My Review of the Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster. Short and Sweet.

[gooksoup]

So I've owned many guitars thru the years. USA Strats, Telecasters, Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson SG's.

Is the Classic Vibe 50's the best guitar? NO

I will say that is EASILY ranks among any USA Telecaster/Strat/Les Paul/SG I've owned in terms of feel. In fact there is only one guitar that is clearly superior in my mind and that was one of my old USA Stratocasters. Played like absolute butter.

But everything else? This Classic Vibe plays as well as any of the high priced counter parts.

Pickups are fine. If you told me this was the only pickup I was allowed to use, I would still play it - a lot. All the tones you would want from a Tele are there.

Tone? Acoustically I think this is the strongest sounding guitar I've ever owned. No BS.

Plugged in, it's as good as any Tele I've owned regardless of the price assosicated with it.

I'll speak for myself only. I saw "Squire" and pre judged it. A relatively cheap guitar can't be compared to a high end one. You know the old saying....."You get what you pay for," and that's usually true in 99 percent of things.

This guitar is the 1 percent exception to the rule.

 

[skiddd]

Cool......................

 

[blowtorch]

My only complaint about the Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster is that I got a fret divit in the cowboy chords locality after only a couple years, turning it into a sitar.

 

[old soul]

I love mine. To me there is no reason to buy a mim with pups most people are going to swap out anyways, and i like the 3 barrel brass saddles in the cv, so theres another thing some if not most would replace. When you start comparing the 2 across the board, the cv wins every time.

 

[tintag27]

You're in good company, gooksoup...
(and that includes me!)

 

[Rod Parsons]

So I've owned many guitars thru the years. USA Strats, Telecasters, Gibson Les Pauls, Gibson SG's.

Is the Classic Vibe 50's the best guitar? NO

I will say that is EASILY ranks among any USA Telecaster/Strat/Les Paul/SG I've owned in terms of feel. In fact there is only one guitar that is clearly superior in my mind and that was one of my old USA Stratocasters. Played like absolute butter.

But everything else? This Classic Vibe plays as well as any of the high priced counter parts.

Pickups are fine. If you told me this was the only pickup I was allowed to use, I would still play it - a lot. All the tones you would want from a Tele are there.

Tone? Acoustically I think this is the strongest sounding guitar I've ever owned. No BS.

Plugged in, it's as good as any Tele I've owned regardless of the price assosicated with it.

I'll speak for myself only. I saw "Squire" and pre judged it. A relatively cheap guitar can't be compared to a high end one. You know the old saying....."You get what you pay for," and that's usually true in 99 percent of things.

This guitar is the 1 percent exception to the rule.

Which one are you critiquing,... the butterscotch color one or the white one? I have the white one from 2010 and I love it. It is totally stock,.. except #10 strings.

 

[boris bubbanov]

Some folks see things in clear black and white terms.

I don't think we get our money's worth on things nearly as often as we think we do, nor as often as we should. If only 1% of the things offered to me broke through, only 1% I would be one seriously angry guy. I make it my business to get more than my money's worth and probably succeed 40% of the time. Sometimes in trying, I get beat and actually waste money, and maybe I could just relax and go with the punches and get my blood pressure down, but I'm baffled that people see this one model range (CVs) as unique.

Having said that, I think there's wisdom in liking this model if the thin necks and soft fretwire work for you. If they don't, well, you probably aren't reading this. And, I think people are paying better attention when they recognize the CV is excellent value while the other product (Modern Player) made in the same region was poor value for money.

I think we've reached a level of equilibrium, where most people who would benefit from owning a CV have one or plan to get one. If we could just get the Exchange Rates balanced, and the debts get paid down, I wouldn't mind having a CV Thinline.

Many out West know the Haggen food store chain has filed for Chapter 11 and is liquidating all their stores in CA, NV and NV. So, I'm buying these 1.5 liter bottles normally $ 12.99, for 70% off. My brother just won't drink this less expensive wine. He's got a 911 Carrera S and an expensive house and he's developed a taste for the $ 30 bottle of wine and sees no point in paying one tenth of what he likes to pay. See, that's the thing here. Lots of guys on these boards can afford an AV52 so they don't care. If your significant other will permit you only 1-2 guitars and you can afford expensive ones, don't buy a CV. As good as it is, even if the $ 1,500 guitar is only 15% better, "you're worth it".

 

[Jushden]

I played one of those squire 72 teles and a real 72 on the same day. The squire smoked the vintage fender. No joke.

 

[richiek65]

My BSB could benefit from a new nut, and maybe the pickups aren't as massive sounding as the Texas specials in my partscaster, but i would buy a Squier CVC, VB, AND a 72 thinline right now if i had the funds, because i don't want to miss out on any of these amazing guitars. . then and only then might i start thinking about a 52 hotrod or similar. .once the finances had recovered of course. .

 

[Buzzardeater]

I think of it this way, manufacturing has evolved since Leo carved his first tele. It makes sense that a simple design like a guitar can be built well, cheaply, these days.

 

[Dirty30]

I think of it this way, manufacturing has evolved since Leo carved his first tele. It makes sense that a simple design like a guitar can be built well, cheaply, these days.

Interesting point. No reason a basic Telecaster should cost over $1500.

Also, my CV50's Vintage Blonde is a killer guitar. Worth more than they cost IMHO.

 

[Jazzerstang]

Sold mine. I have more vintage correct teles. I don't regret it.

 

[Vintagebrit]

Thing is with the CV, it's not worth selling. £300 or less new. Secondhand your lucky to get £180 to £200. That's silly money for such a great guitar.
Not that I'm considering selling it anyway. I love it - the tone, neck, weight are just perfect.

 

[dmitri]

Sold mine. I have more vintage correct teles. I don't regret it.

If vintage correct is what you want, then the CV is all wrong. It LOOKS pretty correct, but the neck is ALL wrong if you want vintage. For me, I have a CVC that does what I want it to, though I'll end up replacing the neck at some point for a 7.25 with more chunk. I also have a Classic Series 50s Strat, which I got at a RIDICULOUS price point, and dearly love. But for the 800 bucks they want new? Not sure I'd go that way.

Different guitars to meet different players needs and desires.

 

[tlimbert65]

My only complaint about the Classic Vibe 50's Telecaster is that I got a fret divit in the cowboy chords locality after only a couple years, turning it into a sitar.

+1

I love my CV50s, except for the shallow neck and the extremely soft frets. Looking to replace the neck and Esquire mine, soon.

 

[PJ55]

Sold mine, too. Poor nickel plating, soft fret-wire, skinny neck, tight pots, excessive weight....too many issues for one Tele to have. A nice idea by Fender, but poorly executed, in my view.

 

[FredAU]

The CV's aren't perfect but when they were around the $400au mark here in the Land of Oz they were a good value guitar, not perfect but damn good.

I bought a new Wilkinson Vintage V2 tele copy before my CV, its just as good build wise with a nicer neck and frets, great pickups and playability for a fair bit less.

Fender AU have now priced the CV VB's and BSB's at a RRP of $1,099 the Custom and Thinline at $1,149.

They have got to be joking, they are not worth that imo.