Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

Gearjoneser

Gearjoneser

Gear Ho
I stopped in a Sam Ash today, and pulled a bargain gem off the wall. This guitar was a cross between vintage and US Deluxe in quality. For $379, I almost couldn't believe it. A made in China Squier Classic Vibe.

I'm sure they're not all equal, but the one I played had good wood, a nice neck, and even the fret ends were smooth. In my mind, I figured a new set of pickups and maybe a callaham tele bridge would be all it needed. It's probably the best cheap tele I ever played...even had a mint guard, and nice looking double bound sunburst alder body. The neck felt like necks on guitars twice the price.

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303030500
 
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Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I got a VM one, and it was really good stock. But I wanted more traditional than it was, so, with the help of a good friend, did some amazing drop in upgrades.

IMG_4659.jpg


Mine is made in India, not China. body is Indian Cedar, and it sure smells good. And the tone is to die for!

Upgrades are a Duncan Antiquity neck bucker, Broadcaster for bridge pup, CTS pots, Bumblebee cap that was a pull from an old amp, and a Callaham vintage Tele compensated bridge.
 
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Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I've played a few of the VM Thinlines that have knocked my socks off. I tend to guess if I get a Tele again anytime soon it'll be one of those.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I've been wanting to Esquirize a blonde CV Tele for a while now...
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I was at Guitar Center looking for just this sort of thing today... but alas, it was not meant to be.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

People rag on squier a lot, but I've found their products to be more than adequate.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

The Classic Vibe series represent remarkable value for money instruments. A few discreet upgrades and they're fabulous!
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I got a 50's CV last week and it's awesome. It's beautiful and resonant. But the neck pickup is dead and I'm hoping I don't have to send back the whole guitar, just the pickup. And I've never seen a Fender with such good fretwork as this Squier.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

stevie_bees said:
The Classic Vibe series represent remarkable value for money instruments. A few discreet upgrades and they're fabulous!
Click to expand...

x2

I have a few man-hours and a few bucks in a 2005 Crafted in Indonesia Vintage Modified Series Squier '51, and it is now a SUPER player, and durable as my MIA Strat for gigging.

Plus, everyone loves it because it's ugly :)

s6201882_40943687_8.jpg
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

i lke these new Bound Squier Tele's... the whole Vintage Vibe line are fine guitars and basses... the best things Squier has issued since the early 80's
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

guitfiddle said:
Robin Trower toured with a pack of Squier Strats back in the 80's.
Click to expand...

Not even remotely the same as current Squiers. Those 80's Squiers were made in Japan and were so good that they took away sales from USA made instruments. Then all the sudden, poof, you couldn't find them anymore unless you went used.
 
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Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

ErikH said:
Not even remotely the same as current Squires. Those 80's Squires were made in Japan and were so good that they took away sales from USA made instruments. Then all the sudden, poof, you couldn't find them anymore unless you went used.
Click to expand...



it's no wonder as most of the USA Fenders during that time were not the greatest axes they ever made...
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

WhoFan said:
it's no wonder as most of the USA Fenders during that time were not the greatest axes they ever made...
Click to expand...

Yeah, and for a while there weren't any USA Fenders at all while they got the new facility up and running so it was the Japanese Fenders and Squiers that kept them in the game.

I have to admit though that I have played some newer Squiers and was pretty impressed myself with how they feel and sound versus the 10-20 years ago. Much better instruments but not the same as the Japanese Squiers.
 
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Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I was in the market for a tele a couple of years back.. Didnt want to spend alot as I knew it would not be a main player. I compared nearly everything from $600 down. The two that I liked the most was a Squier Vintage modified and a Fender Tex mex. The Tex mex was about $570 and the squier was $299. This is the first time I played at length before buying and after time, there was really nothing better about the Fender (pickups had a slight edge) and I liked the reverse switch layout and pickup layout of the Squier. Mini hum/single/ bridge. (All Duncan Designed's so not shabby) I got the Squier, put a GFS Firebird pup in the neck and a Duncan Jerry Donahue in the bridge and I have all the tele I could ever want!
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I'm considering an Antiquity I in the bridge of my CV Tele...

Wondering what kind of difference to expect over a stock, decent sounding pickup...
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

Stuntman Jim said:
I got a 50's CV last week and it's awesome. It's beautiful and resonant. But the neck pickup is dead and I'm hoping I don't have to send back the whole guitar, just the pickup. And I've never seen a Fender with such good fretwork as this Squier.
Click to expand...

I got a mail from the music store telling me I had to send it back to them for repairs. I wont, I'll rather throw the bad pickup in the trash bin and get something that I really want instead. I'm in Sweden and I bought it from an online store in England.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I don't mind squier but until they come out with an alder tele in lake placid blue, I'm gonna go grab a MIM the second I'm in the market for a tele.

That new 60's tele custom-looking thing seems pretty great but for my main tele when I get it it's gonna have to be LPB. Maybe, just maybe I could go get the 50's classic vibe and reranch into burgundy mist metallic. That just might be equally sexy.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

The stuff today that says Squier is pretty killer. I've been more than just impressed with more than just one or 2 guitars.
 
Re: Pleasantly surprised by the Squier Classic Vibe Tele.

I played with a bass player last night who was using a Squire VV 50's Precision...sounded great to me...
 
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