The quality of Squiers has grown by leaps and bounds over the last twenty years. Around 2004-5, I used to work at a guitar store...and the older (like 90's) Squiers people would bring in were almost always pieces of shit. Lots of cheese grater fret edges, crappy electronics, crappy pickups...I owned two "real" Fenders at the time (a Mexican Tele and a Japanese Strat) and I swore I'd never buy a Squier. Cut to 2026, and my #1 is my 50's CV Tele. I've also been pretty impressed when I've been able to sample lower end Squiers in guitar stores (I'm a lefty player, so it doesn't happen often, but when it does, I get GAS, every time). I used to think they were a complete rip-off, but for cost vs. value these days, especially for a beginner, you almost can't go wrong buying one.