Incoming NGD... Stratty Content!

Awesome looking axe! Tasty indeed, especially at that price. Already got my 2021 guitar....darn!

Suggestions:
- Sand the headstock off and refinish - Faux Fender sticker optional
- Lose the squire backplate and get one that says "Custom" or something

Like the tuner suggestion.
 
Thanks for the feedback, guys. I've always wanted a Lake Placid Blue Strat and these days, it's either the Classic Vibe, Vintera, American Performer, or Custom Shop. There's always the "do another build" option but for what I need it for, the Classic Vibe ticks all the checkboxes. It's a nice contrast to my humbucker equipped Strats with maple fingerboards.

Jack_TriPpEr said:
Congrats, sounds like a quality guitar from what you had to say about it.

You mentioned earlier about struggling to get along with Fender singlecoils in the past. Why is that? 60 cycle hum? Or you're just more a fan of humbucker tones?
Click to expand...

Well, yes, I am a humbucker guy but I think it has more to do with the Stratitis with a lot of single-coils and how they react vs. a humbucker. There's not many single-coils that I get a long with but I've come to like the Classic Stack Plus after using it in the neck and middle on another Strat I sold some years back and I really like the Fender SCN Noiseless. I've had Texas Specials too and I liked them but wish they had a more flat pole option for modern radius fingerboards. These stock Fender Designed Alnico V's are not bad. They are bright, not gonna lie, but they nail the sound. I played it quite a bit last night and really made myself work to get what I wanted from it. Rolling the tone control back kept things clear while taking off some of the upper highs. Still sounded like a Strat.

And after playing with it more last night after posting the pics, I have to say that of anything to replace first, replace the bridge. I wasn't going to put that near the top of the list at first but, if it had a large block, I'd just replace the saddles. Since it has the small zinc block and the saddles feel a bit fussy while adjusting them, may as well replace the whole thing with a Fender Standard Series Trem. The tuners are good but may still replace those as well.
 
So, I replaced the bridge already. :D The stock bridge saddles would not let me get the action where I wanted without some skipping and weird behavior during adjustments. And, I'm not a fan of the thin zinc blocks. So, I ordered a Fender Standard Strat bridge that is a drop-in replacement, part no. 0071014049, for anyone else that has a Classic Vibe Strat and wants an inexpensive bridge swap. It's the same one that came on the MIM Standards. That is the bridge only; no trem claw, screws or arm. The stock claw and screws are fine. I can find an arm cheap enough. Big difference in adjustment and the action is where I like it with 9 1/2" radius boards. Feels more solid too. That should do it for a while. I'm amazed at the value these guitars are.
 
ErikH said:
Well, yes, I am a humbucker guy but I think it has more to do with the Stratitis with a lot of single-coils and how they react vs. a humbucker. There's not many single-coils that I get a long with but I've come to like the Classic Stack Plus after using it in the neck and middle on another Strat I sold some years back and I really like the Fender SCN Noiseless. I've had Texas Specials too and I liked them but wish they had a more flat pole option for modern radius fingerboards. These stock Fender Designed Alnico V's are not bad. They are bright, not gonna lie, but they nail the sound. I played it quite a bit last night and really made myself work to get what I wanted from it. Rolling the tone control back kept things clear while taking off some of the upper highs. Still sounded like a Strat.
Click to expand...

Cool, nice to hear that the stock pups arent too bad at all.
 
I am surprised that the replacement MIM block fits. I know that didn't used to be the case. That is great for anyone with one of these guitars that wants a good update.
 
Mincer said:
I am surprised that the replacement MIM block fits. I know that didn't used to be the case. That is great for anyone with one of these guitars that wants a good update.
Click to expand...

As long as the body is full thickness (1.75"), it will fit, not just spacing wise, but depth as well. This bridge will fit the Affinity models too, I believe, but the block will stick out the back a little. Not the case with the Classic Vibe series as the bodies are full thickness. Perfect fit.
 
Last edited:
ErikH said:
As long as the body is full thickness (1.75"), it will fit not just spacing wise but depth as well. This bridge will fit the Affinity models too, I believe, but the block will stick out the back a little. Not the case with the Classic Vibe series as the bodies are full thickness. Perfect fit.
Click to expand...

Great to know!
 
Mincer said:
I am surprised that the replacement MIM block fits. I know that didn't used to be the case. That is great for anyone with one of these guitars that wants a good update.
Click to expand...

afaik, that applies to the cheapies like Bullet and Affinity

The CV series is ideologically more like a "no-longer-MIJ-Squier-JV"
 
Nice score, man. I look at CVs from time to time, some of the Strats and Tele Custom probably float my boat the most.

How are the stock tuners? Serviceable or another thing to be replaced?
 
Ashurbanipal said:
Nice score, man. I look at CVs from time to time, some of the Strats and Tele Custom probably float my boat the most.

How are the stock tuners? Serviceable or another thing to be replaced?
Click to expand...

Thanks. The stock tuners aren't bad. I've certainly seen worse. Since I don't have it set up to use the trem just yet, they are fine. I'm thinking of putting a set of locking tuners on one of my main guitars and then might put the Gotoh Kluson-style tuners currently on it on the CV. Not in a hurry though. They do the job.

I did file the tops of the saddle adjustment screws on the new bridge a little bit yesterday. They were a bit sharp.
 
OK FIne. I'm just saying make it look Custom shop, or boo-teek build or whatever. Let the tone shine and then when people ask - tell them it is a Squire and let them argue it isn't
 
Sweet score. Love the color, and I personally, love those Kluson tuners. I like not having a sharp string end sticking out to poke you.

Enjoy.
 
One more update/change to this one. The saddle adjustment screws on the Fender Standard bridge were simply too tall and dug in to my hand. I filed them back some to smooth the tops but it wasn't enough so I swapped them out for 8mm M3 on the A, B, and both E strings. The D and G strings are 10mm M3 stock but I swapped them out anyway for stainless 10mm M3 from the same place. I got some 6mm M3 with the intent to use those for both E strings but with the action set the way it is, and it's not really high, they were too short. I got all 3 sizes in bags of 12 so no worries. It feels much better resting my hand on the bridge now.

I ordered them from Overdrive Custom Guitar Works in case anyone needs any for this bridge and other import Fender bridges.
https://www.stratcat.biz/m3-saddleheight.shtml
 
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