Classic Vibe vs. MIM Tele... main difference?

[CostaRicaJones]

Can somebody please explain the main differences between the two? I've read through a bunch of older posts, but I'm still unclear?

Fender is (obviously) targeting a different price point with the two-- but are they fundamentally different guitars? Or does the CV use a slightly lesser quality of wood and components? Is the quality control in Indonesia (or China, or where ever the CV is made?) different from Mexico?

I'm confused.

Thanks,
CRJ.

 

[TeleTrevor]

One says Fender and one says Squier, but seriously the necks on the mim or better IMO and the quality is a bit higher as well.

 

[CostaRicaJones]

Do you know if the necks on the CV are about the same thickness as the MIM? (I need to get to the store and fool around with 'em). I've got a Mexican that I really like the neck on. What I don't like are baseball bat-thick necks.

I'm looking for another telecaster, but one in a different color than the Polar White I've got. And if I can save a few bucks by going with a CV for virtually the same guitar -- why not, right?

 

[TeleTrevor]

Do you know if the necks on the CV are about the same thickness as the MIM? (I need to get to the store and fool around with 'em). I've got a Mexican that I really like the neck on. What I don't like are baseball bat-thick necks.

I'm looking for another telecaster, but one in a different color than the Polar White I've got. And if I can save a few bucks by going with a CV for virtually the same guitar -- why not, right?

Well the necks on CV are glossed on The font and the back, they're just really annoying to play, I believe the mim are satin on the back and gloss on the front. The fret work is better on MIM too.

 

[Yogi]

Well the necks on CV are glossed on The font and the back, they're just really annoying to play, I believe the mim are satin on the back and gloss on the front. The fret work is better on MIM too.

Your talking about those things as if they are concrete, they are subjective. To me the CVs gloss is soooo much smoother than the satin used on MIMs. As for the fretwork, many people would disagree with you as well. I've owned 4 CVs and the Fret work has been superb on every single one, some of the best necks I have ever played, and I have a CS 65, John Mayer strat, 78 Les Paul etc..

The main reason there is a price differential is the country of origin, it simply costs more to build a guitar in Mexico than it does in China, regardless of specs.

The CVs use pine where as a Standard uses a veneered Alder body

CVs have pretty decent Alnico pickups, I believe the MIM tele does as well, but they may be ceramic like the MIM standard strats

CVs have a 3 barrel vintage bridge, MIMs have a the modern six saddle bridge

MIMs have a slightly thicker neck, but its still the relatively small Modern C

Cv has vintage style tuners with a split shaft, MIMs have modern tuners

CV glossy neck, MIM satin neck

Personally I highly prefer the CVs to the MIM standards, I'm not the only one here who shares that opinion, but the main thing is what feels best to you?
Everybody has different preferences and you really need to get your hand on both to determine which one works few you. Also know there are lemons in every batch so play a few before you make up your mind

Also the CVs use some really nice woods. You likely won't get a flamed neck like this on MIM standard

 

[titaniumslide]

I think the Main Difference is the price and we all get what we pay for...

 

[muronero]

Do you know if the necks on the CV are about the same thickness as the MIM? (I need to get to the store and fool around with 'em). I've got a Mexican that I really like the neck on. What I don't like are baseball bat-thick necks.

I'm looking for another telecaster, but one in a different color than the Polar White I've got. And if I can save a few bucks by going with a CV for virtually the same guitar -- why not, right?

i'm assuming you are talking about the mexican standard tele ....

the necks are different... the classic vibe one is a bit thinner... it's glossy vs the satin finishing on the standard telecaster...
pickups are different... ceramic on the standard, alnico on the CV...
frets are slighly different... medium jumbo on the standard tele.... and sort of shorter medium jumbo on the CV...
both fretboards have the same radius....
the standard has a modern bridge, the CV a vintage one....
the standard has standard tuners, the CV vintage ones...
pots and switcher on the standard are the same as the american standard...
pots and switcher on the CV are asian made but very good quality as well...

they are both very good instruments... but they are different....
the standard is more a modern take of a telecaster... the CV is more "roots"

i learnt that the quality on the squier is more consistent while on the standard tele may vary... so you need to try them and see what fits you...

i'm not gonna debate which one is better cause that would be pointless...
and very personal... if u are on the vintage side of the tele... well the CV is a great choice.... on the modern take the standard is a great choice...

 

[Ati EDGE]

Your talking about those things as if they are concrete, they are subjective. To me the CVs gloss is soooo much smoother than the satin used on MIMs. As for the fretwork, many people would disagree with you as well. I've owned 4 CVs and the Fret work has been superb on every single one, some of the best necks I have ever played, and I have a CS 65, John Mayer strat, 78 Les Paul etc..

The main reason there is a price differential is the country of origin, it simply costs more to build a guitar in Mexico than it does in China, regardless of specs.

The CVs use pine where as a Standard uses a veneered Alder body

CVs have pretty decent Alnico pickups, I believe the MIM tele does as well, but they may be ceramic like the MIM standard strats

CVs have a 3 barrel vintage bridge, MIMs have a the modern six saddle bridge

MIMs have a slightly thicker neck, but its still the relatively small Modern C

Cv has vintage style tuners with a split shaft, MIMs have modern tuners

CV glossy neck, MIM satin neck

Personally I highly prefer the CVs to the MIM standards, I'm not the only one here who shares that opinion, but the main thing is what feels best to you?
Everybody has different preferences and you really need to get your hand on both to determine which one works few you. Also know there are lemons in every batch so play a few before you make up your mind

Also the CVs use some really nice woods. You likely won't get a flamed neck like this on MIM standard

Yeah, you are right, but not the Standard is the only tele what made in Mexico.
Mexican 50's and Baja teles are coming with 3 barrel vintage bridge, vintage style tuners as CV. Yeah, personally I prefer the CVs to the MIM standards... but prefer the MIM 50's Classic to the CV. Actually my Baja was a dream tele but the fretwork not the best, some sharp frets and so. I solved the problem in 30 sec with a nail-file. The quality of frets is long lasting on MIM. No sharp frets on CV, I felt, but I heard those frets gave up in 1-2 years..... so I don't know.
I am still thinking on my next guitar project..... maybe it will be a 50s Mex or a CV. It depends on how much money will I have for it

 

[3 Chord]

I would say the CV has a more traditional thing going on where the MIM Standard has a more modern theme.

I don't like the fret size on either so if you want smaller frets then you might check out a classic series or an older MIM.

And although it is silly, the one that says Fender will generally fetch more if you try to sell it.

 

[mg426]

I prefer the CV s to the MIM

 

[gypsyseven]

Yeah, the CV´s are better than the MIM classic and standards...

 

[thefees]

Let me go out on a limb here. I think the Squier Classic Vibe Custom is one of the finest guitars made today. The attention to detail and quality control is second to none. The pickups sound great but not as good as a set of Fender Vintage Noiseless. Everything about the rest of the guitar build is top notch. I own a 1993 MIM Fender Strat and the SCVC outplays it, although I do love them both.
I think a lot of people look down their noses at them because of the price but this is the top of the line in the Squier line. I compared it to every other guitar in the store, and yes even the top shelf models, and it came out on top although one other $2800 Fender in cherry burst played almost as good as it. I have a 1966 Tele that I bought brand new, and the action is so great it almost plays itself, and when I first discovered the SCVC Tele it blew me away because my old Tele was here again, and for a mind blowing price. It has the same neck with wafer thin rosewood, same great tuners, same string through the body bridge, same vintage clear/amber glossy neck. I am now a proud owner of 2 SCVC's just in case something happens to one of them, I won't have to spend the rest of my life longing for another. Anything this good can't last.
Look whether the selector switch is the finest one made or not is not important here, paying $300 instead of $2800 is, and for an instrument that I think is top drawer in quality. I think flawless is the word I am looking for here. Once you set them up, they play like magic.
It is the one guitar that has such great consistency that I feel comfortable saying just order one so it is not a floor demo. I did and my second one was just as perfect as the first one.
I also want to say that I am not into yeah this and boo that. One of each would be just fine. I love high end Fenders, middle and low. I love them all.

 

[jjfatz42]

Before I bought my CV 50's, I played a MIM standard, A MIA, & a roadworn 50's. The CV 50's "felt" like the best guitar of the bunch. Couldn't tell much of a difference in sound. Weather or not it is "better," of course, is very subjective. I USED to own a MIM standard, I NOW own a CV 50's & won't ever sell it.

 

[tlimbert65]

I have been really impressed with the CV50s, both Tele (which I own) and Strat. I really do think they're better than any MIM I've played, but of course that's subjective. I have not been so impressed with anything else from Squier, including the CVC Tele or the CV60 Strat. I know people love the CVC Tele, and it's certainly a beautiful guitar, but I haven't found one that feels or sounds the way I like (again, subjective). The combination of neck and pickups on the CV50s are just great.

 

[gypsyseven]

The combination of neck and pickups on the CV50s are just great.

+1

BTW, what a cool signature you got!

 

[Duke]

Yogi pretty much nailed it. IM0....you can pick up a CV, make $300 worth of changes, mod the neck a bit, and you'd have 1 killer tele much better than anything else you'd ever find for $600.

1. Shield it.
2. Install Lollars...whichever flavour floats your boat (I'd use 52-Ts).
3. Install CTS pots and a switchcraft jack.
4. Sand down the back of that fricken poly neck so it's really thin, and then use Minwax paste finishing wax on it.
5. Depending on the guitar, a new nut and fret work might be in order. I've picked up ones that are really nice playing and other that are pretty bad.

 

[Dan German]

... if I can save a few bucks by going with a CV for virtually the same guitar -- why not, right?

When I was shopping, the CV and the MIM were the most likely targets (disclaimer: I bought neither). I preferred the CV pickups and bridge to the MIM, but I preferred the MIM neck to the CV. It's definitely thicker, but I wouldn't call it a thick neck. If I had bought one, I probably would have bought the MIM, mostly because of the neck as well as the wider colour choices. It's a lot cheaper and less of a gamble to replace pickups and bridge than to try to get a new neck.

 

[tele-bastard]

Mim, and it is not even close. Play a bunch. Choose what you like. I like the neck, sound, quality, tuners, etc better. If you shop around you can get them for about the same price as a cv.

 

[Stdon]

It's all subjective to the person. To say one is "better" than the other is a statement with facts not in evidence. As an example, I've really tried to like the Squire line but can't warm up to them. I've picked them up tried and put them back. However, I would get an MIM over a MIA standard as every MIM felt and sounded better to me. But this is me.
Questions like these are just opinion things and of no real value to the end user. You have to try them all and get the one that talks to you personally.

 

[paratus]

Let me go out on a limb here. I think the Squier Classic Vibe Custom is one of the finest guitars made today. The attention to detail and quality control is second to none.

I think that some CVCs are pretty nice guitars, amazing for the $ (although the necks are too skinny for my taste), but I can't agree that that the attention to detail and QC are second to none. My $0.02