I do know what you mean, but its also worth considering its the feel of the instrument and how it plays, alongside how it sounds (although how it sounds is ultimately what we want). With a lot of these reviews, the players are really good and can get good sound out of almost anything. Having said that the squire CV is brilliant, you would have to prize mine from my dead hands. Its one of my all time faves.
Pedraw, I think that Squiers are better to substitute Fenders than Epiphones to substitute Gibsons. I have a Fender and a Squier, and the main difference, apart of their price, is their durability, in other words, Fenders last in good conditions much longer than Squiers (which is normal considering the different qualities used to built both guitars) however, their sound is not so different one from the other...
The '63's pickups are "broader" to my ear, with the Squier's being thinner and more mid-scooped. The Bridge pickups seem to be the biggest tonal difference, with the '63 being fatter and warmer with a bit more crunch and sustain. Still, given the cost difference, the Squier even with stock pickups and something like a clean boost or a Sonic Stomp or EQ pedal gets you in the ballpark at a fraction of the price. Nice demo!
I was so impressed with the classic vibe pickups that I’m going to put my old classic vibe 60s pickguard onto my partscaster. I’ve already upgraded my classic vibe with a shawbucker and 2 Pribora single coils
I'm not sure comparing pickups is very relevante ?? You can change pickups anytime you want for whatever you would like ^^ And you once you did that you have all the amp and fx eq to scoop whatever you like if you compare 2 guitare I think it's better to focus on wood, feels of the neck, finish, sustain, vibrato etc etc
@@keanuuuu If you don't like the sound of the guitar, buy a more expensive one. One guitar is not another. First, think about setting up your amp correctly. Changing the pickups won't make you a better guitarist.
@@Arcade1959 I have lots of guitars, some expensive and some very cheap. You are right about the amp though, it’s an important part of the sound and should be dialled in correctly for personal taste before giving up on pickups that might not sound great at first. I’m a big fan of Lace sensors at the moment, the Golds and also the blue, silver, red set.
They both sound awesome, there definitely is something about the grittiness of the aged pickups on the fender, but I feel like that Squier captures what those fender pickups sounded like brand new..... or at least close to it.
The Squier sounds thinner than the Fender at first, but with more gain they sounded pretty similar 🤔 I think the squier would profit hugely from better electronics and pickups Then it would probably sound very very close! It sounds really good as is tho😍
Artie VanDelayo I saw someone do that in another video, they fitted custom shop 69 pickups and compared to the stock classic vibe 60s pickups, I preferred the stock ones! Maybe the CS 69s weren’t adjusted correctly for height though
I was very surprised at how well the squier did in comparison to the real deal. They are so close. I would really love to hear them compared with a fresh string change change using the exact same brand and guage.
I love my 2013 version of this guitar. Had a 6 way switch fitted and G&L style PTB wiring. The luthier also added a steel plate to the trem block, so it almost as massive as the ones on Fenders. It has that glassy strat sound. The more I play it, the more I love it. I have no desire for a real Fender!
In the clip of the Squier at 7:34 I think you've inadvertently mixed in your camera mic which is picking up the acoustic string noise. Otherwise the tone is extremely similar between the two - certainly within the realms of variation that can be caused by string age, pickup height etc. Squier have definitely been knocking it out of the park over the past 5-10 years. I have a Fender Player strat, but if I get a Tele at some point it'll probably be a Squier with no reservations whatsoever about tone or playability!
I was just saying the same thing. That is a very special 63 Strat that he has. The best I have ever heard. And yes, of course, there is no comparison to the new one, but it is still awesome. I play a China strat and can still make it sing, but it is like an old broken car that you have to lift up and carry down the road like Fred Flintstone if his car was a bucket of bolts.
Honestly, at this point the biggest difference is that the Squier has a different decal on the headstock. $10 on new pots and you've got an absolutely killer guitar in the Squier. I have a thing for blue guitars, though, so I may be bias haha
If you don't like the sound of the guitar, buy a more expensive one. One guitar is not another. First, think about setting up your amp correctly. Changing the pickups won't make you a better guitarist.
I love that squire...I own that exact color....I put hipshot vintage locking tuners on it , eliminated the string tree and it plays beautiful....sounds really good thru my mesa...best 300$ I ever spent on a guitar
Great video Robert as always! I own ten strats six Fenders and four Squiers. They all are a little different, body wood, neck wood, hardware, all sound good for different things. I've noticed two things in fifty years as a Fender guy, pickups/magnet type, and electronics make a bigger difference than wood flavor. Not saying ash sounds like alder, but pickups make a bigger difference to my ears. I've done more mods on MIM Fenders than Squiers to make them sound good! Thanks again Robert for the info and the great playing, you'd make a Silvertone guitar sound good!
I definitely say it held it’s own. Just as no guitar will be 100% perfect intonation each guitar has it’s very own unique characteristics in one way or another. Lovely 60’s style beauty, absolutely has the looks and sounds so damn good!
I have 2020 Squier CV 70's and made bunch of recordings (setup: Guitar -> Digitech RP360xp -> Soundcraft Noepad-12FX via USB--> Mac Pro -> Adobe Audition multi-track recordings) before and after upgrading PUs to a Fender Custom shop FAT 50's. I used Genelec speaker to listen on all different pickup positions back to back and I cannot hear any difference. I also did frequency analysis and found a difference that is worth mentioning. I am an audio engineer and can confidently say Squire CV is just as good as any higher priced Fender guitars. I did swap out the tremolo bridge to a Mexican Strat as Squire bridge was one cheap PoS. Nothing to fault vintage tuners (I adore vintage tuners) but I did upgraded to a locking vintage tuner and holds tune much better when using a tremolo.
The squier sounds different for sure but not inferior nor better, just different than the vintage. Plus, knowing that they have different gauge strings or maybe just the pickup heights could play more factor than the more obvious differences. Anyway, a well built strat almost always sounds and feels just like a strat. But come on, owning a vintage strat gives you a very good feeling which transcends to the way you play the guitar. It's not even how the guitar feels on your hands it's just that internal feeling that you're holding a vintage strat that makes it special. Bottomline: It's all in the head but whatever the differences may be, it's totally worth finding out for yourself. Very good video!
I don't know whether or not this is psychological or does the blue one sound nicer and cleaner. I can't wait for when you draw the winner. Good luck to all. And rob wow you can play some sweet licks. 👍🔥
I’ve had classic vibes over the years can’t deny..they are good one gig I remember either bringing my Clapton strat….or my 60’s classic vibe …well took the classic vibe ..was fine ….For the price point…as long as Alnico pickups it’ll get u there…
A few years back one of the local music stores had a classic 60s strat that they could not get rid of and they priced it down to like $175 or so they were just trying to give it away, I almost bought it but it was that kind of weird purple pinkish purple color that they had but man it felt so comfortable playing and I thought about it for a few months and then I went back to the store and it was gone and I asked the guy I said hey so you sold that strat finally,he's like yeah this guy came in with his daughter and as soon as she saw it she begged for it and he bought it for her...she just like the color 🤣
I’ve never ever played a Squire anything. I’ve seen them of course at every store but never saw one that made me want to pick it up. I will say that lake placid blue is really nice looking.
Could DEFINITELY hear the new strings. Sounded good listening thru my 2 little JBLs in stereo, but as I said little JBLs. Good work Robert... See ya soon
I own the exact same Squier in blue and it is an awesome guitar.I also own many nice expensive USA reissue Fenders and my Squier hangs in there with them...I'd easily be able to swap them out at a gig and be comfortable playing.The Squier Classic vibe series are excellent quality players.Sure you don't get the desired specs like nitro,vintage correct woods and electronics but they are fine guitars in their own right.The workmanship on mine is perfect...the fretwork is flawless and the sleek body carve is very much like old vintage 1950s/60s era Strats.It is super lightweight which is typically a desired trait in vintage Fenders.And I find that Nato wood has a great acoustic resonance with a nice lively ping when you tap it.I love old vintage Fenders and fancy reissues but these CV Squiers will get the job done....a Ferrari and a Toyota will both get you to the same destination.
I really like the classic vibe. I even own a classic vibe Tele. It’s a great series. But your 63 just has so much more in the sound, much richer and more complex. Really beautiful tones throughout. The vibe at some of the settings is still good, but a little thin.
Def wouldnt say "much" better actually i wouldn't say better at all just a bit different. I sold my made in America Stratocaster and got two classic Vibes and a fender player from Mexico and couldn't be more happy
The real question is did you dial in tones that they both sound good with. Or did you use your favorite tones you have dialed in the past with the vintage strat and seen if the squire could hold it's own?
I have an early 80s Squire Strat E Series made in Korea , it's a beast, everybody who plays it wants to buy it from me........not for sale! Great fun video dude !
I want one of those so bad but now everyone knows how good they are and they went from $250 used to almost $400 with shipping. Guess its gonna be an affinity to be able to play again.
Actually it's the pots that make the Squier sound brighter, not the strings. The Squier has 500k pots which let a lot more high end through and can tend to sound harsh at times. I bet if you put 250k in that, it would sound much smoother.
I bought a squire 70’s thineline tele, amazing. Ordered the 50’s cv Strat , most comfortable guitars I’ve ever played. 399 for the guitar and 150 for fender 57/62 pickups and there is a high end guitar. For a 1/3 of the price, name is only a sticker fell and playability and feel what makes a guitar
Did your vintage reissue Strat come with a 7.25 radius neck? I ask because that was the vintage radius but they seem to use 9.5 radius on most of their guitars.
I also ask because I'm might buy a Squier '84 MIJ SQ Stratocaster, a classic Squier. It has a 7.25 radius neck and that's the only reason I'm hesitating buying it, I know it's a vintage spec but I'm not sure if I'll like it.
Have both, love them both. My Squier is a vintage modified with the Duncan design pups. But I do have a cv Tele and an America Tele. Maybe I don’t need so many similar tones, but then again hell yes I do!
I think it stepped up pretty well but my problem is is that I could just set and listen to you play all day long. You are awesome, dude. KEEP DOIN' WHAT YOU'RE DOIN'!
The Fender is warmer and I do prefer it, but not ugh in it in a mix/band situation I suspect. Indeed I would use the Squier live problem and wouldn’t worry about it getting knocked about. Like the colour too. Great comparison with great playing. Nice!
I appreciate that kind of vid not only because you compare guitars but we can take some riffs off (sorry for my English). Love from France Robert, I always spent good time with your vids. Thank u🇫🇷👍🏼🍒
This is cool! Great comparison. I’d say the Squire sounds brighter, maybe more midrangey. That difference could be easily adjusted out of it with some minor tone adjustments. Pretty crazy when you think about it. I haven’t owned a Strat in 20 years - always been a Tele guy - but I recently received this exact same Squire as a Father’s Day present. I freaking LOVE it. Amazing quality, especially for a $400 guitar. Lake Placid Blue is by far my favorite electric guitar color. I had a 71 Chevelle SS in high school that was the same color; with white SS stripes on the hood and truck. As soon as I got the guitar, I did a basic set up (relief, action, intonation and PUP height). The intonation was the only thing that needed some measurable adjustment. Currently, I’m waiting on some new fret erasers to finish the setup and replace the strings. Not sure if I’ll put the whammy bar on it, but if I do, it will need adjustment, too. All in all, though, just am amazing guitar that makes me wonder why would anyone shell out $1000+ for a Fender standard strat.
Love that '63! There's just no replacing the complex harmonics of those old guitars. Some custom shops come close, but when you consider not only the tone but the aged wood, looks, and feel, it's just magical. Although at the prices they are currently going for, a custom shop model is probably the closest I'll ever come. Although I love my Robert Cray signature Strat for being a very good copy of an early 60s Stratocaster.
I’d be really interested to know how they “feel” under your fingers... I always find you can fall for a guitar by how it feels, then you make it work tone wise.
I have a 70's CV, HSS sitting next to my Christmas tree. I feel like a kid again. Man, I can't wait. I did play it for 5 min making sure its all good. Feel's, play's & sound's like $$$$.00 (opinion)
I got one for Christmas too. I actually wanted to get a fender for the first time in my life. I lined up a mij, mim, and a mia at the shop. I could afford to own any of these and always wanted a real fender. I came home with the classic vibe. It wasn’t the worst of the fenders I played that day so I couldn’t justify the extra money just to get the word fender on the headstock. I’ve played it everyday and I love it
They both sound great! I feel that Strat really sounds better than just about.... anything really, but the Squier is very good too! I don't think anyone expected them to sound exactly the same but I wouldn't be complaining about the Squier sound either- "Classic Vibe" is a perfect description for how it sounds. AWESOME!
Too much Romanticism, that squier with better electronics and better pickups can sound as good as the 63..... so if the 63 makes you happy great, plus is an investment so if you have the $$ why not... but for real practical reasons, old stuff is mostly overrated and a Romantic/Psychological/Snobby thing.
True plus there is assumption that the squire needs an upgrade just because it isn’t a $1K + Fender. Pickups sound good to my ear if not better than the hand wound highly variable 63.
They sounded pretty different but both sounded great. The Squier, for the price, is quite a big bang for the buck. They are so well built and really sound great. Those Classic Vibe models are better sounding than the MIM Fenders. Way better.
I own one and love how rounded the curves are but the MIM does feel more professional. The weakness to all these tone tests is they don’t address quality, materials and playability. Guitarist do sooooo much processing, pre/post and in circuit that the basic tone doesn’t even matter anymore.
I have this guitar and love it, it seems to get better the more I play it. Thanks for that comparison, I often wondered if they were close and my gut was right, they are pretty dang close. Nothing with ever top and legit original vintage Strat, but if you want that tone and its all you can afford, this is a great guitar to give you that Fender experience until you can get that "Dream Strat"
I am partial to blue, so the color is perfect.. I believe that Squier is Fenders answer to Gibson's Epiphone.. I think that the difference in tone is not really audible.. Maybe you can see it on a meter, but on stage it could pass for a killer Fender Strat.. Would love to have it.... Thanks Robert.. Been looking for you on Shane's intheblues.. Take care..
I love the classic 60's strat, but for the money I (i.e. my wife) couldn't justify spending all that $ on a guitar that you could emulate with a guitar at a fraction of the cost. I just got my Firefly FF338 delivered about an hour ago, and I must say I'm totally stoked over it. Sounds great, looks great and plays great for $150. You just can't beat that.
My honest opinion. The original hands down. But those squires are definitely cool guitars. And as much as a original strat would be nice. I'd rather have a bunch of those squires. Just good craftmanship and tone. Great video. 🤘😈🤘
The more I learn about these things, the more I realize it's not so much the tone but how you end up reacting to the instrument. And while they have tonal differences, these are things that can certainly be coaxed or eq'd into the mix, and even the strings can attribute to those differences. Like I was saying... It's the way you're playing each instrument that I find the most interesting. You play the 63 like you've known it your whole life - as if it were meant to be, while the 60s CV you play it with less (for lack of a better word or maybe to complete the metaphor) certainty of it, perhaps like two strangers trying to make something work. And yet they're the same thing in almost all accounts (obviously not exactly the same but they're both strats is what I mean.) It's a great look and study of two different things that are so close but so far from each other, and most importantly what I enjoyed was how you as the player came alive with the 63.
I see your point but its not a fair comparison. Even if his 63 wasn´t the greatest sounding guitar, its still the guitar he (and I´m just assuming here) has spent the most time with. In a way, I´m kind of defending the Squier cuz I bought one 2 days ago and being myself a beginner, noticed how great it felt and sounded. I spent two weeks going to the local music store, playing the same damn songs over and over, A/B`ing it against many other guitars and came to the conclusion it was badass. The one I got vibrates as hell, feels amazing and the build quality is very nice. I just want to get better at playing and once that happens, changing pickups (if need be) or adjusting one small thing or the other on a already nice guitar will be a no-brainer. long live squier 60 classic vibe - you rule!!!!
Honestly really hard to tell any difference. If you never told me, I would not know the difference, however the ones who notice the difference the most are the players themselves. So, do YOU hear a significant difference? To us, I think most would say there is little difference certainly not to justify the premium
I felt some significant difference on the bridge pickups comparison from 6:45. It's something like the oldest Fender sounds more compressed, pronounced and fat than Squier. But, take a look (or "take a listen" 😁), Squier doesn't sound bad at all. It would be a good choice by the price!
Pretty damn good sound, both of them. Blue one clean, crystal clear and with gain getting fat as wished, absolutely usable. But much nicer range of overtones in the white one. Nice comparison, Thx for your work Mr. Baker 👍👏
In the future, Maybe when comparing 2 guitars, you use the same strings, Size, gauge, Make.. Make it as accurate as you can for the comparison. Just my 2 cents. Take the Squire and add your favourite pick ups, a roller string tree, roller bridge saddles, spend a little time on the fret ends, locking tuners and redo the electronics with proper pots and orange drop caps. It makes the Squire a true custom guitar.
Man those are some sweet axes,both are dam cool. I can hear a slight difference between them. You're absolutely right. The 63 seems more deep, while the Squire sounds lighter and a little cleaner. Both are superb, and anyone would be lucky as heck to have either one.😉
Great playing! The 63 def sounded better but like every other comment states, the Squier held its own! One thing that stood out to me was the sustain on the 63 was better. Notes rang through and I think it helped keep the tempo lower since you didn’t have to fill the “empty” space. Playing seemed more rushed on the Squier which didn’t allow for all the “feeling” you provided with the 63. I love strat neck tone and I’m actually here cause I just bought a CV 50s neck pickup to fit in my tele. I think I’ll be very pleased based on what I heard.
I got a squire for $35, buffed out the signs of abuse, put a loaded pick guard with alnico pickups, strings, I love it. There isn’t the world of difference between the two guitars that you play in this video sonically, there’s a difference there, but? You’re playing the hell out of both of those guitars and you can’t blame either one for limiting you.
Wow, the Squier sounds similar to Roberts fender and for the price it's a good deal! Of course the sound quality is much better from Roberts strat but for the low price of the Squier, it's a very good deal imo. Thanks Robert!
There's a brightness to the Squier that's just unmistakable. They both sound exceptional but I always lean to the Fender pickups because of the brightness.
I think that a Squier with one's favorite strings has the potential to sound better to an individual. The 63 sounds better, that would be obvious to many people, but that doesn't make the Squier not a great sounding guitar. For me, a novice player, the expense on anything better would just be wasted money anyway, plus I think that it sounds better than a lot of early electric guitars. I have a Squire Affinity bass, and after I did a proper setup (they ship with the strings really high), sanded down the ends of the frets, I polished the top of the frets, set the pickup height and the intonation and added some great strings, the bass sounds as good as anything else to me and I love it every time I pick it up. I'll do the same with any guitar that I buy and be super happy.
For the price, the Squier would be enough for 80% of players.
lets say 99%
Agreed and with a little more eq/drive compensation I think the gap could be even closer
Definitely mate.
For a first guitar yes
the only problem is we are not in this 80%, right? lol
Literally no-one will notice any difference in tone between these two guitars within the context of a band mix.
Your '63 is a beautiful guitar 😍
The Squier has a brighter tone but it still sounds like a Stratocaster. This is why I can't justify spending a lot of money on a guitar.
I do know what you mean, but its also worth considering its the feel of the instrument and how it plays, alongside how it sounds (although how it sounds is ultimately what we want). With a lot of these reviews, the players are really good and can get good sound out of almost anything. Having said that the squire CV is brilliant, you would have to prize mine from my dead hands. Its one of my all time faves.
Pedraw, I think that Squiers are better to substitute Fenders than Epiphones to substitute Gibsons. I have a Fender and a Squier, and the main difference, apart of their price, is their durability, in other words, Fenders last in good conditions much longer than Squiers (which is normal considering the different qualities used to built both guitars) however, their sound is not so different one from the other...
@@patriciaydiegoormaza-marti2446 monomer pop
i know you weren’t playing little wing so i guess i’ll call it “tiny flying apparatus” but i liked Number Pete better in that one.
The Squire sounded amazingly good overall. Was surprised.
New strings
The '63's pickups are "broader" to my ear, with the Squier's being thinner and more mid-scooped. The Bridge pickups seem to be the biggest tonal difference, with the '63 being fatter and warmer with a bit more crunch and sustain. Still, given the cost difference, the Squier even with stock pickups and something like a clean boost or a Sonic Stomp or EQ pedal gets you in the ballpark at a fraction of the price. Nice demo!
I was so impressed with the classic vibe pickups that I’m going to put my old classic vibe 60s pickguard onto my partscaster. I’ve already upgraded my classic vibe with a shawbucker and 2 Pribora single coils
I'm not sure comparing pickups is very relevante ??
You can change pickups anytime you want for whatever you would like ^^
And you once you did that you have all the amp and fx eq to scoop whatever you like
if you compare 2 guitare I think it's better to focus on wood, feels of the neck, finish, sustain, vibrato etc etc
@@Aniki82 Absolutely agree
@@keanuuuu If you don't like the sound of the guitar, buy a more expensive one. One guitar is not another. First, think about setting up your amp correctly.
Changing the pickups won't make you a better guitarist.
@@Arcade1959 I have lots of guitars, some expensive and some very cheap. You are right about the amp though, it’s an important part of the sound and should be dialled in correctly for personal taste before giving up on pickups that might not sound great at first. I’m a big fan of Lace sensors at the moment, the Golds and also the blue, silver, red set.
They both sound awesome, there definitely is something about the grittiness of the aged pickups on the fender, but I feel like that Squier captures what those fender pickups sounded like brand new..... or at least close to it.
The Squier sounds thinner than the Fender at first, but with more gain they sounded pretty similar 🤔
I think the squier would profit hugely from better electronics and pickups
Then it would probably sound very very close!
It sounds really good as is tho😍
Same bro.
Put $200 Fender USA pickups in the Squier & do a blind comparison! 💪
Artie VanDelayo I saw someone do that in another video, they fitted custom shop 69 pickups and compared to the stock classic vibe 60s pickups, I preferred the stock ones! Maybe the CS 69s weren’t adjusted correctly for height though
and tuners. god damn my 70s classic vibe. kills me
Then it wouldn't be a Squier
I can hear the attack coming off the classic vibe, regardless this was a good comparison vid!
I was very surprised at how well the squier did in comparison to the real deal. They are so close. I would really love to hear them compared with a fresh string change change using the exact same brand and guage.
The CV Squier Strats are crazy good.
The amount you give back to your viewers is incredible! Keep up the good work bro.
I love my 2013 version of this guitar. Had a 6 way switch fitted and G&L style PTB wiring. The luthier also added a steel plate to the trem block, so it almost as massive as the ones on Fenders. It has that glassy strat sound. The more I play it, the more I love it. I have no desire for a real Fender!
This illustrates it's really all about the player! They both sound great.
It's both, but yeah player first. A great player will make a cheap instrument sound great, but a great guitar will make a great player at his best.
In the clip of the Squier at 7:34 I think you've inadvertently mixed in your camera mic which is picking up the acoustic string noise. Otherwise the tone is extremely similar between the two - certainly within the realms of variation that can be caused by string age, pickup height etc.
Squier have definitely been knocking it out of the park over the past 5-10 years. I have a Fender Player strat, but if I get a Tele at some point it'll probably be a Squier with no reservations whatsoever about tone or playability!
Good point.
I was thinking the bridge was microphonic.
Well done Brother! Both are Great Guitars! Thanks Robert and Be Well All!
“It will be mine...oh yes, it will be mine”
No stairway (huh) ...... Denied
Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine! LOL
Please guys I love that blue skyer.
My dad has a mim strat just like the blue one so I really want that guitar
Fender?
The Squier sounds nice, but nothing compares to your '63 Strat. That's one of the best-sounding guitars I've ever heard. Magic pickups indeed! :)
I was just saying the same thing. That is a very special 63 Strat that he has. The best I have ever heard. And yes, of course, there is no comparison to the new one, but it is still awesome. I play a China strat and can still make it sing, but it is like an old broken car that you have to lift up and carry down the road like Fred Flintstone if his car was a bucket of bolts.
the guitar is magical not the pickups
Honestly, at this point the biggest difference is that the Squier has a different decal on the headstock. $10 on new pots and you've got an absolutely killer guitar in the Squier. I have a thing for blue guitars, though, so I may be bias haha
If you don't like the sound of the guitar, buy a more expensive one. One guitar is not another. First, think about setting up your amp correctly.
Changing the pickups won't make you a better guitarist.
@@Arcade1959 you don't have to buy a new guitar you could change the pickups for a lot cheaper
I love that squire...I own that exact color....I put hipshot vintage locking tuners on it , eliminated the string tree and it plays beautiful....sounds really good thru my mesa...best 300$ I ever spent on a guitar
I like your comment about the tone knob controlling the bridge pick up. Great inside tip.
Great video Robert as always! I own ten strats six Fenders and four Squiers. They all are a little different, body wood, neck wood, hardware, all sound good for different things. I've noticed two things in fifty years as a Fender guy, pickups/magnet type, and electronics make a bigger difference than wood flavor. Not saying ash sounds like alder, but pickups make a bigger difference to my ears. I've done more mods on MIM Fenders than Squiers to make them sound good!
Thanks again Robert for the info and the great playing, you'd make a Silvertone guitar sound good!
Apparently a lot of people can't spell Squier correctly, Just sayin'. lol.
From trusting spellcheck too much
"Squire"
So true I can't and I own one
What, there's nothing wrong with Squire Guitars?
Who cares...lol
I like to call this one 'avoiding that copyright level 2.0' - brilliant!
Great show, thank you. Nails two points; 1. 63 2. Not taking the 63 out, but a Squier'll get it done. Sold!
I definitely say it held it’s own. Just as no guitar will be 100% perfect intonation each guitar has it’s very own unique characteristics in one way or another.
Lovely 60’s style beauty, absolutely has the looks and sounds so damn good!
They both sound as good as each other in different ways
I have 2020 Squier CV 70's and made bunch of recordings (setup: Guitar -> Digitech RP360xp -> Soundcraft Noepad-12FX via USB--> Mac Pro -> Adobe Audition multi-track recordings) before and after upgrading PUs to a Fender Custom shop FAT 50's. I used Genelec speaker to listen on all different pickup positions back to back and I cannot hear any difference. I also did frequency analysis and found a difference that is worth mentioning. I am an audio engineer and can confidently say Squire CV is just as good as any higher priced Fender guitars. I did swap out the tremolo bridge to a Mexican Strat as Squire bridge was one cheap PoS. Nothing to fault vintage tuners (I adore vintage tuners) but I did upgraded to a locking vintage tuner and holds tune much better when using a tremolo.
Its in the playing....They both sound like Fender Stratocasters....sound great...I'd used both or either one in a Studio...
8:49 is that the "Small Aerofoil" by James Hand and the Rix?
The squier sounds different for sure but not inferior nor better, just different than the vintage. Plus, knowing that they have different gauge strings or maybe just the pickup heights could play more factor than the more obvious differences. Anyway, a well built strat almost always sounds and feels just like a strat. But come on, owning a vintage strat gives you a very good feeling which transcends to the way you play the guitar. It's not even how the guitar feels on your hands it's just that internal feeling that you're holding a vintage strat that makes it special. Bottomline: It's all in the head but whatever the differences may be, it's totally worth finding out for yourself. Very good video!
The squier is good, so good but the 63 is in another level.
exactly...people are retarded in the comment section
Another level of putting a hurt on your wallet that's about it LOL
I don't know whether or not this is psychological or does the blue one sound nicer and cleaner.
I can't wait for when you draw the winner.
Good luck to all.
And rob wow you can play some sweet licks. 👍🔥
I’ve had classic vibes over the years can’t deny..they are good one gig I remember either bringing my Clapton strat….or my 60’s classic vibe …well took the classic vibe ..was fine ….For the price point…as long as Alnico pickups it’ll get u there…
CV60s held up very well. I have one. Love it!
A few years back one of the local music stores had a classic 60s strat that they could not get rid of and they priced it down to like $175 or so they were just trying to give it away, I almost bought it but it was that kind of weird purple pinkish purple color that they had but man it felt so comfortable playing and I thought about it for a few months and then I went back to the store and it was gone and I asked the guy I said hey so you sold that strat finally,he's like yeah this guy came in with his daughter and as soon as she saw it she begged for it and he bought it for her...she just like the color 🤣
I’ve never ever played a Squire anything. I’ve seen them of course at every store but never saw one that made me want to pick it up. I will say that lake placid blue is really nice looking.
Could DEFINITELY hear the new strings. Sounded good listening thru my 2 little JBLs in stereo, but as I said little JBLs.
Good work Robert...
See ya soon
Love your 63'. I have a 2021 LPB Squire CV 60's myself and love it!. Great video too!
Oh my my! Strats are heaven, freakin love em! Nice video man! Keep the good stuff rollin!!!!
I own the exact same Squier in blue and it is an awesome guitar.I also own many nice expensive USA reissue Fenders and my Squier hangs in there with them...I'd easily be able to swap them out at a gig and be comfortable playing.The Squier Classic vibe series are excellent quality players.Sure you don't get the desired specs like nitro,vintage correct woods and electronics but they are fine guitars in their own right.The workmanship on mine is perfect...the fretwork is flawless and the sleek body carve is very much like old vintage 1950s/60s era Strats.It is super lightweight which is typically a desired trait in vintage Fenders.And I find that Nato wood has a great acoustic resonance with a nice lively ping when you tap it.I love old vintage Fenders and fancy reissues but these CV Squiers will get the job done....a Ferrari and a Toyota will both get you to the same destination.
I really like the classic vibe. I even own a classic vibe Tele. It’s a great series. But your 63 just has so much more in the sound, much richer and more complex. Really beautiful tones throughout. The vibe at some of the settings is still good, but a little thin.
Def wouldnt say "much" better actually i wouldn't say better at all just a bit different. I sold my made in America Stratocaster and got two classic Vibes and a fender player from Mexico and couldn't be more happy
@@jhrdrake7205 They are a great value. Tough to beat for the price. Doubt I will ever sell my CV Tele.
The real question is did you dial in tones that they both sound good with. Or did you use your favorite tones you have dialed in the past with the vintage strat and seen if the squire could hold it's own?
I have an early 80s Squire Strat E Series made in Korea , it's a beast, everybody who plays it wants to buy it from me........not for sale! Great fun video dude !
I want one of those so bad but now everyone knows how good they are and they went from $250 used to almost $400 with shipping. Guess its gonna be an affinity to be able to play again.
Actually it's the pots that make the Squier sound brighter, not the strings. The Squier has 500k pots which let a lot more high end through and can tend to sound harsh at times. I bet if you put 250k in that, it would sound much smoother.
I bought a squire 70’s thineline tele, amazing. Ordered the 50’s cv Strat , most comfortable guitars I’ve ever played. 399 for the guitar and 150 for fender 57/62 pickups and there is a high end guitar. For a 1/3 of the price, name is only a sticker fell and playability and feel what makes a guitar
Intro jams are always straight 🔥🔥🔥
Got my dream guitar earlier this month! Fender American Vintage 62 Stratocaster 😎 (Though the real dream is an actual 1962 Stratocaster 😂)
Did your vintage reissue Strat come with a 7.25 radius neck? I ask because that was the vintage radius but they seem to use 9.5 radius on most of their guitars.
I also ask because I'm might buy a Squier '84 MIJ SQ Stratocaster, a classic Squier. It has a 7.25 radius neck and that's the only reason I'm hesitating buying it, I know it's a vintage spec but I'm not sure if I'll like it.
Have both, love them both. My Squier is a vintage modified with the Duncan design pups. But I do have a cv Tele and an America Tele. Maybe I don’t need so many similar tones, but then again hell yes I do!
I think it stepped up pretty well but my problem is is that I could just set and listen to you play all day long. You are awesome, dude. KEEP DOIN' WHAT YOU'RE DOIN'!
They both sounded great! So for the price, I’d definitely purchase a Squier!
The Fender is warmer and I do prefer it, but not ugh in it in a mix/band situation I suspect. Indeed I would use the Squier live problem and wouldn’t worry about it getting knocked about. Like the colour too. Great comparison with great playing. Nice!
I appreciate that kind of vid not only because you compare guitars but we can take some riffs off (sorry for my English). Love from France Robert, I always spent good time with your vids. Thank u🇫🇷👍🏼🍒
I’ve watched a couple of your videos today and in each you were rocking the Macho Man t-shirts and I love it.
This is cool! Great comparison. I’d say the Squire sounds brighter, maybe more midrangey. That difference could be easily adjusted out of it with some minor tone adjustments. Pretty crazy when you think about it.
I haven’t owned a Strat in 20 years - always been a Tele guy - but I recently received this exact same Squire as a Father’s Day present. I freaking LOVE it. Amazing quality, especially for a $400 guitar. Lake Placid Blue is by far my favorite electric guitar color. I had a 71 Chevelle SS in high school that was the same color; with white SS stripes on the hood and truck.
As soon as I got the guitar, I did a basic set up (relief, action, intonation and PUP height). The intonation was the only thing that needed some measurable adjustment. Currently, I’m waiting on some new fret erasers to finish the setup and replace the strings. Not sure if I’ll put the whammy bar on it, but if I do, it will need adjustment, too. All in all, though, just am amazing guitar that makes me wonder why would anyone shell out $1000+ for a Fender standard strat.
Love that '63! There's just no replacing the complex harmonics of those old guitars. Some custom shops come close, but when you consider not only the tone but the aged wood, looks, and feel, it's just magical. Although at the prices they are currently going for, a custom shop model is probably the closest I'll ever come. Although I love my Robert Cray signature Strat for being a very good copy of an early 60s Stratocaster.
i wasn't expecting it to sound THAT nice and with upgrades in the future i think it could be a BEAST
I’d be really interested to know how they “feel” under your fingers... I always find you can fall for a guitar by how it feels, then you make it work tone wise.
I have a 70's CV, HSS sitting next to my Christmas tree. I feel like a kid again. Man, I can't wait. I did play it for 5 min making sure its all good. Feel's, play's & sound's like $$$$.00 (opinion)
I got one for Christmas too. I actually wanted to get a fender for the first time in my life. I lined up a mij, mim, and a mia at the shop. I could afford to own any of these and always wanted a real fender. I came home with the classic vibe. It wasn’t the worst of the fenders I played that day so I couldn’t justify the extra money just to get the word fender on the headstock. I’ve played it everyday and I love it
@@macdoug1234 Agree 100%. I am very happy with it. I also wanted a fender for the first time. I am actually impressed with it. Good luck, rock on.
Well..in my opinion Squier sounds brighter and have that extra bite in it! That' s in my ears here! Thank U for great presentation!
They both sound great! I feel that Strat really sounds better than just about.... anything really, but the Squier is very good too! I don't think anyone expected them to sound exactly the same but I wouldn't be complaining about the Squier sound either- "Classic Vibe" is a perfect description for how it sounds. AWESOME!
Too much Romanticism, that squier with better electronics and better pickups can sound as good as the 63..... so if the 63 makes you happy great, plus is an investment so if you have the $$ why not... but for real practical reasons, old stuff is mostly overrated and a Romantic/Psychological/Snobby thing.
Agreed
So tru
True plus there is assumption that the squire needs an upgrade just because it isn’t a $1K + Fender. Pickups sound good to my ear if not better than the hand wound highly variable 63.
The real deal is the real deal. The difference in the pickups is huge, even on UA-cam. Keep rockin🤘
That vintage sounds so sweet. Treat her well, man!
Nice comparison. I want a classic vibe now.
Have a couple of strats and just grabbed a G&L a week ago
They sounded pretty different but both sounded great. The Squier, for the price, is quite a big bang for the buck. They are so well built and really sound great. Those Classic Vibe models are better sounding than the MIM Fenders. Way better.
I own one and love how rounded the curves are but the MIM does feel more professional. The weakness to all these tone tests is they don’t address quality, materials and playability. Guitarist do sooooo much processing, pre/post and in circuit that the basic tone doesn’t even matter anymore.
I have a squire affinity tele and i absolutely love it!
I have this guitar and love it, it seems to get better the more I play it. Thanks for that comparison, I often wondered if they were close and my gut was right, they are pretty dang close. Nothing with ever top and legit original vintage Strat, but if you want that tone and its all you can afford, this is a great guitar to give you that Fender experience until you can get that "Dream Strat"
''it seems to get better the more i play it''
perhaps it is just you that is getting better? Food for thought :D
I still have mine and won't let it go. They are kick butt!
I am partial to blue, so the color is perfect.. I believe that Squier is Fenders answer to Gibson's Epiphone.. I think that the difference in tone is not really audible.. Maybe you can see it on a meter, but on stage it could pass for a killer Fender Strat.. Would love to have it.... Thanks Robert.. Been looking for you on Shane's intheblues.. Take care..
Good video and all....but I'm here for that RANDY SAVAGE T!!!
I love the classic 60's strat, but for the money I (i.e. my wife) couldn't justify spending all that $ on a guitar that you could emulate with a guitar at a fraction of the cost. I just got my Firefly FF338 delivered about an hour ago, and I must say I'm totally stoked over it. Sounds great, looks great and plays great for $150. You just can't beat that.
That blue Strat looks killer.
Personally I think that the quality, sound and playability of Squire guitars are the best among all the little brother brands.
My cv 50s strats got the same color as your strat except a maple fb. The color threw me off at first but ive grown to love it
I have a Burgundy Mist 60's CV Strat, it is fantastic, the neck is perfect.
Im so glad i clicked on this
Ill be getting my first squier.. Shell pink ! 😁
Thank you for the video and all great responses 👍
Cool video! Interesting how well the CV sounded.
My honest opinion. The original hands down. But those squires are definitely cool guitars. And as much as a original strat would be nice. I'd rather have a bunch of those squires. Just good craftmanship and tone. Great video. 🤘😈🤘
The squier sounds much better than I thought 🔥
lol. We wish.
The more I learn about these things, the more I realize it's not so much the tone but how you end up reacting to the instrument. And while they have tonal differences, these are things that can certainly be coaxed or eq'd into the mix, and even the strings can attribute to those differences. Like I was saying... It's the way you're playing each instrument that I find the most interesting. You play the 63 like you've known it your whole life - as if it were meant to be, while the 60s CV you play it with less (for lack of a better word or maybe to complete the metaphor) certainty of it, perhaps like two strangers trying to make something work.
And yet they're the same thing in almost all accounts (obviously not exactly the same but they're both strats is what I mean.)
It's a great look and study of two different things that are so close but so far from each other, and most importantly what I enjoyed was how you as the player came alive with the 63.
I see your point but its not a fair comparison. Even if his 63 wasn´t the greatest sounding guitar, its still the guitar he (and I´m just assuming here) has spent the most time with. In a way, I´m kind of defending the Squier cuz I bought one 2 days ago and being myself a beginner, noticed how great it felt and sounded. I spent two weeks going to the local music store, playing the same damn songs over and over, A/B`ing it against many other guitars and came to the conclusion it was badass. The one I got vibrates as hell, feels amazing and the build quality is very nice. I just want to get better at playing and once that happens, changing pickups (if need be) or adjusting one small thing or the other on a already nice guitar will be a no-brainer. long live squier 60 classic vibe - you rule!!!!
Honestly really hard to tell any difference. If you never told me, I would not know the difference, however the ones who notice the difference the most are the players themselves. So, do YOU hear a significant difference? To us, I think most would say there is little difference certainly not to justify the premium
I felt some significant difference on the bridge pickups comparison from 6:45. It's something like the oldest Fender sounds more compressed, pronounced and fat than Squier.
But, take a look (or "take a listen" 😁), Squier doesn't sound bad at all.
It would be a good choice by the price!
Pretty damn good sound, both of them. Blue one clean, crystal clear and with gain getting fat as wished, absolutely usable. But much nicer range of overtones in the white one. Nice comparison, Thx for your work Mr. Baker 👍👏
Nice review! Thank you.
In the future, Maybe when comparing 2 guitars, you use the same strings, Size, gauge, Make.. Make it as accurate as you can for the comparison. Just my 2 cents.
Take the Squire and add your favourite pick ups, a roller string tree, roller bridge saddles, spend a little time on the fret ends, locking tuners and redo the electronics with proper pots and orange drop caps. It makes the Squire a true custom guitar.
Great intro Robert. Good stuff man.
Man those are some sweet axes,both are dam cool. I can hear a slight difference between them. You're absolutely right. The 63 seems more deep, while the Squire sounds lighter and a little cleaner. Both are superb, and anyone would be lucky as heck to have either one.😉
Great playing! The 63 def sounded better but like every other comment states, the Squier held its own! One thing that stood out to me was the sustain on the 63 was better. Notes rang through and I think it helped keep the tempo lower since you didn’t have to fill the “empty” space. Playing seemed more rushed on the Squier which didn’t allow for all the “feeling” you provided with the 63. I love strat neck tone and I’m actually here cause I just bought a CV 50s neck pickup to fit in my tele. I think I’ll be very pleased based on what I heard.
I got a squire for $35, buffed out the signs of abuse, put a loaded pick guard with alnico pickups, strings, I love it.
There isn’t the world of difference between the two guitars that you play in this video sonically, there’s a difference there, but? You’re playing the hell out of both of those guitars and you can’t blame either one for limiting you.
Wow, the Squier sounds similar to Roberts fender and for the price it's a good deal! Of course the sound quality is much better from Roberts strat but for the low price of the Squier, it's a very good deal imo. Thanks Robert!
There's a brightness to the Squier that's just unmistakable. They both sound exceptional but I always lean to the Fender pickups because of the brightness.
I just really like the way rosewood ages. It goes all chocolatey and beautiful.
I think any guitar you put in your hands it's gonna sound sweet there you go.
I like the sound of the Squier Strat. I myself would change to 10 gauge strings for a louder sound. Best of luck to the winner,
I belive that there is nothing that can beat an original 63 strat. Only a 62!! Bell like tones and huge round full jungly sound....thanks!!
Honestly, the two sound really similar, they both sound really good !
Love the videos Robert and is so cool you give back keep up the good work cant wait for the next one.
I think that a Squier with one's favorite strings has the potential to sound better to an individual. The 63 sounds better, that would be obvious to many people, but that doesn't make the Squier not a great sounding guitar. For me, a novice player, the expense on anything better would just be wasted money anyway, plus I think that it sounds better than a lot of early electric guitars. I have a Squire Affinity bass, and after I did a proper setup (they ship with the strings really high), sanded down the ends of the frets, I polished the top of the frets, set the pickup height and the intonation and added some great strings, the bass sounds as good as anything else to me and I love it every time I pick it up. I'll do the same with any guitar that I buy and be super happy.
That opening riff is legit. I have a new goal for noodling.