CLICK TO BUY - Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--SQU0303025?siid=264213 SUBSCRIBE TO WIN - GIBSON LES PAUL GIVEAWAY: 1) SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications 2) Enter on GLEAM: gleam.io/competitions/pvVrO-gibson-les-paul-giveaway Browse ALL GEAR: USA: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398 EUROPE: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=2603
Very, very true about the fretwork on these things. I have owned two of the classic vibe telecasters, and I actually loved both of them. However, the first one was a real turd build-wise. Not too long after I bought it the volume pot went bad, so I bought a complete electronics set up assembly made by 920 D. Also, the strap button screws started coming real loose so I would constantly have to tighten them. So, I went to Home Depot and bought some longer screws and took care of that. Then I had the same issue with the string catching under one of the fret ends and I didn’t know what was going on until I actually looked and saw the string underneath the fret. Later on, when I was playing, I noticed a sitar-sound and could not get it to sound right. I checked the frets and sure enough, I noticed that I had some high frets. I took it back to the place where I had purchased it from and they did the best they could. The person who worked on it said that he had to glue down one of the frets and had to basically knock down all of the frets. After a while, I checked online and saw that fender has a two-year warranty on all of their guitars, so I called the store to see if I could get a new neck. The store called me back and told me that they would simply replace the whole guitar. So, and in conclusion, I got a whole new classic vibe telecaster with much better frets and I had them set it up with the compensated saddles that I had also put on my previous telecaster. When I got home, I changed the electronics out to the 920 D electronics again, and put in the screws for the strap buttons. All in all, I am happy now. However, with these and probably any budget guitar, it is really best to go to a store and try it out and inspect it. Save yourself a lot of frustration. They do sound really good, though!! It’s just that the qc needs to be much higher. I mean look at what Cortek in Indonesia does with the SE line for PRS. Come on Fender…step it up a little.
I bought a brand new CV 50s Strat in 2019, and its frets were installed perfectly. I'd tried it in a store first, so was able to check it over before buying.
I bought a Squire CV 50s three weeks ago. Factory set up had the t-bar saddles all skewed to the right. And for "good" reason as the nut isn't cut correctly; the low E string is too close to the edge of the neck. Fret edges were very uncomfortable when playing. So, I've had the fret dressing done professionally, which included all fret edges on both sides of the neck, plus the contour/polishing of each fret. I expect some extra care is required in doing this because the neck is lacquered. I will get a new bone nut installed and cut specifically for this guitar. The guitar is very bright, so there's also an argument for replacing the steel saddles with brass (compensated) saddles which will also look more period correct. Bridge pickup sounds great. Maybe the neck pickup could be replaced with something a little more balanced with the neck but not essential at all. The gloss on the neck feels very comfortable to play now its better set up. The 3 way switch is slightly too close to the Volume pot (period correct?). Overall the sound is very balanced and it's definitely an enjoyable guitar to use. And it looks real nice 😎
Bought one about a year ago. Great guitar for the money. My freats are actually very good. It has developed one freat sprout through out this past year . I'll file it down and all will be good .
I bought the cheapest Telecaster I could find at the start of pandemic lockdown. It's a Squier Bullet and I had no issues with fretwork, but the pickups were dead trash. Quickly swapped them with a $20 set of Alnico 5 Amazon specials, and it's a great beater guitar now, and probably my favorite thing to play out of Les Pauls and several Strats. The Tele mystique is real.
I love mine, the best cheap guitar that I own. For the time being, all I did was upgrade the saddles to brass and kept the 3 vs the 6. I run it using a Marshall Origin 20H through a Marshall cabinet with vintage greenbacks. Love the little affordable tone monster. Love the neck-feels like my Gibson 1960 LP standard reissue.
Had the fret problem on my CV 50’s strat and could lift them with my pinky nail. It went back and got this same Tele in its place and had it a few years now. The nut was cut badly but other than that no issues and frets are good still on mine. I put brass saddles and better Gotoh tuners and replaced the whole control plate with a pre wired harness and it’s on par if not better than my player series now.
I've got an old 2012 , built in China that I bought 2nd hand in 2017. It's amazing. I've played the newer ones from Indo, but they don't feel the same to me. But maybe that's just because I've had mine for so long. And my frets were perfect, but it was 5 yrs old when I bought it, and was maybe given a fret dressing b4 I got it.
This Classic Vibe 50s Tele really sounds great. Also the 9.5in radius and the truss rod nut at the headstock are great appointments to play and set better. Other than the frets issue I believe it's a great value for the money. I might think possibly this Tele is from a batch that indeed missed some QC or were being popped out to fast from the factory. Even with some fretwork money spent I think is still worth to buy it. Usually you could return it and get another one with the frets Ok at most sellers. Wonderful video thanks !
I bought this exact model a few weeks back from Sweetwater. Mine had nearly perfect frets right out of the box.....I guess I just got lucky. I replaced the stock barrel saddles with brass compensated barrel saddles to get the intonation a little better and the brass looks more the part of the 50's vibe in my opinion. Mine plays and sounds amazing!!!! I can't believe it was so inexpensive.....notice I didn't say "cheap"! I think "cheap" has a certain stigma to it and this guitar is anything but "cheap"! If you are in the position that you can only afford one guitar, this would be my suggested pick for you.
I could copy and paste your comment and it would describe exactly my experience with them as well. But I've bought a lot of guitars from Sweetwater, maybe my personal tech support guy looks after me? At least, that's what I wonder. Or like you say, I just get lucky...but luck usually runs out and mine hasn't so far.
I've owned three of these over the years, and it seems the earlier ones from 2000-2010 were better built with brass saddles and better electronics. Each of the three were nearly 10 lbs heavy, which was a contributing factor to me selling them off.
I have seen a lot of videos on Squiers with this fret issue, I have a 1984 Squier Telecaster that I bought from new, it is my favourite guitar and came perfectly set up from the factory which was a real rarity for any guitar in the '80s, IMO and everyone who has ever played it, that! it is the perfect Telecaster and I would put it up against any Fender USA or MIM model
Considering what is available from Epiphone and Ibanez, I think you were too generous with your score. I was at Summer NAMM when the Classic Vibe series was introduced, and I was blown away by the quality to value ratio. We immediately ordered some for our store when I returned. The ones we received were fantastic guitars for the money! Sounds like there may be some manufacturing issues nowadays.
Some years back I owned a couple of CV Squier Teles and didn’t have fret issues on the Classic Vibe 50s tele as you reviewed but I did find the plated hardware very poor and the neck plate and control plate constantly oxidized. I did find the pickups good although a little brittle in the bridge position. But other than the oxidized hardware the overall guitar was quite good. I have found that quality control has slipped on Squier guitars over the past couple of years though. I purchased a 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster that played horribly and the neck never sat flush to the body and horrible nut work and a 40th Anniversary Strat that needed nut work too. Plus the prices are increasing to the point where they will soon be no longer able to compete with some of the competitive brands like Yamaha, AIO, Harley Benton etc. Good review and keep up the great work on your channel!
After seeing this reaction, I quickly ran to my guitar room and checked every one of my guitar s and the fret work on the lower treble side, especially my Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster. Thankfully all of them were in great shape. Thx for the reaction.
How *would* you fix those frets, if you were to do it yourself? Is there some kind of "fret pressing tool" that would press the fret into the fingerboard better? Would those frets be something a luthier would fix, if you were to pay for a professional setup on the guitar when you bought it?
I got one a year and a half ago or so (on sale for an insane price), and the frets were awful (same with a couple of other Squiers, a MIM Charvel, and a MIM Fender I bought - their lower tier stuff _has issues_ ). Aside from that, it is indeed a phenomenal guitar. That didn't stop me from eventually replacing the saddles with a Fender, brass, compensated set, and the pickups with some Fender reissues, but it didn't need it.
Personally, I would not have rated this with the high marks you gave it, John. My belief is that you rate based on what you have, not what it could have been or what they, Fender/Squier should have done. They produced a subpar guitar, may have slipped by or maybe qc just wasn’t there. Either way, this one shouldn’t have made it out the factory doors, and the score should reflect what you have in your hands. As always, your playing is phenomenal, even with a “dud” you overcome and keep on going!⭐️👍⭐️
Nice guitar. I disagree with your score that assumed that there weren't any defects. The problem is there were defects, and if you received a guitar with substandard QC, there is a good chance others will too.
I got one in a Black Friday deal from Fender . Needed a new nut , the original was cut so badly so made an arrangement with Fender to get it done locally and they would pay for it as going back to Fender god knows how long it would take . Playing it I found the neck pickup to be dull and lifeless, complained to Fender -sent a video and the response was “ What do you expect for a £350 Squier , the pickup isn’t defective “ Fair point I guess , it just sounds crap compared to the bridge pickup which sounds as you’d expect any Tele bridge to sound . If you pay decent money for a guitar you should be able to play it out of the box in most cases . Considering I bought it direct from Fender , needing a nut and set up and for me the neck pickup needing changed I’ll be reluctant to buy another Squier .
The early China guitars were far better than the Indonesian build. I have one and it is faultless. I believe these new examples are built by accountants…Greed comes to mind..
If you bought a new car from a showroom even a cheaper model would you accept the salesman telling you be prepared to set up the brakes , steering and tune the engine when you get home but hey it's shiny and looks nice. Personally I expect things to be set up correctly from the factory.
I got the older classic vibe telecaster guitars from China.Never had a bad or really bad one at all.I still think that the Chinese models were way better built than the Indonesian models.
The very first CVs (China) had a better fret job , a neck pickup screwed directly on the body & 3 brass saddles. The pick-ups were not the same it seems to me. The newer ones just have a bone nut but everything else is no better.
Bought this exact guitar, pre-pandemic, from Sam Ash (gone now), so I was able to play it in the store first so I knew what I was getting. At that time, it was $299. A veritable bargain. Frets weren't perfect, but I've seen worse.
I have both, specifically in the style and color you mentioned and they're both really nice. They sound and play just like they should. Maybe I got lucky, no problems with frets at all on either of them. If I had to pick just one, I'd go with the Strat, the 3 pickup config is more versatile...but for me it's like choosing one of your kids over the other, I love 'em both.
@@rcsutter thanks for the tip man, I ended up getting a new acoustic first, Yamaha fg 830. So I’m sure I’ll be coming back to this decision soon, I have been leaning towards the Strat 🎸
Got two of 'em (Indonesian) as modding platforms (including an Andertons Purple Pete) ....excellent deal if you can finish QA''ing them. Each had one tuner that crapped out. Purple Pete had second fret too low, needed a luthier to pull out and drop a new/bigger fret there. I also have two HarleyB's Teles (TE52/TE62DB)...lefties...and they are just as good, even better fret jobs, MUCH better...at 1/2 the price in USA terms. The HB's Korean Roswells are just as good as the CV's pups (which are NOT fantastic in absolute terms....but great for price point). On one of my Squiers, I added nail gel (with a UV light to hardent) to invisibly fill the goofy lifted fret ends...only one or two..minor...but annoying. Add some brass saddles, a set of Fralin or Lollars and they (Squier and HB's) are as enjoyable to play, if not more, than it's Mex and USA brethren. World class pups make all the difference. Lastly, disconnect neck pup from tone pot if you want even more clarity/output. Nice vid as always!
Fret sprout can happen to expensive guitars after they leave factory and go to a different climate. Happened to my Gibson Firebird. But if you meant to say the frets weren't seated properly that's a different story.
The fact that the string went underneath the frets even AFTER you set it up means this is a defective product and should be returned. This sort of thing should not be sold and customers shouldn't get used to accepting it. That's why everythings going down the toilet these days... we're just too accepting of extremely poor standards.
My CV 50’s strat had this problem and i could lift the high E side of the frets with my fingernail. It went back and was rejected for a twisted neck as well. This problem has been common with these but not on my CV Tele and 3 years on the frets are still holding down
Sure seems to me that channels like these are here to "move the Overton Window", i.e. get you used to "Squire" (or in Gibson's case, Epiphone) as the new standard. You're now paying the prices that USA instruments used to cost for Asian import stuff. Mind you, it's decent stuff, perfectly okay guitars, but suddenly they are in the $1k range, and the USA stuff is relegated to "boutique" status at twice the price. This is by design.
damn...very disappointing, especially for a classic vibe. sounded good with overdrive but clean was blah.. new ones are junk i guess the older ones are the way to go. thanks for the vid!
Any company selling a guitar and then expecting you to pay someone to make it playable isn't a guitar company, they're garbage dealers. What a $400 joke.
Cheap cheap cheap. No quality control... not acceptable. Go instead for a Sire T7. Setup out of the box. Locking turners, ROASTED maple neck with rounded edges. Similar price range for a guitar that needs no work or upgrades OUT OF THE BOX! I'm not even bothering with the rest of this video after seeing the shoddy fret work!
CLICK TO BUY - Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster:
www.zzounds.com/a--3979398/item--SQU0303025?siid=264213
SUBSCRIBE TO WIN - GIBSON LES PAUL GIVEAWAY:
1) SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications
2) Enter on GLEAM: gleam.io/competitions/pvVrO-gibson-les-paul-giveaway
Browse ALL GEAR:
USA: www.zzounds.com/a--3979398
EUROPE: www.thomann.de/intl/index.html?offid=1&affid=2603
The Telecaster is the perfect machine. 2 pickups. 3 way switch. Volume . Tone. Simple body and neck. You need nothing else
Very, very true about the fretwork on these things. I have owned two of the classic vibe telecasters, and I actually loved both of them. However, the first one was a real turd build-wise. Not too long after I bought it the volume pot went bad, so I bought a complete electronics set up assembly made by 920 D. Also, the strap button screws started coming real loose so I would constantly have to tighten them. So, I went to Home Depot and bought some longer screws and took care of that. Then I had the same issue with the string catching under one of the fret ends and I didn’t know what was going on until I actually looked and saw the string underneath the fret. Later on, when I was playing, I noticed a sitar-sound and could not get it to sound right. I checked the frets and sure enough, I noticed that I had some high frets. I took it back to the place where I had purchased it from and they did the best they could. The person who worked on it said that he had to glue down one of the frets and had to basically knock down all of the frets. After a while, I checked online and saw that fender has a two-year warranty on all of their guitars, so I called the store to see if I could get a new neck. The store called me back and told me that they would simply replace the whole guitar. So, and in conclusion, I got a whole new classic vibe telecaster with much better frets and I had them set it up with the compensated saddles that I had also put on my previous telecaster. When I got home, I changed the electronics out to the 920 D electronics again, and put in the screws for the strap buttons. All in all, I am happy now. However, with these and probably any budget guitar, it is really best to go to a store and try it out and inspect it. Save yourself a lot of frustration. They do sound really good, though!! It’s just that the qc needs to be much higher. I mean look at what Cortek in Indonesia does with the SE line for PRS. Come on Fender…step it up a little.
I bought a brand new CV 50s Strat in 2019, and its frets were installed perfectly. I'd tried it in a store first, so was able to check it over before buying.
Probably top 3rd my favorite guitar that has come out in the last 10 years.
I bought a Squire CV 50s three weeks ago.
Factory set up had the t-bar saddles all skewed to the right. And for "good" reason as the nut isn't cut correctly; the low E string is too close to the edge of the neck.
Fret edges were very uncomfortable when playing. So, I've had the fret dressing done professionally, which included all fret edges on both sides of the neck, plus the contour/polishing of each fret. I expect some extra care is required in doing this because the neck is lacquered.
I will get a new bone nut installed and cut specifically for this guitar.
The guitar is very bright, so there's also an argument for replacing the steel saddles with brass (compensated) saddles which will also look more period correct.
Bridge pickup sounds great. Maybe the neck pickup could be replaced with something a little more balanced with the neck but not essential at all.
The gloss on the neck feels very comfortable to play now its better set up.
The 3 way switch is slightly too close to the Volume pot (period correct?).
Overall the sound is very balanced and it's definitely an enjoyable guitar to use.
And it looks real nice 😎
Bought one about a year ago. Great guitar for the money. My freats are actually very good. It has developed one freat sprout through out this past year . I'll file it down and all will be good .
I bought the cheapest Telecaster I could find at the start of pandemic lockdown. It's a Squier Bullet and I had no issues with fretwork, but the pickups were dead trash. Quickly swapped them with a $20 set of Alnico 5 Amazon specials, and it's a great beater guitar now, and probably my favorite thing to play out of Les Pauls and several Strats. The Tele mystique is real.
I love mine, the best cheap guitar that I own. For the time being, all I did was upgrade the saddles to brass and kept the 3 vs the 6. I run it using a Marshall Origin 20H through a Marshall cabinet with vintage greenbacks. Love the little affordable tone monster. Love the neck-feels like my Gibson 1960 LP standard reissue.
Had the fret problem on my CV 50’s strat and could lift them with my pinky nail. It went back and got this same Tele in its place and had it a few years now. The nut was cut badly but other than that no issues and frets are good still on mine. I put brass saddles and better Gotoh tuners and replaced the whole control plate with a pre wired harness and it’s on par if not better than my player series now.
I've got an old 2012 , built in China that I bought 2nd hand in 2017. It's amazing. I've played the newer ones from Indo, but they don't feel the same to me. But maybe that's just because I've had mine for so long. And my frets were perfect, but it was 5 yrs old when I bought it, and was maybe given a fret dressing b4 I got it.
I have a 2013 MIM FSR Telecaster that’s the twin of this. It’s perfect. Any genre, every day, the Telecaster wins
I bought one of these. Got it set up and I love it. I can't put it down
This Classic Vibe 50s Tele really sounds great. Also the 9.5in radius and the truss rod nut at the headstock are great appointments to play and set better. Other than the frets issue I believe it's a great value for the money. I might think possibly this Tele is from a batch that indeed missed some QC or were being popped out to fast from the factory. Even with some fretwork money spent I think is still worth to buy it. Usually you could return it and get another one with the frets Ok at most sellers. Wonderful video thanks !
These are good for the money, particularly used for an even better deal. I had two of them. Both just fine.
I bought this exact model a few weeks back from Sweetwater. Mine had nearly perfect frets right out of the box.....I guess I just got lucky. I replaced the stock barrel saddles with brass compensated barrel saddles to get the intonation a little better and the brass looks more the part of the 50's vibe in my opinion. Mine plays and sounds amazing!!!! I can't believe it was so inexpensive.....notice I didn't say "cheap"! I think "cheap" has a certain stigma to it and this guitar is anything but "cheap"! If you are in the position that you can only afford one guitar, this would be my suggested pick for you.
I could copy and paste your comment and it would describe exactly my experience with them as well. But I've bought a lot of guitars from Sweetwater, maybe my personal tech support guy looks after me? At least, that's what I wonder. Or like you say, I just get lucky...but luck usually runs out and mine hasn't so far.
I've owned three of these over the years, and it seems the earlier ones from 2000-2010 were better built with brass saddles and better electronics. Each of the three were nearly 10 lbs heavy, which was a contributing factor to me selling them off.
I have seen a lot of videos on Squiers with this fret issue, I have a 1984 Squier Telecaster that I bought from new, it is my favourite guitar and came perfectly set up from the factory which was a real rarity for any guitar in the '80s, IMO and everyone who has ever played it, that! it is the perfect Telecaster and I would put it up against any Fender USA or MIM model
I have a Squire 70's vibes Thin Line . After proper set up it's a fun guitar .
That one definitely needs to go back. 8+ lbs is surprisingly heavy for a pine tele too.
The best telecaster that is affordable.... 👍 Just change the pickups to demarzio twang king set and you got a great telecaster.. For a low price.... 👍
Considering what is available from Epiphone and Ibanez, I think you were too generous with your score. I was at Summer NAMM when the Classic Vibe series was introduced, and I was blown away by the quality to value ratio. We immediately ordered some for our store when I returned. The ones we received were fantastic guitars for the money! Sounds like there may be some manufacturing issues nowadays.
Some years back I owned a couple of CV Squier Teles and didn’t have fret issues on the Classic Vibe 50s tele as you reviewed but I did find the plated hardware very poor and the neck plate and control plate constantly oxidized. I did find the pickups good although a little brittle in the bridge position. But other than the oxidized hardware the overall guitar was quite good.
I have found that quality control has slipped on Squier guitars over the past couple of years though. I purchased a 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster that played horribly and the neck never sat flush to the body and horrible nut work and a 40th Anniversary Strat that needed nut work too. Plus the prices are increasing to the point where they will soon be no longer able to compete with some of the competitive brands like Yamaha, AIO, Harley Benton etc.
Good review and keep up the great work on your channel!
Great videos man way different from what weve been seeing lately thank you! The audio is very good also
My frets came perfect. Just a normal set up and she's perfect
After seeing this reaction, I quickly ran to my guitar room and checked every one of my guitar s and the fret work on the lower treble side, especially my Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster. Thankfully all of them were in great shape. Thx for the reaction.
How *would* you fix those frets, if you were to do it yourself? Is there some kind of "fret pressing tool" that would press the fret into the fingerboard better? Would those frets be something a luthier would fix, if you were to pay for a professional setup on the guitar when you bought it?
I got one a year and a half ago or so (on sale for an insane price), and the frets were awful (same with a couple of other Squiers, a MIM Charvel, and a MIM Fender I bought - their lower tier stuff _has issues_ ). Aside from that, it is indeed a phenomenal guitar. That didn't stop me from eventually replacing the saddles with a Fender, brass, compensated set, and the pickups with some Fender reissues, but it didn't need it.
Personally, I would not have rated this with the high marks you gave it, John. My belief is that you rate based on what you have, not what it could have been or what they, Fender/Squier should have done. They produced a subpar guitar, may have slipped by or maybe qc just wasn’t there. Either way, this one shouldn’t have made it out the factory doors, and the score should reflect what you have in your hands.
As always, your playing is phenomenal, even with a “dud” you overcome and keep on going!⭐️👍⭐️
Your right, playability should have been a five or lower. They do however want to sell guitars.
I bought one in Jan 24 ...perfect. they're not All bad!?
Nice guitar. I disagree with your score that assumed that there weren't any defects. The problem is there were defects, and if you received a guitar with substandard QC, there is a good chance others will too.
Hello John. Could you please tell me the type of truss rod it has? A Bi-flex. One? Thanks
One thing the imports need to work on is the inch thick poly finish then they would have something☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️
I’m torn - this or a Masterbuilt Broadcaster?
Why not both?
I bought that guitar in an open box, but mine has brass saddles. Do they come with brass saddles, or did someone pull a switcheroo on mine?
I got one in a Black Friday deal from Fender . Needed a new nut , the original was cut so badly so made an arrangement with Fender to get it done locally and they would pay for it as going back to Fender god knows how long it would take . Playing it I found the neck pickup to be dull and lifeless, complained to Fender -sent a video and the response was “ What do you expect for a £350 Squier , the pickup isn’t defective “ Fair point I guess , it just sounds crap compared to the bridge pickup which sounds as you’d expect any Tele bridge to sound . If you pay decent money for a guitar you should be able to play it out of the box in most cases . Considering I bought it direct from Fender , needing a nut and set up and for me the neck pickup needing changed I’ll be reluctant to buy another Squier .
The early China guitars were far better than the Indonesian build. I have one and it is faultless. I believe these new examples are built by accountants…Greed comes to mind..
If you bought a new car from a showroom even a cheaper model would you accept the salesman telling you be prepared to set up the brakes , steering and tune the engine when you get home but hey it's shiny and looks nice. Personally I expect things to be set up correctly from the factory.
I got the older classic vibe telecaster guitars from China.Never had a bad or really bad one at all.I still think that the Chinese models were way better built than the Indonesian models.
this or player II?
What amp did you used for this test? Thanks
I got one exactly the same , made in China, n its great. The only thing is it is heavy for an Asian like me, almost 9 lb.
smol man :)
New sub thanks for a great demo !
How's it bend
The very first CVs (China) had a better fret job , a neck pickup screwed directly on the body & 3 brass saddles. The pick-ups were not the same it seems to me. The newer ones just have a bone nut but everything else is no better.
Bought this exact guitar, pre-pandemic, from Sam Ash (gone now), so I was able to play it in the store first so I knew what I was getting. At that time, it was $299. A veritable bargain. Frets weren't perfect, but I've seen worse.
Weigh it.
Les micros son des tonerider fabriquer dans même usine.
I’m still trying to decide between this tele and the fiesta red classic vibe Strat 🎸 anyone here in the comments want to vote for one for me
I have both, specifically in the style and color you mentioned and they're both really nice. They sound and play just like they should. Maybe I got lucky, no problems with frets at all on either of them. If I had to pick just one, I'd go with the Strat, the 3 pickup config is more versatile...but for me it's like choosing one of your kids over the other, I love 'em both.
@@rcsutter thanks for the tip man, I ended up getting a new acoustic first, Yamaha fg 830. So I’m sure I’ll be coming back to this decision soon, I have been leaning towards the Strat 🎸
How come these have a higher score than their fender counterparts tho???
I think fenders were like 8.3 and 8.5
Got two of 'em (Indonesian) as modding platforms (including an Andertons Purple Pete) ....excellent deal if you can finish QA''ing them. Each had one tuner that crapped out. Purple Pete had second fret too low, needed a luthier to pull out and drop a new/bigger fret there. I also have two HarleyB's Teles (TE52/TE62DB)...lefties...and they are just as good, even better fret jobs, MUCH better...at 1/2 the price in USA terms. The HB's Korean Roswells are just as good as the CV's pups (which are NOT fantastic in absolute terms....but great for price point). On one of my Squiers, I added nail gel (with a UV light to hardent) to invisibly fill the goofy lifted fret ends...only one or two..minor...but annoying. Add some brass saddles, a set of Fralin or Lollars and they (Squier and HB's) are as enjoyable to play, if not more, than it's Mex and USA brethren. World class pups make all the difference. Lastly, disconnect neck pup from tone pot if you want even more clarity/output. Nice vid as always!
Strung through body
It's a shame about the fret sprout. Both of my Classic Vibe Teles had really good fretwork. They are fantastic value if you get a good one.
Fret sprout can happen to expensive guitars after they leave factory and go to a different climate. Happened to my Gibson Firebird. But if you meant to say the frets weren't seated properly that's a different story.
Like censtar
The fact that the string went underneath the frets even AFTER you set it up means this is a defective product and should be returned. This sort of thing should not be sold and customers shouldn't get used to accepting it. That's why everythings going down the toilet these days... we're just too accepting of extremely poor standards.
I AGREE! See my post above about my issues as well. They are great guitars, but the qc needs to be stepped up a lot!!
I agree 👍
My CV 50’s strat had this problem and i could lift the high E side of the frets with my fingernail. It went back and was rejected for a twisted neck as well. This problem has been common with these but not on my CV Tele and 3 years on the frets are still holding down
100%
Thanks for advice,i'm almost buy until i found this video
Bridge cover, 🙏
Grovers locking
Good for beginner if they want pay that much when there's better for less.
Bought thi
Cheaper ones blow that one away
Sure seems to me that channels like these are here to "move the Overton Window", i.e. get you used to "Squire" (or in Gibson's case, Epiphone) as the new standard. You're now paying the prices that USA instruments used to cost for Asian import stuff. Mind you, it's decent stuff, perfectly okay guitars, but suddenly they are in the $1k range, and the USA stuff is relegated to "boutique" status at twice the price. This is by design.
I agree. I saw this scheme for what it was years ago. Now there are Epiphone "Custom".
Fenders got get better
Nice, but heavy!!!
I have one like this i wanna sell
This is sad. My 199 firefly Madcat is so much better. And the frets on it are beautiful!
damn...very disappointing, especially for a classic vibe. sounded good with overdrive but clean was blah.. new ones are junk i guess the older ones are the way to go. thanks for the vid!
Any company selling a guitar and then expecting you to pay someone to make it playable isn't a guitar company, they're garbage dealers. What a $400 joke.
Cheap cheap cheap. No quality control... not acceptable. Go instead for a Sire T7. Setup out of the box. Locking turners, ROASTED maple neck with rounded edges. Similar price range for a guitar that needs no work or upgrades OUT OF THE BOX! I'm not even bothering with the rest of this video after seeing the shoddy fret work!
Tuners stink
That guitar is s***.
Bad
Good for the money. Always feels patronizing.
🫢Never buy without a try !!!!