Greetings Forum Readers, I would like to survey folks that have or have had Squier-branded instruments that were made by Cort in the Indonesian factory. These axes would have serial numbers that began with the letters IC.
The only one I've ever had is a Precision Bass Special, that while having nothing really very exciting about it, tunes up, plays great and has been very dependable. I am curious to know how folks feel their IC instruments compare to ones made in Korea or Japan in terms of fit, finish, playability, quality of sound, et cetera. Perhaps if the responses built enough of a thread, we will be able to ferret out the IC models that are considered the best value and most desirable to own. Thanks for reading, and responding, Charlie. I have bought and sold many many Squiers over the last 28 years, and I have to say that in my experience the Cort-made Squiers were, and are, the WORST.
IC: I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek (Cort), the serial number prefix is. Any FSR guitar beginning with ICS will be a Squier 'Standard' as opposed to. These axes would have serial numbers that began with the letters IC. The only one. I have an 07 'Crafted In Indonesia' standard Strat.
You only have to compare a Korean Squier from the 90's with a Samick-made Squier from the 90's to see a massive difference. The Cort ones had crappy tuners (with no securing nut) and plywood bodies. The Samick ones were actually superb guitars and had fast smooth necks with skunk stripe, good tuners with securing nuts, and solid bodies. M100 hipot tester manual. Massive difference. Up to date the best Squiers have been made by (in order of excellence).
Fuji Genn Gakki 2. Yako This does not of course include Mexican or U.S made Squiers. My VM Jazz Bass is GREAT. Quality all the way -- looks, playability. My mini Strat is very good, and fun to play, but not life-changing. My Indonesian Strat had REALLY rough fret ends, so I filed them down. Pickups are very tinny-sounding, but that works well with certain effects.
All these instruments have IC serial numbers, all bought in the last 3-4 years. How do these compare to instruments I have from other countries? The bass holds its own with anything from anywhere. The other 2 are inexpensive instruments that are 100% functional, and they're right on par with other inexpensive, functional instruments. I have never seen an Indonesian Cort Squier Tele that came from the factory with a plywood body, or that didn't have the nuts securing the tuner to the headstock. My experience with the Indonesian Cort products is exclusively with Squier Teles.
I have 7 of those, the oldest is a 1998 (first year production) and the newest is a 2006. I have a Korean Cort guitar that is styled like a Tele other than its headstock shape. I think it is a 1993 year production model. Some of my experience with Indonesian Cort Squier Teles. Much of the hardware appears to be the same as Mighty Mite parts. Both Cort and Mighty Mite are brands. Emmc full form.
But Mighty Mite seems to be very ineffective in terms of communicating with consumers, so their is outdated and getting a response to a phone call or inquiry is like pulling hen's teeth. Note their use of the word blah in the folder name and page name for the forum in that link, I'm not making this up. The point is, you have to dig hard for Squier/Cort/Mighty Mite information from several places and connect the dots yourself to figure out some things. I think the Mighty Mite hardware is reasonably well designed and produced, and the quality control is acceptable. The tuners work fine for me.
Greetings Forum Readers, I would like to survey folks that have or have had Squier-branded instruments that were made by Cort in the Indonesian factory. These axes would have serial numbers that began with the letters IC.
The only one I've ever had is a Precision Bass Special, that while having nothing really very exciting about it, tunes up, plays great and has been very dependable. I am curious to know how folks feel their IC instruments compare to ones made in Korea or Japan in terms of fit, finish, playability, quality of sound, et cetera. Perhaps if the responses built enough of a thread, we will be able to ferret out the IC models that are considered the best value and most desirable to own. Thanks for reading, and responding, Charlie. I have bought and sold many many Squiers over the last 28 years, and I have to say that in my experience the Cort-made Squiers were, and are, the WORST.
IC: I = Indonesia, C = Cor-Tek (Cort), the serial number prefix is. Any FSR guitar beginning with ICS will be a Squier 'Standard' as opposed to. These axes would have serial numbers that began with the letters IC. The only one. I have an 07 'Crafted In Indonesia' standard Strat.
You only have to compare a Korean Squier from the 90's with a Samick-made Squier from the 90's to see a massive difference. The Cort ones had crappy tuners (with no securing nut) and plywood bodies. The Samick ones were actually superb guitars and had fast smooth necks with skunk stripe, good tuners with securing nuts, and solid bodies. M100 hipot tester manual. Massive difference. Up to date the best Squiers have been made by (in order of excellence).
Fuji Genn Gakki 2. Yako This does not of course include Mexican or U.S made Squiers. My VM Jazz Bass is GREAT. Quality all the way -- looks, playability. My mini Strat is very good, and fun to play, but not life-changing. My Indonesian Strat had REALLY rough fret ends, so I filed them down. Pickups are very tinny-sounding, but that works well with certain effects.
All these instruments have IC serial numbers, all bought in the last 3-4 years. How do these compare to instruments I have from other countries? The bass holds its own with anything from anywhere. The other 2 are inexpensive instruments that are 100% functional, and they're right on par with other inexpensive, functional instruments. I have never seen an Indonesian Cort Squier Tele that came from the factory with a plywood body, or that didn't have the nuts securing the tuner to the headstock. My experience with the Indonesian Cort products is exclusively with Squier Teles.
I have 7 of those, the oldest is a 1998 (first year production) and the newest is a 2006. I have a Korean Cort guitar that is styled like a Tele other than its headstock shape. I think it is a 1993 year production model. Some of my experience with Indonesian Cort Squier Teles. Much of the hardware appears to be the same as Mighty Mite parts. Both Cort and Mighty Mite are brands. Emmc full form.
But Mighty Mite seems to be very ineffective in terms of communicating with consumers, so their is outdated and getting a response to a phone call or inquiry is like pulling hen's teeth. Note their use of the word blah in the folder name and page name for the forum in that link, I'm not making this up. The point is, you have to dig hard for Squier/Cort/Mighty Mite information from several places and connect the dots yourself to figure out some things. I think the Mighty Mite hardware is reasonably well designed and produced, and the quality control is acceptable. The tuners work fine for me.