Classic Vibe - the guitar everyone is talking about

[Robert]

Have you heard? The Classic Vibe is getting raves like crazy. It's $299 and apparently of VERY good quality. It might a good idea to get one soon, since it's now selling like hotcakes and what happened to another guitar that sold like hotcakes and was cheap (Squier '51) ?? Discontinued!

People are saying it's as good as any American Fender (heard it from several sources), and of course way, way better than the ol Squier '51.

Who's getting one?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/prod...-50s-Electric-Guitar-?sku=519376&src=3SOSWXXA

In comparison to the Squier Standard Telecaster:
- the body is made of pine
- the neck is tinted to look vintage
- the pickups are different
- the bridge has brass saddles

Specs:
* Body: Pine
* 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 Tele© bridge plate w/brass barrel saddles
* Pickguard: 1-ply black
* Neck pickup: Custom Telecaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
* Bridge pickup: Custom Telecaster pickup (AlNiCo III)
* Pickup switching: 3-Position Blade Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
* Controls: Volume, Tone

 

[wingsdad]

Pine? :thwap:

 

[Robert]

Pine, yes. I have never played a guitar with pine body. I heard it sounds really good. Anyone know more?

Oh, I realized there is also a Classic Vibe Stratocaster! Man, this could lead to two (!) new guitars!

See the Squier website:
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/

 

[Ro3b]

I've had mine for a couple of weeks now.

Briefly, everything you've heard is true. It's very nearly identical to the MIM 50s Classic -- in fact, I had been planning to buy one of those when this thing came out. Differences include that lovely resonant pine body, a flatter fretboard radius, brass saddles (the MIM has stainless steel), big wide frets. All of which make the Squier more desirable imho. The pickups are Alnico 3; to my ear they sound like everything a Tele should sound like. Lots of true spank and shimmer.

Two truly cool things about this axe: first, the setup was spot-on, right out of the box. I haven't had to adjust anything. There's some speculation on TDPRI that the factory is plekking them. Second, the pickups are DEAD QUIET. Even with a fair amount of gain there's no hum. It flies in the face of reason, but I'm not complaining.

These instruments evidently represent an effort to bring back the glory days of the 80s-era Squiers, and I think they've succeeded amazingly.

 

[Spudman]

Arrrrgh! Don't do this to me guys. :nono: I'm trying to behave.

 

[Robert]

I think we have a winner.... and Spud's castle is going to need room for yet another Squire (haha - what a pun!) to serve the mighty Sir Spud Knight of Shiny Geetars!

 

[marnold]

When I was frequenting the TDPRI, it seems that a number of guys over there were building pine Teles with great success. I don't know that the tonal aspects are.

 

[tjcurtin1]

The Squire Tele (same as yours, Robert) that I had was made from a wood (I forget the name, begins with an 'A") that was described as essentially an Asian pine. Maybe it's that same wood and they're calling it pine since no one knows what the heck that other wood is by it's name...?

 

[Gil Janus]

Agathis :thwap:

And I still want this guitar - it is at the top of my GAS list.

Gil

 

[just strum]

The Squire Tele (same as yours, Robert) that I had was made from a wood (I forget the name, begins with an 'A") that was described as essentially an Asian pine. Maybe it's that same wood and they're calling it pine since no one knows what the heck that other wood is by it's name...?

Alder or Ash Body?

 

[mrmudcat]

Pine? :thwap:

Wings ,Trivia: what was the first nocaster/tele made of?????oke:


Tick Tick.....................

 

[Rocket]

Doesn't Arlo West play those PineCasters? Sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Ro3b]

The Squire Tele (same as yours, Robert) that I had was made from a wood (I forget the name, begins with an 'A") that was described as essentially an Asian pine. Maybe it's that same wood and they're calling it pine since no one knows what the heck that other wood is by it's name...?

Dunno, but the grain that I can see through the finish on my guitar looks like your basic piney kind of pine.

 

[wingsdad]

Wings ,Trivia: what was the first nocaster/tele made of?????oke:


Tick Tick.....................

tick tick....Time zone lag here from the Left coast, muddy. But you picked up why I went :thwap:

Pine. :thwap:

1949 prototype #1 was a pine body. #2 proto was ash. I think it was built to be the Esquire first, with 1 pup, then the Broadcaster (to be the nocaster, thanks to Gretsch) added the 2nd pup.

EDIT: There were reasons why Leo ditched pine for ash at the proto stage. His goal with his first solid body guitar was to make a durable, easy to maintain and repair guitar that could take a lickin' from gigging country-western pickers. Pine proved too soft a wood, dented too easily, was too difficult to maintain uniform body size cuts (no cnc back then) to fit the bolt on necks in the pockets tightly, consistently for mass Model T type prodction, and didn't give the bright sustain he wanted, to emulate that which he was getting from his lap steels built with Doc Kauffman. Ash solved those issues, and also, since the choice of finish, like the Model T, was 'any color you want, as long as it's natural', had more consitent grain patterns and took the finish better.

So...while this is a guitar 'everyone' is raving about and is probably really good, the 'Fender Purist' (as in: Leo Fender, not Fender The Brand Only) in me wonders: this isn't the guitar that Leo invented, it's more like the one he rejected, so it's innacurate and a misnomer to classify it as a 'vintage vibe'. But that's just me, it's my opinion, and I'm sure that's a mighty unpopular position to take. Sorry.

 

[Ro3b]

What sealed the deal for me was when a guy who works at the factory in China where these guitars are made turned up on TDPRI to talk about them. The people who are making these things are evidently pretty psyched about them. It shows.

 

[Rocket]

What sealed the deal for me was when a guy who works at the factory in China where these guitars are made turned up on TDPRI to talk about them. The people who are making these things are evidently pretty psyched about them. It shows.

Sorry for being a dolt... what is TDPRI?
ICFIO!

 

[just strum]

Sorry for being a dolt... what is TDPRI?
ICFIO!

http://www.tdpri.com/

I didn't know either, had to google tdpri

 

[Rocket]

Ahhh... I obviously gotta get a Fender for the stable!

 

[Katastrophe]

Ahhh... I obviously gotta get a Fender for the stable!

What????? No Fender? Everyone should have at least one!

Those Teles are a major source of GAS. The Strats look great, too. I would have bought one of those if they had been around when I got my MIM.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

http://www.tdpri.com/

I didn't know either, had to google tdpri

Btw, the initials tdpri stand for Telcaster Disussion Page Re-Issue. Apparently the page was around for awhile with one person running it or at a certain URL, and then later someone else had to take over and/or move it to another web address, thus the "RI" part of it, which has always struck me as overly web-geeky.

The astounding thing to me is that they also own a MUCH better web address for the same page:

http://www.telecaster.com

But they don't use it or actively promote it! Using telecaster.com will get you to the same place as tdpri.com though.

 

[birv2]

I'm assuming there's also a strat version of the classic vibe? Anybody have one?

Bob

 

[oldguy]

Don't have one but yes, there is one (as per Robert's post #3).

Pine, yes. I have never played a guitar with pine body. I heard it sounds really good. Anyone know more?

Oh, I realized there is also a Classic Vibe Stratocaster! Man, this could lead to two (!) new guitars!

See the Squier website:
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/

 

[mrmudcat]

Wings great stuff brother !! I am beginning to think you are versed in all things fender,even more so than me:master:

Rocket what strat do ya want??

I have got one for ya im sure!!!!!

 

[wingsdad]

Wings great stuff brother !! I am beginning to think you are versed in all things fender,even more so than me ...

Oh, I wouldn't go that far, muddy...after all, you actually tossed the trivia question. :beer: :master:

 

[Rocket]

Rocket what strat do ya want??

I have got one for ya im sure!!!!!

Doubt it... I want a new one. I'll decide on one of these after playing both.
0110402769 American Standard [Charcoal Frost Metallic/Maple]
0101402750 American Deluxe Ash [Butterscotch Blonde/Maple]

What are you willing to give up?

 

[mrmudcat]

Rocket:

I like both but the butterscotch more.


You are right I have a big mouth and most likely will keep any of that caliper.(meaning all us made):thwap:

 

[Robert]

I think I am going to have to get one....

Are you still digging yours?

 

[sumitomo]

Still diggin mine Robert,The only thing I'm gunna change is the volume pot,to a smoother one for volume swells.Sumi

 

[Jimi75]

I have played one. Excellent guitar, it feels great, sound superb and the pine wood does a good job, really. The only thing I found was that the frets were a little sharp.

 

[Tig]

I have played one. Excellent guitar, it feels great, sound superb and the pine wood does a good job, really. The only thing I found was that the frets were a little sharp.

I found them to be a little inconsistent, especially at the fret ends. I played several at two different stores before I found the Strat that was nearly perfect and sounded just right. The CV Tele's I've played were a little more consistent with fret quality.

I was demoing a few pedals yesterday with a store's Road Worn Strat, and if felt and sounded inferior to the CV 50's Strat.

I can see buying a CV Tele Custom before the end of the year if I don't get an acoustic instead. Sometimes GAS and marriage don't mix!