Let me introduce you to the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50s. It is designed after the Fender “blackguard” Telecaster. This is a guitar that was credited with shaping modern music. It has a vintage tone and looks that will take you back to the 50s, but at a price that any guitar player can afford.
Let’s take it for a test drive!
Features
First, let’s take a look at some of the key features of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster 50s guitar.
- Pine body.
- Gloss polyester finish.
- Maple C-Shape neck.
- Maple finger board.
- 25.5 inch scale with 21 frets.
- Custom vintage style telecaster single coil pickups.
- Vintage sound and feel.
Who Is This Guitar For?
Squier is a subsidiary owned and operated by Fender. They make guitars that are direct model replacements. These are aimed at beginners, students, and intermediate players. Those who desire a Fender guitar at an entry-level price. Squier makes quality guitars, even seasoned players can enjoy this Telecaster. In both sound and playability.
PROS
- Materials and design.
- Twang city Telecaster.
- Feels great to play.
- Quality pickups and hardware.
- Different colors to choose from.
CONS
- A set-up may be required out of the box.
- Some have reported quality issues.
- Stock strings are poor quality.
Body Design and Construction
The pine body comes in two colors, vintage blond and butterscotch blond. Both will bring you back in time with this vintage shape and tinted gloss finish.
The cutaway and black pickguard give it a Fender vibe from the 50s! It is a beautiful design and feels like a higher-priced guitar.
The wood grain just looks great, and the pine body is lightweight. The resonance from the pine body helps give this Telecaster a great feel and sound. It’s got that Telecaster twang, for sure!
Neck
Secondly, the Classic Vibe Telecaster guitar neck is made from maple and screwed to the body. This C-shaped neck is very comfortable and easy to play.
The neck features a 25.5-inch scale and thanks to the cut away in the body, it is easy to get around the 21-fret maple board.
The headstock has a vintage look to it and features the truss rod adjustment at the nut. The neck is finished with a tinted vintage gloss and is very smooth.
Hardware
The Classic Vibe Telecaster comes with a pair of custom single-coil pick-ups. These pick-ups really capture that rich, warm tone and deliver that telecaster twang.
They are well-made and sound great paired with the pine body! The guitar also features volume, tone, and a selector switch for plenty of tonal variation.
The bridge is a vintage-style telecaster. Brass saddles in the ashtray with string through the body. This sticks to the Telecaster nostalgia in a large way. Simply wouldn’t be the same without it!
The nut is made from bone and the tuners are a chrome die-cast set that feels pretty good and holds tuning very well.
Sound Performance
So, now that you know a bit about the Squier classic vibe telecaster 50s electric, the question is, how does it sound? We enjoyed the Squier Telecaster and found it to be pretty close to the higher-end guitars.
Our trips to NAMM have allowed us to play some real vintage Telecaster guitars, and Squier has come close.
It’s got the twang and warmth, but has a bit more drive than you would find in a more expensive Telecaster. This isn’t a bad thing as it gives you more versatility, especially if starting out!
We recommend the Squier classic vibe telecaster if you are starting out. Those need a good vintage-style electric. This will get you into that era at an excellent price and excellent sound quality. You won’t be disappointed with this guitar!
Playability
But how does the Squier classic vibe telecaster 50s feel? The neck is great and is comfortable to play. The action was nice, and the Telecaster has a vintage vibe to it for sure. Its resonance is great and the feel is awesome. It’s got all the telecaster mojo, that is for sure!
Final Thoughts
There are many great electric guitars in this price range. A good many of them play and sound great. The Squier Classic Vibe is well worth the money for sure!
The build quality, solid materials, cut away and sound is so close to high-end Telecasters.
This guitar is as close as you will get to a Fender Vintage Style Telecaster without spending more! We recommend this guitar for anyone, even seasoned players, as it is fantastic for the money.
Fender has been re-producing some great guitars with their Squier brand guitars.
Musicians are quite fortunate to be able to jump into a guitar like this for so little money. The attention to detail, sound, and build quality is perfect for a beginner. This helps to get started with a vintage-style Telecaster.
If you are a more experienced player, you will absolutely love the tone and feel. This guitar has something for every player.
Similar Guitars To Consider
Squier telecaster isn’t quite what you were hoping for? One of these alternatives might be a better fit for you.
Fender Player Series Telecaster
The Fender Player Series Telecaster is another great option. Especially for anyone who is looking for the twangy tone and the great feel that this guitar model has to offer. The Player Series guitars by Fender have been made in Mexico. They are also well-priced for beginners and students. A few things to note are the heavier body of this version, but that also brings some great tone and sustain.
G&L ASAT Classic
The G&L ASAT Classic is another guitar made by Leo Fender. This was of course after he left the Fender company. He then started G&L. The ASAT classic was his last word on Telecaster designs. It is considered by some to be some of the best. They are priced similarly to the Squier and Fender guitars and are a great alternative. Especially knowing Leo Fender was the man who made them.
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Is there a difference between the China made, and the Indonesian made Squier CV sevies?
thanks !!!
Both china and Indonesia made squirts are nice. The contemporary telecaster and the 72 thinline squiers I own are both excellent playing and sounding guitars, and build quality of both are really good.
I have both and can see no difference