In today’s review, we will look into all the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster specs, its pros, and cons, and explore some alternative guitars out there. We will also look into some popular FAQs, and finish with our final thoughts on the Squier Telecaster.
With ’50s, 60’s and 70’s models to choose from, we’re going to look into the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster guitar series and find out all there is to know about an ‘entry-level guitar’ that is 100% designed by Fender.
But first, let’s look into the specs of this guitar.
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.
Key Specifications of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
| Body Shape | Single cutaway |
| Body Type | Semi-hollow or chambered body |
| Neck material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Number of strings | 6 |
| Special Features | Electronics |
| Warranty | 2 Year Warranty with Pro Coverage Available |
| Latest price | Click here for the latest price |
Core Features of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Squier guitars are regularly recommended for guitarists on a tight budget and new players. They’re often compared to much more expensive brands, and although they retail for a fraction of the cost of Taylors, for example, and so don’t have the same specs, they’re still considered incredible value for money.
Here are the core features of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Shape and size
With a resonant pine body with pickguard and gloss finish, a 25.5 inch ‘C’ shape maple neck, a traditional bridge with brass barrel saddles, and a single-coil pickup, this is a simple yet stunning guitar. The nickel hardware includes tuning machines and a vintage-style bridge.
This guitar is suitable for those who are new to learning the guitar, and if purchased at Guitar Center, online lessons are available with this purchase. The Squier Vibe Telecaster is also suited to more experienced players, who fancy a more lightweight and less tech-heavy guitar to unwind with.
Sound
The sound of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is unmistakably high-quality. This guitar is capable of performing well at gigs and home, with a full and powerful sound output.
The pickups are remarkable for a guitar considered entry-level, and you can count on the Squier Vibe to provide reliability and high-quality tone as it is. However, the type of amplifier you go on to purchase will impact the sound – a good one, hopefully.
Construction
The reason this design has remained popular over the decades is – it lasts. With great playability and being a highly durable guitar, the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster comes highly recommended by guitarists.
The Squier Vibe is built in Indonesia, which is pretty standard these days for electric and acoustic guitars, and crafted from solid wood – primarily maple.
The solid materials contribute to the pretty hefty 11lbs weight, so prepare for sore shoulders or invest in a good quality guitar strap if you’re planning on gigging with the Squier Vibe Telecaster.
Some of the construction quality has received a little criticism. A few musicians state that the pots can feel somewhat tight in their rotation, which may have an impact on lightning-fast changes. The fretwork is nicely finished, but players may need to apply a little more effort to gain the big bends.
Other Features
The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is one of the most iconic guitar designs on the market, with all the sounds there one would expect from a Telecaster. It is built from sturdy materials, including solid wood, guaranteeing longevity.
The warranty provided is one of the best in the industry, and further coverage is available through different retailers.
There are right and left-hand models available, and this really is a solid price point for a guitar of this quality – we do dispute the entry-level terminology a tad when it comes to price. Although lower-end, there are many cheaper guitars out there to fill this bill more appropriately.
You can protect this investment further with a good-quality Telecaster case.
Warranty
The Squier Classic Vibe comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and is also included in the pro coverage cover from Guitar Center.
If you purchase the Squier Classic Vibe directly from Fender, then the 2-year warranty comes as standard; however, be sure to see the limitations because not everything is covered.
It is worth noting that this guitar is extremely well built and so encountering any problems is pretty unlikely; still, it is good to know the warranty that’s available.
How Does the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Perform?
With the Telecaster range have three variants, let’s briefly look at these models:
- The Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster is an iconic model with a pine body, maple neck, and gloss polyurethane finish.
It delivers the legendary Telecaster twang due to the Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups. There are two controls for volume and tone and two colors to choose from; White Blonde and Butterscotch Blonde.
The Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster creates incredible tone courtesy of the Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups. Player-friendly features a pine body, slim, comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile with an easy-playing 9.5”-radius fingerboard and narrow-tall frets, as well as a vintage-style.
- Next, we have the Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Telecaster Electric Guitar, which has added a chambered body (Nato) to one of the most iconic guitars in the world, completing the design with a classic natural finish.
Fender-designed pickups, a single F-hole, and a curvy 4-ply Pearloid pickguard, this model is best suited to Intermediate players.
This guitar creates its incredible vintage tone courtesy of the Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups. It's also a breeze to play, sporting a comfortable “C”-shaped neck profile and 9.5"-radius maple fingerboard with narrow, tall frets.
- Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster Electric Guitar has two color options; 3-Color Sunburst and natural, and is the most modern of the three models. With a fast maple neck, 9.5” radius fingerboard, and a toneful chambered body, the 70’s Squier is capable of creating a massive tone.
It is simple enough in design to be suitable for beginners but would also suit more experienced players.
The Classic Vibe ‘70s Telecaster Thinline is a faithful nod to the 1970s evolution of the Tele, creating massive tone, courtesy of the semi-hollow body and dual Fender-Designed Wide Range humbucking pickups.
The Squier Telecasters offer good high, lows, and mids, and their thin, glossed necks allow for fast playing and comfortable holding. There is little-to-no distortion with these guitars, and they’re fun to play as an acoustic instrument, but obviously, an amp will increase the volume.
Pros of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
With so much to love about this series, we’re going to look at our favorite aspects of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster.
Fender Sound
Fender produces iconic guitars with a legendary sound and tone. They were originally created for the working man so that any enthusiast, regardless of income bracket, could own an excellent quality guitar. And excellent quality is guaranteed with any Fender model. The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is every bit a Fender guitar when it comes to sound.
Well constructed
Squier Classic Vibe Telecasters are very well constructed. With a combination of Maple, Nato, and spruce wood. The solid woods add greatly to the mid sounds. As well as this contributing to an incredibly durable guitar, it also adds something special to the overall aesthetic as well.
Left-Hand Versions
As well as Jimmie Hendrix, Paul McCartney, and Slipknot’s Paul Gray, 10% of the world’s population are left-handed. In spite of this, not all guitar brands cater to left-handed players. But, the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster does – in all three models.
Warranty
The 2-year warranty is one of the best in the business and deserves another mention in the pros section. It doesn’t cover every element – what warranty ever does -, but it does cover a great deal, including any issues due to defects in materials and workmanship.
Cons of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Accessories Required
The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is similar to many stand-alone instruments in the fact that additional accessories and equipment will need to be purchased to have a complete setup.
There are many guitar bundles out there which retail at half of the price of just the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster, such as the Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar Pack with Fender Frontman 10G Amp.
A perfect choice for beginners, the Squier Strat Pack has everything you need to begin playing right out of the box.
Expense
Although widely retailed as an entry-level guitar, the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster price may be a little high for someone looking to purchase their first electric guitar.
Loose Fittings
The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster quality is exceptionally high; however, many guitarists cite that some of the machined metal parts can be quite loose.
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.
What are the Alternatives?
Here we look at some alternative guitars to the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster.
Squier Limited-Edition Bullet Telecaster Electric Guitar – Budget Buy!
With the change from a couple of hundred dollars, the Squier Limited-Edition Bullet Telecaster Electric Guitar is most definitely a budget-friendly Telecaster.
Simple, affordable, and practical, this is a guitar suited primarily to beginners and students, but still a perfect choice as a first guitar for anyone else who loves all genres. From rock and country to blues and jazz, this financially friendly Telecaster ticks so many boxes!
A perfect choice for a first guitar no matter who you are or what style of music you want to learn. Featuring the classic features that made the Tele one of the world’s favorite guitars, the Bullet Tele is a great introduction to the Fender family.
$199.99
$139.99
Fender Player Telecaster Maple Fingerboard Electric Guitar
The Fender Player Telecaster is ideal for those looking for a guitar with a classic look but modern sound with great playability; then this is one that should definitely be on your shortlist.
The Fender Player Telecaster is suitable for beginners due to its C-shaped neck and medium-jumbo frets; however, experienced players looking to upgrade would find this guitar great to work with.
Quality construction and quality materials ensure great longevity with the Fender Player Telecaster.
The thru-body-strung, six-saddle bridge provides precise intonation and the steel saddles add some extra bite to the Tele's traditional twang. A true workhorse for virtually every musical genre.
Read our Full Fender Player Telecaster Review.
LyxPro 39” Electric Telecaster Guitar
LyxPro Electric Telecaster Guitar comes in right and left-handed models, with four color options; Green, mahogany, natural, and sunburst. It has a comfortable C-style neck profile, AUX output jack, 22 Frets, Classic 3-Ply pickguard, 3-way pick up, and is perfect for guitarists of all levels, including advanced players.
The 50’s style silhouette retains the distinctive features of the original Telecaster, and its handcrafted maple wood neck is simply stunning. The LyxPro should be a strong contender for anyone looking to own a Telecaster guitar with enhanced sound, beautiful aesthetics, and a truly spectacular price tag to boot.
Beloved Tele Styling Brings Genre-Defying Sound to Every Band or Solo Artist, Complementing a Wide Variety of Instruments & Musical Vibes Including Rock & Roll, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Country, Folk, R&B, Reggae, Punk & Beyond 
Frequently Asked Questions About the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
Question: Of the Three Models, Which Would you Recommend?
Answer: Each model in the Squier Classic Vibe series has something a little different to offer. The 50’s Telecaster is the most affordable of the three, the 60’s Telecaster has Master Volume and Master Tone, and the 70’s Telecaster has two stunning color options.
There aren’t many unique qualities between the guitars; they all provide great playability, are a classic vintage design, and have great durability.
Question: Are They Most Suited to Beginners?
Answer: The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is ideal for relative beginners. This is due to a combination of affordable pricing and high levels of playability. They’re a great starter in the electric guitar world but aren’t exclusive to beginners and can be played by guitarists of all levels.
Question: Why does a Telecaster Sound Different to a Stratocaster?
Answer: When it comes to sound, the Telecaster Vs, both are great-sounding guitars, but each has a unique sound found in specific music genres. Which you prefer is down to personal musical tastes. The guitars are really quite different in design, build, and body and all of these things contribute to a different sound.
Question: What Genre is a Telecaster good for?
Answer: The Telecaster is a versatile guitar and suits most styles of music. It has regularly been used in most genres, including pop, folk, jazz, metal, indie rock, rock, and country.
Question: Why is the Telecaster so Popular?
Answer: The Telecaster has a reputation for attracting players of technical renown. They have a quick response and tight attack, and this puts them in high demand for the precision of more modern styles of music such as indie and R’n’B.
Question: Which Amp Would be the Most Suited to the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster?
Answer: An amp can make or break a performance, and it is always best to invest in one of good quality. Specifically for the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster, we have learned that players pair this regularly with a Boss Katana-50 amp.
The Boss Katana-50 comes with an incredible 5-year parts warranty, which is unprecedented and is packed with features, too, such as the updated BOSS Tone Studio software, which has over 60 different effects, adjustable routing, channel, and global EQs, and much more.
Final Thoughts on the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster
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.
There is no disputing the quality of this guitar; it is solid and durable. The manufacturer’s guarantee of 2-years is possibly so generous because it is so unlikely to be used. We love the fact that each model has a left-handed version, and color options are good too.
Aesthetics aside, the sound of the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster is pretty awesome – loud, twangy, bold, and classic Fender. It is suitable for guitarists of all ability levels, but we do dispute the entry-level marketing as there are many more affordable Telecasters out there.
Whether you are a brand new guitarist or a seasoned player, there is value in the Squire Classic Vibe – it isn’t the most affordable, but it does beat many. We would place it in a low-to-mid budget range.
Straight out of the box, the Squier Classic Vibe has the functionality one would need to jam out at home or in front of a large crowd.
With a few simple upgrades, mainly in the supportive electronics, you would own a guitar worthy of much more than its retail price. As it stands, it is retailed at a fair price, a couple of modest tweaks, and it would be an incredible bargain.
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