Thoughts on classic vibe

[Feck Studios]

Hey guys. Really need to know fast.

Might have the op to trade for one of these with some modes and hard case, the mods are something I'd prolly do myself and all original parts are supplied in the deal.

Classic vibe 60s Custom Tele.

Please any and all viewpoints, good, bad ,funny, sad, awful, fine ,traumatic and sublime. Cheers

(Stock pic)

 

[bobio]

Kinda risky buying a guitar you have no experience with in a rush. I would at least try one at a local guitar store to see if you find the neck profile comfortable, overall feel and tone.

I have had many Classic Vibes over the past 15 years, but I am selling them as I am finding the neck profile less comfortable as I have gotten older. Great guitars otherwise.

 

[Tarkus60]

I hated the neck on my CV thinline so much I traded it. The necks are hit and miss for me.

 

[smoothrecluse]

I guess it all depends on what you’re trading for it, but the Squiers today, especially the Classic Vibes, are light-years ahead of the junky Squiers of the 90’s. Phil McKnight of YouTube’s Know Your Gear has repeatedly said in the past few months that he’s had fewer issues with quality control on the Squiers that he’s bought than with Fender products.

 

[Apache49]

I have the 60’s custom CV. Love it.
The only mods I did are Gotoh brass saddles, Tex Mex pickup set.
Nut was cut a bit too deep on 5th and 6th strings so mixed a bit of superglue and is now really great. It’s an Indonesian made guitar 2021 and quality is brilliant. Buy it

 

[Festofish]

My Jazz and Jag are great!

 

[archetype]

CV quality is very good for fit, finish, and parts. Tone is fine. It's everything that Leo was aiming for in a guitar.

The main thing to understand is if the neck is compatible with you. The CV Custom Tele neck is usually on the smaller side, often smaller than a Fender Modern C profile. You need to put your hands on a CV Custom Tele to know.

 

[howardlo]

I hated the neck on my CV thinline so much I traded it. The necks are hit and miss for me.

Not quite sure what you mean by hit or miss. The profiles should be very consistent being they are made on cnc machines.

I really like the necks on my three CVs. My CV Thinline has become my most played electric.

 

[JustABluesGuy]

I have a 2014 50’s Classic Vibe made in China and I like it a lot. In fact it’s my main player.

 

[Cornelius TX]

I love my BSB CV completely stock.

 

[Dismalhead]

It's a pretty Tele for sure. You don't know what the mods are?

CVs are great guitars, but I'd watch for the weight. I've run into a few boat anchors at my local GC.

 

[Tarkus60]

Not quite sure what you mean by hit or miss. The profiles should be very consistent being they are made on cnc machines.

I really like the necks on my three CVs. My CV Thinline has become my most played electric.

It was a combination of the neck being too thin and the tall vintage frets. The more I played it the more I hated it. I traded it for a paranormal squire and the neck is so easy to play. The guy that got the CV liked it at first, but the same as me he hated after a bit, he is trying to sell it now.
The paranormal is one of my favorite guitars.

 

[VintageSG]

I have a 50s and a 60s Classic Vibe.
They're great, if you get on with the neck profile. The feel of the neck to you is everything. I don't mind it.

The frets on my 60s neck seem rather soft though. I've had to dress and recrown them already, and I'll probably need to do it again sooner rather than later.
I'm not the only one to mention this. My 60s is a couple of years younger, and the frets show no sign of wear. maybe the issue was sorted?
If the one you're looking at is around the same age as mine ( 2014 build ) give them a check over.
Note that both mine are the older Sino models. I don't know about the Indonesian builds.

 

[howardlo]

It was a combination of the neck being too thin and the tall vintage frets. The more I played it the more I hated it. I traded it for a paranormal squire and the neck is so easy to play. The guy that got the CV liked it at first, but the same as me he hated after a bit, he is trying to sell it now.
The paranormal is one of my favorite guitars.

Then you would really not like the necks on my mandolin, five string banjo, my tenor acoustic guitar or my three ukuleles. I don’t concern myself at all with neck profiles, scale, radius, etc. I just play them.

Then again, I have only been playing since 1957. Maybe not long enough to have developed a preference.

 

[Killing Floor]

The joy of binding outlasts the sting of price. If it plays well it’s a good guitar. It looks nice.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I feel like my 2020 Squier 60's Tele Thinline
( Mahogany, always loved the look of the original '69, lusted for a RI, many years) was custom built for me!
It is beautiful, light and comfy- great neck and frets ( C-shape, tall vintage, 9.5")
The tone is just fantastic for Country, Dead, funk, blues, R&R I play- dirty, it sounds like 'Duane Allman,/ Muscle Shoals' R&B or even Skunk Baxter
Awesome!

 

[northernguitar]

I got started playing a Tele a few years ago when I bought a used Japanese ‘52RI. The ash body on it was absolutely stunning, featuring perhaps the most gorgeous grain I’ve seen on a guitar. However, the Tele is not a guitar I use as much as my others and I felt I had too much money tied up in it for a part-time guitar.

So, I traded it for a butterscotch CV that had an upgraded Wilkinson bridge, new vintage styled tuners, pots, switch, jack, jackplate, and bridge pickup. (I also got a redone ‘90s Mexican Squire HSS Strat and MXR Micro Chorus in the trade).

With my eyes closed, the CV is every bit as good as the MIJ I traded away for it. I didn’t like the Japanese bridge pickup and prefer the one on the CV.

I hold MIJ guitars in high regard. But this CV is a great substitute.

P.S. Mods mean nothing to me in terms of guitar value upgrade when I buy used. If the market value on a stock item is lower than the ask on a modded one, I will offer the going market value. If the seller bites, I just consider it a bonus and a rare great deal.

 

[robt57]

Binding can be bad, sure it looks good. But depending on how you hold and play, if you not played a bound slab Tele, edges can be quote uncomfortable.

Think of Strat edges comparitively. Just from arm pressure points standpoint. May be ok, may not.

 

[marc88]

My first tele was a Classic Vibe 50’s in the white finish… pretty solid guitar; I’ve modified it to hell and back but mostly for the joy of the work. I’ve also purchased a number of classic vibe tele and strat necks separately in the past since I could get them loaded with tuners for a decent price. Always been pretty happy with the fit and finish aspect, especially for the money.

I will say for me thst I kind of regret spending the money on them now, but solely because of the neck profile. They have all been pretty thin and that lines up with the reviews I’ve seen online too, seems a safe bet that they will be on the thin side. I’ve finally figured out that I really prefer thicker neck profiles and wish I had put the money towards something like a warmoth or all parts neck. If you like thin necks though, they are pretty solid guitars and nice mod platforms.

Oh, and between the stock classic vibe tele I bought and a later classic vibe 50’s butterscotch body I bought there is a huge weight difference. They are both older models, made of pine, and yet the white one is a lot heavier than the butterscotch. Surprisingly heavy for pine. Again, I’ve found over time that I prefer lighter guitars, but everyone has different opinions on that. I don’t have a good scale, so unfortunately I have no measurements to give you, but it seems as though there is a lot of variation at play. Maybe the sap content of the wood? Food for thought.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[Fendereedo]

Cvc60s here and no complaints. Had it 3 years now