Squier Classic Vibe 60′s Strat

Overview

When I first picked up the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Stratocaster I was pleasantly surprised. The vintage-tinted gloss maple neck and the smooth frets were a notch above what I am used to feeling on a Squier. The overall tone of this guitar was quite nice too, especially if you are into the glassy Strat sound.

In this gear review we will go through some of the defining features, pros and cons of this guitar. I will give you some of my personal opinions about the overall quality and tone of the guitar, but we will stick to the facts for the most part.

Price - 8/10

After sitting down with the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Stratocaster I really expected it to cost about $400-$450. Needless to say I was a bit surprised to learn that it was only $350. I think that this is a great option for you if you don’t want to spend $400-$500 on a brand new Mexican made Stratocaster. The quality is very close, the feel is solid and the sound is pretty great too.

Sound Quality - 7.5/10

Sometimes lower end Strat style guitars can be a bit too thin sounding, but the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Stratocaster sounded like a Strat should. The Alnico 5 single coil pickups were nice and glassy sounding without being too shrill or harsh. If you want a really traditional sounding Strat you will probably love the sound of this one.

Build Quality - 7.5/10

I would say that the build quality of the Squier Classic Vibe 60’s Stratocaster is definitely a notch or two above the standard Squier Strat. One reason for this is the glossy finish on the neck. This gives the guitar a more elegant and detailed feel.  The frets also feel a bit smoother than the most Squier guitars that I have played. Some of the electronics on the guitar did feel a bit cheap, but that is to be expected at this price.

Features - 7/10

• Alder Body

• Maple Neck

• Rosewood Fretboard (9.5 Radius)

• 21 Medium Jumbo Frets

• 1 Volume Knob

• 2 Tone Knobs

• 5 Position Pickup Selector Switch

• Vintage Style Tuning Keys

• Chrome Hardware

• 25.5” Scale

• 1.65” Nut Width

• Aged White Knobs, Pickup Covers and Switch Tip

• Vintage Tinted Neck

• Set Up For .009-.042 Strings

Ease of Use - 8/10

This guitar isn’t any easier or harder to use than any other Strat I have ever played. I will say that the setup right out of the box was quite nice. If it had been my guitar there would have been very few adjustments needed to get it playing to my satisfaction. Very cool.

Pros

• Unique looking “Vintage Features”

• Classic Strat sound

• Good value for the money

Cons

• Some of the electronics feel a bit cheap

Overall Rating - 7.6/10

It is pretty safe to say that I enjoyed this Squier more than any other Squier that I have ever played, and I have played a lot! For the money that you pay, this is a very solid guitar. If you like a thinner glassy Strat tone, but don’t want to spend over $350, I would highly recommend this guitar. If you prefer a fatter tone, or don’t mind spending a bit more money, there are other options that might be better for you. Over all I was pretty impressed with this good sounding economical Strat.