I'm a casual intermediate player of roughly 10 years on and off. I've borrowed or owned several budget to mid-range guitars including a Yamaha Pacifica, Early 90s Japanese Fender Heartfield, mid 2000s MIM Stratocaster, and Peavey SC-3. All of these were either sold or given back 6 months ago before a series of moves. Recently, I decided to buy another guitar to get back into it.
I was prepared to get the American Strat of my childhood dreams, but I knew that kind of money would have been overkill for my skill level and intentions. The Player Strat was the next best alternative, but I wanted to test out something a little cheaper just for kicks. Research led me to Squire, particularly the Affinity and Classic Vibe series. I can’t lie. Seeing "Squire" on the headstock instead of "Fender" stung a bit at first, but I realized I'm not nearly talented enough to be that picky so I swallowed my pride. I ended up testing this guitar alongside a Squire Affinity Telecaster. Long story short, this guitar is my personal favorite over anything else I've owned/borrowed, and it's also what I believe is the greatest value I've ever gotten for a guitar.
When I first received this guitar, I was very disappointed because it arrived with some cosmetic damage and blemishes. It definitely appeared to be a factory QC issue or was a return/floor model. Fortunately, Amazon was able to fix the situation quickly. Overall, it appears this was an uncommon issue.
With that out of the way, I'm glad I gave the Classic Vibe another chance. This guitar screams quality and classic style. The color is a beautiful Fiesta Red that I swear changes throughout the day. Sometimes I see hot rod red, sometimes coral, and sometimes even orange. The neck, fretboard, and headstock of the guitar are maple with a heavy lacquer "gym floor" finish that make moving up the fretboard quick and smooth. The headstock has a classic narrow shape and vintage style tuners. What sets this guitar apart is that the quality of the materials seem very high for the price. This is an Indonesian factory model while the Affinity Series Tele I tested was a Chinese factory model. It honestly had shockingly good sound and looks for just over $200, but I could still tell the quality of materials took a significant hit and probably wouldn't have stood the test of time. I had the same experience with my Peavey SC-3 from six years ago; great sound for $399 but cheap paint and materials immediately started to degrade. I will update this review as necessary with time, but I have a great feeling about this Classic Vibe.
Sound-wise, I'm pretty blown away. Out of the box, I experienced zero fret buzz and great action. The sound is bright and clean, and I believe it matches or exceeds the sound quality I got out of my mid-2000s MIM Strat. I'm no audiophile, but this guitar truly sounds like something more expensive.
Make no mistake. This is not a $1200-$2000 American Strat. However, based on my experience and that of several Youtubers, it appears Classic Vibe can at least give the $699 Fender MIM Strat and even the $899 Fender Vintera a lot more competition than you would expect. Now knowing what $300-$500 gets for a guitar these days, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to justify the cost of a name brand Fender as a hobby guitarist.
Conclusion: This is a lot more guitar than I expected for $399. It screams quality, and I've fallen in love with its classic style. This appears to be as good as it gets for the beginner/intermediate casual guitar player, yet I bet it could hang just fine with a more talented gig musician too. Unfortunately, they may get fewer groupies with "Squire" on the headstock!
Additionally, the price jump between the Affinity Series Telecaster at $229 and the $399 Classic Vibe Stratocaster is definitely something I advice biting the bullet for. While the sound quality of the Affinity really was impressive, the quality of materials and construction are pretty far apart. I can't speak on behalf of the Affinity Stratocaster, but I assume the same. Do yourself a favor: buy this guitar and play your favorite song from the 50s to break it in. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Edit: One picture has a switched out pickguard
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From the manufacturer
Squier by Fender
Squier Classic Vibe Series
The Squier Classic Vibe series captures the authenticity of original Fender designs in a “greatest hits” collection of models that are easy on the eyes and ears, easy to play, and impossible to put down. All Classic Vibe models are inspired by historical examples of Fender mainstays and feature Fender-Designed pickups, period-correct colors and headstock markings, a vintage-tinted gloss neck finish and nickel-plated hardware.
Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster Highlights
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"C"-Shaped Neck Profile & Vintage Gloss FinishThis instrument offers a slim “C”-shaped neck profile for a comfortable playing feel. The neck on this model sports a vintage-tint gloss finish for a highly desirable aged look. |
Fender-Designed Alnico PickupsThis model features Fender-Designed alnico single-coil pickups for authentic Fender tone. |
Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo BridgeString-bending effects are possible with the vintage-style tremolo bridge, featuring vintage-correct stamped steel saddles. |
Vintage-Style Tuning Machines & Nickel HardwareSporting classic looks, these vintage-style tuning machines provide rock-solid tuning stability and smooth action. The durable nickel-plated hardware adds a deep, rich throwback look to the instrument. |
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| Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster | Classic Vibe '60s Stratocaster | Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster | Classic Vibe '70s Stratocaster HSS | |
| Customer Reviews |
358
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189
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386
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386
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| Price | $429.99 | $429.99 | $369.79 | $429.99 |
| Body Material | Nato, Pine | Nato | Poplar, Soft Maple | Poplar |
| Pickup Configuration Options | SSS | SSS | SSS | HSS |
| Pickups | Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil | Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil | Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil | Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil, Fender-Designed Alnico Humbucking |
| Neck Finish | Tinted Gloss Urethane | Tinted Gloss Urethane | Tinted Gloss Urethane | Tinted Gloss Urethane |
| Fingerboard Material | Maple | Laurel | Laurel | Laurel, Maple |
| Bridge Options | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply White | 3-Ply Parchment | 4-Ply Aged White Pearloid, 4-Ply Tortoiseshell | 3-Ply Black |
| Available in Left-Handed | No | Yes | No | Yes |
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| Squier Sonic Series Stratocasters | Squier Affinity Series Stratocasters | Squier Contemporary Series Stratocasters | Squier Classic Vibe Series Stratocasters | |
| Customer Reviews |
11
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661
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5
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386
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| Price | $199.99 | $249.99 | $439.99 | $429.99 |
| Body Material Options | Poplar | Poplar | Poplar | Pine, Nato, Poplar, Soft Maple |
| Pickup Configuration Options | SSS, HSS, H | SSS, HH, HSS | SSS, HH | SSS, HSS |
| Pickups | Ceramic Single-Coil, Ceramic Humbucker | Ceramic Single-Coil, Ceramic Humbucker | Squier SQR Alnico Single-Coil, Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking | Fender-Designed Alnico Single-Coil, Fender-Designed Alnico Humbucking |
| Neck Finish | Satin | Satin with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face | Satin Urethane with Gloss Urethane Headstock Face | Tinted Gloss Urethane |
| Fingerboard Material Options | Laurel, Maple | Laurel, Maple | Roasted Maple, Laurel | Laurel, Maple |
| Bridge Options | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles, 6-Saddle Top-Load Hardtail with Block Saddles | 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles | 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles, 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles, Floyd Rose by Floyd Rose Double Locking Tremolo | 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles |
| Tuning Machines | Sealed-Gear Die-Cast | Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts | Sealed-Gear Die-Cast with Split Shafts | Vintage-Style |
| Left-Handed Options | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Squier Classic Vibe 50s Stratocaster Electric Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, 2-Color Sunburst, Maple Fingerboard |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $429.99 | $249.99 | $199.99 | $429.99 | $249.99 | $249.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | — | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 | Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Versatility | ||||||
| For beginners | ||||||
| Craftsmanship | ||||||
| Value for money | ||||||
| Light weight | ||||||
| Sold By | Amazon.com | Adorama | Alto Music | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
| hand orientation | Right | Right | Right | Right | Right | Right |
| number of strings | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| fretboard material | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Laurel Wood | Maple Wood |
| back material | Pine | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Poplar | — | Maple Wood |
| top material | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | Maple Wood | — | Maple Wood |
| string material | Nickel Steel | Nickel Steel | Nickel | Nickel | Nickel Steel | Nickel |
Reviews with images
Far greater sound, style, and value than I ever expected for $399
I'm a casual intermediate player of roughly 10 years on and off. I've borrowed or owned several budget to mid-range guitars including a Yamaha Pacifica, Early 90s Japanese Fender Heartfield, mid 2000s MIM Stratocaster, and Peavey SC-3. All of these were either sold or given back 6 months ago before a series of moves. Recently, I decided to buy another guitar to get back into it.I was prepared to get the American Strat of my childhood dreams, but I knew that kind of money would have been overkill for my skill level and intentions. The Player Strat was the next best alternative, but I wanted to test out something a little cheaper just for kicks. Research led me to Squire, particularly the Affinity and Classic Vibe series. I can’t lie. Seeing "Squire" on the headstock instead of "Fender" stung a bit at first, but I realized I'm not nearly talented enough to be that picky so I swallowed my pride. I ended up testing this guitar alongside a Squire Affinity Telecaster. Long story short, this guitar is my personal favorite over anything else I've owned/borrowed, and it's also what I believe is the greatest value I've ever gotten for a guitar.When I first received this guitar, I was very disappointed because it arrived with some cosmetic damage and blemishes. It definitely appeared to be a factory QC issue or was a return/floor model. Fortunately, Amazon was able to fix the situation quickly. Overall, it appears this was an uncommon issue.With that out of the way, I'm glad I gave the Classic Vibe another chance. This guitar screams quality and classic style. The color is a beautiful Fiesta Red that I swear changes throughout the day. Sometimes I see hot rod red, sometimes coral, and sometimes even orange. The neck, fretboard, and headstock of the guitar are maple with a heavy lacquer "gym floor" finish that make moving up the fretboard quick and smooth. The headstock has a classic narrow shape and vintage style tuners. What sets this guitar apart is that the quality of the materials seem very high for the price. This is an Indonesian factory model while the Affinity Series Tele I tested was a Chinese factory model. It honestly had shockingly good sound and looks for just over $200, but I could still tell the quality of materials took a significant hit and probably wouldn't have stood the test of time. I had the same experience with my Peavey SC-3 from six years ago; great sound for $399 but cheap paint and materials immediately started to degrade. I will update this review as necessary with time, but I have a great feeling about this Classic Vibe.Sound-wise, I'm pretty blown away. Out of the box, I experienced zero fret buzz and great action. The sound is bright and clean, and I believe it matches or exceeds the sound quality I got out of my mid-2000s MIM Strat. I'm no audiophile, but this guitar truly sounds like something more expensive.Make no mistake. This is not a $1200-$2000 American Strat. However, based on my experience and that of several Youtubers, it appears Classic Vibe can at least give the $699 Fender MIM Strat and even the $899 Fender Vintera a lot more competition than you would expect. Now knowing what $300-$500 gets for a guitar these days, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to justify the cost of a name brand Fender as a hobby guitarist.Conclusion: This is a lot more guitar than I expected for $399. It screams quality, and I've fallen in love with its classic style. This appears to be as good as it gets for the beginner/intermediate casual guitar player, yet I bet it could hang just fine with a more talented gig musician too. Unfortunately, they may get fewer groupies with "Squire" on the headstock!Additionally, the price jump between the Affinity Series Telecaster at $229 and the $399 Classic Vibe Stratocaster is definitely something I advice biting the bullet for. While the sound quality of the Affinity really was impressive, the quality of materials and construction are pretty far apart. I can't speak on behalf of the Affinity Stratocaster, but I assume the same. Do yourself a favor: buy this guitar and play your favorite song from the 50s to break it in. I don't think you'll be disappointed.Edit: One picture has a switched out pickguard
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020
I was prepared to get the American Strat of my childhood dreams, but I knew that kind of money would have been overkill for my skill level and intentions. The Player Strat was the next best alternative, but I wanted to test out something a little cheaper just for kicks. Research led me to Squire, particularly the Affinity and Classic Vibe series. I can’t lie. Seeing "Squire" on the headstock instead of "Fender" stung a bit at first, but I realized I'm not nearly talented enough to be that picky so I swallowed my pride. I ended up testing this guitar alongside a Squire Affinity Telecaster. Long story short, this guitar is my personal favorite over anything else I've owned/borrowed, and it's also what I believe is the greatest value I've ever gotten for a guitar.
When I first received this guitar, I was very disappointed because it arrived with some cosmetic damage and blemishes. It definitely appeared to be a factory QC issue or was a return/floor model. Fortunately, Amazon was able to fix the situation quickly. Overall, it appears this was an uncommon issue.
With that out of the way, I'm glad I gave the Classic Vibe another chance. This guitar screams quality and classic style. The color is a beautiful Fiesta Red that I swear changes throughout the day. Sometimes I see hot rod red, sometimes coral, and sometimes even orange. The neck, fretboard, and headstock of the guitar are maple with a heavy lacquer "gym floor" finish that make moving up the fretboard quick and smooth. The headstock has a classic narrow shape and vintage style tuners. What sets this guitar apart is that the quality of the materials seem very high for the price. This is an Indonesian factory model while the Affinity Series Tele I tested was a Chinese factory model. It honestly had shockingly good sound and looks for just over $200, but I could still tell the quality of materials took a significant hit and probably wouldn't have stood the test of time. I had the same experience with my Peavey SC-3 from six years ago; great sound for $399 but cheap paint and materials immediately started to degrade. I will update this review as necessary with time, but I have a great feeling about this Classic Vibe.
Sound-wise, I'm pretty blown away. Out of the box, I experienced zero fret buzz and great action. The sound is bright and clean, and I believe it matches or exceeds the sound quality I got out of my mid-2000s MIM Strat. I'm no audiophile, but this guitar truly sounds like something more expensive.
Make no mistake. This is not a $1200-$2000 American Strat. However, based on my experience and that of several Youtubers, it appears Classic Vibe can at least give the $699 Fender MIM Strat and even the $899 Fender Vintera a lot more competition than you would expect. Now knowing what $300-$500 gets for a guitar these days, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to justify the cost of a name brand Fender as a hobby guitarist.
Conclusion: This is a lot more guitar than I expected for $399. It screams quality, and I've fallen in love with its classic style. This appears to be as good as it gets for the beginner/intermediate casual guitar player, yet I bet it could hang just fine with a more talented gig musician too. Unfortunately, they may get fewer groupies with "Squire" on the headstock!
Additionally, the price jump between the Affinity Series Telecaster at $229 and the $399 Classic Vibe Stratocaster is definitely something I advice biting the bullet for. While the sound quality of the Affinity really was impressive, the quality of materials and construction are pretty far apart. I can't speak on behalf of the Affinity Stratocaster, but I assume the same. Do yourself a favor: buy this guitar and play your favorite song from the 50s to break it in. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Edit: One picture has a switched out pickguard
Color: Fiesta RedSize: FullVerified Purchase
Far greater sound, style, and value than I ever expected for $399
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020
I'm a casual intermediate player of roughly 10 years on and off. I've borrowed or owned several budget to mid-range guitars including a Yamaha Pacifica, Early 90s Japanese Fender Heartfield, mid 2000s MIM Stratocaster, and Peavey SC-3. All of these were either sold or given back 6 months ago before a series of moves. Recently, I decided to buy another guitar to get back into it.Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2020
I was prepared to get the American Strat of my childhood dreams, but I knew that kind of money would have been overkill for my skill level and intentions. The Player Strat was the next best alternative, but I wanted to test out something a little cheaper just for kicks. Research led me to Squire, particularly the Affinity and Classic Vibe series. I can’t lie. Seeing "Squire" on the headstock instead of "Fender" stung a bit at first, but I realized I'm not nearly talented enough to be that picky so I swallowed my pride. I ended up testing this guitar alongside a Squire Affinity Telecaster. Long story short, this guitar is my personal favorite over anything else I've owned/borrowed, and it's also what I believe is the greatest value I've ever gotten for a guitar.
When I first received this guitar, I was very disappointed because it arrived with some cosmetic damage and blemishes. It definitely appeared to be a factory QC issue or was a return/floor model. Fortunately, Amazon was able to fix the situation quickly. Overall, it appears this was an uncommon issue.
With that out of the way, I'm glad I gave the Classic Vibe another chance. This guitar screams quality and classic style. The color is a beautiful Fiesta Red that I swear changes throughout the day. Sometimes I see hot rod red, sometimes coral, and sometimes even orange. The neck, fretboard, and headstock of the guitar are maple with a heavy lacquer "gym floor" finish that make moving up the fretboard quick and smooth. The headstock has a classic narrow shape and vintage style tuners. What sets this guitar apart is that the quality of the materials seem very high for the price. This is an Indonesian factory model while the Affinity Series Tele I tested was a Chinese factory model. It honestly had shockingly good sound and looks for just over $200, but I could still tell the quality of materials took a significant hit and probably wouldn't have stood the test of time. I had the same experience with my Peavey SC-3 from six years ago; great sound for $399 but cheap paint and materials immediately started to degrade. I will update this review as necessary with time, but I have a great feeling about this Classic Vibe.
Sound-wise, I'm pretty blown away. Out of the box, I experienced zero fret buzz and great action. The sound is bright and clean, and I believe it matches or exceeds the sound quality I got out of my mid-2000s MIM Strat. I'm no audiophile, but this guitar truly sounds like something more expensive.
Make no mistake. This is not a $1200-$2000 American Strat. However, based on my experience and that of several Youtubers, it appears Classic Vibe can at least give the $699 Fender MIM Strat and even the $899 Fender Vintera a lot more competition than you would expect. Now knowing what $300-$500 gets for a guitar these days, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to justify the cost of a name brand Fender as a hobby guitarist.
Conclusion: This is a lot more guitar than I expected for $399. It screams quality, and I've fallen in love with its classic style. This appears to be as good as it gets for the beginner/intermediate casual guitar player, yet I bet it could hang just fine with a more talented gig musician too. Unfortunately, they may get fewer groupies with "Squire" on the headstock!
Additionally, the price jump between the Affinity Series Telecaster at $229 and the $399 Classic Vibe Stratocaster is definitely something I advice biting the bullet for. While the sound quality of the Affinity really was impressive, the quality of materials and construction are pretty far apart. I can't speak on behalf of the Affinity Stratocaster, but I assume the same. Do yourself a favor: buy this guitar and play your favorite song from the 50s to break it in. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
Edit: One picture has a switched out pickguard
Images in this review
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