Squier Classic Vibe 60's Strat Review // Just how much guitar do you get for $399?

In this video Brian and Bradford review the Squier Classic Vibe 60's Stratocaster in its stock form.

All playing samples were recorded with a Line 6 Helix.

See the table of content below to jump to different sections:

00:00 - Playing Sample 1
00:52 - Video series intro/setup
02:11 - Playing Sample 2
03:12 - Specs, fit, and finish 1
05:26 - Playing Sample 3
06:20 - Specs, fit, and finish 2
09:37 - Playing Sample 4
10:36 - Bradford's thoughts on playability
13:32 - Playing Sample 5
14:40 - Brian's thoughts on playability
15:13 - Bradford's thoughts on tone
16:19 - Playing Sample 6
17:00 - Brian's thoughts on tone
20:17 - Playing Sample 7

The next step is to send this guitar to 920 Custom to get a complete upgrade, including Lambertones Triple Shots pickups:

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Our vision is that every church in the world would experience worship that is both excellent and authentic. We are here to help you make that happen.

CURRENT GEAR (this is the stuff I currently use to create videos)

Cameras:

Lenses:
For the Blackmagic Pocket 4k:

For the EOS R:

Drones:

Lighting:
The Sun :)

Acoustic Guitars:

Capos:
G7th Performance Capos

Cables:

Amps/Pedals:

Bass Guitar:

Recording Interface:
Universal Audio Apollo 8

Microphones:

Software & Virtual Instruments
Recording software: Apple Logic Pro X
Video editing software: Adobe Premiere CC
Video editing - color correction: Davinci Resolve

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[matttornetta]

nothing wrong with any of the classic vibe stock pickups. they all sound great to me. everyone thinks that by automatically replacing the pickups, their guitar will sound better. use your ears and don’t be afraid to adjust your tone control s on your amp.

[stratosphere]

I am playing Fender Strats over 20 Years and the Classic Vibe 60's is excellent. Changed the Vibrato Springs, set it up and works perfekt and easy. The rest of the Guitar is still Stock, plays and sounds better than some Fender Strats I had🤘🏻

[raceface_m]

Man, the dark tinned neck looks good!

[riffjohnson]

I own a Squire 60s Vibe Jazz master and a 60s Vibe Strat, These pick ups Are grand. These guys obviously were not happy with just one lollipop when they got one when they were young. Granted, we all chase, but these are gig worthy out of the box!!

[HenryPipes]

I found one of the first gen (2008) version of this guitar and I absolutely love it. I really can’t stress how good it sounds. Maybe I just like the cheap pickup grit, but these things sound good. I have several $$$$ acoustics and then this guitar is sitting right next to it.

[CrsPro]

I just picked one of these up after hearing the hype. I gotta say after owning player series Strats this model is definitely a great buy👍👍this feels like a real Strat honestly and sounds great. The Alnico pickups are boss💯 Don’t hesitate to purchase one.

[pfmusic]

My student has one, It always surprises me how great it sounds. It’s all in the color 😂

[kneedeepinit]

Amazing timing on this video. I have been following Worship Tutorials for years. 3 days ago, I took in a MIM Fender Tele for a setup as the intonation was off. I got talking to the tech and he was selling a modded 60's Squire Strat in Sunburst. I instantly fell in love with the look and finish so I made another wise hasty decision (#sarcasm) and paid his full asking price.

I absolutely love this guitar. It fits perfectly and is the easiest guitar I have ever played. The tone for Tauren Wells "Known" is perfect on this thing.

[Chimp_Handzee]

I was convinced that I needed to swap the pickups out of my 50s CV Strat, but I decided to try swapping out the pots, switch and jack first. So I bought a pre-wired assembly from 920D and put it in. It has a couple of caps on it (not sure what the values are). After getting that swapped in, it really brought the thing to life. I tweaked the pickups heights around as well. The tone was great, but the sustain was really weak, so I put a full-sized tremolo block in it and a new set of GraphTech bridge saddles. I have to say, now that I've gotten it to where it is, it's the one that gets picked up and played 95% of the time. I sold my MiM Strat and picked up one of the Squier Bullet HT Strats for a string-through conversion project, and that got the same treatment. Stock pickups, 920D pre-wired electronics, etc. Sounds incredible. We are truly living in the golden age of inexpensive gear, and I'm 100% here for it!

[danielclaxton]

I bought this guitar just after you guys did. It’s crazy what a little elbow grease will do to take a guitar to the next level. Incredible instrument for the money. I’ll upgrade along the way. Can’t wait to see what 920D does to her.

[adrian_V]

Indeed a great guitar with incredible playability at any price. Okay, I've a bias having a CV 50s (alder) from 2013. Original p'ups (alnico III) were by Tonerider at the time. Nato wood is close to mahogany in looks, tone, and species. Some of the purists might complain about that.

[hotman]

Squiers have gotten really good. I remember owning a couple of them back in the day and they were not great. Squiers made today though are phenomenal.

[Dband]

I love Squier guitars. For the money I think you get something that is very playable and sounds great! I use a stock Classic Vibe Custom Tele at church and love the tone!
Love the neck on that strat!

[TheKingsOutlaw]

My favorite personal guitar is a basic Squire Strat. I paid $35 for it. The body has great tone! I replaced the tuners with locking ones. I replaced all of the electronics; the most important were noiseless single-coils in neck and middle positions, and single-coil sized humbucker at the bridge. I added two switches, one allows me to have the neck pickup on in any of the 5-way positions, and the other lets me choose between the North and South poles or normal humbucker. I also added two more springs to the tremolo bridge as it wasn't holding tune very well. I get incredible sound from it. All told, I'm into it maybe $300.

P.S. I couldn't find the setup video referenced at 9 minutes in the description.

[davehubner]

Great series! I bought a used HSS 70s version and upgraded the bridge and tuners to Wilkinson, put a 920d harness in it w a Duncan 59 hybrid HB in the bridge and its a great guitar for worship. With all the boutique qear out there being pushed this episode and the one on Brian's Epiphone upgrades are spot on for most of us that can't afford the custom builds out there. Thanks guys

[jbbourbon]

At 22:00, you guys mention the “right Strat bridge pickup” sounding great. I would say that the Silver Sky has become my favorite Strat period, and the bridge pickup on that rules!

[RJ_HTx]

I played this guitar at my local Guitar Center and I can say that I prefer the MiM Classic series 60’s Strat.

[spike_]

Super underrated guitar IMO with some new pickups and setup. The classic vibe guitars are perfect for modding. I have a '50s classic vibe strat in Olympic White that I got back in 2012. The Olympic White version is nearly impossible to find, and sell for a decent amount of money if you have one. I did the Brewster wiring/pickups with Area 58 and 61 after I got it. Still sounds killer and surprises me every time I play it after 6 months of being in the case.

[gordonipock]

I already had a Classic Vibe 50's Strat when I ran across a Classic Vibe 60's Strat in a pawn shop. It was thrown in with several cheap Squier Strats, the kind that sold for $150 new and included a small amp. The shop didn't know what they had, and I walked out the door with the Classic Vibe for $100, which included the tax. It's a triple-tone sunburst with a tortoise-shell pickguard. Both my Classic Vibes are about ten years old (or more). The 60's model has the rosewood neck. And both have the alder bodies, which used to be standard on these guitars. I have owned a couple of Mexican Strats, and I like the Classic Vibes better. These things are selling for about $450 now, even though they are made with lower quality woods now. I don't know if there has been any compromises on the pickups from the earlier ones.

BTW, I like the pickups on both guitars and wouldn't both upgrading them. This includes the bridge. I like that bright-clear sound. Nice contrast. I think I like the middle pickup the most.

[jbert]

As a bone stock squier cv...it sounds so good. I can’t wait to hear it after the mods. Lambertone...that’s the tone ticket😎