This is one of the older Squiers that is a little more interesting than the name on the headstock might suggest. It’s a 1996 Chinese-built NC6-series Strat, from a period that has developed a following among players who like these older full-size Squier builds as inexpensive players and modification platforms.

It has the classic black Strat look with a rosewood board and nicely aged cream plastics, and the nearly 30 years of use have given it some genuine character. There are scratches and normal play wear throughout, along with a noticeable finish chip on the lower edge of the body that is clearly shown in the photos. I would rather leave that visible than try to disguise what is simply honest wear on an older guitar.

This one has also been fitted with Gotoh sealed tuners, which are a useful upgrade and give the guitar a noticeably more substantial hardware setup than you normally expect on an older Squier.

The guitar retains the traditional SSS Strat layout, 5-way switching and vintage-style tremolo, so it still does exactly what a Strat should: clear neck-pickup sounds, the familiar in-between positions and a brighter bridge voice. These NC-series Squiers are particularly appealing if you want an older Strat-style guitar that you can actually play and modify without treating it like a museum piece.

The 1996 Fender 50th Anniversary medallion is still present on the back of the headstock.

Highlights

• 1996 Squier Stratocaster
• NC6-series / Made in China
• Black finish
• Rosewood fingerboard
• SSS pickup configuration
• 5-way selector
• Vintage-style tremolo
• Gotoh sealed tuners
• Fender 50th Anniversary medallion
• Genuine cosmetic wear and finish chip shown in photos