NEW! Squier Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster!

[ccrnnr9]

Keep in mind that Frusciante did much of his early work and recordings on a tele. That aside I do agree with you though...the strat seems to fit his bill better.
~Nick

[ole6string]

Originally Posted by weelie

How heavy are the strats?

I would not be able to guess weight wise but it did feel lighter than the mim standard. It felt very comfortable and I am an old guy with back problems.

[RotelliCaster]

Congrts, elicious and welcome to the TDPRI!

[63dot]

Originally Posted by ole6string

As far as the pickups, we a/b'd the classic 50's vibe strat next to a mim strat and the pickups were TONS better in the mim standard strat.

wait, are you telling me fender corporation is putting a "better" pup in one of their squiers than in one of their fender standard series?

i have seen the same thing happen, strange as it seems, but many a guitar player has to ask, "what they hell is fender thinking?"

common sense would say a certain level of pup goes into their ...
1) squiers,
2) a slightly better pup into their standard fenders,
3) a better one yet in the american standard fenders,
4) a better one yet in signature model fenders with artist input,
4) and the very best for custom shop fenders which at times ranged from specially wound one of a kind pups, to distressed vintage pups, to dimarzios, to EMGs, to various fender lace sensors (my fender custom shop strat had a silver lace sensor, a blue lace sensor, and a red lace sensor)

...............

ironically, esp/ltd does this too

on their cheapest ltd guitars they use ...
1) a rather generic passive pup that is on par with an epi les paul std.
2) but their higher end ltd pups are EMG-hz passive pups
3) and the very highest end ltd's and all esp top of the line models have either duncan passive, duncan active, or the active EMG

i have a higher end ltd and it's EMG-hz passive pup sounds much warmer, to me, and nicer than the higher end active EMGs that the very top ltd and most esp guitars have

and the hz passive EMG is 80 dollars and the full-tilt active EMG is 120 dollars

the only place where the active EMG is god is in heaviest metal like metallica, megadeth, slayer, and some nu-metal, but it's too high gain for most rock and roll

but i think most people would prefer the EMG-hz as it is almost comparable to a duncan JB or a dimarzio super distortion or PAF pro model....but that could be because i am migrating away from speed metal/nu-metal and going back more to my classic rock roots :)

[Klaatu]

That logic makes sense as far as it goes, but even putting aside that "better" is subjective, it assumes that the whole Fender line is an unbroken continuum, and that models are meant to be "better" as you move up in price across the board. If you look at the history of Squier, you can see that Fender has tried over and over to give it its own range, from entry-level (Affinity) up (Standard, Vintage Modified, Deluxe, Artist, Classic Vibe). The Pro Tone, Vista, 24, and Master series were all unsuccessful attempts at this, and now, with Vintage Modified, Deluxe, Artist and Classic Vibe lines all at the same time, Squier is clearly trying to target a range of customers. All of these new lines are priced more-or-less the same, they just appeal to different buyers. They're either contemporary takes on classic designs (Deluxe), mostly contemporary with some vintage features (Vintage modified), more vintage with fewer contemporary features (Classic Vibe), or artist endorsed.

I see the Standard Squiers as falling into the same marketing category (though not price point) as the Standard Fenders, and the new Squier lines as being the Squier equivalent of the Fender Deluxe, Classic, Classic Player, and MIM Artist lines--more expensive than the Standards, and with "better" components, but still affordable.

It's a Golden Age of GAS we live in.

Originally Posted by 63dot

wait, are you telling me fender corporation is putting a "better" pup in one of their squiers than in one of their fender standard series?

i have seen the same thing happen, strange as it seems, but many a guitar player has to ask, "what they hell is fender thinking?"

common sense would say a certain level of pup goes into their ...
1) squiers,
2) a slightly better pup into their standard fenders,
3) a better one yet in the american standard fenders,
4) a better one yet in signature model fenders with artist input,
4) and the very best for custom shop fenders which at times ranged from specially wound one of a kind pups, to distressed vintage pups, to dimarzios, to EMGs, to various fender lace sensors (my fender custom shop strat had a silver lace sensor, a blue lace sensor, and a red lace sensor)

[ole6string]

Originally Posted by 63dot

wait, are you telling me fender corporation is putting a "better" pup in one of their squiers than in one of their fender standard series?

i have seen the same thing happen, strange as it seems, but many a guitar player has to ask, "what they hell is fender thinking?"

common sense would say a certain level of pup goes into their ...
1) squiers,
2) a slightly better pup into their standard fenders,
3) a better one yet in the american standard fenders,
4) a better one yet in signature model fenders with artist input,
4) and the very best for custom shop fenders which at times ranged from specially wound one of a kind pups, to distressed vintage pups, to dimarzios, to EMGs, to various fender lace sensors (my fender custom shop strat had a silver lace sensor, a blue lace sensor, and a red lace sensor)

...............

ironically, esp/ltd does this too

on their cheapest ltd guitars they use ...
1) a rather generic passive pup that is on par with an epi les paul std.
2) but their higher end ltd pups are EMG-hz passive pups
3) and the very highest end ltd's and all esp top of the line models have either duncan passive, duncan active, or the active EMG

i have a higher end ltd and it's EMG-hz passive pup sounds much warmer, to me, and nicer than the higher end active EMGs that the very top ltd and most esp guitars have

and the hz passive EMG is 80 dollars and the full-tilt active EMG is 120 dollars

the only place where the active EMG is god is in heaviest metal like metallica, megadeth, slayer, and some nu-metal, but it's too high gain for most rock and roll

but i think most people would prefer the EMG-hz as it is almost comparable to a duncan JB or a dimarzio super distortion or PAF pro model....but that could be because i am migrating away from speed metal/nu-metal and going back more to my classic rock roots :)

Nope... you misunderstood my statement. To my ears the mim Standard strat sounded way better than the vibe strat and felt a bit more substantial hardware wise. These instruments are very close in street price as well, like a $100 difference. Still a cool guitar though.

I will be anxious to try out the tele when they get that in. To be honest based off the pictures I was gonna buy a tele and a strat cause I thought they looked cool. Since playing it the gas has subsided a bit thank goodness. This is one of those instruments like any other you may wanna have a bit of patience and wait til you can play one before you pull the trigger. It might not be what all the hype leads you to believe it is. Just throwing my 2 cents into the mix.

[elicious]

Originally Posted by RotelliCaster

Congrts, elicious and welcome to the TDPRI!

hehe, thx Rotelli...you are partially to blame!

I'm pretty much planning on throwing a set of pickups in the guitar a few days after I get it, so I'm already hunting around. I'm hoping to score a Duncan STL-1b/STR-1 set, since they're good and they're cheap.;)

[RotelliCaster]

Originally Posted by elicious

hehe, thx Rotelli...you are partially to blame!

I'm pretty much planning on throwing a set of pickups in the guitar a few days after I get it, so I'm already hunting around. I'm hoping to score a Duncan STL-1b/STR-1 set, since they're good and they're cheap.;)

Well you can just pack up the stock pickups and send them my way if you're gonna pull them out. I would pop them in one of my other Tele's like my Affinity or a MIM. The stock pickups are awesome, IMO.

[simon_62]

Originally Posted by ccrnnr9

Keep in mind that Frusciante did much of his early work and recordings on a tele. That aside I do agree with you though...the strat seems to fit his bill better.
~Nick

He might have recorded with it more on Mothers Milk but for the next few a good 70% of his work was done on a strat - dont get me wrong though, tele's are awesome else i wouldnt be on this forum lol!!!!

[ccrnnr9]

Originally Posted by simon_62

He might have recorded with it more on Mothers Milk but for the next few a good 70% of his work was done on a strat - dont get me wrong though, tele's are awesome else i wouldnt be on this forum lol!!!!

Ya I know...I just had to play devil's advocate. I definitely agree that the strat fits his "tone" better.
~Nick

[Regulator]

I have been looking for another tele and the Squier Vibe caught my
eye a few weeks ago after I discovered it on TDPRI.

I finally broke down and purchased Vibe Tele Saturday. The guitar
arrived today and I'm very impressed with the guitar. The vintage
tint neck reminds me of a 1994 62 Reissue Strat that I owned
and sold recently.The setup is not bad but I will be changing to 11's which will require some adjusting.

For $299 this a great deal and plays/sounds as well as most hgher
end models.


You want be disappointed!

[mwaym]

I want one !!

[echidna]

I went into a small guitar shop on my way home today to pick up a cable, and lo - they had the Vintage Vibe tele, and one each of the Vintage Vibe strats in stock already. (Didn't see the Duosonic though).

I'm in Western Australia! Here, it can take the Gibson/Epiphone people 4 months to ship something to you that you've specifically ordered from them! So a HUGE thumbs up to Fender/Squier for getting these over here so fast!

I wasn't able to hang around and play it at all, and I'm probably glad of that - the price on them was $699... They'd probably take it down to $600, but still given the current exchange rate that's twice what you're paying in the U.S.

[Mark Davis]

As far as all the pickups on Fenders it doesnt cost that much more in Raw materials to make a pickup for the most expensive CS Tele and the least expensive Squier. Just like on the guitars what does cost more is the labor to make it.

So I can see where Fender could have the pickups for the Squiers wound in China costing them way less so they can offer a better product in a less expensive guitar.

It wouldnt surprise me 1 bit that the pickups used in the Classic Vibe series are easily as good as the 52ri pickups or Nocasters.

[Tysinger]

I checked with a few of my local dealers, but none of them have these in stock. Actually, no one had even heard that they were released.

If they play well, I suspect I'll get one as a project guitar. I can definitely see adding a humbucker at the neck. I think it is funny that a $300 guitar has some of the features that I wish my Nocaster had (larger frets, flatter fingerboard, neck pickup routed for a humbucker, etc.).

Bryan

[63dot]

so for seven years i have been happy with one rock guitar and one jazz guitar....after a long history of 60 guitars as a collector, or at least a poor, pathetic victim of severe gas and flattulance

now i want a squier vibe vintage tele, or even strat!

the last time i loved squier that much was with the squier venus model and the squier pro-tone series and those were exceptional values for the money

[ole6string]

I played the classic 50's strat again and I am having a very difficult time talking myself out of it, it is for sure a very cool looking guitar and with a few tweaks I think a great player. I am going to try it out again today. Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

I don't need it..... I don't need it........ I'm a junky!

[bowlfreshener]

Originally Posted by ole6string

I don't need it..... I don't need it........ I'm a junky!

Don't worry, there's a certain honor amongst gear junkies here

[ole6string]

Well I caved and bought the Classic Vibe 50's Strat. I played it for 4 hours today during lessons and it really is a great guitar and proved that my earlier concerns were all wrong. I initially felt the neck was a bit slow but once playing it a while I got used to the gloss finish and the neck is amazing. None of my guitars right now have gloss necks so it felt a bit stickey at first.

I thought I would have to replace the pickups as when I tried them in the store area they really did not do it for me, when I got it to my studio and played it through a familiar amp and gave it a little juice the pickups sound great. No worries there!!!

The body wood is gorgeous and so is the tinted neck. These Vibe guitars are really something else. Great guitars at an amazing price.

[kp8]

Originally Posted by mikfer

Charlottesville Music has one of the new Vintage Vibe Teles in the store. I got to handle it that past weekend. I already own two Squire teles, a 2006 Standard and a 2002 Fat Tele, both with replacement necks, which is why it's still there. If I *was* in the market for a new Tele, that one would have gone home with me. It felt hefty, but not heavy. The neck was brilliant, no fret sprout and dressed well. The 9's on it felt really rubbery. I think at least that guitar would sing with heavier strings on it. As has been said here before, the wood grain does show through and looks great. I didn't plug it in, although I should have. I was really trying not to buy the beast . The guitar felt good in my hands. It's a really handsome instrument. Looks like there was some real care taken when it was assembled and setup.

I am here to report that Charlottesville Music no longer has a Vintage Vibe Tele. Three guesses as to the reason why (Hint: The guitar felt good in my hands too)

[kp8]

This guitar is a total home run. It's a bottom of the ninth, 2 out walk-off in game 6 of the alcs home run!

I have not been a huge fan of the Crafted in China offerings thus far, but this guitar is not to be believed. If you have ever played a Vista Series Squier or the old Korean Pro Tone, then that is the level this is instrument is on. The fit and finish on these are guitars are staggeringly good. And everything is tastefully done.

• The Kluson tuners have no gear lash and look fregging boss.
• The neck tint is just right and no has no cheetos look
• The white body paint is milky and transparent
• Neck pocket is tight!
• The bridge plate is blank!!! Nothing stamped on it at all and looks classy.
• The saddles are grooved brass (who said copper?)
• Pickups are quite good (need more time on them to say for sure)
• Frets are very nicely polished, no sprout, no protruding fret ends.
• Nut is plastic, but not that tone stealing horrid hollow rubbery junk they usually use.
• New Squier logo and headstock decal also looks good (imo).

The only thing i might jump on is those stiff split shaft potentiometers.

I seriously can not get my head around this guitar. It is amazing. On the wall next to all those bleached white MIM necks and thick opaque finishes, this just looked like the best girl at the dance. And it was the best playing guitar they had save for maybe the nice Baja they had at more than twice the price. Folks: This is not the Affinity Series here. It is like 185 notches up from that. This is motha of a guitbox.

What this guitar is: a poor man's Baja. Only the neck is quite a bit thiner. The neck on this reminds me a bit of the neck on my old Fender Lead II.

I wish the frets were taller, they are kind of squat (low and fat). My VV is not heavy, but not light either.

These are on back order (i hear) and currently a bit difficult for some mom and pop shops to get.

If they ever make a 60s vintage vibe tele with steel saddles and rosewood board and double bound body i am all over it like flies on stink.

I'll prolly sell a '51 and a couple of pedals to help recover some of the costs. I couldn't walk away from this beauty and i need a tele for my bender project, but my finances dictate that taking something on means selling something. As i said, i could not leave this on the shelf. It is that good. Someone at Fender has been reading the TDPRI.

-crazy8--

[DrewB]

The frets on mine measure .035" and feel just right. I play Gibsons most of the time, but this neck feels nothing like a Gibson; it's all Telecaster.