Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster (SS) 6 String Solidbody Electric Guitar

93
GEARANK

93 out of 100. Incorporating 1250+ ratings and reviews.

Street Price: 

$430
Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster '50s (SS) 6 String Solidbody Electric Guitar

Gearank High Notes

Squier Classic Vibe  '50s Telecaster: Highest Rated Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $500 - 2022.08

Gearank Recommended

Specifications

  • Body: Pine
  • Finish: Butterscotch Blonde (pictured), Vintage Blonde, Natural, 3-Color Sunburst
  • Bridge: 3-barrel Bridge
  • Pickups: Custom Vintage-Style Alnico III Single-coil Tele
  • Neck: Maple (Bolt-on "C" shape)
  • Scale Length: 25.5”
  • Fingerboard: Maple
  • Fingerboard Radius: 9.5”
  • Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo
  • Nut Width: 1.65”
  • Controls: 1-volume, 1-tone
  • Pickup Selector: 3-way blade pickup switch
At publication time this was the Highest Rated Solidbody Electric Guitar Under $500.

Cons

  • Minor neck and setup imperfections
  • Non-traditional tonewood

Pros

  • Vintage look with modern playability
  • Good Tele twang tone
  • Viable gigging guitar
  • Lightweight body

The Fender Broadcaster, later renamed to Telecaster, is considered the first commercially successful solidbody electric guitar - and now, decades later, the Telecaster is as in-demand as ever.

The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster '50s continues this legacy with its combination of vintage features and modern reliability at a more accessible price point.

The design of this guitar follows vintage designs closely, from its single-cutaway body to the neck and headstock shape, down to hardware configuration.

But to keep the price affordable Fender utilized more affordable materials and efficient production methods.

The body is crafted from pine wood, which may not appeal to purists but is good enough to get the look right, and more importantly, it gets the job done.

This type of wood is also lighter, which means that the guitar plays comfortably.

To meet the demands of today's guitarists, this one has a modern C neck profile and a flatter 9.5" fingerboard radius over the 7.2" that's seen on vintage specimens. This results in easier playability compared to other Teles with thicker necks.

Giving this guitar its voice are vintage-sounding Alnico III magnet pickups, and they do the vintage twang tone justice without the usual hefty price tag expected from premium Telecasters. It stands out as the best guitar for fingerpicking in this group.

Many consider the Squier Classic Vibe series to be the best budget electric guitars, and rightly so given the good value and quality they offer.

As expected, the build quality and setup are not as good as more expensive models, but it can be a gigging guitar. Thankfully, minor neck and setup imperfections are not deal breakers and can be fixed.

If you're in the market for a reasonably priced Telecaster, the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster '50s should be the first model to consider seriously.

Fans of the Fender designed Strat can also look into its equally good sibling, the Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster. It is considered one of the best cheap electric guitars.

Rating Source Highlights

Website Source *Rating Value
YouTube Bside Talks Guitar 94/100
YouTube Elmo Karjalainen 86/100
*Displayed values are prior to the Gearank Algorithm's adjustments it makes when evaluating the source.

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