Verified answer

Blues = Squier always

The squier features single coil pickups which deliver a "fatter" bluesy Jazzy sound especially in the neck position.

The Special II has humbuckers which are good for cutting edge rock music and high distortions.

I know this is completely contrary to what another person on here said but i have played and owned both and I am telling you the Squier is the way to go.

Fender Squier Ii

Honestly, either one of these guitars should suit you just fine. In the end, the experience and experimentation of playing different guitars over time will develop more of a personal preference for you. But for now, if sheer sonic diversity is the main attribute that you're basing your judgment on, the Squire would fit that description more than the Epiphone. The reason I say this, is due to the pickups. The Epiphone is equipped with two humbuckers, while the Squire has a humbucker and two single coils. Humbuckers and Single Coil pickups have unique sounds, especially in this price range. Essentially, this means that the Squire will be able to more closely approximate the sound of the either/or between these two guitars, while the Epiphone is a little less multifaceted in terms of it's diversity. Good luck, and happy playing!

"more bluesy and jazz than rock tone" immediately says Gibson type (Epiphone) rather than Fender type (Squier), and "ease as a beginner guitar" largely rules out anything with a Stratocaster type tremelo.

Additionally it has been my recent pleasure to purchase an Epiphone Dot and I assure you I have not found a single defect. Epiphone also uses all quality tonewoods where Squier uses native softwoods for the body (not a fatal flaw, replacement bodies for Fender style instruments are readily available and easily swapped).

I liked my Squier Fat Strat, but I love my Epi.

Bluesy and Jazz? Dont get either of these.

Get a Gretsch Electromatic. Its slightly more expensive but sounds way better than either of these. Fret to String height isnt that much either. Its an easy guitar to play and has a fantastic Blues/Jazz sound.

If you have to get either, go with the Epiphone.As much as they say Squiers are good beginner guitars, they just don't match up to their Fender counterparts unlike Epiphones and Gibsons.

I'm a beginner (been playing since July) and I have a Squier Standard Strat. I like it a lot. Now I mean I don't know much about guitars, but the Squier is pretty nice.

And it's more bluesy and twangy sounding than crunchy rock sounding.