As I am a fanatic Squier collector I had to buy one, certainly after reading al the unbelievable good reviews e.g. here on the Thomann website.
Playability out of the box:
There was a quality control label attached to the neck with action hight measurements on different frets along the neck and a radius and intonation check was performed on the guitar like on a custom shop model before you pick it up in person at your guitar luthier.
In one word: amazing!
Strings:
They put Fender strings on it but these Fender regular 9’s string set do not get this guitar alive and kicking in the way she deserves. My advice is to simply spend 6 euro extra on your order for a set of good old Voodoo Child 10’s or D’Addario EXL 10’s.
Neck:
Smooth as butter, this is a triple winner neck, the 60’s slim C grip and 9,5 inch radius is done perfectly, the Indian Laurel fingerboard has a nice mellow accent to it, perfect fretwork with not one sharp end.
Hardware:
Comparing it with mij 1995 AM Strat there was a little difference in warmth on the neck pickup. After lifting the pickup up it became a little less glassy and wishfully fuzzier and warmer. Very good sound even clean these new Fender designed Alnico pickups.
The bridge has a real big boy’s block in a real resonating body and good saddles.
The volume and tone pots feel confident and reduce halfway down in a honest Fender way. The guitar has a good balance, fast neck, bone nut was in need of a little smoothening and graphite for better playability but was done correctly, the strings have no dead spots anywhere and no buzzing.
Overall conclusion:
On a 10 points scale this here Squier 60’s Classic Vibe deserves a 10.
I have had several Classic Vibes, all given them away because they were missing the Magic Sparkle which makes you want to play it over and over again.
This one certainly has the Magic Sparkle.
Fantastic! Thomann thanks for another perfect delivery and Fender, keep up the good work! Obviously you have not lost your Magic Touch.....
