SQUIER 2019 STARCASTERS

Famously used by bands like Depeche Mode and Radiohead, Fender’s answer to the Gibson semi-hollow ES series makes its return…

- Amit Sharma

What do you first think of when you see or hear the word ‘Fender’? It might be your favourite Stratocasters or Telecasters, or perhaps you might picture the Jaguars, Mustangs or Jazzmasters that left an impression on you over the years. In that sense, the Starcaster has always been the ugly duckling in the Fender family tree. Though sadly the Starcaster went out of production only six years after its 1976 debut, an unlikely revival came after its adoption by indie-rock musicians who actually preferred the brightness that put the majority of its intended target market off – bands like Radiohead, The Killers and Arctic Monkeys harnessed the jangliness to their own advantages. Its four-stringed sibling has been spotted in the hands of Royal Blood frontman Mike Kerr – another musician who certainly knows a thing or two about sounding big.

Naturally, it made perfect sense for Fender to introduce an upgraded, modernised Starcaster in 2013 as part of the Modern Player series, though in more recent years the model has been absent from their catalogue - until now, that is. With three new models from Fender’s wallet-friendly Squier offshoot, aimed at different types of players.

CLASSIC VIBE STARCASTER

Classics look, modern features

The flagship in this new line, the Classic Vibe, could very well be the best semi-hollow out there for under £500. Don’t be fooled by the small ‘Crafted in Indonesia’ print on the back of the wonderfully oversized headstock, it’s the kind of weapon that could quite easily hold its own against American-made instruments retailing over four times as much.