Well, the Winter 2010 NAMM show has come and gone, and we’ve got plenty of instrument announcements to take a look at.
Fender has added to its Squier brand of instruments with the debut of two more vintage-inspired ‘Classic Vibe’ guitars –– the Classic Vibe Telecaster Thinline and Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom –– based on their iconic Fender branded counterparts of the 1960s.
As is to be expected, the new Tele Thinline will sport a semi-hollow body of mahogany enhanced with an f-hole in the upper bout and of course bearing the classic white pearloid pickguard.
Other features will include a single-piece maple neck with modern ‘C’ shape (25.5″ scale length,) a maple fretboard (9.5″ radius,) 21 MJ frets, a vintage styled strings-thru-body bridge with three chrome barrels, and a synthetic bone nut.
Meanwhile, Squier’s new Classic Vibe Telecaster Custom will sport a double-bound alder body in 3-color Sunburst finish, old-school mint green pickguard, single-piece maple neck with modern ‘C’ shape (25.5″ scale length,) a rosewood fretboard (9.5″ radius,) 21 MJ frets, a vintage styled strings-thru-body bridge with three threaded steel barrels, and a synthetic bone nut.
Electronics on both guitars will include dual Custom “Vintage Style” Single-Coil Telecaster pickups with AlNiCo V magnets, Master Volume and Tone knobs, and standard 3-way pickup switching.
The new Classic Vibe Teles are currently selling for a street price of around $380, and as I understand it are due in stores within the next few weeks.
 Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster '50S Electric Guitar |
- Squier Continues Its Push Into “Vintage” With Telecaster Thinline
- REVIEW: Fender ’69 Telecaster Thinline
- Fender Introduces Vintage Pro 1963 Telecaster Custom NOS
- Fender Announces ‘Tele-bration’, Celebrating 60 Years Of The Telecaster
- Fender Introduces Dual Humbucker Spalted Maple Custom Telecaster
- Fender’s Limited Edition ‘Snake Head’ Telecaster Now In Stores
- Limited Run Fender “Thin Skin” ’52 Telecaster Now Available
- Fender Offers Up Custom Shop Vintage Pro 1956 Stratocaster NOS
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I got my Classic Vibe Tele 50s yesterday, 21st January 2010.
It deserves all praise it`s got. I believe these 2 are of similar quality, if not better. My Squier CV Tele feels and sounds better than my earlier USA Tele 1974 i owned 1982-1991. And i thought that was very good.
February 14th, 2010 at 2:32 am
I get that CV thinline tele. Very good quality ,yes sir. Pups sound to me more like p90 , i think. Good neck too, thick. Not the nocaster anyway.
Lovely instrument.
March 12th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Just played my first show with the Custom model–this is a good solid instrument. The sound is great and the tuning kept while taking a beating. This is now my main guitar.
March 17th, 2010 at 10:19 am
That’s great Myke. I am continually impressed by what Fender produces under the Squier brand these days. Enjoy! I’d be interested to hear your thoughts when you’ve got a few more gigs under your belt with that new Tele.
June 4th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
After sweating on this thing a bit more, yeah, I maintain that it’s a great guitar. The reason I bought it was that just taking it off the wall at the shop and strumming it–before I even plugged it in it sounded good. Now, after having played through my amp (loudly, at that!) the string tension is perfect for me, the stock pickups have that great Tele bite without sacrificing body (I play in the middle position) and the neck is comfy. It’s also nice to look at, which is a plus. I’m a pretty no-frills type of player and this thing’s perfect for me.
February 5th, 2011 at 8:01 am
My first real Tele was a new blonde 1968 in 1968.Cost 310.00 with case.Since then I’ve owned a few including two Jap Customs and a new American Standard in 1992 that I git rid of so I could get a reissue.Just bought the Custom vibe,can’t believe what they’ve done!I’m selling my 62 reissue and keepng the Vibe,it has better playability,I like the pickups better than the Texas ones in my reissue which tend to be too dark to be Telly-ish.Again,blows me away for 350.00.Fine guitar for anyone,young or old!
February 7th, 2012 at 7:20 am
You can see this thing in action here: http://youtu.be/wvbxSm-ldIs
It’s strung with Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys and running through a Boss Blues Driver, MXR Custom Badass distortion and a EH Stereo Memory Man.
After playing this thing for a couple years, I really like the skinnier neck and the bite that the bridge pup has. As you can see, I turned the knob panel around so I would stop knocking the selector switch, but apart from that, there’s very little about this guitar I would change. It gets beautiful clean sounds and dirties up really nicely. A fantastic workhorse!