Honestly a Squier is probably the cheapest option aside from building your own body from scratch. My parts built guitars tend to run around $700 -$800 or more which is about the same as a MIJ Fender. ($300 body, $330 neck, $45 pickguard, $120 pickups, $120 bridge/trem, and then screws, neck plate, pots, strap knobs, and switches.)
