Hi guys, I just uploaded a follow-up to this video: *UPDATE Squier Classic Vibe '60s ONE YEAR LATER*! There I answer if I still have this guitar, if I upgraded it and what I think about it after one year. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/F4pFUEK4J4s/видео.html
@@ammx8492 Yes it is Nato! Don't let the wood of a guitar define your buying decision (trust me, I've been down that rabbit hole). Rather see if you like the neck, how it feels, how it plays! That's like 100.000.000 more important than the tone wood ;-)
I listened in my car and it is strange... I like the distorted sound of the Squire better. But the Fender seems a little fuller and rings out more on the cleans. I own a CV 70’s and had a proper setup on it... Thing plays and sounds like a high end instrument! One of the best purchases I’ve ever made! I’m in love w it!! So much so that I got the Squire Jag too which is also awesome!
I'd say this is an accurate assessment of the two guitars, although I disagree on a couple of points. I recently bought a new CV 50s Strat (Indonesian), having compared it against CV 60s and Player models . Action/setup: I agree, the fretwork and setup are first-class. The frets on the Player were not as smooth or rounded. Tremolo: this is basic, and would benefit from an upgrade. The screw spacing is narrow. Hipshot make a nice looking one that should fit right in. I took one spring off as the three originals are very stiff, and it's important to also set the six screws so they allow the trem to move. The threaded arm doesn't fit very well (a bit of PTFE tape has helped) and the saddles are not very well made. I'm now used to the trem, so may only shell out for new saddles. Compared with the Player trem, the CV has six screws, whereas the Player has two pivots. Checking out many videos, I formed the opinion that the 2-pivot bridge affected the tone negatively. Tuners: I disagree, these are pretty decent and don't need upgrading. Sound quality/tone: as in your video, they're virtually identical. I've gigged with the Squier, no problem. Other points (not in your video): You didn't mention weight: my CV is much lighter than the Player. It still sustains fine. Noise/shielding: the CV is not well shielded, so it picks up more hum than the Player. I shielded mine with aluminium foil. It's important to extend this under the pickguard too, to eliminate static noise. Tone controls: like the Player, the CV's bridge pickup is wired to a tone pot. Happy days. Conclusion: I agree, the CVs are well worth checking out.
Since I want to buy a hss but I don't want to spend more than 400€ Do you think that it's good idea to change the bridge pickup of the CV 60' with an humbucker ? What humbucker do you reccomend and how much does it cost to change it ?
Daniel, Personally I would replace the humbucker pickup. These single coil pickups on this C.V. are alnico lll magnets! To go with these, I would go with the Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. It can be bright and clean but it will also push a tube amp into a sweet break up. Try to find one used. I buy mostly used pickups. Just make sure it has a decent wire lead. If you have a multimeter, check the ohms. If purchased on reverb or ebay, make sure the seller has great feedback. Also make sure that it has the mounting screws. You can reuse the springs from the original pickup. You'll save money and have a great sounding strat either clean or distorted!
Agreed about the tuners - there's a big difference between 'I dislike them' and 'they suck.' They're the tuners I have on most of my fender/fender style guitars and I use them because they have a good ratio and stability.
My student gave me one of these as a gift and it’s simply fabulous. I’d gig with it any day!!! I own 3 player series strats as well, 2 maple & 1 Pao Ferro, the squires just as good.
I just tried both of these guitars and bought the classic vibe 60s. The player was 500 more expensive and had horrible sharp fret ends, buzzing unlevel frets and umcomfortable cheap feeling neck. When i plugged in the 60s it felt great and soundes great. The frets where perfect and the neck felt great and the tone was great. Got home and compared to my usa and mexican strat and it hung with them and in some areas was better. A real Steal for the price
I have one of each. I love lightweight guitars that’s why I love my CV. Solution for sharp fret edges, $2 sanding block at Home Depot, looks like a small sponge. Once I fixed it the Player felt like a dream, still too heavy.
Josh Muz I don’t own any of these guitars but I’ve played them at Guitar Center. The Squiers CV 60’s does have a vintage classic look but once I started playing it I did not like the feel of the neck. The guitar feels sticky, I blame it on the thickness of the finish. I own a 2006 MIM Classic Series 60’s Strat and I am guessing that the CVs is based on this guitar because they look similar but the Classic Series 60’s guitars are better than Classic Vibes and Player Series. It’s just a better instrument. The feel and the construction is just better, but what do I know ? I mostly play HH Telecasters.
By all rights, if you have a fretboard material that's different from the neck, then you shouldn't have a "skunk stripe". Also, while the "trem" was set up to be virtually locked down, it doesn't have to stay that way. You CAN adjust it and it WILL work as a regular 6-point vibrato.
Nice review. Re the tremolo, yours is about the third review I've seen that mentions that. Honestly, though, although they come from the factory set flat to the body, they can be set to float. I've done it with mine and it works great. I removed one spring and unwound the claw until the bridge is a few mm off the body and it stays in tune, returns to pitch perfectly and feels buttery smooth to use.
Great vid! I have the Fender Player Series. And I have been trying out a Squier, which I will buy this week or next. The Squier is better. Period. And IMHO, it's not even close. It blows away the Fender Player Series. Maybe that's just me But that's how I feel about these two. Save $300.... maybe even $350, and grab the Squier Classic Vibe 60s. It's killer.
After a watching so many videos saying how good the squire CV 60's is I decided to buy one... OMG... Mike your video is spot on.. no surprises, as soon I start planning it I realized that your review was 100% accurate. I like the clean sound comparison on your review. Thank you for encouraging everyone on this guitar. I need to fix the heavy lackered, it does not feel right, and I'm a slow player, ... Just not sure I'm the right guy to do it. The default strings are not my favorite, that will require an upgrade... Thank you. Not that it matters but this is my first comment on RUclips
I think almost all of the "not nice" stuff about the squier were more of preference and could be fixed with a simple set up with the exception of the finish. Great video comparison overall. They sound so, so, soo close. Take that extra money and buy a Fender BJ and you're set with that Classic Vibe.
Wow, the tuners are like the best thing about that guitar! Other than locking tuners, the split shaft vintage ones are the best for the ease of restringing! 😮
just take one of the springs out behind the tremolo and readjust. You dont have to replace the whole tremolo. Although putting a better thick block tremolom is a good thing. Nothing wrong with the tuners they work perfectly fine and are so easy to change strings and hold tuning well enough. Dont understand why people have trouble with them. And the lack of skunk stripe is just how most rosewood board Fenders are made.
From Leo: That is a very nice Squier, and your playing is enjoyable. I really like the vintage tuners. The sharp string end is in the hole, so it does not hurt your fingers, catch on clothing, or damage the inside of the case or gig bag. I wish Grover would offer their top tuning machines with a hole down the middle.
Yep. Agreed. Sold my two Duluxe Strats for a Classic Vibe and with the money from the sale of one upgraded everything but the body and neck. From the second sale I had a good time...a really good time.
Tuners? Yeah. Laquer of any kind on a neck? Naah. Yeah, you can sand it down and it's not make or break on a guitar, but I would prefer satin finish or unlaquered necks. Laquer == sticky neck.
I must respectfully disagree about the vintage tuners. They are so superior in my opinion. So much easier to string and much tidier with no sharp ends anywhere.
60's strat do not have a skunk stripe. as for the tuners they are personal preference, I actually consider them a + Dirty fingerboard isn't an issue to be considered. the bridge and electronics are my main concern thank you for uploading this video. the player sounds better to my ears
I understand you very well. I own a squier classic vibe 50 that I prefer over the fender american standard tratocaster. For this reason I always play the squier.
The amount of money you can save, especially if buying a used CV, can get you a professional setup, thorough fret job, new pickups and/or electronics. And have money left over to buy a good case or a good pedal
Same. My Player Strat came out of the box with a great setup/string action. It sounds nice and has a good tuning stability. Love the neck and its satin finish. I've sold my CV60 Squier.
I love my 60's classic vibe so much, I sold my Ultra Strat, the neck isn't as "finished" as an American but, with a Clapton pickup set up brass saddles and trem block it the best Strat I have ever owned.
Never try to do upgrades as a way to save money, because it just doesn't happen. I almost went down the Squier + upgrades path. Taking into account the money I would have spent, I decided it was just better to buy the MIM Player Strat. For under $700 delivered, I have a guitar in the color I wanted, with the neck I wanted, and the trem and pickups I wanted without me having to wrench on it. Yes, my guitar could stand a fret-end treatment, but I've also played $1000 guitars which required that. The fret ends aren't cutting my fingers, but they could be better. It seems fret end finishing is a matter of luck. That applies to all mass-produced brands, not just Fender or Squier. If I ever decide to upgrade the electronics, I'l be able to sell the loaded pick guard from the Player for a lot more than a loaded Squier pick guard.
I cant speak of how the neck is on the classic Vibe 60s, but I recently bought a Lake Placid Blue body for a build that's amazing. I had a nice Warmoth neck I was just dyeing to use, so I thought I would "cheap out" on the body just to use the neck. I was so shocked at how good the body's fit and finish was, it became my new #1 instantly. I love how they nailed the vintage (more rounded) contours, and edges of the body. It sounds great with my Lace sensor hot gold pickups. The only down side was the tremolo saddle height screw threading was a little wobbly. I replaced the entire vibrato system with a Fender standard (pre-players series) replacement for around $20.It was less money than just replacing the saddles !!!! You are right. Those are some super strong tremolo spring in there (I'm just using 2 to float) .... Just an awesome body !!! Great video.
I played a new Road Worn Strat at Guitar Center A couple of days ago. Nitrocellulose finish, great pick ups, and a neck that felt like it was 30 years old, in all the good ways.
I think I read your review on this guitar on Thomann. I was ordering mine and was like.. wait, this guy is saying the exact same things, as the guy on RUclips :D Great review! I have mine for a few days and its awesome. Thanks for sharing your thoughts:)
I just bought a Squier Classic Vibe. I paid $329 open box (it wasn’t. It is a sunburst mode. It stays in tune, low action great neck and I could care less what it says on the headstock. It sounds really good too. I bought a Fender tweed gig bag for it. Then I bought a Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster and I like that too. I have a lot of guitars and these two are really nice.
The Classic Vibes are amazing guitars. For about the same money as the Player series Strat you could buy a Classic Vibe 50's ans 60's. The early Squier JV series Strats are known for their quality and were played by a number of high profile players like George Harrison and others. There have been some great Squier guitars over the years like the Silver Series and Pro Tones. The Classic Vibes have to be among the best of the current value priced guitars on the market. Great playing by the way!
I've played since '56. I don't give a damn about names, or price. Those things don't equate to better. Yes, ten minutes of work smoothing fret ends, etc isn't a big deal, just don't ask me to spend more than $50.00 for the guitar. I have a house full of gear from expensive to dirt cheap and have learned the hard way. In fact, I'm genuinely embarrassed to play an expensive guitar in public. Nothing says "fool" any better. Say, set up that vibrato with only two springs outboard, back the claw out until you get the feel you like. Retune the strings and lower the action back down and you have a guitar that's at least as good as any $2000. + one. Somebody just missed the operation at build. Guitars are stupid simple things. No reason, except big corporate balance sheets, to ask for high prices. Thanks!
@@Kaustubh3024 Hi kausto j; well the PS has humbuckers. That's the big difference. They'll sound darker and take away some of the classic Jazzmaster sound for sure. They'll growl pretty quickly with added volume. The CV is pure Jazzmaster, which has the potential to soind great with distortion, if that's your thing. Both have the floating bridge which purists like, but does need care while playing to prevent the 1st string from slipping out of it's bridge groove. If you have a Strat style guitar you can nearly mimick the PS sound in the #2 and #4 positions ( humbucking) with single coils. I know both guitars have similar neck dimensions so this may not be an issue. Hope I'm not steering you wrong....
Good video thanx for posting. I bought a squire classic 60s vibe and very surprised. Even like the pickups. I also got the Ritchie Blackmore signature strat and I like the Squire just as much.
You wouldn't have to change the whole trem system on the CV, just remove a spring or replace them with a weaker set. And the lack of skunk stripe seems normal. Skunk stripes are on maple fretboard guitars where the neck and fretboard are one piece of wood, and the route in the back is the only way to install the truss rod. On a rosewood or similar neck, they don't do the skunk stripe routing because they install the truss rod from the top before glueing on the fretboard
Yes...you're correct...no stripe on the back of Rosewood fretboard Fenders....These classic vibes are sleeper guitars...buy as many as you can now and make a fortune into years!
You don't have to do anything except back out the screws on the claw so the bridge is floating, and make sure the six screws aren't screwed all the way down. They're supposed to be backed out about a half turn to full turn so the bridge can pivot on those screws. DUH!
I've been doubting between the two for a while but thanks to you i'm convinced. It will be the Squier. The neck looks better and it will save me 250 euros. And I since I just bought a Epiphone LP muse and still want to buy a Gretsch streamliner with bigsby later this year, i'll save some money.
I have a Fender MiM Player I found new and on sale for $650, as well as a "mutant" Squier Bullet (or so it says, but feature-wise it's closer to a Classic Vibe) from maybe 2002 or '03-ish, and I think I did okay with both guitars. This is what I've learned over the years with Strats. It doesn't matter what name is on the headstock. What matters is the individual guitar. If it has Fender's name on it, you know what you're getting. A $800 Player, feels like an $800 guitar. It's not amazing, but it's nice. Solid. The $2000 guitars feel and play a bit nicer. Fender is consistent in that regard. Squier's are different, but not to be looked down upon. I've seen $400 crappy Squires, and I've seen amazing $200 Squiers. The quality just isn't consistent. It's never "horrible". They are solid guitars, and great for beginners. But personally, I like them. My $200 Mutant came off the shelf feeling almost as nice as a $1500+ Fender. It's a bit lighter weight. Yes, the pickups don't sound as nice, but the FEEL of it is amazing. This cheap $200 guiter feels like it's had high-end professional fret work done to it. The edges are nice and rounded, the neck has a great radius. The saddles centered the strings perfectly over the pickups (unlike Fender's current garbage saddles), and the trem while a bit "heavy" still feels good. Don't pass on a Squier just because it's a Squier. Pick it up and play with it. You can dismiss it later, but give it a chance. You MAY just find a gem like I did... (edit Note: I thought originally it was from 2012, but it seems I've had that Bullet since early 2000's. Maybe '03)
I bought a squire 50's CV strat for my first guitar. I was originally looking for a bullet mustang because of the price. (Around $200) I ended up getting my 50's CV and an amp for $400. I couldn't be happier. I've never played a bullet, but from what I've seen and heard from pros they're well worth the extra $200
If the tremolo has too much tension, just remove one of the springs. That's certainly not a make-or-break! No need for a skunk stripe on RW, IL, PF necks because the truss rod isn't put in from the back like on one-piece maple necks. Hence, they tend to look stupid on non-maple necks. IMHO! ;- ) Also, give those vintage tubers a fair shot, once you get used to them you might realize they're actually awesome to work with. Great video, thanks!
I have that exact same guitar and love it. The comments about the pots and switch were my first observations as well and as an electrician that was important to me.
Thanks for a great video with very helpful comparison samples! Actually looking for my first electric, good quality and price and this looks like it! Any comparison with the 50's Classic Vibe?
@@6496chase It depends how far you want to go with the upgrades. I replaced the standard tuners with locking ones, the nut with a Graphtech tusq nut, and the tremolo block with a brass one. The original pickups are good, so i left them as they are, but you could upgrade them if you wish to. I hope this helps, the upgrades i have done have greatly improved the tuning stability and sustain.
Thanks, Miike. This is exactly the comparison I’m making now (same color, too; love that blue!) and I haven’t found a CV in a store to try out. I’ll definitely take a chance and order one rather than assuming the Player is worth the extra $300. Thanks again.
I chose the player strat because I prefer the regular tuners, the 2-point trem, and thicker trem block. And you'll want the player strat if you need 22 frets (which I never needed yet). Sure, I could get the CV and upgrade the parts, but I decided to spend a little more since stock player strat is good enough for me. And I'll be keeping my player strat for a looong time.
I have two Classic Vibe Strats (a 50s and a 60s), and they both have MIM Standard Strat bridges. It’s a $20 drop-in upgrade that gives them Fender stamped saddles and a full-sized trem blocks. I’ve been playing them for 10 years, and this is the only upgrade they’ve needed.
perhaps the best Stratocaster I've played (as a non boutique / small builder instrument) was a standard Schecter USA production model. there are a lot of variables, and for some reason, that particular one was excellent. there were a bunch of Schecter models to compare it against (including some custom shop ones that were 3 - 5x the price), and some of those had more features, figured wood, and so on... but that green one just had it all in one package. I still regret not buying it, especially as it wasn't that expensive for what it was. every Classic Vibe I've played has been insanely consistent, with some being truly great, and not just for the price. I'd never owned a Tele, and I bought a Classic Vibe one online. it played perfectly out of the box and had a setup card indicating who QC'd it and what the factory action was set at. pickups are as good if not better (matter of taste) than the more expensive stuff, especially if you like the vintage output thing. lots of us mess with pedals for boost etc, so that's one way around it. snobs may complain that it's a three piece pine body or whatever, has thicker than necessary polyurethane finish, blah blah blah... other than the wiring kinda fizzling out when I flipped the control panel around (likely my fault), that's the only issue I've had with it. holds tune amazingly, sounds great, plays like a dream. can't see myself ever selling it. if anything, I might route out the neck and bridge, try some different pickups, mess with the switching (4 way with out of phase series is awesome), use it as a mod platform, which is the beauty of it not costing a ton -- I'm not as concerned with leaving it "original" to hold some resale value if I have to sell it. I like tinkering... even though I should probably just practice more instead, haha. I played one of the Ultra series Strats when they were released, and an employee asked me what I thought of it. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the fret ends were sharp, the setup wasn't very good, and nothing about it justified the steep price tag, especially compared to the competition. some of the similar Vintera series models sitting right next to it blew it out of the water. at least Fender finally put stainless steel frets on a production model, which they frankly should be doing on every non "classic" type model. unless you're selling an absolute vintage spec model, why shouldn't I get more for my money? my neck through Agile LP has SS frets for a quarter of the price or less. I can only think of less than a handful of higher end Fenders that bring more to the table for the increased price -- specifically, the Johnny Marr Jaguar, various EJ Strats, and the Jim Root Jazzmaster. maybe b/c these musicians are putting their name on it, they are able to insist on a certain standard or fit and finish, and somehow the QC has followed suit. I've had this happen when trying out a pile of guitars without looking at price tag, and finding that I ended up liking a particular Squier or moderately priced Ibanez or Epiphone best out of the lot. CNC machines have made things a hell of a lot more consistent, so a lot of it comes down to having really good QC and solid setups (especially a properly cut nut). if I was gonna drop serious cash on a guitar, it'd be a Suhr or something on par with that. MusicMan makes great stuff too for similar or less. Fender doesn't seem to be super consistent until you hit Custom Shop level, and even then, I prefer the competition for improving / iterating on the details that matter the most. I wish they'd spend less on marketing weird remix models and more on QC? maybe others don't mind paying for a pro setup on a new instrument, but for the price... it kinda hurts and doesn't feel justified.
The Squire takes it on the distorted sound. These are amazing guitars for the price. To be fair it’s mostly all about the player anyhow. But now is the time to snap these guitars up.
I'm not shocked at all... The product from Fender's Mexico factory has always seemed subpar to me than what I see in similar price range coming from Indonesia and in some cases China as well. I don't know the reason for this, but I suspects its because in Indonesia there's an entire district where you have the big Cort factory and Epiphone and Fender operate factories there and just a really skilled workforce consolidated in one area combined with the latest in automation, etc... State of the art mass production... They skim on specific things intentionally to keep the price down, given the time, materials than can build a guitar just as good as USA factories (see Phil McKnights video on why he picked an Indonesian Charvel over the USA built one). In Mexico all these guitar factories are spread out around the country. There is no cross-trained workforce. Fender should be putting their brand name on the Classic Vibe squires and putting the Squire brand on the Player Series, just my opinion.
Classic Vibes are usually great guitars but I had the opposite experience when looking for a new Tele recently. I admit it might have been the lack of Squires where I lived (there were only 2 with a maple fretboard) but I found the pickups in both SCV guitars did not have much power (I actually had to double the volume on the amp I was testing on to hear it at the same volume as the Players series). Too bad, I was actually looking for the Squire. I found 5 of the MiM fenders (there were 8 to try) to have better fret finishing, nicer neck profile and sound, however, the other 3 were about the same (or slightly worse) as the SCV so if you tried one like those, then your decision was the obvious choice. Both stores had 1 Squire and several Fenders. Each shop’s gear set up by the same tech before going on the floor and at the smaller shop, I asked the tech to quickly verify they were in spec & they were. I also noticed a difference in the tone and feel of the 5 good Fender guitars and ended up purchasing one in a colour that wasn’t my favourite but it played and felt so nice. Maybe that’s an idea for a future show? Do the same guitars actually sound/feel the same? Based on my experience, I’d say no.
I've got the indonesian 50s CV strat and it's hands down the best strat I've ever played. It can't be long until fender nerfs or kills the line surely.
Your video lead me to purchase my new CV 60’s in Candy Apple Red. It plays so easy! Fret work is better than my player Tele. However I don’t like the pickups, a bit punchy for my taste - some 57 - 62’s with new electronics are coming. I also found the controls to be on the cheap side, but I’m guessing this is to do with the batch. Thanks for the review.
Das Video hat mich nun vollends von der Squire überzeugt. Sogar meine fav. Farbe konnte ich jetzt mal in "echt" sehen! Aben auch vermutlichen deine Bewertung beim Thomann gelesen :D Danke!
Did you find problems on the keyboard in the beginning? I got a brand new CV '60s some days ago. My experience with bending is tragic: I feel the frets as if they are scratching on the string, and the fretboard is rough to the touch. I've tried a '60s some weeks ago in a store and I don't remember the same issue. And, moreover, I feel the E bass string had more "bang" than mine guitar.
this video popped up as a recommendation today, watched it and I completely agree - I found a CV (telecaster though) for so little that I bought it, figured out I’ll play it for a month and sell it with profit... yeah I still have it, probably if I wanted to be objective I would even say that it’s my favourite guitar and cheap enough that I dont babysit it that much. The action of the strings and height of the pickups was so good (couldve been set by the previous owner though), that I set all my guitars to the same numbers now, haha. I keep looking for a Strat now as well, but they moved the production from China to Indonesia and they have mixed reviews these days. Might just get a used one if I find a lefty one, though.
I have just had the same experience w my new CV 60s strat. They are just amazing. I gig for a living, and have American Pro, Am Standard, and Players Series Fenders, and a 52 reissue tele. These are great guitars. Especially for that price. I'd say it's weak point is the tuners, but I like the look of the old Klusons.. I'd just get better versions w the same look. Pickups sound great. Slightly smaller nut width, but that doesn't bother me.. Tone knob is even already wired to the bridge pickup. You can't beat it.
'60s Fenders don't have a skunk stripe. Also, these particular Kluson-style tuners are my favorite, better gear ratio than the actual vintage tuners, and these have much smoother action than even the AVRI tuners. These CV Squiers are a gift to the world.
The old Squier Deluxe would have been a nice comparison as it had similar modern Strat appointments (22-frets, 2-point trem)......but alas; it's discontinued.
Good tunes from 7:12, I am betting for a used Fender MIM from 2006 gotta investigate the series, 400$/370€, what do u think? should I buy a new squier cv 70s or 60s?
I bought 6 guitars over quarantine, PRS SE Zach, Squire CV70's, Yamaha Revstar RS720B, Gretsch G6228, G&L Tribute ASAT Special. By far PRS SE has the best fret works and action. Surprising part is Squire 70's has second best fret action without a buzz and most disappointing guitar is most expensive Gretsch player series which has so much buzzing on low E. I have all the tools need to setup the guitar and can't seem to fix the buzz without raising action so high. Squire CV has been modified to have PTB circuit with 500k tone pots and sounds just amazing. I compared directly to American fender and I have no need to upgrade pickups or tremolo (as I don't use whammy bar). I'm sure every guitar is different and if you get lucky, cheap guitar can be just as good as several thousand dollar guitars (minus name tag).
I bought a player series strat back in November last year and for $950 AUD I wasn’t impressed, the fretwork was terrible and it really didn’t sound great at all so I sent it back. 1 month later I bought the classic vibe 50’s strat Indonesia 2019 model and it’s completely a better guitar all round and for $400 AUD less it’s a no brainer
You've got yourself a new subscriber! I'm looking for a strat at the moment, but since I'm just a kid, my budget isn't really wide... If you were to give me your honest opinion, does the Squier play good? Does it not feel very rough when you bend the strings? And how fast do the strings pop out of tune when you use the tremolo?
Hey Karel. My Squier plays like a dream, and does not feel rough anytime. HAVING SAID THAT: this is all highly subjective. I have totally different hands than you, and totally different ears ;-) If you have the possibility, ALWAYS TRY BERFORE YOU BUY ;-) Thanks for watching! Mike
Good to hear from somebody else too, I've noticed that when it comes to the classic vibes guitar the fretwork is slightly better than the player series
So much is of course personal taste. For instance, I plan to put those tuners on my USA Tel, and my MIM player HSH Strat. One thing is for sure, my next guitar will be a Squier Classic Vibe of some sort.
Player series has great telecaster guitar forget other player models I had player strat and after compare it many times with squire vintage modified 70 , I kept squire and exchange fender with edward esp strat japan made .
I thought the Fender Player sounded better. (I can totally appreciate you preferring the classic vibe 60's if it feels better to play!!) The classic vibe 60's body is made of Nato from my understanding (which is similar to mahogany - generally seen as a more mid-ranged and less snappy/less high frequency type wood). The Fender player strat body is made from alder (the traditional Strat body wood which is fairly even across the frequency range...including a snappy top end). Could the Nato body wood of the classic vibe 60's always influence the sound of the guitar - and make it too mid-range focused - so that any pickup upgrades you do won't get you to the sound you are looking for?
Thanks to this video, I decided not to wait for more to save up and got myself a 70s classic vibe as I like the bigger headstock on it, and it was the only CV with buttercream colour :) Can't wait for it to arrive!
@@taxationistheft2.0 playing it more than a year, i didn't have such a problem. since last year i also had a chance to play various Fender strats, but so far never regretted the decision on picking a 70s 👍
I came upon this vid because I was blown away by the quality of a Squier I just played and had to see if I was mad. I'm looking for a backup guitar that I can use for funk so I can move my PRS to lower tunings and leave it there. I was prepared to pick up a Fender but I'm seriously leaning towards one of these 400 dollar Squiers and just upgrading what I don't like.
Only maple fingerboard necks got the skunk stripe on vintage Fenders. My ‘63 has a plain maple back. The stripe is there to cover a back route for the truss rod. It is unnecessary when applying a different wood finger board as you can route from the top.
Thanks for this video. I wanted the surf green fender player but I’d rather go for comfort. I’ve never played electric guitar, so I’m looking for something that feels good so I don’t avoid playing it.
I owned several strats over the years. I currently own two American Standards and one 2014 Standard. A few days ago I went to the guitar shop to try out the newer models from the American made to the Squiers. I was very impressed by the Classic Vibe. The classic vibe felt no much different than my American Standards the perfect setup, nice electronics, nice weight, solid neck etc. The new American made Stratocaster felt off like something was missing while the new Mexican made felt cheap and loose. Honestly, I think fender is doing something right with the classic vibes. I will take a classic vibe before buying the newer American made guitar (professional). I feel Fender’s quality control has gone down. They need to bring back the Standard and focus on quality. Need a strat Buy an American Standard from eBay, a 2012-2017 Mexican Strat or the current Classic Vibe.
oftmals eine Frage der Einstellung.. den das Fundament der Klampfe ist sehr gut. Ich bin super zufrieden mit der Squire und die kann locker mithalten mit so mancher super teuren Gitarre
I have this exact CV and same color great looking guitar.. tuners are great no issue gonna get fret edges smoothed but other than that neck is great tuners great pickups are very good and guitar has a great cool factor w the lake placid blue this sound test shows these guitars hold up and are excellent
Own a Classic Vibe Strat and strongly recommend them. If you had to choose the best though I would say it is the Player. Many commentators and reviewers will say the CV is the best and it is not worth paying the extra money for a Player. The reasons are you’re partially paying for it to say Fender on the headstock, sound just as good, etc. The truth is while there is a bit of Fender tax, you are getting top notch hardware that will last for years, 2 point trem, better electronics, etc. So they may play and sound the same, but the Fender will be more reliable and last much longer.
@@rafaelcurita9290 I ended up getting both at one point, the CV could be a lifetime guitar, but you may find the gloss neck, metal quality, and other small aspects to be annoying. They are much cheaper than the Player and if you want the cost savings and great quality then get it. If you rarely buy guitars, don't mind paying a couple of hundred to get a more perfected product, then get it. I don't think the Player is perfect, though it solves a lot of CV's gripes, and since the color I like is only in Player, and want to have a buy-it-for-life instrument, I choose the Fender in my scenario. There are a ton of nice copies now too, but it seems Fender still gives great value.
@@dimitris70 I have no preference, since the time of my comment I want to say the Classic vibes will last just as long and little issue. There is a lot of myths that need to be dispelled, the CV is every bit a strat and IMO the best strat I've ever played.
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Hi guys, I just uploaded a follow-up to this video: *UPDATE Squier Classic Vibe '60s ONE YEAR LATER*! There I answer if I still have this guitar, if I upgraded it and what I think about it after one year. Here's the video: ruclips.net/video/F4pFUEK4J4s/видео.html
Hi Miike! Is your squier made of Nato? I'm about to buy one but I'd like to know if that wood is as good as alder.
@@ammx8492 Yes it is Nato! Don't let the wood of a guitar define your buying decision (trust me, I've been down that rabbit hole). Rather see if you like the neck, how it feels, how it plays! That's like 100.000.000 more important than the tone wood ;-)
@@MadebyMiike Thank you for your helpful answer, now I'm considering a CV strat again. I'm between the 50's and the 60's model.
I listened in my car and it is strange... I like the distorted sound of the Squire better. But the Fender seems a little fuller and rings out more on the cleans. I own a CV 70’s and had a proper setup on it... Thing plays and sounds like a high end instrument! One of the best purchases I’ve ever made! I’m in love w it!! So much so that I got the Squire Jag too which is also awesome!
Agree on this. The Fender's clean tones sounded richer than the Squier's.
I'd say this is an accurate assessment of the two guitars, although I disagree on a couple of points. I recently bought a new CV 50s Strat (Indonesian), having compared it against CV 60s and Player models .
Action/setup: I agree, the fretwork and setup are first-class. The frets on the Player were not as smooth or rounded.
Tremolo: this is basic, and would benefit from an upgrade. The screw spacing is narrow. Hipshot make a nice looking one that should fit right in. I took one spring off as the three originals are very stiff, and it's important to also set the six screws so they allow the trem to move. The threaded arm doesn't fit very well (a bit of PTFE tape has helped) and the saddles are not very well made. I'm now used to the trem, so may only shell out for new saddles.
Compared with the Player trem, the CV has six screws, whereas the Player has two pivots. Checking out many videos, I formed the opinion that the 2-pivot bridge affected the tone negatively.
Tuners: I disagree, these are pretty decent and don't need upgrading.
Sound quality/tone: as in your video, they're virtually identical. I've gigged with the Squier, no problem.
Other points (not in your video):
You didn't mention weight: my CV is much lighter than the Player. It still sustains fine.
Noise/shielding: the CV is not well shielded, so it picks up more hum than the Player. I shielded mine with aluminium foil. It's important to extend this under the pickguard too, to eliminate static noise.
Tone controls: like the Player, the CV's bridge pickup is wired to a tone pot. Happy days.
Conclusion: I agree, the CVs are well worth checking out.
Since I want to buy a hss but I don't want to spend more than 400€
Do you think that it's good idea to change the bridge pickup of the CV 60' with an humbucker ?
What humbucker do you reccomend and how much does it cost to change it ?
Daniel, Personally I would replace the humbucker pickup. These single coil pickups on this C.V. are alnico lll magnets! To go with these, I would go with the Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge. It can be bright and clean but it will also push a tube amp into a sweet break up. Try to find one used. I buy mostly used pickups. Just make sure it has a decent wire lead. If you have a multimeter, check the ohms. If purchased on reverb or ebay, make sure the seller has great feedback. Also make sure that it has the mounting screws. You can reuse the springs from the original pickup. You'll save money and have a great sounding strat either clean or distorted!
Agreed about the tuners - there's a big difference between 'I dislike them' and 'they suck.' They're the tuners I have on most of my fender/fender style guitars and I use them because they have a good ratio and stability.
My student gave me one of these as a gift and it’s simply fabulous. I’d gig with it any day!!! I own 3 player series strats as well, 2 maple & 1 Pao Ferro, the squires just as good.
I just tried both of these guitars and bought the classic vibe 60s.
The player was 500 more expensive and had horrible sharp fret ends, buzzing unlevel frets and umcomfortable cheap feeling neck.
When i plugged in the 60s it felt great and soundes great. The frets where perfect and the neck felt great and the tone was great.
Got home and compared to my usa and mexican strat and it hung with them and in some areas was better.
A real
Steal for the price
I have one of each. I love lightweight guitars that’s why I love my CV. Solution for sharp fret edges, $2 sanding block at Home Depot, looks like a small sponge. Once I fixed it the Player felt like a dream, still too heavy.
Josh Muz
I don’t own any of these guitars but I’ve played them at Guitar Center. The Squiers CV 60’s does have a vintage classic look but once I started playing it I did not like the feel of the neck. The guitar feels sticky, I blame it on the thickness of the finish. I own a 2006 MIM Classic Series 60’s Strat and I am guessing that the CVs is based on this guitar because they look similar but the Classic Series 60’s guitars are better than Classic Vibes and Player Series. It’s just a better instrument. The feel and the construction is just better, but what do I know ? I mostly play HH Telecasters.
You got a shit one bro... my 3 were perfect right from the factory
@@bluwng totally agree couple of sharp frets is absolutely nothing.
I love vintage tuners. So easy to string. Wish all my guitars had them.
Agreed
Me as well
yep, can't go back to the standards.
You can just change the tuners on those guitars.
We are cut from the same cloth. Vintage tuners rock.
By all rights, if you have a fretboard material that's different from the neck, then you shouldn't have a "skunk stripe". Also, while the "trem" was set up to be virtually locked down, it doesn't have to stay that way. You CAN adjust it and it WILL work as a regular 6-point vibrato.
I wonder about some of these guys huh?
A lot of what this dude said made me think he's kinda green to some things. Idk just my opinion.
Nice review. Re the tremolo, yours is about the third review I've seen that mentions that. Honestly, though, although they come from the factory set flat to the body, they can be set to float. I've done it with mine and it works great. I removed one spring and unwound the claw until the bridge is a few mm off the body and it stays in tune, returns to pitch perfectly and feels buttery smooth to use.
Great vid! I have the Fender Player Series. And I have been trying out a Squier, which I will buy this week or next. The Squier is better. Period. And IMHO, it's not even close. It blows away the Fender Player Series. Maybe that's just me But that's how I feel about these two. Save $300.... maybe even $350, and grab the Squier Classic Vibe 60s. It's killer.
Dream on.
After a watching so many videos saying how good the squire CV 60's is I decided to buy one... OMG... Mike your video is spot on.. no surprises, as soon I start planning it I realized that your review was 100% accurate. I like the clean sound comparison on your review. Thank you for encouraging everyone on this guitar. I need to fix the heavy lackered, it does not feel right, and I'm a slow player, ... Just not sure I'm the right guy to do it. The default strings are not my favorite, that will require an upgrade... Thank you. Not that it matters but this is my first comment on RUclips
Welcome to RUclips João and have fun with your new guitar! It's a great one! ;-)
I think almost all of the "not nice" stuff about the squier were more of preference and could be fixed with a simple set up with the exception of the finish. Great video comparison overall. They sound so, so, soo close. Take that extra money and buy a Fender BJ and you're set with that Classic Vibe.
Wow, the tuners are like the best thing about that guitar! Other than locking tuners, the split shaft vintage ones are the best for the ease of restringing! 😮
just take one of the springs out behind the tremolo and readjust. You dont have to replace the whole tremolo. Although putting a better thick block tremolom is a good thing. Nothing wrong with the tuners they work perfectly fine and are so easy to change strings and hold tuning well enough. Dont understand why people have trouble with them. And the lack of skunk stripe is just how most rosewood board Fenders are made.
Indeed the tremblock is really superlight on the classic vibe. Must be changed asap
From Leo: That is a very nice Squier, and your playing is enjoyable. I really like the vintage tuners. The sharp string end is in the hole, so it does not hurt your fingers, catch on clothing, or damage the inside of the case or gig bag. I wish Grover would offer their top tuning machines with a hole down the middle.
Yep. Agreed. Sold my two Duluxe Strats for a Classic Vibe and with the money from the sale of one upgraded everything but the body and neck. From the second sale I had a good time...a really good time.
The lacquer on the back of the neck and the vintage tuners are the best of the CV's
Tuners? Yeah. Laquer of any kind on a neck? Naah. Yeah, you can sand it down and it's not make or break on a guitar, but I would prefer satin finish or unlaquered necks. Laquer == sticky neck.
Daemon Electricity not necessarily for people with rather dry hand
@@daemonelectricity there is ways to get around it, a master builder for the fender custom shop said to use carnuaba wax.
They are my favourite tuners
@@meanwhileinespoo1265 my classic vine 70s has them its great
This is the first video of yours that I am watching. Have to say really enjoyed the review. Concise, to the point and great comparison. subscribed!
Thanks a lot Syed!
I must respectfully disagree about the vintage tuners. They are so superior in my opinion. So much easier to string and much tidier with no sharp ends anywhere.
I agree 100%. Never changed strings as fast as with those tuners and the tidiness is a big plus as well.
Yep. Vintage tuners are vastly superior to all modern tuners. They're essentially locking tuners that look 10 times better.
Yup! I will pull off any locking tuners and install vintage kluson on every fender I own. Locking tuners are not necessary
I TOTALLY agree
I have the same guitar and the only necessary improvement is , in my opinion the tremolo system
60's strat do not have a skunk stripe. as for the tuners they are personal preference, I actually consider them a +
Dirty fingerboard isn't an issue to be considered. the bridge and electronics are my main concern
thank you for uploading this video. the player sounds better to my ears
Thank you for the review, really well done. It was the exact two guitars I was looking between, 60s and player.
I understand you very well. I own a squier classic vibe 50 that I prefer over the fender american standard tratocaster. For this reason I always play the squier.
The amount of money you can save, especially if buying a used CV, can get you a professional setup, thorough fret job, new pickups and/or electronics. And have money left over to buy a good case or a good pedal
I love my Fender Player strat... Great tone & very good tuning stability...
Me too mine is cool as fuck love it
Me too!!
Yeah and mine is class too! I own both and both good but it's easy to tell the better guitar
Same. My Player Strat came out of the box with a great setup/string action. It sounds nice and has a good tuning stability. Love the neck and its satin finish. I've sold my CV60 Squier.
I love my 60's classic vibe so much, I sold my Ultra Strat, the neck isn't as "finished" as an American but, with a Clapton pickup set up brass saddles and trem block it the best Strat I have ever owned.
Never try to do upgrades as a way to save money, because it just doesn't happen. I almost went down the Squier + upgrades path. Taking into account the money I would have spent, I decided it was just better to buy the MIM Player Strat. For under $700 delivered, I have a guitar in the color I wanted, with the neck I wanted, and the trem and pickups I wanted without me having to wrench on it.
Yes, my guitar could stand a fret-end treatment, but I've also played $1000 guitars which required that. The fret ends aren't cutting my fingers, but they could be better. It seems fret end finishing is a matter of luck. That applies to all mass-produced brands, not just Fender or Squier. If I ever decide to upgrade the electronics, I'l be able to sell the loaded pick guard from the Player for a lot more than a loaded Squier pick guard.
I cant speak of how the neck is on the classic Vibe 60s, but I recently bought a Lake Placid Blue body for a build that's amazing.
I had a nice Warmoth neck I was just dyeing to use, so I thought I would "cheap out" on the body just to use the neck. I was so shocked at how good the body's fit and finish was, it became my new #1 instantly. I love how they nailed the vintage (more rounded) contours, and edges of the body. It sounds great with my Lace sensor hot gold pickups. The only down side was the tremolo saddle height screw threading was a little wobbly. I replaced the entire vibrato system with a Fender standard (pre-players series) replacement for around $20.It was less money than just replacing the saddles !!!! You are right. Those are some super strong tremolo spring in there (I'm just using 2 to float) ....
Just an awesome body !!! Great video.
I played a new Road Worn Strat at Guitar Center A couple of days ago. Nitrocellulose finish, great pick ups, and a neck that felt like it was 30 years old, in all the good ways.
I think I read your review on this guitar on Thomann. I was ordering mine and was like.. wait, this guy is saying the exact same things, as the guy on RUclips :D
Great review! I have mine for a few days and its awesome. Thanks for sharing your thoughts:)
What a coincidence.... Haha!
thanks for the video. you did the sound comparison like it should be done and that was really helpful.
I just bought a Squier Classic Vibe. I paid $329 open box (it wasn’t. It is a sunburst mode. It stays in tune, low action great neck and I could care less what it says on the headstock. It sounds really good too. I bought a Fender tweed gig bag for it. Then I bought a Squier 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster and I like that too. I have a lot of guitars and these two are really nice.
The Classic Vibes are amazing guitars. For about the same money as the Player series Strat you could buy a Classic Vibe 50's ans 60's. The early Squier JV series Strats are known for their quality and were played by a number of high profile players like George Harrison and others. There have been some great Squier guitars over the years like the Silver Series and Pro Tones. The Classic Vibes have to be among the best of the current value priced guitars on the market. Great playing by the way!
The skunk stripe is not required for a rosewood board. The truss rod is inserted from the front before the fingerboard is put on.
60s rosewood strats didn’t have skunk stripes, why would this one?
due to the sake of technology and safeness
It was made in 2019
@@phildale8451 It might have been made in 2019 but its based on the 60's strats dude
Actually not 100% truth. It depends if it is laminated rosewood or not. There is some models from the 60's that have skunk stripe.
The absence of a skunk stripe is honestly preferable.
I've played since '56. I don't give a damn about names, or price. Those things don't equate to better. Yes, ten minutes of work smoothing fret ends, etc isn't a big deal, just don't ask me to spend more than $50.00 for the guitar. I have a house full of gear from expensive to dirt cheap and have learned the hard way. In fact, I'm genuinely embarrassed to play an expensive guitar in public. Nothing says "fool" any better. Say, set up that vibrato with only two springs outboard, back the claw out until you get the feel you like. Retune the strings and lower the action back down and you have a guitar that's at least as good as any $2000. + one. Somebody just missed the operation at build. Guitars are stupid simple things. No reason, except big corporate balance sheets, to ask for high prices. Thanks!
Hey John, I'm confused between the Squier classic vibe 70s and the fender player series. Which one would you recommend,m
@@Kaustubh3024 Hi kausto j; well the PS has humbuckers. That's the big difference. They'll sound darker and take away some of the classic Jazzmaster sound for sure. They'll growl pretty quickly with added volume. The CV is pure Jazzmaster, which has the potential to soind great with distortion, if that's your thing. Both have the floating bridge which purists like, but does need care while playing to prevent the 1st string from slipping out of it's bridge groove. If you have a Strat style guitar you can nearly mimick the PS sound in the #2 and #4 positions ( humbucking) with single coils. I know both guitars have similar neck dimensions so this may not be an issue. Hope I'm not steering you wrong....
Thanks, you have helped me make my decision! I’m getting that Squire.
i recently picked up a classic vibe 50's.. made in indonesia, has the skunk stripe. the thing blew me away.
Yep
Good video thanx for posting. I bought a squire classic 60s vibe and very surprised. Even like the pickups. I also got the Ritchie Blackmore signature strat
and I like the Squire just as much.
I nearly bought a Fender player mustang and in the end got the classic vibe Mustang. Best thing I ever did and saved a few hundred.
You wouldn't have to change the whole trem system on the CV, just remove a spring or replace them with a weaker set. And the lack of skunk stripe seems normal. Skunk stripes are on maple fretboard guitars where the neck and fretboard are one piece of wood, and the route in the back is the only way to install the truss rod. On a rosewood or similar neck, they don't do the skunk stripe routing because they install the truss rod from the top before glueing on the fretboard
Yes...you're correct...no stripe on the back of Rosewood fretboard Fenders....These classic vibes are sleeper guitars...buy as many as you can now and make a fortune into years!
It sort of seems like this guy doesn't know what he's talking about.
You don't have to do anything except back out the screws on the claw so the bridge is floating, and make sure the six screws aren't screwed all the way down. They're supposed to be backed out about a half turn to full turn so the bridge can pivot on those screws. DUH!
I've been doubting between the two for a while but thanks to you i'm convinced. It will be the Squier. The neck looks better and it will save me 250 euros. And I since I just bought a Epiphone LP muse and still want to buy a Gretsch streamliner with bigsby later this year, i'll save some money.
I have a Fender MiM Player I found new and on sale for $650, as well as a "mutant" Squier Bullet (or so it says, but feature-wise it's closer to a Classic Vibe) from maybe 2002 or '03-ish, and I think I did okay with both guitars.
This is what I've learned over the years with Strats. It doesn't matter what name is on the headstock. What matters is the individual guitar. If it has Fender's name on it, you know what you're getting. A $800 Player, feels like an $800 guitar. It's not amazing, but it's nice. Solid. The $2000 guitars feel and play a bit nicer. Fender is consistent in that regard.
Squier's are different, but not to be looked down upon. I've seen $400 crappy Squires, and I've seen amazing $200 Squiers. The quality just isn't consistent. It's never "horrible". They are solid guitars, and great for beginners. But personally, I like them. My $200 Mutant came off the shelf feeling almost as nice as a $1500+ Fender. It's a bit lighter weight. Yes, the pickups don't sound as nice, but the FEEL of it is amazing. This cheap $200 guiter feels like it's had high-end professional fret work done to it. The edges are nice and rounded, the neck has a great radius. The saddles centered the strings perfectly over the pickups (unlike Fender's current garbage saddles), and the trem while a bit "heavy" still feels good.
Don't pass on a Squier just because it's a Squier. Pick it up and play with it. You can dismiss it later, but give it a chance. You MAY just find a gem like I did...
(edit Note: I thought originally it was from 2012, but it seems I've had that Bullet since early 2000's. Maybe '03)
I think i can hear the strings buzzing on the squire more
Just bought this as my first choice Electric guitar and very happy with the choice I made.
Excellent review, Miike! I love my CV 60's Strat.
I bought a squire 50's CV strat for my first guitar. I was originally looking for a bullet mustang because of the price. (Around $200) I ended up getting my 50's CV and an amp for $400. I couldn't be happier. I've never played a bullet, but from what I've seen and heard from pros they're well worth the extra $200
If the tremolo has too much tension, just remove one of the springs. That's certainly not a make-or-break!
No need for a skunk stripe on RW, IL, PF necks because the truss rod isn't put in from the back like on one-piece maple necks. Hence, they tend to look stupid on non-maple necks. IMHO! ;- )
Also, give those vintage tubers a fair shot, once you get used to them you might realize they're actually awesome to work with. Great video, thanks!
I have that exact same guitar and love it. The comments about the pots and switch were my first observations as well and as an electrician that was important to me.
Thanks for a great video with very helpful comparison samples! Actually looking for my first electric, good quality and price and this looks like it! Any comparison with the 50's Classic Vibe?
now this is how you do a GOOD review
Thanks Michael! 😃
I have a Squire 60's classic vibe 60th anniversary in gold , a great guitar and worth every penny,
if you want to upgrade them , they are even better.
I'm very new to this! What's the best way to upgrade the classic vibe?
@@6496chase It depends how far you want to go with the upgrades.
I replaced the standard tuners with locking ones, the nut with a Graphtech tusq nut, and the tremolo block with a brass one.
The original pickups are good, so i left them as they are, but you could upgrade them if you wish to.
I hope this helps, the upgrades i have done
have greatly improved the tuning stability
and sustain.
@@Barbarapape Thank You for the information!
Thanks, Miike. This is exactly the comparison I’m making now (same color, too; love that blue!) and I haven’t found a CV in a store to try out. I’ll definitely take a chance and order one rather than assuming the Player is worth the extra $300. Thanks again.
It is worth it! Hope you find a good exemplar!
I chose the player strat because I prefer the regular tuners, the 2-point trem, and thicker trem block. And you'll want the player strat if you need 22 frets (which I never needed yet). Sure, I could get the CV and upgrade the parts, but I decided to spend a little more since stock player strat is good enough for me. And I'll be keeping my player strat for a looong time.
I have two Classic Vibe Strats (a 50s and a 60s), and they both have MIM Standard Strat bridges. It’s a $20 drop-in upgrade that gives them Fender stamped saddles and a full-sized trem blocks. I’ve been playing them for 10 years, and this is the only upgrade they’ve needed.
perhaps the best Stratocaster I've played (as a non boutique / small builder instrument) was a standard Schecter USA production model. there are a lot of variables, and for some reason, that particular one was excellent. there were a bunch of Schecter models to compare it against (including some custom shop ones that were 3 - 5x the price), and some of those had more features, figured wood, and so on... but that green one just had it all in one package. I still regret not buying it, especially as it wasn't that expensive for what it was.
every Classic Vibe I've played has been insanely consistent, with some being truly great, and not just for the price. I'd never owned a Tele, and I bought a Classic Vibe one online. it played perfectly out of the box and had a setup card indicating who QC'd it and what the factory action was set at. pickups are as good if not better (matter of taste) than the more expensive stuff, especially if you like the vintage output thing. lots of us mess with pedals for boost etc, so that's one way around it. snobs may complain that it's a three piece pine body or whatever, has thicker than necessary polyurethane finish, blah blah blah... other than the wiring kinda fizzling out when I flipped the control panel around (likely my fault), that's the only issue I've had with it. holds tune amazingly, sounds great, plays like a dream. can't see myself ever selling it. if anything, I might route out the neck and bridge, try some different pickups, mess with the switching (4 way with out of phase series is awesome), use it as a mod platform, which is the beauty of it not costing a ton -- I'm not as concerned with leaving it "original" to hold some resale value if I have to sell it. I like tinkering... even though I should probably just practice more instead, haha.
I played one of the Ultra series Strats when they were released, and an employee asked me what I thought of it. I didn't have the heart to tell him that the fret ends were sharp, the setup wasn't very good, and nothing about it justified the steep price tag, especially compared to the competition. some of the similar Vintera series models sitting right next to it blew it out of the water. at least Fender finally put stainless steel frets on a production model, which they frankly should be doing on every non "classic" type model. unless you're selling an absolute vintage spec model, why shouldn't I get more for my money? my neck through Agile LP has SS frets for a quarter of the price or less. I can only think of less than a handful of higher end Fenders that bring more to the table for the increased price -- specifically, the Johnny Marr Jaguar, various EJ Strats, and the Jim Root Jazzmaster. maybe b/c these musicians are putting their name on it, they are able to insist on a certain standard or fit and finish, and somehow the QC has followed suit.
I've had this happen when trying out a pile of guitars without looking at price tag, and finding that I ended up liking a particular Squier or moderately priced Ibanez or Epiphone best out of the lot. CNC machines have made things a hell of a lot more consistent, so a lot of it comes down to having really good QC and solid setups (especially a properly cut nut). if I was gonna drop serious cash on a guitar, it'd be a Suhr or something on par with that. MusicMan makes great stuff too for similar or less. Fender doesn't seem to be super consistent until you hit Custom Shop level, and even then, I prefer the competition for improving / iterating on the details that matter the most. I wish they'd spend less on marketing weird remix models and more on QC? maybe others don't mind paying for a pro setup on a new instrument, but for the price... it kinda hurts and doesn't feel justified.
Classic vibes are the cats meow and vintage tuners are awesome.
The Squire takes it on the distorted sound. These are amazing guitars for the price. To be fair it’s mostly all about the player anyhow. But now is the time to snap these guitars up.
I'm not shocked at all... The product from Fender's Mexico factory has always seemed subpar to me than what I see in similar price range coming from Indonesia and in some cases China as well. I don't know the reason for this, but I suspects its because in Indonesia there's an entire district where you have the big Cort factory and Epiphone and Fender operate factories there and just a really skilled workforce consolidated in one area combined with the latest in automation, etc... State of the art mass production... They skim on specific things intentionally to keep the price down, given the time, materials than can build a guitar just as good as USA factories (see Phil McKnights video on why he picked an Indonesian Charvel over the USA built one). In Mexico all these guitar factories are spread out around the country. There is no cross-trained workforce. Fender should be putting their brand name on the Classic Vibe squires and putting the Squire brand on the Player Series, just my opinion.
Thanks for the insight, really interesting!
Nice video. What’s the song called you play at 8:30?
Did you try the American pro or pro ii’s? The pro ii’s are phenomenal
Classic Vibes are usually great guitars but I had the opposite experience when looking for a new Tele recently. I admit it might have been the lack of Squires where I lived (there were only 2 with a maple fretboard) but I found the pickups in both SCV guitars did not have much power (I actually had to double the volume on the amp I was testing on to hear it at the same volume as the Players series). Too bad, I was actually looking for the Squire.
I found 5 of the MiM fenders (there were 8 to try) to have better fret finishing, nicer neck profile and sound, however, the other 3 were about the same (or slightly worse) as the SCV so if you tried one like those, then your decision was the obvious choice.
Both stores had 1 Squire and several Fenders. Each shop’s gear set up by the same tech before going on the floor and at the smaller shop, I asked the tech to quickly verify they were in spec & they were.
I also noticed a difference in the tone and feel of the 5 good Fender guitars and ended up purchasing one in a colour that wasn’t my favourite but it played and felt so nice. Maybe that’s an idea for a future show? Do the same guitars actually sound/feel the same? Based on my experience, I’d say no.
the vintage pickups are low output of course they are going to be quieter than the player series...
Yes and i don't think it's just a matter of upgrading the pickups. Certain guitars are just quietet or flatter no matter what.
I've got the indonesian 50s CV strat and it's hands down the best strat I've ever played. It can't be long until fender nerfs or kills the line surely.
Your video lead me to purchase my new CV 60’s in Candy Apple Red. It plays so easy! Fret work is better than my player Tele. However I don’t like the pickups, a bit punchy for my taste - some 57 - 62’s with new electronics are coming. I also found the controls to be on the cheap side, but I’m guessing this is to do with the batch. Thanks for the review.
Enjoy your new guitar! ;-)
Did you end up upgrading the pups mate? What did you think.
The Squier Classic Vibes are excellent.
Das Video hat mich nun vollends von der Squire überzeugt. Sogar meine fav. Farbe konnte ich jetzt mal in "echt" sehen! Aben auch vermutlichen deine Bewertung beim Thomann gelesen :D
Danke!
Did you find problems on the keyboard in the beginning?
I got a brand new CV '60s some days ago.
My experience with bending is tragic: I feel the frets as if they are scratching on the string, and the fretboard is rough to the touch.
I've tried a '60s some weeks ago in a store and I don't remember the same issue. And, moreover, I feel the E bass string had more "bang" than mine guitar.
Was it a second hand one the newer the model the better the quality my 2020 classic vibe 70s tele deluxe was flawless
@@harrygoodchild4563 thanks. I returned the faulty guitar and ordered another one, hopefully this will be flawless too! : D
I love that Squier, but the pick up's sounded a bit thin to me.
this video popped up as a recommendation today, watched it and I completely agree - I found a CV (telecaster though) for so little that I bought it, figured out I’ll play it for a month and sell it with profit...
yeah I still have it, probably if I wanted to be objective I would even say that it’s my favourite guitar and cheap enough that I dont babysit it that much.
The action of the strings and height of the pickups was so good (couldve been set by the previous owner though), that I set all my guitars to the same numbers now, haha.
I keep looking for a Strat now as well, but they moved the production from China to Indonesia and they have mixed reviews these days. Might just get a used one if I find a lefty one, though.
I have just had the same experience w my new CV 60s strat. They are just amazing. I gig for a living, and have American Pro, Am Standard, and Players Series Fenders, and a 52 reissue tele. These are great guitars. Especially for that price. I'd say it's weak point is the tuners, but I like the look of the old Klusons.. I'd just get better versions w the same look. Pickups sound great. Slightly smaller nut width, but that doesn't bother me.. Tone knob is even already wired to the bridge pickup. You can't beat it.
The player has different frets and different coils and overall nicer finish. Is it worth double the price? That's up to you
'60s Fenders don't have a skunk stripe. Also, these particular Kluson-style tuners are my favorite, better gear ratio than the actual vintage tuners, and these have much smoother action than even the AVRI tuners. These CV Squiers are a gift to the world.
They truly are!! - Thanks for watching!
Where did you order it from if you don't mind saying? I've always had great luck with Sweetwater. Guitars are ready to play outta the box.
I like that you can tone down the bridge pickup in the players strat i dont always need the icepick
The old Squier Deluxe would have been a nice comparison as it had similar modern Strat appointments (22-frets, 2-point trem)......but alas; it's discontinued.
Good tunes from 7:12, I am betting for a used Fender MIM from 2006 gotta investigate the series, 400$/370€, what do u think? should I buy a new squier cv 70s or 60s?
Great, very helpful video. Thank you for doing that. What's the name of the song in the 5th sample?
I have just ordered a Classic Vibe 50's… Red!!
(Oh Oh my my, rock 'n' roll will never die!)
I bought 6 guitars over quarantine, PRS SE Zach, Squire CV70's, Yamaha Revstar RS720B, Gretsch G6228, G&L Tribute ASAT Special. By far PRS SE has the best fret works and action. Surprising part is Squire 70's has second best fret action without a buzz and most disappointing guitar is most expensive Gretsch player series which has so much buzzing on low E. I have all the tools need to setup the guitar and can't seem to fix the buzz without raising action so high. Squire CV has been modified to have PTB circuit with 500k tone pots and sounds just amazing. I compared directly to American fender and I have no need to upgrade pickups or tremolo (as I don't use whammy bar). I'm sure every guitar is different and if you get lucky, cheap guitar can be just as good as several thousand dollar guitars (minus name tag).
I bought a player series strat back in November last year and for $950 AUD I wasn’t impressed, the fretwork was terrible and it really didn’t sound great at all so I sent it back. 1 month later I bought the classic vibe 50’s strat Indonesia 2019 model and it’s completely a better guitar all round and for $400 AUD less it’s a no brainer
Yeah I have one fell in love with it just on looks. Fantastic guitar love it
You've got yourself a new subscriber! I'm looking for a strat at the moment, but since I'm just a kid, my budget isn't really wide... If you were to give me your honest opinion, does the Squier play good? Does it not feel very rough when you bend the strings? And how fast do the strings pop out of tune when you use the tremolo?
Hey Karel. My Squier plays like a dream, and does not feel rough anytime. HAVING SAID THAT: this is all highly subjective. I have totally different hands than you, and totally different ears ;-) If you have the possibility, ALWAYS TRY BERFORE YOU BUY ;-) Thanks for watching! Mike
Good to hear from somebody else too, I've noticed that when it comes to the classic vibes guitar the fretwork is slightly better than the player series
Looks super nice! I want one. Also vintage tuners are awesome dude. So much easier to string.
So much is of course personal taste. For instance, I plan to put those tuners on my USA Tel, and my MIM player HSH Strat. One thing is for sure, my next guitar will be a Squier Classic Vibe of some sort.
the squire sounds a bit muffled by comparison but I think it's just the pickups
Player series has great telecaster guitar forget other player models
I had player strat and after compare it many times with squire vintage modified 70 , I kept squire and exchange fender with edward esp strat japan made .
Im Buying a 60s classic vibe asap
The Squier sounds better to my ears.
I thought the Fender Player sounded better. (I can totally appreciate you preferring the classic vibe 60's if it feels better to play!!) The classic vibe 60's body is made of Nato from my understanding (which is similar to mahogany - generally seen as a more mid-ranged and less snappy/less high frequency type wood). The Fender player strat body is made from alder (the traditional Strat body wood which is fairly even across the frequency range...including a snappy top end). Could the Nato body wood of the classic vibe 60's always influence the sound of the guitar - and make it too mid-range focused - so that any pickup upgrades you do won't get you to the sound you are looking for?
Thanks to this video, I decided not to wait for more to save up and got myself a 70s classic vibe as I like the bigger headstock on it, and it was the only CV with buttercream colour :) Can't wait for it to arrive!
I heard the 70s have a problem where the high e string falls off the fret board. Does yours?
@@taxationistheft2.0 playing it more than a year, i didn't have such a problem. since last year i also had a chance to play various Fender strats, but so far never regretted the decision on picking a 70s 👍
Mike may i ask? If the headstock of fender series are the same size of squier? Need your honest reply. Thanks
I played about 10 Fender strats today. All had quality issues. I didn’t even think to look at the classic vibes. I remember them being pretty nice :)
Both are really nice, but i think i will go with the fender. It like the neck more and to be honest i just like having the fender-logo on my neck.
I came upon this vid because I was blown away by the quality of a Squier I just played and had to see if I was mad. I'm looking for a backup guitar that I can use for funk so I can move my PRS to lower tunings and leave it there. I was prepared to pick up a Fender but I'm seriously leaning towards one of these 400 dollar Squiers and just upgrading what I don't like.
Only maple fingerboard necks got the skunk stripe on vintage Fenders. My ‘63 has a plain maple back. The stripe is there to cover a back route for the truss rod. It is unnecessary when applying a different wood finger board as you can route from the top.
Thanks for this video. I wanted the surf green fender player but I’d rather go for comfort. I’ve never played electric guitar, so I’m looking for something that feels good so I don’t avoid playing it.
I owned several strats over the years. I currently own two American Standards and one 2014 Standard. A few days ago I went to the guitar shop to try out the newer models from the American made to the Squiers. I was very impressed by the Classic Vibe.
The classic vibe felt no much different than my American Standards the perfect setup, nice electronics, nice weight, solid neck etc. The new American made Stratocaster felt off like something was missing while the new Mexican made felt cheap and loose.
Honestly, I think fender is doing something right with the classic vibes. I will take a classic vibe before buying the newer American made guitar (professional). I feel Fender’s quality control has gone down. They need to bring back the Standard and focus on quality.
Need a strat
Buy an American Standard from eBay, a 2012-2017 Mexican Strat or the current Classic Vibe.
Great review and playing. Thanks dude 👍🏽
oftmals eine Frage der Einstellung.. den das Fundament der Klampfe ist sehr gut. Ich bin super zufrieden mit der Squire und die kann locker mithalten mit so mancher super teuren Gitarre
My favorite tuners (next to locking) are the sealed gear ones with the spilt top.
I have this exact CV and same color great looking guitar.. tuners are great no issue gonna get fret edges smoothed but other than that neck is great tuners great pickups are very good and guitar has a great cool factor w the lake placid blue this sound test shows these guitars hold up and are excellent
Own a Classic Vibe Strat and strongly recommend them. If you had to choose the best though I would say it is the Player. Many commentators and reviewers will say the CV is the best and it is not worth paying the extra money for a Player. The reasons are you’re partially paying for it to say Fender on the headstock, sound just as good, etc. The truth is while there is a bit of Fender tax, you are getting top notch hardware that will last for years, 2 point trem, better electronics, etc. So they may play and sound the same, but the Fender will be more reliable and last much longer.
I was thinking exactly that. The real difference might be on the long term.
@@rafaelcurita9290 I ended up getting both at one point, the CV could be a lifetime guitar, but you may find the gloss neck, metal quality, and other small aspects to be annoying. They are much cheaper than the Player and if you want the cost savings and great quality then get it. If you rarely buy guitars, don't mind paying a couple of hundred to get a more perfected product, then get it. I don't think the Player is perfect, though it solves a lot of CV's gripes, and since the color I like is only in Player, and want to have a buy-it-for-life instrument, I choose the Fender in my scenario. There are a ton of nice copies now too, but it seems Fender still gives great value.
@@AxemanMessiah11:00 thanks for your truth
Btw what colour do you prefer?
@@dimitris70 I have no preference, since the time of my comment I want to say the Classic vibes will last just as long and little issue. There is a lot of myths that need to be dispelled, the CV is every bit a strat and IMO the best strat I've ever played.