"It’s fair to say that the design of this model will divide people, but what isn’t up for debate is this Strat’s build quality": Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster review

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: What is it?

There’s no doubt that if you are a regular consumer of six-string-related content on social media, you’ll have come across a hot-shot virtuoso ironically putting a bubblegum pink feline-clad Strat through its paces. Well, the electric guitar in question is the original run of Hello Kitty-inspired Affinity Strats from 2006, and since then, the guitar has gone on to garner a cult following, with second-hand prices skyrocketing in recent years.

Fast-forward to 2024, and to celebrate 50 years of this iconic character, Squier has once again teamed up with the Japanese-based company home of Hello Kitty, Sanrio to bring the now beloved model back, but it’s fair to say that over the last 18 years, this kitten is now all grown up, sporting a slew of premium appointments and a more up-market price tag.

While it does look similar to the original and shares the same striking Hello Kitty pickguard, this brand-new anniversary edition does differ from the 2006 iteration in many respects. The original agathis body is swapped for the denser poplar, and the maple neck, with its 9.5” radius and C-shaped profile, is peppered with narrow-tall frets and crowned with a matching headstock, which prominently features the Hello Kitty branding alongside a white Squier logo.

The tonal heart comes courtesy of a solitary Fender-Designed humbucking pickup and seriously limited controls – and the entire guitar comes wrapped in a Hello Kitty-branded deluxe padded gig bag.

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: Specs

Launch price: $499.99/£419.99/€479.99
Made: China
Type: Six-string electric guitar
Body: Poplar
Neck: Maple, C-shaped
Fingerboard: Maple, red dots
Scale length: 25.5”/650mm
Nut/width: Synthetic bone
Frets: 21, Narrow-Tall
Hardware: Chrome, six-saddle strings-through-body hardtail, vintage-style tuning machines
Electrics: Fender-Designed Alnico Humbucker
Left-handed options: No
Finishes: Pink (as reviewed) or White (Fender.com exclusive)
Cases: Hello Kitty gig bag
Contact: Fender

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: Build quality

Build quality rating: ★★★★☆

Pulling the guitar out of its black and pink gig bag, and the first thing I’m struck by is its weight. If you are at all familiar with the previous version, you’ll remember how light they were. That said, the 50th-anniversary model certainly isn’t heavy by any means, but it most definitely feels more substantial – here’s hoping this additional mass equates to extra sustain and a fuller tone, but I’ll get to that later.

Now, it’s fair to say that the design of this model will divide people, but what isn’t up for debate is this Strat’s build quality. The blushing finish has been expertly applied, and there are absolutely zero blemishes to be found across the entire length of the guitar.

The neck pocket is a reasonably tight fit, and overall, the guitar feels sturdy and robust. For me, I’d say this model is a marked improvement over the previous iteration when it comes to build quality. While the 2006 version clearly used the Affinity Series as its blueprint, this latest edition feels like it could easily slot directly into the Classic Vibe range with no questions asked – although it may receive a few odd looks from its more retro-dressed brethren.

If I were to have one gripe with the Squier Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Limited Edition Stratocaster, it would be the machine heads. Billed simpled as “vintage-style tuning machines,” they feel flimsy and relatively unresponsive. While I like the look of the white buttons against the rosey finish of the headstock, I’d be tempted to switch them out for something more rugged and gig-worthy.

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: Playability

Playability rating: ★★★★☆

Moving on to the guitar’s playability, I’m greeted with a fuller neck than I initially expected. Rounded, smooth, and addictively playable, this guitar feels fantastic under my fingers.

Usually, I’m not thrilled to see highly glossed necks at this price point, as the finish has a tendency to feel too thick and sticky. Thankfully, this isn’t the case here. The gloss finish results in a playing surface that allows me to glide up and down the neck effortlessly, with almost zero resistance.

Thanks to the skillfully installed narrow-tall frets, which are very well-polished and with no sharp ends in sight, string bends are a breeze, too. From subtly purring vibrato to Page-style leaping bends, the Hello Kitty Strat takes everything in its stride.

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: Sounds

Sounds rating: ★★★☆☆

When it comes to controls, there’s not a lot going on with the Hello Kitty Strat. Following in the footsteps of Tom DeLonge, this Strat sports a single humbucker with nothing more than a solo volume pot for making adjustments.

Plugging in the Strat to our trusty Positive Grid Spark Mini, it’s immediately apparent that this kitten has a bite. With the gain cranked and the mids pushed, I’m able to get a fairly convincing punk tone that is bright and sharp. That said, switch over to a cleaner tone, and the limitations of the Fender Designed humbucker become clear. To my ears, the bass frequency is lacking, and the low mids are a little muddy and undefined.

Okay, so the Hello Kitty Strat was never engineered to be a tonal powerhouse, but thankfully, the volume pot is very responsive and works a treat to clean up my pushed Vox AC30. In fact, a tone I really liked was setting my trusty tube amp to the point of mild overdrive and then backing off the volume on the Strat to around 6 or 7. This resulted in a fantastic blues tone that was perfect for noodling away the hours playing as many pentatonic licks as I could.

The original version of the Hello Kitty Stratocaster was the perfect modding platform, and I think to get the best tone possible out of the newer iteration, you’d likely want to do the same. A Seymour Duncan Invader would undoubtedly give this cat some added scratch, but you don’t need to go down the high-output humbucking route.

Squier Limited Edition Hello Kitty Stratocaster: Verdict

Okay, we are well aware that this striking design isn’t for everyone. To some, it’s a gaudy novelty, while others see it as a loving tribute to a Japanese icon. But I can confidently say that despite lacking a little in the tone department, the new Hello Kitty Strat is actually a pretty great playing guitar that is excellently finished.

However, while I do genuinely believe this is a well-put-together Strat, if I’m honest, I’m struggling to see the target audience. The original was clearly marketed at beginners seeking their first guitar. With its cheap and cheerful appointments and wallet-friendly price, it was the ultimate rookie instrument for those looking to showcase their love of a cherished cartoon character while also learning to play the guitar. Nevertheless, this new model is considerably more expensive than its early counterpart and has a spec sheet that may be more appealing to an intermediate audience.

The original 2006 model was embraced with open arms by the modding community. Its incredibly inexpensive price tag made it ideal for players looking to have a little fun with a unique take on the legendary Strat. However, I believe that this new model is just too expensive for modders to take seriously, and unfortunately, I can’t see this latest iteration reaching the same cult status as the original.

Guitar World's verdict: Looking past the Hello Kitty attire, underneath is a remarkably well-made Strat that is seriously playable and a lot of fun. That said, the Fender-Designed humbucker leaves much to be desired, while the higher price tag makes us wonder exactly who this new model is aimed at.

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