Home » Expert Product & Service Reviews » Electric Guitar Reviews » Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Review (Fender’s Best Value?)

Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Review (Fender’s Best Value?)

In our Fender Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster review, we’ll take an in-depth look to find out whether it’s a good fit for you – or not.

We certainly hope you benefit from the information we provide in this article! Just so you know, we may receive compensation if you use the links on this page. If you do, thank you so much!

Does Fender’s Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Deliver the Goods?

Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 6-String Electric Guitar (Right-Hand, Butterscotch Blonde)

4.3 out of 5 stars

(4.3)

The Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Guitar is synonymous with classic guitar designs in the United States. In fact, when many people picture classic rock guitars, they’re imagining the iconic Telecaster.

If you’re looking to travel back in time with your musical talent, this is one of your best options.

As a guitar manufacturer, Fender is one of the most prominent companies on the planet. While this model isn’t the cheapest on the market, it’s undoubtedly one of the most famous in design.

It’s also much less expensive than some other high-end alternatives and custom shop models.

With plenty of features and performance benefits included, it’s hard to say no to this guitar if it’s within your budget. In this review, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster to find out whether it’s a yes for you in particular.

Fender 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Right Handed, Butterscotch Blonde (303027550)

Classic 50’s Design

If you appreciate classically designed guitars with historical significance, you can’t go wrong with the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster. This design is known around the world for its famous appearance and retro-look.

Many of the world’s most famous guitarists played telecasters – including Bob Dylan, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards. This economical and very practical guitar design comes with plenty of history attached to it.

Squier Classic 50's Vibe Tele
Squier Classic 50’s Vibe Tele

A Wide Range of Included Features

While the modern Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster isn’t exactly the same as the classic design from decades past in small details. It has plenty of traditional features including a master volume and master tone controls, as well as two custom single-coil Tele pickups.

  • Maple neck, “C” profile
  • Pine body; gloss polyurethane finish
  • Maple fingerboard, 9.5″ radius with dot inlays
  • 25.5″ scale length, 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • 3-way pickup selector; master Volume and Tone controls
  • 3-saddle string-through-body bridge
  • 1.65″ wide nut (now bone)
  • Vintage-style tuners

In short, this guitar is built to perform every bit as well as its predecessor.

Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 6-String Electric Guitar (Right-Hand, Butterscotch Blonde)

Check Classic Vibe Tele Availability Here! >>

Two-Year Warranty – One of the Best in the Industry

Protecting your guitar from malfunctions or design defects is an essential part of being a musician, plus it’s peace of mind. If you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars on a guitar, you need to ensure it’s as protected as possible against defects. Otherwise, you might find yourself replacing your guitar out of pocket.

New instruments can be particularly prone to changes in climate, often having to “weather” seasonal changes until they become stable. If a guitar is going to have problems, it’s within the first year and change that they’ll pop up.

Squier Guitars Logo

With Fender, you’ll find a two-year limited warranty that covers manufacturing issues related to your guitar. Considering the nature of wood and it’s unpredictable stability as such, this is a very good thing.

This warranty is better than the industry standard – many major guitar companies only provide a one-year warranty. If you want a company that backs its own products, Fender is a good option.

Variations to Choose From

Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster – White Blonde

Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster - White Blonde

The Squier Classic Vibe ’50s Telecaster in Blonde celebrates one of the world’s most recognizable guitar finishes.

This iconic model features a pine body, gloss polyurethane finish, and maple neck, “C” profile.

It also sports two excellent sounding Fender-designed alnico single-coil pickups that serve up legendary Tele twang.

Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Telecaster Thinline

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Telecaster Thinline

The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Thinline ’60s takes one of the world’s most instantly recognizable guitars and adds a chambered nato body with the classic natural finish.

Also featuring a single F-hole, Fender-designed pickups, and curvy 4-ply pearloid pickguard, the Squier Telecaster Thinline ’60s is a solid salute to the Teles. Plus it comes at an affordable price!

Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster Thinline

Squier Classic Vibe '70s Telecaster Thinline

A faithful nod to the 1970s evolution of the Tele, the Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster Thinline creates massive tone through its semi-hollow body and dual Fender-designed Wide Range humbucking pickups.

Along wit nickel-plated hardware and a slick vintage-tinted gloss neck finish, player-friendly features include a comfortable “C”-shaped neck, a vintage-style Telecaster bridge, and 70’s inspired headstock markings for an old school aesthetic vibe.

Find great deals on your favorite gear at Sweetwater.com >>

Sweetwater Logo

How Does the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Sound?

The sound quality of the Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Electric Guitar is unmistakably high-quality. With a full and powerful sound output, this guitar is capable of performing at home or at gigs.

One of the first places a manufacturer will cut costs is in the electronics. Not so in this case, we’ve found the pickups to sound remarkably close to the original design from decades ago producing a tone that is exceptionally on par with classic Tele tone.

If anything, the support controls – the pots and output jack specifically would be a worthy upgrade.

You may also decide to replace the thick pickguard with a thinner, period-correct piece as well. While having nothing to do with the sound quality, it certainly represents better. Plus if it looks that much better, you feel better about it too.

While the amplifier you purchase will impact the quality of sound, you can count on this guitar to provide high-quality tone and reliability as is.

What’s the Classic Vibe Telecaster Build Quality Like?

There’s no doubt that the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation – FMIC – has one of the best reputations on the market. In fact, Fender might be the most famous electric guitar manufacturer on earth. Their status is aided by their steadfast commitment to creating great guitar products that last.

The Squier guitar is thoughtfully made using a selected resonant pine body (like the original Esquire), 1-piece comfortable “C” shape maple neck, a traditional bridge with brass barrel saddles, and a signature single coil pickup configuration that’s simple to use and service.

Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 6-String Electric Guitar (Right-Hand, Butterscotch Blonde)

There’s a reason this design continues to remain popular over 60 years after its inception – it lasts.

Playability is great. Strung with 9-42 gauge strings out of the box, it’s easy to play and work through the control settings. Only two small complaints here:

  1. The pots feel a little tight in their rotation which could slow you down should you want to make lightning fast changes, and
  2. The finish on the fretboard in combination with the medium frets reduces the perceived fret height a touch.

Though the fretwork itself is impeccable and nicely finished, you might find you have apply a little more effort to get those big bends.

Squier Classic 50’s Tele UPDATE:

In January of 2020, we had a most recent Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster production model come in for a setup. We were pleasantly surprised to find that the frets were taller – .043″ in height vs the previous .034″. This allowed for a much more playable guitar when bending notes, plus the notes themselves range a bit more true.

The other surprise was the use of a more traditional bone nut rather than the synthetic material – nice! Overall, these two improvements really help to push the guitar further into the realm of superior value for money.

Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 6-String Electric Guitar (Right-Hand, Butterscotch Blonde)

Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster in Review: Key Points

What We Like

      • One of the most iconic guitar designs on the market
      • Built from sturdy materials that will continue to perform in the future
      • The sounds are all there for what you’d expect from a Telecaster
      • One of the industry’s best warranties to protect your investment
      • Left and right-hand models are available
      • A solid price point for the quality of the guitar

20px spacer

What We Don’t Like

      • Like many stand-alone instruments, you’ll still need to purchase additional equipment and accessories
      • The price might be a bit high for someone looking to enter the market
      • While quality is exceptionally high, some of the machined metal parts can be a little less than tight

20px spacer

What Do Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster Players Think? >>
Sweetwater Deals On Gear

Find great deals on Squier guitars at Sweetwater.com! >>

Our Verdict: Is the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster a Good Deal or Not?

Should you say “yes” to the Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster?

Whether you’re a new guitarist or a seasoned veteran, you’re sure to find great value in the Squier Classic Vibe 50’s Telecaster Guitar.

Out of the box, this guitar has all the functionality you’ll need to perform in front of a large crowd or jam out at home while likewise boasting a solid warranty to back it up.

With a few modest upgrades, particularly in the supportive electronics, you can have a guitar that competes with instruments worth hundreds of dollars more. Now that’s getting your money’s worth!

If you’re really looking to go upmarket, there are better options available, but purchasing a Squier gives you a great guitar with a significant history and a killer traditional look to boot.

Fender Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecaster 6-String Electric Guitar (Right-Hand, Butterscotch Blonde)

Check Today's Squier Classic 50's Telecaster Price! >>

  • Build Quality
  • Sound Quality
  • Value Factor
4.5

Summary

Overall Score:

Top Recommended Accessories

Follow Steve Blundon:
Steve Blundon is a business owner, published author, former music teacher and active master guitar tech who's been servicing instruments for over thirty years. Visit Author's Page.

7 Responses

  1. JBS
    | Reply

    Fender guitars are like cars that can be hot rodded,esp the Telecaster. Put a B bender in this thing and make the world cry.

  2. Mike LaPointe
    | Reply

    Pound for pound you get great value with the Classic Vibe series of guitars. If you want a better Tele, you can certainly get one, but it becomes a case of diminishing returns. You can spend a LOT of money chasing that holy grail of tone.

  3. Phil Wray
    | Reply

    I have six guitars including the Squire Classic Vibe Telecaster which was the cheapest, costing $351.
    It is my go-to guitar.
    My main criticism is that four or five frets were high and there was a little fret-buzz. After leveling them, adjusting the truss rod and intonation, its playablility is even better.
    I also carefully sanded the back of the neck and that too has noticeably improved its playablility

    • Steve B.
      | Reply

      Thanks Phil, awesome observations and recommendations. Thanks for your input!

  4. Jeff
    | Reply

    I just received my Butterscotch ‘Classic Vibe’ about a month ago, and was very pleasantly surprised with the quality. Although I had read hundreds of reviews online, almost every one extremely favorable, I still wasn’t quite prepared for the quality instrument I received.

    My last Telecaster purchase was an American-made guitar, and my Classic Vibe is at least as good, all things considered (including price). I’m honestly considering buying a second one. At that price, especially, I don’t believe I would ever regret the purchase. Maybe I’ll buy a hundred, and some ‘Fender’ decals……

    It’s not a fantastic guitar “for a Squier,” it’s just a fantastic guitar!

    • Steve B.
      | Reply

      Thanks for the comment Jeff. I think you’re absolutely right in praising the value of the Classic Vibe series. They’re great instruments out of the box, and with modest upgrades, they easily go toe-to-toe with instruments that sell for hundreds of dollars more.

Leave a Reply to Jeff Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *