Classic Vibe or MIM Fender?

[w3stie]

What would you guys pick.

Squier Classic Vibe $482


or Fender Standard Tele (MIM) $689



I hear a lot of people raving about the CV, and I am quite partial to a pine (lightweight) body. Where are the CV Squiers made?

thanks.

[J Lacey]

That's like asking which would you choose, a cow or a horse? Lots of differences in those two. Folks here will rave about one or the other depending on what they have themselves. Folks will say you have to really search around and find a "good one" with either model since both may have lemons as well as real players. Folks will say go to every store you can find until you walk in and see a Tele with beams of light shooting rays into the sky and it's playing your favorite riff all on it's on with out you even touching it and when it speaks to you, you'll know it's "the one" so grab it up before somebody else walks in and sees it first.......Just kiddin'...........For what little I know, I've had several and still own a great mim standard. No issues, pups just OK, neck is nice enough for most anyone and it's well worth the $275.00 I gave for it used. I discribed the mim standard as being good enough for anyone that can be happy with a $400.00/$500.00 cookie cutter Tele that's solid and gets the job done. The CV50 my brother bought new was less than awesome in my eyes and was a great representation of a $350.00 cookie cutter more buget minded vintage styled Tele. It was OK for us both but nothing that inspired either of us to pick it up and play it over others we own, although I thought it was a very nice looking Tele.

You just gotta figure out what you are looking for .........both have their place and are popular here.


Good luck


Jeffro

[tele-bastard]

The price seems a little high on the cv. Both are nice. Try a bunch and see what you would choose.

[Hiker]

What? The MIM Teles go for reduced prices nearly every month during holiday, or anniversary sales in my area. We're talking around $445 plus tax. I've seen like-new (used) 2010 MIM Teles in the stores go for $399.

The fretwires, and other hardware on the Squier are not comparable. Whether as a modding platform, or for use in stock condition, absolutely go for the MIM.

[w3stie]

Those prices are Australian. Unfortunately, even though the Aussie dollar is worth 107 cents US, we still pay through the nose for guitars

[Stuco]

Originally Posted by tele-bastard

The price seems a little high on the cv.

That's because he lives in Australia.

They are both good guitars. If you like the vintage style tele's get the CV, if you like more of a modern guitar, get the MIM. You might also look into used MIM Classic series telecasters.

[xagyg]

Originally Posted by w3stie

Those prices are Australian. Unfortunately, even though the Aussie dollar is worth 107 cents US, we still pay through the nose for guitars

Order one NEW from Germany. Message me for the website. New Classic Vibe Squier CV50 for $375 AUD incl. delivery. Fender Standard $522 AUD incl. delivery (as at today's exchange rates).

I ordered my FSR from Germany. Only 20 Euro for shipping and no sales tax (i.e. VAT) on the item.

Alternatively, music123 will sell you a "used" guitar and the shipping to Australia is reasonable. (music123 and musiciansfriend have the exact same used inventory, but music123 shipping is MUCH cheaper).

[stilesg57]

Used + int'l shipping might be a good call.

At those prices, I'd go with the Squier CV50. Doesn't require a pickup upgrade like the MIM Standard does. Unless you're dying to have the Fender name on the headstock, I'd go CV50.

[Mark Davis]

All the metal parts besides the tuners are better on the MIM.

The fit finish and fretwork are usually excellent on the CV's.

Cant go wrong either way but you might want to replace some of the parts on the CV that are lower quality jack switch and knobs.

I have had my CV50's since 7-3-2008 and so far it has held up great and I have replaced nothing but the strings. But I just play at home for fun if I used it for gigs I might have replaced a few parts just incase.

[soulman969]

If you're looking for more vintage tonality then the CV in the Butterscotch Blonde or the CV Custom or Thinline will give you that more traditional Tele twang. The CV in Vintage Blonde has hotter output Alnico III pickups and is a bit more modern sounding. An MIM has even more modern sounding ceramic pickups.

I have a MIM and a CVC. The quality of the instruments is comparable it's just that the Squier CV's have a more traditional look to them as others have mentioned. I prefer the Alnico V pickups which are in the CVC, CVTL and BSB models. My MIM is an older model and also has Alnico V's. Personally I don't care that much for the current models.

There are some difference in the metal parts as Mark Davis points out but nothing critical. In a worse case scenario one may want to spend $20 or so replacing the selector switch and tone and volume pots and that would be it.

[telejoseph]

MIM. I had a CV and after just two years of gigging it needed new input, the hardware was horribly tarnished and, once I'd spend about £60 on these repairs, I could only fetch around £150 for it. Worst guitar I've ever had.

[jamblehamblebum]

either would be fine . comes down to which feels best in your hands i reckon

[Bronco.]

The metal parts may be better on the MIM, but I would choose the CV. I played both and bought the Squier, because I like the sound and love the neck. The Butterscotch CV looks beautiful, try one.

[JayJ]

I compared the two at a music store and the Classic Vibe Custom won me over.

Only thing I would change is the STUPID top hat knob on the three way switch; probably going to get a Strat one.

[boris bubbanov]

Originally Posted by Mark Davis

All the metal parts besides the tuners are better on the MIM.

The fit finish and fretwork are usually excellent on the CV's.

I agree.

(regardless of where anything is made) I would be tempted to "leapfrog" the CV by buying the MIM Standard, and install an aftermarket bridge and Gotoh split shafts with 10 mm conversions. This will get you a platform that in some ways will be more user friendly than and arguably as good as an AV52 for example. Then, you can mess around with whichever pickups you like. I'm meaning to say, just as the tuners in the CV are preferable to those in the MIM Standard IMO, so the Gotohs are just that much better than the splits in the CVs. AND, the conversion of the MIM Standard is a much easier undertaking, imo.

One last thing: Mark is talking about replacing the jack prong on the CV - I would suggest you need to do that probably to the MIM as well.

++

This idea about importing your own used guitar is interesting. Whether you do it turns on how essential it is to you to hold a guitar in your hands and check it out and play it before laying the money down. Some guys will pay a substantial premium for that, others won't.

[colchar]

Mistaken post - ignore.

[FrankMc]

MIM's have excellent fit and finish, I have yet to pick one up that doesn't. As you've read, the hardware is good too.

[Dejected_Ridge]

For me it's a no brainer - the MiM hands down. The CV's I've played have too thin a neck for me and I cramp up playing it. The CV *is* a well put together guitar - light and resonant but I just can't play one very long.

-DJ

[bugo]

Depends on how much money you want to spend. The CV is unquestionably a better value, but the Mexitele is a slightly better guitar. I would play several of each and pick the one you like the best, no matter which one it is.

[bugo]

Originally Posted by J Lacey

That's like asking which would you choose, a cow or a horse? Lots of differences in those two. Folks here will rave about one or the other depending on what they have themselves. Folks will say you have to really search around and find a "good one" with either model since both may have lemons as well as real players. Folks will say go to every store you can find until you walk in and see a Tele with beams of light shooting rays into the sky and it's playing your favorite riff all on it's on with out you even touching it and when it speaks to you, you'll know it's "the one" so grab it up before somebody else walks in and sees it first.......Just kiddin'...........For what little I know, I've had several and still own a great mim standard. No issues, pups just OK, neck is nice enough for most anyone and it's well worth the $275.00 I gave for it used. I discribed the mim standard as being good enough for anyone that can be happy with a $400.00/$500.00 cookie cutter Tele that's solid and gets the job done. The CV50 my brother bought new was less than awesome in my eyes and was a great representation of a $350.00 cookie cutter more buget minded vintage styled Tele. It was OK for us both but nothing that inspired either of us to pick it up and play it over others we own, although I thought it was a very nice looking Tele.
Jeffro

All Fenders, with the possible exception of Custom Shop models, are "cookie cutter." That's the whole reason for Fender's design. To be simple to build and assemble, and easy to replace parts.