Couldn't agree more! Those high end Squiers are fantastically well made. I recently bought a Squier Contemporary Strat, expecting the fretwork to be iffy, but the frets were perfectly level! I never would have thought it for £289! I've paid 4 times that for guitars that needed a fret leveling!
I second the no "Standard " Squire series, its almost like its a secret with these videos, they are a phenomenal value better than the bullet and affinity. Full size body, nut, alnico pickups, bridge wound hotter. Great guitar.
@@DylanTalksTone i'll send you the fender.cl link (i'm from chile) www.fender.cl/squier-telecasterr-standard-1166.html They are super cool, i like the brdige pickup on this one, but i'd definitely get some locking tuners and probly change the neck pickup
Yep, same for the strat. The standard is the cheapest squier with decent pickups and standard dimensions. In the case of the strat it even has a steel sustain block and modern two point tremolo. Small point about the tuners: they have the fender style with the two locator pins but the spacing is different so you need to drill or enlarge the locator holes when upgrading to fender tuners. Which is a shame since you can get great deals on fender branded locking tuners.
@@DylanTalksTone While the whole Squire Standard series is for some reason not currently on the international version of Fender's website -- save for one HSS Strat -- the Squier Standard Tele most definitely does exist. I bought one on Saturday. The Anderton's website has a listing for it, and so do other online retailers.
People have been asking about our Patreon.com/dylantalkstone One Correction On The video. The Fender website is wrong about the Affinity being a string through body. I went back and watched our video and it sure isn't. Fortunately it makes no difference. Here are some parts For your Squier Tele Upgrade... kit.co/Dylantalkstone/squier-telecaster-upgrade-list
Hey Dylan, great video! There's an Affinity that is string-through, though. The ones that came in the starter pack with the little amp are marked as Affinity guitars with 22 frets and the string-through body. The regular Affinity is a top loader. Maybe that's where the confusion is for Fender? Idk
@@DylanTalksTone The Standard can be found here shop.fender.com/en/intl/squier-electric-guitars/telecaster/standard-telecaster/0321200507.html And the string through Affinity is this one www.squierwiki.com/Stop-Dreaming,-Start-Playing!-Set%3A-Affinity-Series-Tele-with-Frontman-15G-Amp
@@DylanTalksTone One thing to note is that maybe you didn't see the Standard because of the site settings, I think you were browsing the USA store. Iirc, the Standard model has been discontinued in favor of the CVs.
I just picked up a Classic Vibe 50s Vibe with a Pine Body and Alnico II Pickups. Couldn't be happier. Biggest surprise is the heavily flamed maple neck/fingerboard! It's an older 2016 model I picked up used, however the flamed neck is straight from the Factory in China!
@6:24 I have one of these Classic Vibe 60's exactly as shown. Definitely one of the best guitars I own, and played well straight out of the shop. Holds it's own against my Fender Custom Shop Strat. I dunno, maybe I got one that was built on the day when everyone was on their game. Absolutely love it. Playability, tone, it has it all.
Classic vibe all the way! The only thing you have to do is upgrade pickups and you have your self a killer guitar . Fret work is good low action Fast playing guitar Comfortable neck Tuning is very stable !
The Affinity has the neck pickup mounted to the body (I prefer that). I have small hands, so I love the smaller neck! Also love that I can get a maple fingerboard!
@@midgetman2109 It was approximately $550 worth of upgrades so given the original price of the tele was $250 that would put it at a total cost of $800 completely assembled and that is including a Fender neck. All in all I'd say it was well worth it given that It has the same equipment as an American professional telecaster just with a little different set up.
@@josephmullinsii8461 sure, I have a 1963 original all natural road worn fender neck with vintage style frets, bone nut. Locking tuners, v mod pickups, a fat 50s strat middle pickup, f branded bigsby, 5 way switch, tone saver, .05mfd oil over paper tone cap, 250k low friction pots, extra heavy knurled chrome dome knobs, all of the chrome hardware has been relic'd, and the nashville tele white pearloid pickguard, with earnie ball strap locks. Fun fact I accidentally drilled through the body during a bridge pillar install and decided to cover the hole with a chrome metal fender logo and it just happens to be the best guard ever against belt buckles, and looks super custom to boot. Kept the squier body. But replaced the backplate with a Corona california plate. Will get a custom body made soon. And she rides with D'Addario XT strings in the .010's. So as you can see, she is a whole nother animal.
@@josephmullinsii8461 and it's worth nothing that I bought all of these components second hand on reverb and paid about $600 total. I estimate that if fender built it it would go for about 1400 on the streets as a second hand sell. Def an american professional grade or ultra grade. All parts I Installed myself. And tuning stability is phenomenal for a guitar with so much going on.
I bought a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Telecaster with a double bound 3 tone sunburst body with a 9.25 radius rosewood fret board c shaped maple neck. I got it for $350.00 in 2020. It was a couple of years old when I bought it, but it was in pristine condition. No finish dents or scratches and the frets weren't worn at all. I wondered if was going to be a heavy guitar when I first played it at the store, but it wasn't compared to my Les Paul Junior. It plays great and sounds like a Tele should.
You probably dont care but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Garrett Davion thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out now. Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
I got mine from J5 himself. At one of his shows. Not much more than any storefront maybe $115 more, but you Meet him and get a goodie bag, the Axe is Signed too if you like😉
That’s the absolute best guilt trip to subscribe pitch I’ve ever seen I love it way more effective than every video reminding people to subscribe I tune that out, I was already subscribed just binge watching videos on the channel.
I have the Affinity tele I got from GC for $199 and it was set up perfect from the factory - amazing! It has better pickups that do not sound thin like the Bullet. There are videos that compare the tone of the 2 side by side and it's a major difference - different pots etc. As you said, the neck is thin and fast.
I tried many of these Squier Teles and almost bought a Squier Classic Vibe but ended up saving a bit more money and watching the used market for a Fender Baja Telecaster. I got it now and don’t regret the decision. Nevertheless, the Squier Tele models are all pretty great.
I have a affinity tele changed the turners with graph tech ratio turners( no mod needed). Changed the pick ups with vintage broadcaster pickup set from seymour Duncan(had to remove some finsh from the bridge cavity. Took 5 minutes with 60 grit sand paper.)replaced the pots and 3 way switch with a Emerson prewired 250 pot set and chaged the bridge and drilled holes to made it a thru body and last i sheilded the cavities. Going to let the guitar shop change the nut when they set it up. I did this over 3 months.
Best of both worlds. As a lefty, I got the 50’s Classic Vibe for the AlNiCo 3 bridge pickup. Then I replaced the stock pots with reverse audio minis, added two holes and two 1meg pots to the control plate with chrome knobs; then wired them to a Novak Wide Range Humbucker in the neck. The only problem is that I have to used a special padded strap due to a severe back injury that occurred after I got it.
I got a Squier 72 Vintage Mod Thinline and it's my favorite tele I've ever laid my hands on. Super comfortable. That being said, I'd like to see a sound comparison of the stock WRHB and the conversion you mentioned in the video.
Awesome video, thanks. I'd assess myself as a beginner but I've accumulated a few guitars already. I picked up an Affinity Telecaster to see if I like that style of guitar, which I actually do enjoy now. Mine has the Butterscotch Blonde finish. It's been sitting still for a few months because I've been practicing on my acoustic. Anyway, I picked it up two nights ago, plugged it in, and played. It was still in tune and ready to go. My more expensive guitars all needed to be tuned. Not this one. Now I'm thinking I just might want a U.S. made Telecaster. I love them.
The quintessential tele sum up I love to see again and again! Thank you! The true difference I can find on ss teles is that the classic vibes are after the vintage original image and sound should you let the price drops a few things in favor of them!! So I will buy a cv 50's white blonde tele which I really like in order to put it side buy side to my 2011 MIM ss tele and see !!
J mascis jazzmaster. But I would bet an hour's wages that there is NO poopy Squiers. As you did acknowledge. I have the aforementioned jazzmaster, a John 5 gold telecaster plus 4 more Squier brand. All of them put gladness in my heart. I certainly appreciate the wealth of modification info that you provide here.
Dylantalkstone. I just got the squire standard series tele. I was hoping that I would see it in this video.. but none the less great video. I'm with you. I want a John 5 an the Jim Root. Love the tele.....
I have two of the Bullet Tele's Dylan and two of the Contemporary Tele's: Bullet Tele's FSR Sparkly Red Tele FSR Lake Placid Blue Tele Contemporary Tele's Metallic Red HH (bought new) Metallic Black HH (bought used, less than a year old in immaculate condition and less than half the new price) As you say the FSR Bullet Tele's are a great modding platform, I've done a lot to the Sparkly Red Tele, and just minor mods on the LPB Tele, and swapped the tuners for locking tuners on both Contemporary Tele's, and the saddles for high mass stainless steel on both as well. However, not sure about what pickups will be best for them, as you say they're not the greatest and are pretty much 'meh' till the gain is cranked way up high. So what pickups would you recommend for the Contemporary's Dylan?
Classic vibe anything are all amazing. I have a 50s, 60s bound body (early one have rosewood instead of Indian l.) And a 60s thinline. I'm still not done as my next guitar will be a 70s deluxe. I wasn't but Squier turned me into a tele guy.
From Leo: Bought an Affinity Telecaster as a back up when I knew my Fender Tele was going to be down for a while for fret replacement. I was surprised how good it actually is, and like the 6 saddle bridge. I add 4way switching to all my telecasters. Other than that mod, it is stock. I do not feel it is inferior to the Fender. Same with a Classic Vibe Strat, I like it as much as the Fender. We live in an amazing time. As long as you stay away from the very cheapest guitars, almost nothing on the market is unplayable crap.
@Steve From Leo: I am sure that you are right. Who is to say that one alloy sounds better than another? However, an instrument is not regulated by a chemists analysis nor by a spec sheet. I have been buying and selling since my 1st Gibson in 1971. Brand names and spec sheets mean nothing to me. What I judge an instrument by is 1) is it enjoyable to play? 2) can I get my sound out of it? 3) It does not hurt if it is pleasing to my eye either. If it does not meet that criteria, who cares what some spec sheet says? Different is not the same as wrong.
Every fender I’ve ever owned from the $130 Squier to the $1200 American had poor to moderate fretwork and a candy coat finish. Best Fender is the road worn body with the aftermarket neck and tuners of your choice.
Hi! I just wanted to say thank you for another great and informative video. I immediately sent this off to a friend who is looking at buying a Squier in the next few days. Have a great holiday season, and thanks for another great year of great videos! [edited to correct a spelling mistake]
Just picked up that classic vibe 70s Tele. Loving it so far, considering the workaround you mentioned for the fake "widerage" humbuckers...what other pickups would be a good upgrade?
If I get a Squier Tele, I'm going to have to go for the Classic Vibe lefty. I'd love a pine bodied Tele and I'm a lefty. What I'd really love to have, though, is a Tele with an unfinished (but sanded smooth) aromatic red cedar body.
Bullet is string-through and the Affinity is hardtail. Bullet is a few mm thinner in the body. CV is a good Tele but the chrome parts corrode like crazy.
Lefty squire classic vibe took out pickups and got guitar heads mini rail humbucker for 25.00 plus their mini rail humbucker for neck put a coil split with 500k pots and it sounds awesome
I have older Squires, one is the Telecaster and the other is a Precision Bass. These are both Standard Series. I've modded the hell out of the P Bass, punches way above the money I put into it. The Telecaster is the mirror black model and its pretty stock with the addition of an Orange Drop on the tone and straplocks. Great instruments. Dylan, any thoughts on the Standard series?
The early Affinity Telecasters weren't string through bodies unlike the Bullet Telecasters just in case anyone doesn't know this already. My wife bought me an early Squier Affinity Telecaster for my birthday and I have done some mods to it, like adding a Bigsby style tremolo and modded Wilkinson's ashtray style bridge to it, and yes the mods are permanent, (I have a sentimental attachment to it, so the cost doesn't matter). I actually like the thinner body of the early Affinity series Telecasters, especially since the tremolo added a bit of weight to the guitar. Eventually I'll get the electronics upgraded but they're adequate for now. I would like to install some locking tuners next. After I'm finished with modding my Tele, I'm more than likely going either get another (nicer) Telecaster that doesn't necessarily need mods done to it or try and find a good deal on a G&L ASAT (Tribute series most likely).
The nut width on my 2017 American special is 43 mm, but the string spacing is exactly the same as on my older 2014 affinity tele with a 41 mm nut. String spacing is exactly 35.5 mm on both guitars! The affinity has string through body so I guess they could be had both ways
@DylanTalksTone, I received a new Squier Telecaster Contemporary RH this year for my 50th birthday along with a Fender Mustang LT25 amplifier. I am not a performer, but absolutely love playing the guitar. It has the SQR Rail pickup at the bridge and the SQR Atomic humbucker at the neck. The Rail (bridge) sounds pretty good to me, but the SQR Atomic humbucker (neck) sounds a good bit "muddy." Because of this I find myself using the rail more often. The types of music I like to play are Country and rock and all that lies between. So my question is, have you had any experience with these guitars and their pickups? What would you recommend as a replacement for the neck humbucker, or even the rail for that matter? It appears that Squier has added some decent features to this guitar, but are there any other mods for this specific guitar that you would suggest? Like I said, I am still discovering the different tones I can get from the guitar, but I am a tinkerer and not afraid to work on my own stuff.
And now that has changed. The affinity that you speak of had a neck with no skunk stripe very very thin and sleek and with the 40 mm knot. I have a guess medium to large hands and wasn't really able to play chords on it and didn't really hold much stock in it I figured I'd play with it for a while and then get something different but I noticed when I jammed with friends I would just let them play rhythm and when I came in with my lead having this super slim 40 mm nut I was able to play leads I never thought I had in me! Great guitar from practicing scales. The frets were all tapered at the ends, not rolled but the way an affinity does their frets I don't ever see mentioned. They're not rolled they're not files they just kind of slope down to nothing they never protrude past the edge. Why this point is never brought up I will never know. Well I thought I would get myself a classic vibe 50 series so I would at least own the real thing and when I was ready to play and had learned everything I needed to learn I would have the guitar already. Well I did bring it for a setup and in order to get the string height action that I want the strings would actually have to be hitting the pickups. I would love to show you some photos if I have them but it turned into a real nightmare if a guitar and it still plays and sound excellent
Tim Castle I have a classic vibe 50s Tele butterscotch blond finish, 2015 made in China. It's got a pine body, thin neck profile, medium jumbo frets, alnico 5 pickups, just like he described. I love it. No mods needed. The new ones have the narrow tall frets. $300-350.
I own some pretty desirable custom Strats and Teles that were made by the ultimate Fender luthier _before_ they had a custom shop. And if I lost them (over my very dead body) I would have no problem replacing them with the Classic Vibe series. You can always upgrade them as you see fit and still save a ton of money over any of the American Fenders on the market today. And I think they're a better guitar as well. I _might_ replace the switch and pots...maybe...if I had to. But that's about it. Even the pickups are pretty good, they paid some attention there that seldom gets mentioned, which I wouldn't mind scoring some to replace some stock Fender pickups that are...meh.
Slightly off topic but the J.Mascis Jazz Master is hands down the best Squire I've ever played. Not the cheapest, but definitely worth every single penny.
Could you please possibly do a video explaining the difference between filtertron style pickups and humbucker size filtertron style pickups? Like your video on the difference between p90s and humbucker size p90s. Because I've been looking into buying something like a les Paul or SG copy and putting humbucker size filtertrons in them to get a sort of cheap method of getting Pete Townshends amazing tone on Who's Next, when he used that big orange gretsch. Nothing beats that tone for power chords. An alternative I was considering was getting that Harley Benton tele loaded with filtertron style pickups in the actual correct size and replacing them with high quality filtertrons from seymour duncan or the Creamery or something. But I was thinking the combo of a mahogany guitar with the bright filtertrons would be better than the bright sounding wood on the tele, the big hollowbody gretsch works well with the filtertrons by being a combo of mellow wood and the hollowness of it with the bright pickups, like the combo of mahogany and filtertrons would be
This was helpful. Ive been looking at getting a telestyle guitar and squier has a lot of choices. I always try the budget version before throwing down a lot of cash
I've been eyeing off a classic vibe for a year or so... I want a 60's but every shop i go into to try them only ever has the 50's and 70's. Is this a conspiracy against dark wood fretboards? 😁
Hey brother you forgot the standards. I have a 2017 antique burst. I modded it with leo fenders original black guard tele and a bill Lawrence 5-way mod . It is a tone machine!!
@@DylanTalksTone I just started to read comments my man, I also didn't forget about the humbuckers we were talking about. I will be in touch as soon as possible. I might even sell a old guitar to make it happen faster
@@DylanTalksTone What's the name of that video? I'd love to watch that because I'm going back and forth between the Bullet and Affinity as my first electric and I've been looking for an honest opinion on how important the whole string-through aspect is to the tone.
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The 50s Classic Vibe pine body is heavy so I swapped it with a Racer Red Alder body loaded with Texas Style pickups. It's a bad bad guitar! 💪
@@ransombaggins9301 I got the hipshot open gear locking tuners upgrade kit from Guitar Center. They dropped right in with no drilling, and the plate that holds them in place on the back of the headstock covered the old screw holes. www.guitarcenter.com/Hipshot/6GLO-Grip-Lock-Standard-Locking-Guitar-Tuning-Machine-Set-Chrome-1274034477288.gc
Hi there, pretty sure the 72 Thinline is an ash body...??? Got an 86 MIJ one of these and I've replaced the pickups with The Creamery Widelines. love the guitar, owned it from new, and love the latest pickups much more than the originals. Totally different from any other tele I own, plus I've also put a 52 tele neck pickup in the middle position with a bit of routing and a 5 way switch.... so it's flexible as you like! Love the videos man, keep them coming. I'm learning with each one! Cheers.
I have the 70s deluxe . The "fake" wide range humbuckers might not be as good as the ones from the 70s but they are defintely not crap. I dont find them to be muddy at all. I think the neck pkckup is great. Not overly bass heavy like some neck humbuckers can be and its really nice and articulate. I find the bridge pickup to be quite bright and i find myself rolling off the tone to tame it a bit. I havw a few fuitars with expensive aftermarket humbuckers, and these definitelt hold their own.
Squier Standard Telecaster is a great guitar for the money. Well built and great sounding alnico pickups with the classic tele tones. Too bad it got skipped.
@@DylanTalksTone Thanks for the reply, that's weird I thought the US got all the good stuff. If they ever bring them stateside make sure to check one out. :)
Recently I have seen a review of a Firefly Tele. It's a cheap guitar but, apparently good for the price. If you have have seen one of those around, could you comment about this guitar?
Dylan what do you know about a Fender Tele with a Jazzmasster Trem Bridge with 3 knobs, brass saddles with a Tele bridge plate? Please let me know if you've seen any of this. I have a video link but it's an add for built in, trem style sounding wiring. It looks awesome and the pups sound awesome. Love watcching your vids cause you're in the know! I have no one left to turn to brother?
I wouldn't buy the lowest tier of any item because the next step up often gives significantly more for a nominal increase in cost. I would get my Squire based on first, what color i wanted, and second by the fretboard material and frets, then the neck. The rest would not matter. The PUP's would be changed, the tuners would be changed, and maybe a new nut and even bridge. Classic Vibe i would leave alone stock.
I've been looking into getting unto playing guitar and have been torn between the Classic Vibes Tele and the Player Series. Any advice on the biggest differences in terms of playability?
what an epic informative video ! i'm a sort of 2 sounds guy, lead, and jazzy warm clean, if i'm correct both can be achieved on a tele, also having bigger hands ( long fingers) a "Bullet series neck" would do the trick?
I have 2 squier stratocasters 1 Standard 1S/E both have full thickness body's and are great Guitars my next will be an Affinity telecaster in Artic White or maybe a Mustang in Surf Green!!!!
Classic vibe . I have literally never picked up a better feeling guitar
60s the one I have is identical to the one in the video and it's literally my #1 for FEEL and playability
Couldn't agree more with this comment. I had to sell mine, but I'd probably get another one just for the fun of playing that guitar
MrJermeyp i have a 50’s CV Tele. Amazing guitar! 😎👍
Absolutely, I LOVE my 50s C.V. tele
Pick up a G&L Leo said it was his best creation.
Couldn't agree more! Those high end Squiers are fantastically well made. I recently bought a Squier Contemporary Strat, expecting the fretwork to be iffy, but the frets were perfectly level! I never would have thought it for £289! I've paid 4 times that for guitars that needed a fret leveling!
I second the no "Standard " Squire series, its almost like its a secret with these videos, they are a phenomenal value better than the bullet and affinity. Full size body, nut, alnico pickups, bridge wound hotter. Great guitar.
Please send me a link to this missing guitar on the fender website and I will mention in in an upcoming video
@@DylanTalksTone can't do on my phone, try fender website, search "Squire standard telecaster ". A blonde color comes up and a antique burst avail.
@@DylanTalksTone i'll send you the fender.cl link (i'm from chile)
www.fender.cl/squier-telecasterr-standard-1166.html
They are super cool, i like the brdige pickup on this one, but i'd definitely get some locking tuners and probly change the neck pickup
Yep, same for the strat. The standard is the cheapest squier with decent pickups and standard dimensions. In the case of the strat it even has a steel sustain block and modern two point tremolo. Small point about the tuners: they have the fender style with the two locator pins but the spacing is different so you need to drill or enlarge the locator holes when upgrading to fender tuners. Which is a shame since you can get great deals on fender branded locking tuners.
@@DylanTalksTone While the whole Squire Standard series is for some reason not currently on the international version of Fender's website -- save for one HSS Strat -- the Squier Standard Tele most definitely does exist. I bought one on Saturday. The Anderton's website has a listing for it, and so do other online retailers.
People have been asking about our Patreon.com/dylantalkstone
One Correction On The video. The Fender website is wrong about the Affinity being a string through body. I went back and watched our video and it sure isn't. Fortunately it makes no difference.
Here are some parts For your Squier Tele Upgrade... kit.co/Dylantalkstone/squier-telecaster-upgrade-list
Hey Dylan, great video! There's an Affinity that is string-through, though. The ones that came in the starter pack with the little amp are marked as Affinity guitars with 22 frets and the string-through body. The regular Affinity is a top loader. Maybe that's where the confusion is for Fender? Idk
great intro dude
Please send me a link to this missing guitar on the fender website and I will mention in in an upcoming video
@@DylanTalksTone The Standard can be found here shop.fender.com/en/intl/squier-electric-guitars/telecaster/standard-telecaster/0321200507.html
And the string through Affinity is this one www.squierwiki.com/Stop-Dreaming,-Start-Playing!-Set%3A-Affinity-Series-Tele-with-Frontman-15G-Amp
@@DylanTalksTone One thing to note is that maybe you didn't see the Standard because of the site settings, I think you were browsing the USA store. Iirc, the Standard model has been discontinued in favor of the CVs.
Every big line of guitars ought to have a video like this comparing them to one another. This was super helpful. Thanks for posting it!
Thanks for the demo, I appreciate it. I'm a big fan of the classic vibes.. I have about four of them now. they are phenomenal for the price...😊
Man - your team just shocked my Bills with 1 second left....that being said, this was very informative and clearly explained
I just picked up a Classic Vibe 50s Vibe with a Pine Body and Alnico II Pickups. Couldn't be happier. Biggest surprise is the heavily flamed maple neck/fingerboard! It's an older 2016 model I picked up used, however the flamed neck is straight from the Factory in China!
Damn I’m jealous! I’m looking everywhere for a nicely flamed one, but can’t seem to find one in Germany/Europe..
@6:24 I have one of these Classic Vibe 60's exactly as shown. Definitely one of the best guitars I own, and played well straight out of the shop. Holds it's own against my Fender Custom Shop Strat. I dunno, maybe I got one that was built on the day when everyone was on their game. Absolutely love it. Playability, tone, it has it all.
I have the exact same one, found it in a second hand store for 250 and it's now my favourite guitar out of the 7 I own. Such a great find
Sweetwater claims the Classic Vibe 60s Custom has a normal C neck and not slim taper. Is this correct?
No, it’s a great guitar. It’s better than all the other guitars and has a great price.
So glad you are able to sit outside this morning and have a cup of coffee. Here where I live the outside temp is only 12°F!
Classic vibe all the way! The only thing you have to do is upgrade pickups and you have your self a killer guitar .
Fret work is good
low action
Fast playing guitar
Comfortable neck
Tuning is very stable !
The Affinity has the neck pickup mounted to the body (I prefer that). I have small hands, so I love the smaller neck! Also love that I can get a maple fingerboard!
I bought an affinity tele and rebuilt it into a monster. Took me all the way to nashville. Keep pounding. 🤙🎸
PATRICK GARRETT how much did it cost w all the upgrades?
@@midgetman2109 It was approximately $550 worth of upgrades so given the original price of the tele was $250 that would put it at a total cost of $800 completely assembled and that is including a Fender neck. All in all I'd say it was well worth it given that It has the same equipment as an American professional telecaster just with a little different set up.
Hello sir! Can you list the upgrades you did on your guitar?
@@josephmullinsii8461 sure, I have a 1963 original all natural road worn fender neck with vintage style frets, bone nut. Locking tuners, v mod pickups, a fat 50s strat middle pickup, f branded bigsby, 5 way switch, tone saver, .05mfd oil over paper tone cap, 250k low friction pots, extra heavy knurled chrome dome knobs, all of the chrome hardware has been relic'd, and the nashville tele white pearloid pickguard, with earnie ball strap locks. Fun fact I accidentally drilled through the body during a bridge pillar install and decided to cover the hole with a chrome metal fender logo and it just happens to be the best guard ever against belt buckles, and looks super custom to boot. Kept the squier body. But replaced the backplate with a Corona california plate. Will get a custom body made soon. And she rides with D'Addario XT strings in the .010's. So as you can see, she is a whole nother animal.
@@josephmullinsii8461 and it's worth nothing that I bought all of these components second hand on reverb and paid about $600 total. I estimate that if fender built it it would go for about 1400 on the streets as a second hand sell. Def an american professional grade or ultra grade. All parts I Installed myself. And tuning stability is phenomenal for a guitar with so much going on.
The Affinity is whatever body wood they have, changes with the seasons...
Is it really?
I bought a Squier Classic Vibe 60s Telecaster with a double bound 3 tone sunburst body with a 9.25 radius rosewood fret board c shaped maple neck. I got it for $350.00 in 2020. It was a couple of years old when I bought it, but it was in pristine condition. No finish dents or scratches and the frets weren't worn at all. I wondered if was going to be a heavy guitar when I first played it at the store, but it wasn't compared to my Les Paul Junior. It plays great and sounds like a Tele should.
Hahaha.. I absolutely love the "subscribe intro" ..that was genius 🤣🤣🤣
You probably dont care but does any of you know a tool to get back into an instagram account??
I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Maxim Curtis Instablaster ;)
@Garrett Davion thanks for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out now.
Seems to take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Garrett Davion It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy!
Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D
@Maxim Curtis Glad I could help :D
John 5 is totally my favorite player right now too. I'm going to buy that guitar.
I got mine from J5 himself. At one of his shows. Not much more than any storefront maybe $115 more, but you Meet him and get a goodie bag, the Axe is Signed too if you like😉
Affinity Tele + Hipshot tuner upgrade kit + professional setup (including nut slot depth adjustment) = super playable and enjoyable beast
That’s the absolute best guilt trip to subscribe pitch I’ve ever seen I love it way more effective than every video reminding people to subscribe I tune that out, I was already subscribed just binge watching videos on the channel.
I have the Affinity tele I got from GC for $199 and it was set up perfect from the factory - amazing! It has better pickups that do not sound thin like the Bullet. There are videos that compare the tone of the 2 side by side and it's a major difference - different pots etc. As you said, the neck is thin and fast.
I tried many of these Squier Teles and almost bought a Squier Classic Vibe but ended up saving a bit more money and watching the used market for a Fender Baja Telecaster. I got it now and don’t regret the decision. Nevertheless, the Squier Tele models are all pretty great.
I have a left handed Affinity that I modded into an Esquire, and the 50's Classic Vibe. Both are super solid guitars.
The classic vibe is more weight?
Michael Therion yes, Classic Vibe is a thicker, heavier body. Pine, I believe. The Affinity has a thinner profile and basswood body.
I pushed the sub button because of your sad, Sarah McLachlan style commercial in the beginning. I don't regret it.
I have a affinity tele changed the turners with graph tech ratio turners( no mod needed). Changed the pick ups with vintage broadcaster pickup set from seymour Duncan(had to remove some finsh from the bridge cavity. Took 5 minutes with 60 grit sand paper.)replaced the pots and 3 way switch with a Emerson prewired 250 pot set and chaged the bridge and drilled holes to made it a thru body and last i sheilded the cavities. Going to let the guitar shop change the nut when they set it up. I did this over 3 months.
Best of both worlds. As a lefty, I got the 50’s Classic Vibe for the AlNiCo 3 bridge pickup. Then I replaced the stock pots with reverse audio minis, added two holes and two 1meg pots to the control plate with chrome knobs; then wired them to a Novak Wide Range Humbucker in the neck. The only problem is that I have to used a special padded strap due to a severe back injury that occurred after I got it.
I got a Squier 72 Vintage Mod Thinline and it's my favorite tele I've ever laid my hands on. Super comfortable. That being said, I'd like to see a sound comparison of the stock WRHB and the conversion you mentioned in the video.
I really love the cv 60s double bound. I played one and was happily surprised. I will surely get one some day.
Good to see another Cardinals fan!
I got a CV butterscotch one and I love it! Not my most expensive guitar but a joy to play, especially after a setup/restring.
Awesome video, thanks. I'd assess myself as a beginner but I've accumulated a few guitars already. I picked up an Affinity Telecaster to see if I like that style of guitar, which I actually do enjoy now. Mine has the Butterscotch Blonde finish. It's been sitting still for a few months because I've been practicing on my acoustic. Anyway, I picked it up two nights ago, plugged it in, and played. It was still in tune and ready to go. My more expensive guitars all needed to be tuned. Not this one. Now I'm thinking I just might want a U.S. made Telecaster. I love them.
My 2022 Affinity Telecaster has a 42mm nut. I measured it with a set of calipers and the Fender site confirms it. 👍
I already own an avri '52 Telecaster so if I was to choose one of these ,I think I would buy the John 5 .
The quintessential tele sum up I love to see again and again! Thank you! The true difference I can find on ss teles is that the classic vibes are after the vintage original image and sound should you let the price drops a few things in favor of them!! So I will buy a cv 50's white blonde tele which I really like in order to put it side buy side to my 2011 MIM ss tele and see !!
Finally I have had a few now. Love the Tele. Think the classic vibe is most mod able
J mascis jazzmaster. But I would bet an hour's wages that there is NO poopy Squiers. As you did acknowledge. I have the aforementioned jazzmaster, a John 5 gold telecaster plus 4 more Squier brand. All of them put gladness in my heart. I certainly appreciate the wealth of modification info that you provide here.
Dylantalkstone.
I just got the squire standard series tele. I was hoping that I would see it in this video.. but none the less great video. I'm with you. I want a John 5 an the Jim Root. Love the tele.....
I have two of the Bullet Tele's Dylan and two of the Contemporary Tele's:
Bullet Tele's
FSR Sparkly Red Tele
FSR Lake Placid Blue Tele
Contemporary Tele's
Metallic Red HH (bought new)
Metallic Black HH (bought used, less than a year old in immaculate condition and less than half the new price)
As you say the FSR Bullet Tele's are a great modding platform, I've done a lot to the Sparkly Red Tele, and just minor mods on the LPB Tele, and swapped the tuners for locking tuners on both Contemporary Tele's, and the saddles for high mass stainless steel on both as well.
However, not sure about what pickups will be best for them, as you say they're not the greatest and are pretty much 'meh' till the gain is cranked way up high. So what pickups would you recommend for the Contemporary's Dylan?
Classic vibe anything are all amazing. I have a 50s, 60s bound body (early one have rosewood instead of Indian l.) And a 60s thinline. I'm still not done as my next guitar will be a 70s deluxe. I wasn't but Squier turned me into a tele guy.
I see a Squire Classic Vibe 60s custom on Sweetwater but it says C neck not slim taper. Is this correct?
From Leo: Bought an Affinity Telecaster as a back up when I knew my Fender Tele was going to be down for a while for fret replacement. I was surprised how good it actually is, and like the 6 saddle bridge. I add 4way switching to all my telecasters. Other than that mod, it is stock. I do not feel it is inferior to the Fender. Same with a Classic Vibe Strat, I like it as much as the Fender. We live in an amazing time. As long as you stay away from the very cheapest guitars, almost nothing on the market is unplayable crap.
@Steve From Leo: I am sure that you are right. Who is to say that one alloy sounds better than another? However, an instrument is not regulated by a chemists analysis nor by a spec sheet. I have been buying and selling since my 1st Gibson in 1971. Brand names and spec sheets mean nothing to me. What I judge an instrument by is 1) is it enjoyable to play? 2) can I get my sound out of it? 3) It does not hurt if it is pleasing to my eye either. If it does not meet that criteria, who cares what some spec sheet says? Different is not the same as wrong.
Every fender I’ve ever owned from the $130 Squier to the $1200 American had poor to moderate fretwork and a candy coat finish. Best Fender is the road worn body with the aftermarket neck and tuners of your choice.
Hi! I just wanted to say thank you for another great and informative video. I immediately sent this off to a friend who is looking at buying a Squier in the next few days. Have a great holiday season, and thanks for another great year of great videos! [edited to correct a spelling mistake]
I agree John 5 is the best. Getting ready to order a Tele
It is great. Double slow roll Volume pots both Pups are always on gives it more Sustain
Great run down ,great plugs for your builds... genius!
I could not find it but you should do the same video on Squier strats. Great vid.
Classic vibe !! All day and all night !
Cool video! I'm currently eyeing a Squier to start my guitar journey
Yes, the "infinity." Do not pay attention to the "Affinity" behind the curtain
Just picked up that classic vibe 70s Tele. Loving it so far, considering the workaround you mentioned for the fake "widerage" humbuckers...what other pickups would be a good upgrade?
The wide range are bigger than other humbuckers. Brandonwound pickups make a great version too.
@@captainkirk70 Let's go Brandon!
The newest 2021 Affinity recently released has the wider 42mm nut width instead of the previous 40mm one
If I get a Squier Tele, I'm going to have to go for the Classic Vibe lefty.
I'd love a pine bodied Tele and I'm a lefty.
What I'd really love to have, though, is a Tele with an unfinished (but sanded smooth) aromatic red cedar body.
Bullet is string-through and the Affinity is hardtail. Bullet is a few mm thinner in the body.
CV is a good Tele but the chrome parts corrode like crazy.
Thank you Dylan, I have been contemplating getting the contemporary model. Im ordering one first thing in the morning.
The Squier Standard Telecaster is the best value Squier Tele. Followed by the Classic Vibe.
You haven't played a J5
Lefty squire classic vibe took out pickups and got guitar heads mini rail humbucker for 25.00 plus their mini rail humbucker for neck put a coil split with 500k pots and it sounds awesome
I have older Squires, one is the Telecaster and the other is a Precision Bass. These are both Standard Series. I've modded the hell out of the P Bass, punches way above the money I put into it. The Telecaster is the mirror black model and its pretty stock with the addition of an Orange Drop on the tone and straplocks. Great instruments.
Dylan, any thoughts on the Standard series?
You could use a concentric pot on the jim root tele for a regular tele set up.
The early Affinity Telecasters weren't string through bodies unlike the Bullet Telecasters just in case anyone doesn't know this already. My wife bought me an early Squier Affinity Telecaster for my birthday and I have done some mods to it, like adding a Bigsby style tremolo and modded Wilkinson's ashtray style bridge to it, and yes the mods are permanent, (I have a sentimental attachment to it, so the cost doesn't matter). I actually like the thinner body of the early Affinity series Telecasters, especially since the tremolo added a bit of weight to the guitar. Eventually I'll get the electronics upgraded but they're adequate for now. I would like to install some locking tuners next. After I'm finished with modding my Tele, I'm more than likely going either get another (nicer) Telecaster that doesn't necessarily need mods done to it or try and find a good deal on a G&L ASAT (Tribute series most likely).
The nut width on my 2017 American special is 43 mm, but the string spacing is exactly the same as on my older 2014 affinity tele with a 41 mm nut. String spacing is exactly 35.5 mm on both guitars! The affinity has string through body so I guess they could be had both ways
@DylanTalksTone, I received a new Squier Telecaster Contemporary RH this year for my 50th birthday along with a Fender Mustang LT25 amplifier. I am not a performer, but absolutely love playing the guitar. It has the SQR Rail pickup at the bridge and the SQR Atomic humbucker at the neck. The Rail (bridge) sounds pretty good to me, but the SQR Atomic humbucker (neck) sounds a good bit "muddy." Because of this I find myself using the rail more often. The types of music I like to play are Country and rock and all that lies between. So my question is, have you had any experience with these guitars and their pickups? What would you recommend as a replacement for the neck humbucker, or even the rail for that matter? It appears that Squier has added some decent features to this guitar, but are there any other mods for this specific guitar that you would suggest? Like I said, I am still discovering the different tones I can get from the guitar, but I am a tinkerer and not afraid to work on my own stuff.
And now that has changed. The affinity that you speak of had a neck with no skunk stripe very very thin and sleek and with the 40 mm knot. I have a guess medium to large hands and wasn't really able to play chords on it and didn't really hold much stock in it I figured I'd play with it for a while and then get something different but I noticed when I jammed with friends I would just let them play rhythm and when I came in with my lead having this super slim 40 mm nut I was able to play leads I never thought I had in me! Great guitar from practicing scales. The frets were all tapered at the ends, not rolled but the way an affinity does their frets I don't ever see mentioned. They're not rolled they're not files they just kind of slope down to nothing they never protrude past the edge. Why this point is never brought up I will never know. Well I thought I would get myself a classic vibe 50 series so I would at least own the real thing and when I was ready to play and had learned everything I needed to learn I would have the guitar already. Well I did bring it for a setup and in order to get the string height action that I want the strings would actually have to be hitting the pickups. I would love to show you some photos if I have them but it turned into a real nightmare if a guitar and it still plays and sound excellent
I’ve been thinking about a Classic Vibe, but let’s see what your trusted (yes trusted) reviews are!! String through body or top load? Recommendations?
Tim Castle I have a classic vibe 50s Tele butterscotch blond finish, 2015 made in China. It's got a pine body, thin neck profile, medium jumbo frets, alnico 5 pickups, just like he described. I love it. No mods needed. The new ones have the narrow tall frets. $300-350.
I own some pretty desirable custom Strats and Teles that were made by the ultimate Fender luthier _before_ they had a custom shop. And if I lost them (over my very dead body) I would have no problem replacing them with the Classic Vibe series. You can always upgrade them as you see fit and still save a ton of money over any of the American Fenders on the market today. And I think they're a better guitar as well. I _might_ replace the switch and pots...maybe...if I had to. But that's about it. Even the pickups are pretty good, they paid some attention there that seldom gets mentioned, which I wouldn't mind scoring some to replace some stock Fender pickups that are...meh.
Slightly off topic but the J.Mascis Jazz Master is hands down the best Squire I've ever played. Not the cheapest, but definitely worth every single penny.
Could you please possibly do a video explaining the difference between filtertron style pickups and humbucker size filtertron style pickups? Like your video on the difference between p90s and humbucker size p90s. Because I've been looking into buying something like a les Paul or SG copy and putting humbucker size filtertrons in them to get a sort of cheap method of getting Pete Townshends amazing tone on Who's Next, when he used that big orange gretsch. Nothing beats that tone for power chords. An alternative I was considering was getting that Harley Benton tele loaded with filtertron style pickups in the actual correct size and replacing them with high quality filtertrons from seymour duncan or the Creamery or something. But I was thinking the combo of a mahogany guitar with the bright filtertrons would be better than the bright sounding wood on the tele, the big hollowbody gretsch works well with the filtertrons by being a combo of mellow wood and the hollowness of it with the bright pickups, like the combo of mahogany and filtertrons would be
This was helpful. Ive been looking at getting a telestyle guitar and squier has a lot of choices. I always try the budget version before throwing down a lot of cash
Hi there from Australia
Great video
I have just purchased myself one pick it up soon 😃 double bound 60s vibe
Am I too late for the competition
I've been eyeing off a classic vibe for a year or so... I want a 60's but every shop i go into to try them only ever has the 50's and 70's. Is this a conspiracy against dark wood fretboards? 😁
Classic 60s is the one I would get, I think. Or 50s for the Blonde
I have a 50s, from 2015, it's a great guitar. Period. No mods needed at all. Build quality as good as my USA made 1995 Strat.
That John 5 telex is amazing!
I look forward to watching your videos, they are so helpful, I'm excited to watch the mod video!
Hey brother you forgot the standards. I have a 2017 antique burst. I modded it with leo fenders original black guard tele and a bill Lawrence 5-way mod . It is a tone machine!!
Read my other replies.... i didn't forget
@@DylanTalksTone I just started to read comments my man, I also didn't forget about the humbuckers we were talking about. I will be in touch as soon as possible. I might even sell a old guitar to make it happen faster
You missed out an important point that the Affinity does not have a string through body. That's important for the sound and modification.
lol ... we have a video on that too
@@DylanTalksTone What's the name of that video? I'd love to watch that because I'm going back and forth between the Bullet and Affinity as my first electric and I've been looking for an honest opinion on how important the whole string-through aspect is to the tone.
The 50s Classic Vibe pine body is heavy so I swapped it with a Racer Red Alder body loaded with Texas Style pickups. It's a bad bad guitar! 💪
Hipshot locking tuners dropped right into the FSR Bullet Tele if anyone is considering one.
Really?! Can you link to the ones you used? Their support told me they wouldn't fit. This is great!
@@ransombaggins9301 I got the hipshot open gear locking tuners upgrade kit from Guitar Center. They dropped right in with no drilling, and the plate that holds them in place on the back of the headstock covered the old screw holes. www.guitarcenter.com/Hipshot/6GLO-Grip-Lock-Standard-Locking-Guitar-Tuning-Machine-Set-Chrome-1274034477288.gc
Hi there, pretty sure the 72 Thinline is an ash body...??? Got an 86 MIJ one of these and I've replaced the pickups with The Creamery Widelines. love the guitar, owned it from new, and love the latest pickups much more than the originals. Totally different from any other tele I own, plus I've also put a 52 tele neck pickup in the middle position with a bit of routing and a 5 way switch.... so it's flexible as you like! Love the videos man, keep them coming. I'm learning with each one! Cheers.
greatest intro ever
Just stumbled around and saw your video. I subscribed and hope to see more of your content. I think you should do a Jaguar or a jazz master.
The classic vibe is all you need.
I have the 70s deluxe . The "fake" wide range humbuckers might not be as good as the ones from the 70s but they are defintely not crap. I dont find them to be muddy at all. I think the neck pkckup is great. Not overly bass heavy like some neck humbuckers can be and its really nice and articulate. I find the bridge pickup to be quite bright and i find myself rolling off the tone to tame it a bit. I havw a few fuitars with expensive aftermarket humbuckers, and these definitelt hold their own.
Squier Standard Telecaster is a great guitar for the money. Well built and great sounding alnico pickups with the classic tele tones. Too bad it got skipped.
It's not in the us
@@DylanTalksTone Thanks for the reply, that's weird I thought the US got all the good stuff. If they ever bring them stateside make sure to check one out. :)
Recently I have seen a review of a Firefly Tele. It's a cheap guitar but, apparently good for the price.
If you have have seen one of those around, could you comment about this guitar?
Thanks for the in-depth review. I’m a big fan of these squire guitars.
Came for the tele's... Subbed for the intro...
Great! Very informative. Thank you. How about making a video about Squier Stratocasters?
That would be great.
It affinity, not infinity. I thought you were an expert.
Buy the Squier JV Telecaster.
I have a 50s CV and a Contemporay, both excellent
You're killing me with the heart-wrenching music 🤪
I learn alot from you vids. Thanks for sharing the knowledge. What is the name of pickups you make?
Dylan's I believe just check out Dylantalkstone.com
Dylan what do you know about a Fender Tele with a Jazzmasster Trem Bridge with 3 knobs, brass saddles with a Tele bridge plate?
Please let me know if you've seen any of this.
I have a video link but it's an add for built in, trem style sounding wiring.
It looks awesome and the pups sound awesome.
Love watcching your vids cause you're in the know!
I have no one left to turn to brother?
I wouldn't buy the lowest tier of any item because the next step up often gives significantly more for a nominal increase in cost. I would get my Squire based on first, what color i wanted, and second by the fretboard material and frets, then the neck. The rest would not matter. The PUP's would be changed, the tuners would be changed, and maybe a new nut and even bridge. Classic Vibe i would leave alone stock.
I'd go for the Thinline. Ever done I saw Sly Stone & Curtis Mayfield using them I thought they were the coolest Teles every.
I've been looking into getting unto playing guitar and have been torn between the Classic Vibes Tele and the Player Series. Any advice on the biggest differences in terms of playability?
what an epic informative video !
i'm a sort of 2 sounds guy, lead, and jazzy warm clean, if i'm correct both can be achieved on a tele, also having bigger hands ( long fingers) a "Bullet series neck" would do the trick?
Bullet and affinity bodies are supposed to be a bit thinner than the usual fender spec
Just subscribed. Very informative video thanks!!!!!
I got THEE J5 Goldie , I never thought this Axe was as Sharp as the Ginsu 2000 kitchen knife
Please do one for strats if you haven't already
how about squier standart tele?
Hi Dylan what Tele do you recommend,Butterscotch or double barrel?
I have 2 squier stratocasters 1 Standard 1S/E both have full thickness body's and are great Guitars my next will be an Affinity telecaster in Artic White or maybe a Mustang in Surf Green!!!!
Be aware that the Affinity will have a narrower nut and a probably a shallower body than the SE.
The 60s body used to be alder and originally came with rosewood on the fretboard!