Squier...what??

[bynapkinart]

SOOO I've had a ton of Tele GAS recently. Ferocious. I thought that the best thing to do would be to go to my nearest Fender dealer and check out all the Teles they had in store to either get turned off by the idea, or find one worth saving up for. They had about 20 Teles...some MIM standards, some MIA standards, a few CS, a few AVRI, and the complementary assortment of Squiers. It was quiet in the store so I had the amp room all to myself, and I had a few hours to kill, so I got to work.

I have to say it was near the bottom of the pile before I finally picked up the Squier CV 50's Tele, therefore, I had a nice smooth morning before being smacked in the face by the Squier. It was just....perfect. The neck felt perfect, the weight was great, it vibrated sooooo much and just felt completely alive. I thought it might have been the DeVille 4x10 I was playing through, so I switched it to the Blues Junior and BAM...still crazy nice. In fact, they were the nicest set of pickups out of the lot save for the AVRI 52 and one of the MIA standards. Even then, it was very close to the MIAs.

I sat there with the nicest three I found: a beautiful cherry red MIA standard with a black guard (would go perfectly with my Casino), the AVRI 52, and the CV 50's. I must've played them for about an hour. I reeeally wanted to find something I didn't like about the Squier, but instead, I was shocked to find things I hated about the MIA Fenders! The standard's neck was a tad thin and the fret ends were sharper than most, even though the pickups were killer. The AVRI was heavy and felt utterly dead. No punch or kick at all, just very smooth, very predictable...very disappointing for the $1500 they wanted for it.

The Squier just floored me, and my mind is now blown. I know people rave about this guitar, and internet reviews always give me a few doubts, but this guitar seems crazy good. It would still seem crazy good if they added a couple hundred dollars to the price tag. I'm just...stunned that it is a Squier.

Now, quick question at the end of all this...is there any reason I shouldn't get this guitar?? Money isn't an issue. I just want an amazing Tele. I had really, really high hopes for the AVRI too, because I heard so many great things about it. I think I've tried three though, and not a single one has sounded anything close to what they are asking for it. The Squier sounds and feels amazing compared to any Tele I've played so far in my search...but I'm really hung up on the fact that it is "just" a Squier. Help please :bow

[puckhead]

just get it already.
if you are embarrassed by the Squire name (and you shouldn't be with these CVs), put some duct-tape over it.

[barryg_nyc]

It seems every week someone else "discovers" the classic vibes. And I've yet to see anyone put up an argument against them.
If it feels good, then grab it.
the funny thing is that a lot of the posts I've seen here say they bought it with the intention of swapping the pickups, but then really liked the AlNiCo IIIs and leave them stock. That said, I think the quality of the CV is high enough that if you wanted to change the pickups later, you wouldn't feel like you're putting good money into a cheap guitar.
The pots and electronics overall are pretty solid.
I'd say buy it before it's gone.

[monty]

Dont worry about the name. The are building a really good rep.

[bynapkinart]

I thought the pickups were one of the best things about them, actually....looks like I'll be buying a guitar tomorrow. Weird, I never thought I'd ever be wowed by a Squier...but then again, my number 1 is an Epiphone, which I never thought I'd be blown away by either. My Epi needed a lot of work, the Squier sounds great stock. I might leave it that way for a while! I'll try to get pics up tomorrow. This GAS is relentless....

[docc48]

I bought two Squires for my kids to learn with.. One maple neck..one rosewood. I have a 68 Strat I've had for years.

After awhile..I found playing the Squires was every bit as nice as my 68. In fact..I played the maple neck more..

Very surprised at a cheap but excellent guitar..

[stratman89]

I have one of the Classic Vibe Custom Teles and honestly have to say I'm still floored how good this guitar is. From the playability to the excellent fit & finish, and tone, its got it all.

I did switch to Callaham compensated saddles although the stock ones were totally fine. I amazed by the stock pups, no need to change them.

This is the cheapest guitar I own by 4-8 times my other guitars but you'd never know it!

[DrumBob]

just get it already.
if you are embarrassed by the Squire name (and you shouldn't be with these CVs), put some duct-tape over it.


Exactly right...or sand off the name and put a Fender decal on.

Who the F cares what name if on there? It's the best Tele you played. It's the best Tele I have ever owned. The only thing I don't like-and I plan to do something about it-is the plasticky feeling on the neck. I'm going to sand down that poly finish soon and relic the neck. Really age it. That will make it perfect in every way.

[StuartMac]

Interesting. I've mainly read people raving about the teles - are the strats equally good? I need a couple of guitars for slide, and these might fit the bill. I'd been thinking about Mexican Classic Player strats because of the 12" radius.

[grungebob]

Interesting. I've mainly read people raving about the teles - are the strats equally good? I need a couple of guitars for slide, and these might fit the bill. I'd been thinking about Mexican Classic Player strats because of the 12" radius.


I've found the cv strats to be simillar to the MIM's i.e some are hit and miss. BUT....if you can play a few first then yes, you'll have a great guitar for not much coin....win win!

[frankencat]

You have been assimilated. :)

[frankencat]

Exactly right...or sand off the name and put a Fender decal on.

Who the F cares what name if on there? It's the best Tele you played. It's the best Tele I have ever owned. The only thing I don't like-and I plan to do something about it-is the plasticky feeling on the neck. I'm going to sand down that poly finish soon and relic the neck. Really age it. That will make it perfect in every way.

+1. I did my neck with a scotch brite and it's perfect now. :)

[Mike9]

I've been souping up Squier's for years and they can play every bit as good or better than a stock USA Fender. Talk about bang for the buck - just buy it!!! :dude

[Polynitro]

its the best guitar Fender ever produced.

[Boris Bubbanov]

I thought the pickups were one of the best things about them, actually....looks like I'll be buying a guitar tomorrow. Weird, I never thought I'd ever be wowed by a Squier...but then again, my number 1 is an Epiphone, which I never thought I'd be blown away by either. My Epi needed a lot of work, the Squier sounds great stock. I might leave it that way for a while! I'll try to get pics up tomorrow. This GAS is relentless....

I can easily understand why this impresses you more than an Epiphone.

Some guys will prioritize that thin necked feel over the sound of a fatter necked guitar. That sounds like you. This thread sounds like a reminder to Fender that they need to make the necks on their Am Standards a lot thicker.
:hide2

[Polynitro]

^^^ yup 41.3" on the squier is what keeps Fender in business. If not for .7" nobody would ever have reason to buy Fender.

[bynapkinart]

I can easily understand why this impresses you more than an Epiphone.

Some guys will prioritize that thin necked feel over the sound of a fatter necked guitar. That sounds like you. This thread sounds like a reminder to Fender that they need to make the necks on their Am Standards a lot thicker.
:hide2

Haha well I loved the Epi P90s as well, I just slightly unwound them a bit to get lower output. I should have said that it didn't need a lot of work, I just did a lot to it. It is a fantastic guitar.

Yeah the neck is really what swayed me away from the MIA standard...just too skinny and not nice. The pickups were pretty close to the Squier, the Squier had the better neck. The only cool thing about the MIA was that it was an MIA...and it would have matched my Casino perfectly with the cherry finish, black guard and rosewood neck.

[bynapkinart]

Well, I bought it! I'll clean it up a bit and post pics in a few hours, right now I just wanna play it :)

[Help!I'maRock!]

i couldn't get with the thin neck. but i'd put the quality of the ones i've played with my MIM 50's Classic Tele. with a different neck profile, i'd have bought it in a heartbeat.

[dazco]

Didn't read the whole thread, but if you didn't get it already, do ! I did the exact same thing. It however was a classic vibe thinline tele, the mahogany hollow boy. I sat in the store looking to find a flaw sonically, build wise, playability wise but found nothing but perfection. but like you i felt it was just too good to be true. the next day i just said screw it and went and got it. by that nite a few weeks ago i was in absolute heaven and still cannot put it down. they are w/o a doubt easily as good as the MIM reissues and probably better, (i think better but i'll give the mim RI's the benefit of the doubt) and with better pickups and electronics. Like some others think, i believe these are some of the best fenders made at any price, and it's just absolute madness that the prices are where they are. i don't think they will be for long tho. My last MIA was a strat deluxe for which i paid $100 for and sold a few months later because it sounded tinny and played like $%#@. This thinline literally blows it out of the water. I'm tempted to but the solid one you are contemplating too. Go for it if you haven't. It really is as good as you felt it was in the store.

Oh, the only thing i found that i wasn't crazy about was the neck p/u is dark. I replaced it with a dimarzio twang king that many say is one of the best tele neck p/u's. Much better but still a bit dark, and i am told this is due to the tele neck cover. Not being a tele guy till now i'm not sure if thats a known thing to tele people or what. YMMV tho since yours is pine and solid verses my mahogany and hollow. But the way, try one like mine if they have one. they are awesome. More raw and resonant in a certain way than a regular telly

[es125tcd]

Just take the neck pup outta there and Esquire it !!! Played a Classic vibe Duo Sonic a while back - awesome quality, and very similar to the real deal ... ( just finished building a '59 top loader esquire , tonerider hot classic bridge pup, fender bridge, ashtray, 52 RI pots, Mighty mite birdseye maple neck , RED ELM body - Twanggggggg !!!)