going back to Squier

Jaden · #1 11-27-2018, 10:46 PM

Tomorrow I’ll be returning and exchanging my new Fender Player Telecaster for the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster due to the more clear bite at low home volume of the Squier aided by the tight grain quartersawn neck. The bent steel saddles of the Player are excellent but the tuning machine for the low e string doesn’t hold and the instrument requires higher volume to really shine.

1neeto · #2 11-27-2018, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaden

Tomorrow I’ll be returning and exchanging my new Fender Player Telecaster for the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster due to the more clear bite at low home volume of the Squier aided by the tight grain quartersawn neck. The bent steel saddles of the Player are excellent but the tuning machine for the low e string doesn’t hold and the instrument requires higher volume to really shine.

Could be a setup issue with the Fender? The tuning peg is a bummer, it’s usually a good idea to upgrade those, but they should hold tune even if it’s the cheapest Bullet.

Jaden · #3 11-27-2018, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1neeto

Could be a setup issue with the Fender? The tuning peg is a bummer, it’s usually a good idea to upgrade those, but they should hold tune even if it’s the cheapest Bullet.

Yes they should from the factory not slip. I did have a full set up done by my tech who told me the intonation at the saddles was off. The soft feel neck got to me though. Too soft for a tele, the hard gloss of the Squier helps thicken up the notes.

Dru Edwards · #4 11-28-2018, 05:13 PM

I wonder if the issue is just with that single guitar and that you got one of the 'bad' ones. Regardless, the Classic Vibe is a great guitar.

Jaden · #5 11-28-2018, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I wonder if the issue is just with that single guitar and that you got one of the 'bad' ones. Regardless, the Classic Vibe is a great guitar.

I’m not sure. The Player was a arctic white with mint three ply pickguard and the finish quality on it was perfect and really nice looking. I ran it through my Pro Junior IV LTD that almost demands to be turned up because it really sings. Any pro musician would have had a gas playing blues with this combo but I don’t have the sonic room where I live and have to keep it really quiet, thus my earlier questions about the feasibility of low volume electric guitar practice at home. As stated by others many times previous here, personal preference and style has a lot to do with what works for each guitarist. The CV feels like home to me.

Dru Edwards · #6 11-28-2018, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaden

I’m not sure. The Player was a arctic white with mint three ply pickguard and the finish quality on it was perfect and really nice looking. I run it through my Pro Junior IV LTD, the latter which really wants to be turned up because it really sings. Any pro musician would have had a gas playing blues with this combo but I don’t have the sonic room where I live and have to keep it really quiet, thus my earlier questions about the feasibility of quiet electric guitar practice at home. As stated by others many times previous here, personal preference and style has a lot to do with what works for each guitarist. The CV feels like home to me.

Sounds like you made the right choice. The CV also has a different neck carve too, doesn't it.

Jaden · #7 11-28-2018, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

Sounds like you made the right choice. The CV also has a different neck carve too, doesn't it.

Mine was manufactured in 2016, vintage blonde and as per my previous one, the neck carve is slightly less thick from fretboard to back of neck at widest point than the Player standard; it’s also far from the slim carve of the 60s classic vibe custom. I now am running the CV 50s through a BJ III* NOS with much more forgiving volume taper and am getting excellent low volume clean.

*manufactured in 2017 and particularly well biased from the factory, it’s rich and smooth. My previous BJ III manufactured in 2012 was hard and brittle when new.

Jaden · #8 11-29-2018, 06:00 PM

I really appreciate the elegant vintage style tuners on the classic vibe tele but I loath the black plastic pickguard, so with 800 grit cloth in circular fashion I removed the gloss from the pickguard (separate from the guitar) then carefully applied high quality flat white paint spray. Once dry the 50s maple board vintage blonde model with white pickguard comes close in appearance to a ‘58 reissue for a massive dose of Fender Telecaster eye candy all available at a everyperson price.

davidd · #9 12-05-2018, 10:02 AM

I've owned many Telecasters both Fender and Squier (Nashville's, Baja's, Thinlines, CV's, Standards, MIM,MIA,MIK,MIC etc.) and had the opportunity to extensively play CS models such as Nocasters, and the CV tele's are some of the best out there IMO. I have one of the first BSB pine CV's which is so nice I don't think I'll ever sell. What I did with mine was to lightly sand the body and shoot with satin nitro lacquer. The only mod I may do in the future is to re-wire with a 4-way reverse harness. Tele's are meant to be a cheap workingman guitar, the difference between a $300 and a $3000 Tele is negligible in reality.

BoneDigger · #10 12-05-2018, 08:19 PM

I have four Squires, including a CVC tele, a CV 60s strat, a J Mascis Jazzmaster, and a VM 5 String bass. All of them are exceptional instruments and rival their Fender counterparts.

Jaden · #11 12-05-2018, 08:26 PM

OK I finally arrived in Mexico with a Fender Telecaster ‘50s Classic Series. The entire guitar is slathered with gloss nitrocellulose lacquer* the likes I’ve never seen except on a J-45 a few years back. On a solid body electric guitar it does not inhibit resonance (irony & humor) but appeals to those who like the feel. The classic vibe is in no way a lesser Telecaster but only in its more basic poly finish.

*beautifully polished, meticulous fret work, soft action at the nut, vintage tint fat ‘50s neck a dream fit in the hand.

Dru Edwards · #12 12-06-2018, 05:08 AM

This thread is making me want to buy a Classic Vibe Tele!

lowrider · #13 12-06-2018, 07:28 AM

Yesterday I stopped and tried this one'

It's an absolute beauty! I don't know enough about electrics yet but he said he'd do a good deal on it. Right now, I'd say that I'll be going back for that one and a small amp when I'm ready!

lowrider · #14 12-06-2018, 07:29 AM

Sorry that that pic is so big, but it really is a beautiful guitar.

MikeBmusic · #15 12-06-2018, 07:42 AM

Always 'get the guitar that works for you and your playing conditions'. The guitar with 'bite' you like at lower volume might not sound as good at gigging volume, but if that's not what you do, it doesn't matter. For electric guitars, its always a match between the guitar/pickups AND the amp you use.

I don't understand the tech's 'saddle intonation' comment - the saddles are adjustable, right? Did he mean that the adjustment all the way to one side (long or short) still doesn't get it right? Too bad about the slipping tuner, that would be a reason for exchange right away.