Today I present my officially second but actually first electric guitar – a Squier Showmaster. It is the only electric guitar I ever bought in a music shop, back in 2003. It cost 820 zł including a cotton Fender strap that is still with it today.

It is not entirely black, by the way – it is black metallic, sparkling with thousands of silver flecks. Despite its price, the guitar is about to turn 20 and apart from the output jack (replaced with a Neutrik) its electronics have never been touched. Everything works, and the pot and switch are still quiet and precise.

Body: agathis, fingerboard: rosewood, neck: probably maple. Agathis is an exotic wood found mainly in Asia, often dismissed as „cheap mahogany” – a dull, non-resonant wood for beginners. But is that what you hear in my video? The guitar is plugged into a Roland Cube 20 XL. And it was the guitar I learned to play on. In my opinion agathis is perfectly fine.

The only real weak spot was the quality of the frets, but a quick levelling made them great, with low action. My verdict: Squier guitars vary from one instrument to another, but if you want a cheap guitar to learn on, this model is fine.