Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster '50s [2008-2018]

Crafted in China
Body: Alder
Finish: Polyester
Neck: 1-Piece Maple, Modern "C" Shape
Fingerboard: Maple, 9.5" (241 mm)
Frets: 21, Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
Nut Width: 1.65" (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning Keys: Vintage-style tuning machines
Bridge: Vintage-style, 6-saddle tremolo
Pickguard: 1-ply white
Neck pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Middle pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Bridge pickup: Custom Stratocaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
Pickup switching: 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup
Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone
Strings: (.009 - .042) Nickel Plated Steel
Unique Features: 2-Color Sunburst over alder; 21-fret vintage tint gloss maple neck; 1-ply white pickguard; aged plastic parts; vintage style tuning machines; vintage style, 6-saddle bridge; custom Stratocaster pickup set with AlNiCo III magnets

UTILIZATION

This guitar is very easy to play. I had to set it up myself, as I had expected, but once I did, wow! The fit and finish of the guitar are impeccable. I am blown away with this instrument coming from Squier.

The tremolo is very responsive, yet stable. A change to the to a brass tremolo block added a lot of sustain and tone, for not much additional money. I feel like the tuners are good, great even - I'd use these on an American Fender.

SOUNDS

Sound wise, this does everything one would expect from a great Strat guitar, with the exception of the bridge pickup. I could not get that pickup to sound balanced or as full as the other two, no matter how much I raised it or lowered the others. It just sounded thin, so I changed it for something else, and I am extremely happy with it.

OVERALL OPINION

This guitar is incredible, especially for the price. I fully expected to have to change some parts, but not as much as I ended up swapping out. The bridge pickup is a weak point, as is the actual wiring and pots - I'm going to change those out next.

Overall, a great guitar.

The Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster 50s edition is designed to be like a reissue of the classic 50s Strats of old in both feel and tone, but with a price tag that's about 1/100th of the original 50s Strats. They're made by the Squier corporation in China and features an alder body, a maple neck with 21 frets, vintage style tuners and fulcrum tremolo bridge, and the standard compliment of 3 single coils, a volume and two tone controls, and a 5 way selector switch. The plastics on this guitar are aged to resemble an older guitar, and the neck finish has a vintage looking amber tint to it as well... very cool.

UTILIZATION

The design of this guitar is like an old Strat. I've found the Classic Vibe stuff to be much lighter and more resonant that some of the other Squier models and that's a step closer to being like the originals. The upper fret access is decent on this guitar, but the glossy neck finish does prevent moving too fast I find... it would be nice if the finish was a little thinner. It's basically designed like a good Strat, and that's what it should be.

Getting a good tone from this guitar is not difficult due to the great pickups that are used. There is rumor that the stock OEM pickups in this guitar are made by Tonerider Pickups, and I wouldn't argue with that, because they certainly sound far superior to any of the Squier or Duncan Designed pickups that I've heard over the years. They have a decidedly "Strat" tone that covers a great range of tones from Dick Dale, to Hendrix, to Eric Johnson. Awesome.

SOUNDS

I've tried the Classic Vibe 50s Strat with various Fender, Marshall and Mesa Boogie amplifiers. The clean tones are quite nice. The neck pickup has that wonderful throaty and gutsy Strat tone that we all know and love. The middle pickup offers a great facsimile of Stevie Ray's famous biting blues tone. Positions 2 and 4 give that quack that's perfect for Hendrix or Dire Straits, and the bridge pickup is just the ticket for surf, rockabilly or other things that require more treble in a clean tone. Kicking in some overdrive reveals a thick and viscous lead tone that reminds me heavily of Jeff Beck or Eric Johnson, which is NEVER a bad thing. Even at higher gain levels this guitar retains good clarity and brightness. The pickups are fairly noisy, but they're standard single coils so that is to be expected.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all the Squier Classic Vibe 50s Strat is a superior instrument for anyone looking for a serious "Strat" for not a lot of cash. These street at about $350, which is a BARGAIN for the tones and craftsmanship that these guitars offer. If you prefer the character of rosewood, check out the Classic Vibe 60s Strat. Either way you can't go wrong!

Guitar made in China. And well made!

Fender View website for all features:

UTILIZATION

I know nothing about the technical specifications of a handle. When I play a guitar, I like the handle roughly or displeases me and that finding alone is enough for me. The impression left by a handle when playing is obviously very subjective. Most Fender Strat (the Mexican, U.S.) I had in hands had infuriated me from this point of view. I always had an inverse overall impression with Gibson I played. Pleasant surprise this Squier, I felt in total comfort and the handle immediately liked me by allowing me a precise and flexible game.

Access to treble is good. But I go very often.

The knobs are very progressive and playing on the classic 5-way switch, you do whatever you want.

SOUNDS

This guitar has a beautiful sound!

It is obviously very Strat. With a "vintage" character as the model name suggests. Compared with the Mexican Strat "modern" my brother, it was less "wise" slightly "dirty", more biting, more original in fact. And this is a real treat! Beautiful crystal, but richer than the Mexican sounds, a nice ability to have (pickup) sounds that jacked on the neck pickup the typical mix of attack, round and warm with this characteristic harmonics "sizzle "(what words to use to describe sounds?) who blackmails light saturation tube amp. With this Squier, clear sound Hendrix (as in "The Wind Cries Mary" in the studio, for example: ) is almost at hand! I say "sound"! ) If (unlike me) you like Shadows sounds or guitar spaghetti western, no problem to find it. Overall, listen to renowned guitarists who play classical and tell you that you can have very oncoming Stratocaster tones.

Given its price level, this guitar has made a truly extraordinary! microphones seem to have a good level of output and are not noisy - for single coils.

On my amps (Egnater Rebel 112 and Combo Laney Cub 12R modified with a Cannabis Rex) this Squier is awesome! Tried a whole afternoon on Huges & Kettner Tubemeister 18 my brother, a marvel. Pushing the drive amps, good God! she sing lamps ...

As I said earlier, there is a very clear Hendrix sound that I particularly like. Believe me, a real treat. This small Chinese is exciting for me.

OVERALL OPINION

Won a game (yes, what a bowl!) And therefore subject on my part to purchase any comparison, I use it for less than a week. I'm having trouble not play too often.

I love the build quality - the Chinese seem to learn quickly to upgrade. Remains to judge holding it all over the years. Woodwork and finishes are really nice. Always relative to the price of the instrument, the agreement is fairly stable, vibrato behaves honorably enough - well ... not exaggerate its use anyway, but with strings Fender head pointed it behaves quite well .
I love his sound. Not connected we feel his body vibrate and it has a good sustain. For musicians too wealthy, on stage it will do nicely (if not too much clubbing blows angry vibrato! Or less to be gifted to retune during the game). I am not a specialist of Fender, but I think this Classic Vibe not exceed sore Mexico Fender models and can compete with some U.S. models. It is very comfortable to play, but for my case required a re-adjustment handle / stand. In short, this guitar is suitable in the state without hardware modification, but if you wanted at all costs to improve, I recommend you review the following: mechanical, tremolo block and probably nut.

Upon purchase, do not hesitate to take along a set of strings to change immediately: those are really factory-installed "-hum." I highly recommend Fender Super Bullets For my part, I opted for a draft of 10: I did not like not only the quality of the factory strings, but pulling them 9 which gave me the impression of playing on strings rubber (on the handle ... because the impression given by a set of strings is eminently obviously related to the geometry of the handle and adjustment of the equipment string)

What I hate: the gilding of the fittings, too shiny jewel with two bullets which gives an impression of "guitar Barbie and Ken" aspect, enhanced by the white-gray color with a (small tip) printing rosé. I will try very quickly artificially skate all these gilding that seem in poor taste. But aesthetic issues are discussed. If I had a choice, I would have certainly taken a model of another color and chrome hardware. Another small point, but absolutely not serious (I nitpick, there!): The right of each band on the edge of the handle near the button, the micrometric grooves resulting from mechanical sawing throat fret - fortunately, I can not find absolutely not annoying to play.

Well ... I want to acknowledge that this is not a Squier Strat U.S. to 2000 €. And my enthusiastic comments of course take into account the price level of the instrument. I do not know enough about the Stratocaster "high end" for me adventurous comparisons. But frankly, this Squier enough for me. And I think as fans of classic Strat less fortunate, it will give a lot of happiness. The price / quality ratio seems really excellent!

If I had not won this Squier and that I had paid for testing, I would have immediately offered! But in Lake Placid Blue finish (beautiful!) Or Olympic White.

Made in China
Squier bridge,
Modern C maple handle 21 boxes
6 mechanical Squier
3 pickups Squier Custom,
and finally a setting with 3 knobs and a 3-position selector.

I'm pretty satisfied with the characteristics of the beast in general although I highly recommend a change of mechanical and bridge as soon as possible for an outfit for the perfect agreement. I would not put that 7/10 to all because I had the bad surprise to break the arm vibrato Squier original on the second day! (So ​​for strength, we revert) Apart from that the violin is very good.

UTILIZATION

A very nice handle, it is mainly why I bought it at the base. Access to acute is worthy of the great strats and found this charming dug everything you want in a Stratocaster. The sound is great, I especially love the neck pickup even if I changed the original pickups for Strat Hepcat '69. Its weight is quite ok, no complaints above, the balance is good, I move a lot on stage and ergonomics fits perfectly in my game scene.

SOUNDS

When I bought it, I was (still am) a fan of AC / DC, yet she tapped me in the eye especially for its side and slamming hot rhythm it can provide. I play on a small Vox Pathfinder 15, and it sounds terrible. I play without effects most of the time even if a good overdrive and a delay is cool from time to time. It is great for everything funk, rock and blues. But this is after the change of pickups it has become divine for me.

OVERALL OPINION

I for 1 year, I tried full of guitar models before this one, SG, Les Paul, and lots of other stuff but this one stood up to the standard Mexican strats as if nothing ' was! I'm not saying they are worse than the Squier because every guitar is different. So frankly for value for money (I got 220 euros new) is top notch, the look Olympic White with creams microphones and bronze plaque is huge. I'm in love with this guitar though I've tried lots despite my young age! I would do this choice with his eyes closed! Classic Vibe tear!