the ’50s and ’60s, and the Affinity series which offers a solid playing experience at a fraction of the price of higher-end guitars.

Squier also caters to those with niche tastes through the release of artist signature models and unique series like the Paranormal, which reimagines classic Fender designs with a modern twist.

FAQs

Are Squier Strats any good?

Squier Strats offer excellent value, with solid build quality and an authentic Fender tone, making them ideal for beginners and seasoned players seeking a budget-friendly option. As well as their more accessible pricing, they’re backed by Fender’s manufacturing standards.

Why are Squier Strats so cheap?

Squier Strats are affordable due to cost-effective manufacturing and materials, providing great quality for beginners without the high-end Fender price tag.

Are Squiers just as good as Fenders?

While Squiers offer excellent value and playability, particularly for beginners, Fenders are known for their superior craftsmanship and quality materials, justifying their higher cost.

Final thoughts

So to wrap up our review of the impressive Sonic, I’ll leave you with my overall analysis of the entry-level offering.

First up, it’s undoubtedly a standout among the saturated market of affordable guitars aimed at beginners. Its Fender-esque quality, coupled with highly approachable playability, means it really punches above its weight.

Having two similar but different Strats to compare the Sonic against really helped highlight its relaxed playing feel and comfortable hold. It also showcased some features that I’d be hesitant to gig with (mainly its poor tremolo bridge). However, it can’t be overstated just how unimportant that is for somebody getting their first solid-body electric guitar.

Finally, there are a few pickup versions of the Sonic to choose from. I’d always recommend the HSS variant for the flexibility it provides, but there’s also the traditional SSS for classic Fender tones and a punk rock-oriented bridge-only humbucker version that’s great for players solely focused on heavier music.

Overall, the Sonic should be high on the list for any first-time player or those wanting a Stratocaster without the hefty price tag.