Picked this up as a mod platform/beater guitar and honestly, Squier is killing it lately. For a sub-$200 Strat, this thing plays way better than it has any right to. The HSS setup is goated—the humbucker in the bridge actually has some decent growl for rock stuff, but you still get those glassy neck tones. Neck feels smooth, not sticky at all, and the weight is super light so it doesn't kill your shoulder. Only reason I’m docking a star on quality is because mine showed up with a tiny scratch on the back near the plate. Not a dealbreaker since I’m gonna beat it up anyway, but just a heads up that the finish might not be 100% perfect out of the box.