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johnandkristy · September 14th, 2008, 10:35 PM

Ok, my Squier 50's Classic Vibe Strat finally came in last week and I've been playing it all weekend. It is almost as nice as my Squier 50's Classic Vibe Tele -- really, really close. I do have a question about the jumbo fret size though for other owners . . .

Do the frets seem REALLY high to you? I mean, the description for the 50's CV Strat and the 50's CV Tele both say "medium jumbo" frets, but there is a world of difference between my Tele's frets and this Strat. It's not that I don't like them, it will just take some getting used to -- which means me learning to chord (mainly) with a much lighter hand. Are most other "vintage" Strats like this (with the high frets)?

John

Stuco · September 14th, 2008, 10:37 PM

I don't have a classic vibe strat or tele but no, the original 1950s fenders had pretty small frets as far as I know.

Rob DiStefano · September 15th, 2008, 07:30 AM

To be a true classic 50's Strat or Tele, the fretwire should be on the small side, .080 x .041 or so. Anything much more than that and yer in "modern" territory.

johnandkristy · September 15th, 2008, 09:45 AM

Since this is my first Strat (other than a cheap copy from years ago that was junk), I'm not sure what to expect . . . are modern Strat (Fender and Squier) frets higher than most other guitars just by their very nature? I have 2 Teles which aren't this high and an Epiphone SG that's isn't either. It's mainly with open chords, when you have to use a really light touch or it will start to go sharp. Again, it's not that I don't like it per se, I just have to get used to it. I just want to make sure something isn't wrong with the guitar before my 45 days is up. :)

Rob DiStefano · September 15th, 2008, 09:59 AM

Something wrong with the guitar? As in, they used the wrong fret wire size? Are you serious?

It is what it is, and Fender is one of a huge number of guitar makers that use a variety of different fret wire sizes - sometimes even within the same model. This is the part that hasta do with bean counting and economics and little to do with "standardization".

You already have the guitar so it's a matter of liking/disliking - getting used to it or not. Anything else is just the opinions of others, which shouldn't matter at all. YMMV - enjoy.

johnandkristy · September 15th, 2008, 10:09 AM

Fair enough. And don't get me wrong, the guitar is beautiful and sounds great. And the action (and sure, the high frets have alot to do with this) is really amazing from a stock "non-professionally-set-up" guitar. I was just being curious about other Strats and if others "noticed" the difference in fret size as compared to a Tele, and have to change their playing style a bit when switching between the two.

Rob DiStefano · September 15th, 2008, 10:33 AM

Guitar action, from a "low" vantage point, has nothing do to with fret wire size, and everything to do with how level the frets are and how straight the fingerboard can be tweaked. Higher fret crown heights might be a bit tricky to play on if you have a tendency to fret hard - kinda like a scalloped fingerboard effect. Bonding with a stock guitar can have its ups 'n' downs, and usually it's a compromise of sorts. Good luck!

fernando · October 16th, 2008, 07:51 AM

I'd like to know it's weight please!

And if the neck is of the same quality as the CV Tele

Thank you,

telejoe · October 16th, 2008, 09:48 AM

The frets on mine are big just as you say, and yes I had to lighten up on my chording, but it's worth it to get used to this gem. I usually mod Squiers when I get them, but the only mod I could find to do to this one is install strap locks. I love it.

Post Toastie · October 19th, 2008, 06:48 PM

I have a DeArmond guitar that was made in 2000 after Fender got the name rights.It has very tall fretts on it and can be a little tuff if you press hard like i do,chords will go sharpe.

DaleH · October 20th, 2008, 06:35 PM

The Classic Vibe is not a 50s or 60s spec guitar and not ment to be. Modern guitar with 50s vibe like the name says.

HB_NZ · October 23rd, 2008, 08:06 PM

Hi all, new member here - greetings from New Zealand!
Finally got a dealer to send me a 50's strat, and the frets on mine are definitely more vintage than modern. Actually they're ever so slightly taller than a true vintage fret, much like what I believe Fender calls "vintage modern" . I've become used to bigger frets over the years and since a wrist injury I really appreciate the ease of bending bigger frets give you. Having said that, the guitar itself is so damn nice I'll just put up with it and when it needs a re-fret, which I'm sure it will eventually, I'll get a bigger fret size put in.
Otherwise these guitars are just as everyone says.

fernando · October 25th, 2008, 04:18 PM

what about it's weight?

What seems to be the weight range? (the CV Tele is 6 to 8 lb for instance)

gtrman911 · October 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM

I played one yesterday.
Man was it nice!
2 tone SB model
neck felt killer!
normal strat weight (7ish)

September 14th, 2008, 10:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
johnandkristy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 22	"Fretting" over my new Squier 50's Classic Vibe Strat Ok, my Squier 50's Classic Vibe Strat finally came in last week and I've been playing it all weekend. It is almost as nice as my Squier 50's Classic Vibe Tele -- really, really close. I do have a question about the jumbo fret size though for other owners . . . Do the frets seem REALLY high to you? I mean, the description for the 50's CV Strat and the 50's CV Tele both say "medium jumbo" frets, but there is a world of difference between my Tele's frets and this Strat. It's not that I don't like them, it will just take some getting used to -- which means me learning to chord (mainly) with a much lighter hand. Are most other "vintage" Strats like this (with the high frets)? John Last edited by johnandkristy; September 15th, 2008 at 09:41 AM. Reason: Title Change

September 14th, 2008, 10:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Stuco Friend of Leo's Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: GA Posts: 4,225	I don't have a classic vibe strat or tele but no, the original 1950s fenders had pretty small frets as far as I know. __________________ -"You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do" J. Garcia

October 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
gtrman911 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Camelot Posts: 1,312 7 Photos	I played one yesterday. Man was it nice! 2 tone SB model neck felt killer! normal strat weight (7ish) __________________ My opinion is worth what you paid for it.

September 15th, 2008, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 5,154	To be a true classic 50's Strat or Tele, the fretwire should be on the small side, .080 x .041 or so. Anything much more than that and yer in "modern" territory.

September 15th, 2008, 09:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnandkristy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 22	Since this is my first Strat (other than a cheap copy from years ago that was junk), I'm not sure what to expect . . . are modern Strat (Fender and Squier) frets higher than most other guitars just by their very nature? I have 2 Teles which aren't this high and an Epiphone SG that's isn't either. It's mainly with open chords, when you have to use a really light touch or it will start to go sharp. Again, it's not that I don't like it per se, I just have to get used to it. I just want to make sure something isn't wrong with the guitar before my 45 days is up. :)

September 15th, 2008, 09:59 AM	#5 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 5,154	Something wrong with the guitar? As in, they used the wrong fret wire size? Are you serious? It is what it is, and Fender is one of a huge number of guitar makers that use a variety of different fret wire sizes - sometimes even within the same model. This is the part that hasta do with bean counting and economics and little to do with "standardization". You already have the guitar so it's a matter of liking/disliking - getting used to it or not. Anything else is just the opinions of others, which shouldn't matter at all. YMMV - enjoy.

September 15th, 2008, 10:09 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnandkristy TDPRI Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 22	Fair enough. And don't get me wrong, the guitar is beautiful and sounds great. And the action (and sure, the high frets have alot to do with this) is really amazing from a stock "non-professionally-set-up" guitar. I was just being curious about other Strats and if others "noticed" the difference in fret size as compared to a Tele, and have to change their playing style a bit when switching between the two.

September 15th, 2008, 10:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 63 Posts: 5,154	Guitar action, from a "low" vantage point, has nothing do to with fret wire size, and everything to do with how level the frets are and how straight the fingerboard can be tweaked. Higher fret crown heights might be a bit tricky to play on if you have a tendency to fret hard - kinda like a scalloped fingerboard effect. Bonding with a stock guitar can have its ups 'n' downs, and usually it's a compromise of sorts. Good luck!

October 16th, 2008, 07:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
fernando Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 676 16 Photos	I'd like to know it's weight please! And if the neck is of the same quality as the CV Tele Thank you,

October 16th, 2008, 09:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
telejoe TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Columbus, MS Posts: 49	The frets on mine are big just as you say, and yes I had to lighten up on my chording, but it's worth it to get used to this gem. I usually mod Squiers when I get them, but the only mod I could find to do to this one is install strap locks. I love it.

October 19th, 2008, 06:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Post Toastie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: fullerton,ca Age: 55 Posts: 1,915	I have a DeArmond guitar that was made in 2000 after Fender got the name rights.It has very tall fretts on it and can be a little tuff if you press hard like i do,chords will go sharpe.

October 20th, 2008, 06:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
DaleH Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: B.C. Canada Age: 55 Posts: 109	The Classic Vibe is not a 50s or 60s spec guitar and not ment to be. Modern guitar with 50s vibe like the name says.

October 23rd, 2008, 08:06 PM	#12 (permalink)
HB_NZ TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: New Zealand Age: 40 Posts: 13	Hi all, new member here - greetings from New Zealand! Finally got a dealer to send me a 50's strat, and the frets on mine are definitely more vintage than modern. Actually they're ever so slightly taller than a true vintage fret, much like what I believe Fender calls "vintage modern" . I've become used to bigger frets over the years and since a wrist injury I really appreciate the ease of bending bigger frets give you. Having said that, the guitar itself is so damn nice I'll just put up with it and when it needs a re-fret, which I'm sure it will eventually, I'll get a bigger fret size put in. Otherwise these guitars are just as everyone says.

October 25th, 2008, 04:18 PM	#13 (permalink)
fernando Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Barcelona, Spain Posts: 676 16 Photos	what about it's weight? What seems to be the weight range? (the CV Tele is 6 to 8 lb for instance)

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