Squier Classic Vibe 60's Strat vs. Fender Player Strat - Shootout + Opinion

Two beautiful looking, great playing, low-budget strats. Is one better than the other?

… Yes, and it's shocking!

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[MississippiDave]

I listened in my car and it is strange... I like the distorted sound of the Squire better. But the Fender seems a little fuller and rings out more on the cleans. I own a CV 70’s and had a proper setup on it... Thing plays and sounds like a high end instrument! One of the best purchases I’ve ever made! I’m in love w it!! So much so that I got the Squire Jag too which is also awesome!

[ParaBellum]

I'd say this is an accurate assessment of the two guitars, although I disagree on a couple of points. I recently bought a new CV 50s Strat (Indonesian), having compared it against CV 60s and Player models .
Action/setup: I agree, the fretwork and setup are first-class. The frets on the Player were not as smooth or rounded.
Tremolo: this is basic, and would benefit from an upgrade. The screw spacing is narrow. Hipshot make a nice looking one that should fit right in. I took one spring off as the three originals are very stiff, and it's important to also set the six screws so they allow the trem to move. The threaded arm doesn't fit very well (a bit of PTFE tape has helped) and the saddles are not very well made. I'm now used to the trem, so may only shell out for new saddles.
Compared with the Player trem, the CV has six screws, whereas the Player has two pivots. Checking out many videos, I formed the opinion that the 2-pivot bridge affected the tone negatively.

Tuners: I disagree, these are pretty decent and don't need upgrading.
Sound quality/tone: as in your video, they're virtually identical. I've gigged with the Squier, no problem.
Other points (not in your video):
You didn't mention weight: my CV is much lighter than the Player. It still sustains fine.
Noise/shielding: the CV is not well shielded, so it picks up more hum than the Player. I shielded mine with aluminium foil. It's important to extend this under the pickguard too, to eliminate static noise.
Tone controls: like the Player, the CV's bridge pickup is wired to a tone pot. Happy days.
Conclusion: I agree, the CVs are well worth checking out.

[Mandobird]

I love vintage tuners. So easy to string. Wish all my guitars had them.

[speedunknown]

My student gave me one of these as a gift and it’s simply fabulous. I’d gig with it any day!!! I own 3 player series strats as well, 2 maple & 1 Pao Ferro, the squires just as good.

[Ineedahandle]

I must respectfully disagree about the vintage tuners. They are so superior in my opinion. So much easier to string and much tidier with no sharp ends anywhere.

[dpajc]

Wow, the tuners are like the best thing about that guitar! Other than locking tuners, the split shaft vintage ones are the best for the ease of restringing! 😮

[johncrafton]

By all rights, if you have a fretboard material that's different from the neck, then you shouldn't have a "skunk stripe". Also, while the "trem" was set up to be virtually locked down, it doesn't have to stay that way. You CAN adjust it and it WILL work as a regular 6-point vibrato.

[mattwilliams]

The amount of money you can save, especially if buying a used CV, can get you a professional setup, thorough fret job, new pickups and/or electronics. And have money left over to buy a good case or a good pedal

[joshmuz]

I just tried both of these guitars and bought the classic vibe 60s.
The player was 500 more expensive and had horrible sharp fret ends, buzzing unlevel frets and umcomfortable cheap feeling neck.
When i plugged in the 60s it felt great and soundes great. The frets where perfect and the neck felt great and the tone was great.
Got home and compared to my usa and mexican strat and it hung with them and in some areas was better.
A real
Steal for the price

[malcolmhardwick]

just take one of the springs out behind the tremolo and readjust. You dont have to replace the whole tremolo. Although putting a better thick block tremolom is a good thing. Nothing wrong with the tuners they work perfectly fine and are so easy to change strings and hold tuning well enough. Dont understand why people have trouble with them. And the lack of skunk stripe is just how most rosewood board Fenders are made.

[song]

The lacquer on the back of the neck and the vintage tuners are the best of the CV's

[robblair]

Nice review. Re the tremolo, yours is about the third review I've seen that mentions that. Honestly, though, although they come from the factory set flat to the body, they can be set to float. I've done it with mine and it works great. I removed one spring and unwound the claw until the bridge is a few mm off the body and it stays in tune, returns to pitch perfectly and feels buttery smooth to use.

[raceface_m]

I think almost all of the "not nice" stuff about the squier were more of preference and could be fixed with a simple set up with the exception of the finish. Great video comparison overall. They sound so, so, soo close. Take that extra money and buy a Fender BJ and you're set with that Classic Vibe.

[brianseneca]

The skunk stripe is not required for a rosewood board. The truss rod is inserted from the front before the fingerboard is put on.

[kh]

I love my 60's classic vibe so much, I sold my Ultra Strat, the neck isn't as "finished" as an American but, with a Clapton pickup set up brass saddles and trem block it the best Strat I have ever owned.

[barbmelle]

From Leo: That is a very nice Squier, and your playing is enjoyable. I really like the vintage tuners. The sharp string end is in the hole, so it does not hurt your fingers, catch on clothing, or damage the inside of the case or gig bag. I wish Grover would offer their top tuning machines with a hole down the middle.

[richardstevens]

Never try to do upgrades as a way to save money, because it just doesn't happen. I almost went down the Squier + upgrades path. Taking into account the money I would have spent, I decided it was just better to buy the MIM Player Strat. For under $700 delivered, I have a guitar in the color I wanted, with the neck I wanted, and the trem and pickups I wanted without me having to wrench on it. 
Yes, my guitar could stand a fret-end treatment, but I've also played $1000 guitars which required that. The fret ends aren't cutting my fingers, but they could be better. It seems fret end finishing is a matter of luck. That applies to all mass-produced brands, not just Fender or Squier. If I ever decide to upgrade the electronics, I'l be able to sell the loaded pick guard from the Player for a lot more than a loaded Squier pick guard.

[bilalnachabeh]

60's strat do not have a skunk stripe. as for the tuners they are personal preference, I actually consider them a +
Dirty fingerboard isn't an issue to be considered. the bridge and electronics are my main concern
thank you for uploading this video. the player sounds better to my ears

[sourav]

I love my Fender Player strat... Great tone & very good tuning stability...

[naturalrestingface]

Yep. Agreed. Sold my two Duluxe Strats for a Classic Vibe and with the money from the sale of one upgraded everything but the body and neck. From the second sale I had a good time...a really good time.