One thing you said that I totally agree with is that plugging into an amp completely changes things. I don't judge a guitar until I've gigged with it in a live band setting. To me, that's the true test of any gear. You can make anything sound good when recording or playing at low volumes, but when you crank it live you'll soon notice the differences between guitars.
Hello David and thanks for your comment. As soon as you play the first chord on stage with the band you can tell instantly if your setup is right. All the fiddling and tweeking at home is great but you really won't know if it really works till you play at volume with the band. Please subscribe! Thanks
It's so true. Suddenly when you play live at volume it becomes abundantly clear what works and what doesn't. Thanks for the comment David, it you haven't already, please subscribe! Thanks.
if anybody is watching this late and haven't decided which to get yet, well if your wallet can handle it i would strongly consider getting the American Performer over the Classic Vibe. the reason i can say it is because i own both, i have a Classic Vibe Telecaster and the American Performer Telecaster, and there is a night and day difference. however the one in the video is not a good comparison because the version he used has a humbucker in the neck pickup, but there are other options that have the traditional single coil. mine has a single coil, so when i was trying both in the store, i immediately can hear the clarity in the tone in the Performer, that being said for 300 dollars the Classic Vibe is very good for the money. if money is not an option for some of you and you prefer a single coil in a Telecaster over a humbucker, give the American performer a look. i like the Classic Vibe that's what i was originally gonna get, until i tried them out myself in stores. why buy a classic vibe if im getting the Performer, my wife. she's not a serious guitar player like myself, but i got it for her as a gift.
Of course you're right, if you have the money buy the best guitar you can afford. And the Fender Performer and American Pro 2 are great guitars. Actually my favorite Fender Series is the American Original which is over $2000. Please subscribe!
I think the main difference isnt in the sound of the pickups, which the amp is more responsible for tbh and CV pickups in general will get you close enough to an MIA fender sound. The difference is in the one thing viewers cant see. The feel and playability of the guitar. Classic vibes are fine instruments and very playable, especially in their price point, but I played them both back to back today and its honestly not even close how much better the performer is to play on
Performer absolutely slays anything squier makes, yes budget guitar have improved a lot but the whole "as good as guitars so and so much more expensive" hype have gone a little overboard. I have a cv because i like to have the strat box ticked but if it was my main guitar and i intended on keeping it long term id do anything i could to get my hands on a performer.
I just did quite the setup on a new CV Tele. The saddles were way out of wack with individual string heights all over the place. The nut needed filing and the fret ends dressed. When all said and done the feel and playability was greatly improved. American Fender’s have all this work done already.
I like the natural look of the neck on the Performer, Yes! it does remind me of a Squier Bullet neck but I would rather have this than the ones with the fake suntan look.
Great review! The only thing I would add regarding the AM Perf VS AM Pro is the neck. The neck on the AM Pro is substantially thicker and has pronounced shoulders, where the AM Perf neck is a slightly thinner neck in comparison. This subtle difference is a pretty big one as I found out that the “Deep C” neck hurts my arm and hand after just a few minutes of playing, vs the AM Perf Neck which is much more comfortable but still substantial. 👌
I’m a lucky guy. I own both a Performer SS Tele and a Classic Vibe Esquire. I have to say they’re just two great guitars and I love them both! I do feel that the Performer feels just slightly better qualitywise, e.g. the tuners. But I guess that is to be expected, since there is a substantial price difference. I wouldn’t part with either one of them, though and I love playing both of them. It’s funny how they both inspire me to play different music. Just goes to show: no two guitars are the same and it’s good to own more than one. But I guess most players know this, already. You always need just one more. Just one last one… ; ) Thanks for the video, man! I really enjoyed it!
Hey YJ, Which American performer did you choose? I got the Honey burst with the rosewood fingerboard and I love it. Just curious what color you picked. Thanks
I brought a classic vibe tele. It wasnt a patch on my american special with custom shop texas special pickups. It sounded far superior and playabilty was light years ahead. I sold the classic vibe.
You did it again man. Your comparison/ demo/ in depth reviews are second to none and I watch them. This was awesome and I really appreciate the time you put into these videos. Great work. Thank you. I had a CV for years and I LOVED it. The look, the sound and the feel. I was fortunate enough to come across an American Professional Tele someone was selling for a price I couldn’t resist and haven’t touched the CV since. I sold the CV and I know that guy is enjoying it like I did but the American Pro is head and shoulders a better all around guitar. Thanks again for the video. Really enjoyed it.
@@airtimedesign I got the Am Pro 1. Sounded more like a Tele to me then the Am Pro 2 does. To my ears anyway. But the Am Pro 2 has a neck that feels incredible.
@@airtimedesign I like the V Mod pickups. Clearer, more articulate string definition and the ice picky top end that Teles can get are rounded out a little. If that makes sense. My CV sounded great but it had a slight muddiness that I couldn’t dial out on my amps. Wasn’t bad at all but I didn’t need it any longer. I really liked my Chinese Classic Vibe for years but once I got the Am Pro, it was a another level. Neck feel for me was night and day better on American Pro. CV had a much thinner more lacquered neck which I never minded until I got the American Pro. Am Pro is a satin feel and I agree with you 100% about Fender tinting the lacquer. I don’t like when it’s almost white looking. They do tiny the new Am Pro 2 series. That neck is the best IMO.
I owned and played dozens of Teles over the years , still have 9 The squire classic vibe China made one is a great guitar I also have a American Pro tele I don't care for the Shaw designed pickups ' Don't see Why people think their so great. As far as the neck on the preformer I like that it not finished Gives people the option to tint it to their preference if that's what you want to do And also saves on the cost when buying new. The Baja for the money was one of the best buy's I made Also I think Alot of the Mexican made guitars are over priced and are not that much better for the money compared to the squire besides the Baja.
I have the same American Preformer , even in the same colour. I bought it due to the humbukler pickup as well. I also have an upgraded MIM tele. I have to say that i mostly play the American now. I cannot put it down. Man i love the jumbo frets as i play a little slide, tune in an open D most of the time. It really suits my needs there, has them covered. I really dig the sound through my 1991 Blues Jr. It is just a Amazing sound. I am delighted at the price. I never travel with guitars to the point where i needed a Hardcase, so the gig bag is fine for local transport. I like it so much that i am looking at another with single coils in both pickups. Great video, you covered everything very well. This was a smart move by Fender to help customers buy a decent, well-made guitar at an affordable price.
If it's a made in china squier here, might be worth mentioning that the new ones are made in indonesia with different pickups to the old chinese models since 2019 or so. Great video though, trying to decide whether to go for the squier classic vibe custom 60s or a performer model at the moment
Hey! Great review! I actually bought an Affinity, and my luthier upgraded it to Classic Vibe pickups and top notch vintage electronics, some russian made from the 70s lol i adore it... I just bought a Strat CV 50s, and wow it's as good as any Fender. I love both Squiers as much as my Gibson Les Paul to be honest, cheers
Thank you Kev and I'm glad you enjoyed the review! You can't go wrong with the Squiers. I love them too. I recently bought a used 2013 Squier CV Tele. They are just good guitars for not much money. Can't ask for more. More stuff on the way so please subscribe!
Hey Brooks, great job with your reviews and comparisons. Got the voice for it. I have a 2017 American Pro Tele, a 2017 Squier Standard ( I love the neck on the Standard, also put a 4 way switch in it), I also have a Cozart T-type with a basswood body. I have upgraded the bridge, saddles, 4 way switch, and electronics in the Cozart. I also wound my own tele bridge pup for the Cozy. It was $99 shipped. I am not a Professional like you (your performances are great BTW), but I have bonded with the Cozy, it is light (about 6 lbs). The Cozy neck pup is stock ceramic, but is bright and clear and responds well to the tone control. Well anyway Fender should hire you for there promotional spots,(no joke). Also, I have wound 4 sets of strat pups using the V-Mod alnico magnet pattern, which is available on Fenders website. They are installed on three Strats I have built/assembled. Sorry to ramble.
Great review! I used to have a Chinese made CV strat. It was a great guitar at any price, my 90's Gibson Les Paul Standard is sloppier when it comes to QC. I believe that the type of wood in the body, fretboard and neck doesn't matter at all soundwise when the guitar is played thru an amp (and that's what they're made for). There are difference unplugged though. But that hardly matters and I don't get people who insists that listening to the unplugged sound of an electric is the most important factor when buying one. Why? While I'm at, I'm also pretty sure that a two piece neck is a stronger and more stabile construction compared to a one-piece. Maple necks with a glued on maple fretboard (like Fender made them in the late 60's) should be vastly stronger compared to a maple neck cut from a single piece of wood. Likewise the three-piece maple necks Gibson made in the 70's are probably the most durable they ever made. But Gibson can't make them like that because people believe that everything made in the 50's was better for no apparent reason (well marketing and vintage hype...).
i like the classic vibe better. i have one from 2014 and love it. i just hope some 14 yr old kid didnt make it for $1.50 a day and a free plate of noodles. also have a 2012 american deluxe tele. totally different animal.
i have a feeling or at least wish that in the future the chinese-made CV teles (you know, the last of the good CVs) will go up in value. the CV teles nowadays are crap but still priced the same, if not higher.
Im pretty sure the Classic vibe white blonde one have alnico 3 and the butterscotch has alnico 5. Could be different doe these days. They sound totally different at store and have different values.
To my ears..not much noticable difference. The price point is very different. At this point in time Classic Vibes sound great. It really comes down to whether you can live with the name on the headstock. If you can, it is an easy choice
You cant judge guitars by youtube videos, or even recordings. Recording method, amps etc matters much more. The difference is in build quality and feel, and that difference is huge in favor of the pricier models.
I agree about the too-white necks - it's a deal-breaker because I'm too old to settle for less - much less I'm learning funk now ; ) - I can lean into the white if I get the off-white (yellow) one with the HUM which might happen in 2 days - I love the other but I see the white headstocks on them -terrible
I have a 50th Anniversary Strat that I bought new. The maple neck has really not changed color this whole time. And I live in Florida! It takes a really long time to get a maple neck to darken on it's own!
Nice comparison! The AP seemed to have a generally warmer tone, overall. I prefer the single coil Teles and have had an American Vintage Reissue as well as MIM Teles. IMHO the MIM Teles are a step in quality above the Vibes and are at an excellent price point. Not to mention they look, play, and sound great! The MIM's and Vibes are such great platforms for mods. I shared your video on my Flipboard ezine: Telemania.
Ok your comment on the fingerboard making a difference in sound : Chris Buck made a video recently in which he tried a maple fingerboard and a rosewood fingerboard on the same guitar. The rosewood fingerboard was noticeably darker, but not enough to matter, these are all things you can compensate with EQ on the amp. Btw - your explanation on how the wiring works on coil tap humbucker was very good. I had always wondered how they achieved that with their model, and the solution is super ingenious ñ. All pickups that I have owned that support coil split sound very weak. Fender should sell those pickups :P
Yeah I was surprised to find that "tonewood" is a such touchy subject. Martin's X series guitars are made with some kind of paper and resin composite and has Richlite synthetic fretboards and bridges. I'm sure there are others guitars made with composites also. Ovation made a fiberglass guitar way back in the 70's. I guess eventually we are moving to composite guitars. But I can't help it, I still like wooden guitars!
had a squier "Nashville " tele with angled bridge single as usual, rev phase mid single and small HB at neck... with a strat 5 way switch. Neat to get SSH with phased combos the SH tele doesn't ... but you lose the in phase combo. You soon realize no Tele gives you the tone options that 3 split able pickups gives... and start a wish list of components for a custom. once you have 3 x 3 way toggles, you have 24 tones. SSS to HHH and everything in between... everything... inc kill switch.
John mayer could record his latest on a squier bullet and no one would notice the difference. I think the amp etc is a larger part of the equation. Still if you've got the money it's nice to have the real thing I suppose.
My Fender Telecaster has a Gibson T-type Humbucker....... Best guitar ever.... 😀 And I've disconnected the tone pot, cuz even on full it takes away some high frequencies
The maple neck on the performer was just perfection. Smooth, satin, right shape. Was out there hunting for the best guitar for me, would have chipped out to get custom shop too, but that neck... that's the reality check. From CV to customs there actually isn't that much difference in the guitar itself.
I've just bought a Squire classic vibe 70s strat, just a solid guitar, I'm getting a set up done, new strings , height adjustment etc, so should all be good , I'm looking to buy a Tele now , twin humbuckers. But in England it's a toss up between the classic vibe 70s Tele deluxe with twin humbuckers or the fender player with twin humbuckers. There's about 200 pounds difference? Decisions eh ? 😢Anyone who's got either , any comments much appreciated 👍🎸
Hey Dave, I've had both the CV and the Player Fender Telecasters. It's tossup as to which is better. It's not so much the quality but rather the features. I like the tinted lacquer on the CV series and I did not like the cut down bridge on some of the Player Tele series. You really can't go wrong with either so just look at the features and decide what you like. If you don't have a preference, then save some money and get the CV. I like Sweetwater because with the pictures you can see the wood and finish difference in the guitars and they list the weight.
Hi not sure if your still looking, the Mex made Player Hum I was looking at sounded kinda muddy, the posts were 250 on a HH, so I passed. So if you're gonna do a mod and upgrade the pickups then the player Tele was nice to play. I don't know if the Tele Deluxe have 500K they didn't have a deluxe in the store.
@@thedaways Thanks for the comment Theda. I decided to upgrade to the American Pro II Tele which I like a lot more. I though I was really going to like the humbucker in the neck position but I came back to the stock neck pickup configuration.
Thank you Macauley70 for the compliment and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I have some older guitars that I've tried exposing to the sun and I can tell you it takes a lot of time. Maybe some technique like a sun lamp or ultra violet but I'm not the expert on that. Of course you could sand it down and apply a tinted lacquer.
The American Fenders can longer stamp made in USA because Fender is using imported parts on the ones assembled in Corona CALIFORNIA. So why not just buy a Squier and upgrade it.
The classic vibe is ok for the money,but you get what you pay for,I bought a secondhand but mint Classic vibe Esquire..Its too heavy...the pickup was pretty crap..I put callaham saddles and a Duncan antiquity 55 pickup in it...its now pretty awesome..for 500GBP!
I absolutely concur. I happen to own both (and 5 more fender branded teles) and yes, yes … my Squier CV is a nice little guitar for the price but my Am performer is an amazing and far a better guitar than my CV 50s HANDS DOWN !! PERIOD.
note the HB isn't a Wide Range... and newer ones are not like orig Wide Range. And maple is always a brighter tone. Comparing pine to pine would be a better match up...
Hello Jack. Most Fender guitar before the 80's had a smaller 7.25" radius. Gibson has always used a larger radius (10-15"). Some people prefer the flatter larger radius because it allows for easier bending the string across the fretboard. So most Fender guitars now are 9.5" radius. It's really subjective.
Classic Vibe got it's rep from the wood. Old were alder, new is poplar. but pine is still pine lol. Thinlines are mostly ash and a no cost option. Google Set Neck Squier + Fender Tele's .. real Keepers...
After listening to the whole video unbiased, because I'd love to pay $500 for a great tele, the two sound nothing alike.. The Squier is tinny and hollow, while the Fender is rich and full and has the classic Tele sound. The Squier sounds exactly like guitar snobs make it out to be... A cheap replica.
Is there a specific reason as to why the Fender doesn't have conductive paint in the cavities? It's crazy to think the CV has it and the Fender doesn't.
This is why American Fender guitars are the absolute best in the world. You can see many Asian companies getting better and that is great. Nothing is comparable guitar to an American Fender.
Thank you! Yes The Fender American Performer Telecaster has Jumbo frets. The neck and the frets play great. I just don't like the too white maple and wish they would have used a little toner. Playing wise it's great.
@@joelgraham3 Hey Joel, I'm not a big fan of the Yosemite pickups. I'm sure they work great for some people. Right now my favorite Fender pickups are the V Mod. It took me a little time to get use to them because they are so much brighter. But it's not just tremble, it's definition and it really works well when you gain up the amp which always darkens and muddies up the sound. The V Mods stay clear and chimey when they are pushed.
I hear you Craig B! Guitars these day seem to vary a lot in weight. That's why I always suggest contacting the sales people if you are buying online and asking if you can get the weight of the exact guitar you are buying. Some companies will do that. Sweetwater is great because you can pick out the guitar you want and it not only shows pictures but also the weight. Replay Guitars in Tampa FL is good too. Even places like Chicago Music Exchange and Guitar Center you can call and ask a salesperson to send you pics the weight.
@@airtimedesign thanks for the reply, but yes I did ask them to weigh it and to choose the lightest and send it to me. It was guitar guitar in the UK, and they send me this boat anchor, but, I don't gig anymore and sit down a lot and play, so I can kind of live it.
@@Twanger.. Yeah I know sometimes it's hard to get information on the exact guitar you are buying. And now a days inventory is low and demand is high so if you don't snag it, it's gone!
Just hearing the Squire makes my ears bleed. Unless it’s a first guitar I don’t see why anyone would consider them. Having said that I don’t think I’d choose the hum if I were to buy a Tele.
The last 3 MIM I've bought had the same problem. 1 had the bridge in the wrong location' the high E string was parallel with the edge of the fretboard ' tried to shift the neck' ended up having to relocate the bridge. Never had these problems with squire.
Hello Ledzep Fan88, I guess I should have made that clearer. The guitar is grounded which prevents electrical shock most of the time. I've still been shocked when I was holding my guitar and touching an ungrounded mic but YES the guitar is grounded. Grounding means all the electrical components are connected to a common ground which in the case of a Fender guitar is usually the bridge and the ground wire on the jack. Shielding, on the other hand, is the covering of the electronics with a metal foil or metalized paint which usually is applied around the electronics to reduce hum on single coil pickups. The electronics cavities are lined with copper tape or metalized paint as well as the back of the pickguard. Hope that clears things up. Thanks for the comment and please subscribe to see more of my reviews!
Ohh okay that makes sense so it's like potted vs unpotted, I actually prefer unpotted, just makes you tame it but it gives better acoustics and dynamic sensitivity.
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One thing you said that I totally agree with is that plugging into an amp completely changes things. I don't judge a guitar until I've gigged with it in a live band setting. To me, that's the true test of any gear. You can make anything sound good when recording or playing at low volumes, but when you crank it live you'll soon notice the differences between guitars.
Hello David and thanks for your comment. As soon as you play the first chord on stage with the band you can tell instantly if your setup is right. All the fiddling and tweeking at home is great but you really won't know if it really works till you play at volume with the band. Please subscribe! Thanks
It's so true. Suddenly when you play live at volume it becomes abundantly clear what works and what doesn't. Thanks for the comment David, it you haven't already, please subscribe! Thanks.
So true!
Great honest explanation. I'm not sure why I'm even here, I'm a drummer. Greetings from Australia
Thanks Kevin! Hope all is well with you and Australia!
😂
Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi!!!
if anybody is watching this late and haven't decided which to get yet,
well if your wallet can handle it i would strongly consider getting the American Performer over the Classic Vibe. the reason i can say it is because i own both,
i have a Classic Vibe Telecaster and the American Performer Telecaster, and there is a night and day difference. however the one in the video is not a good comparison because the version he used has a humbucker in the neck pickup, but there are other options that have the traditional single coil. mine has a single coil, so when i was trying both in the store, i immediately can hear the clarity in the tone in the Performer,
that being said for 300 dollars the Classic Vibe is very good for the money.
if money is not an option for some of you and you prefer a single coil in a Telecaster over a humbucker, give the American performer a look.
i like the Classic Vibe that's what i was originally gonna get, until i tried them out myself in stores. why buy a classic vibe if im getting the Performer, my wife.
she's not a serious guitar player like myself, but i got it for her as a gift.
Of course you're right, if you have the money buy the best guitar you can afford. And the Fender Performer and American Pro 2 are great guitars. Actually my favorite Fender Series is the American Original which is over $2000. Please subscribe!
I think the main difference isnt in the sound of the pickups, which the amp is more responsible for tbh and CV pickups in general will get you close enough to an MIA fender sound. The difference is in the one thing viewers cant see. The feel and playability of the guitar. Classic vibes are fine instruments and very playable, especially in their price point, but I played them both back to back today and its honestly not even close how much better the performer is to play on
Performer absolutely slays anything squier makes, yes budget guitar have improved a lot but the whole "as good as guitars so and so much more expensive" hype have gone a little overboard. I have a cv because i like to have the strat box ticked but if it was my main guitar and i intended on keeping it long term id do anything i could to get my hands on a performer.
I just did quite the setup on a new CV Tele. The saddles were way out of wack with individual string heights all over the place. The nut needed filing and the fret ends dressed. When all said and done the feel and playability was greatly improved. American Fender’s have all this work done already.
I like the natural look of the neck on the Performer, Yes! it does remind me of a Squier Bullet neck but I would rather have this than the ones with the fake suntan look.
Great review!
The only thing I would add regarding the AM Perf VS AM Pro is the neck.
The neck on the AM Pro is substantially thicker and has pronounced shoulders, where the AM Perf neck is a slightly thinner neck in comparison.
This subtle difference is a pretty big one as I found out that the “Deep C” neck hurts my arm and hand after just a few minutes of playing, vs the AM Perf Neck which is much more comfortable but still substantial. 👌
I’m a lucky guy. I own both a Performer SS Tele and a Classic Vibe Esquire. I have to say they’re just two great guitars and I love them both! I do feel that the Performer feels just slightly better qualitywise, e.g. the tuners. But I guess that is to be expected, since there is a substantial price difference. I wouldn’t part with either one of them, though and I love playing both of them. It’s funny how they both inspire me to play different music. Just goes to show: no two guitars are the same and it’s good to own more than one. But I guess most players know this, already. You always need just one more. Just one last one… ; )
Thanks for the video, man! I really enjoyed it!
Hello YJ, Thank you for the comment and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Please subscribe!
Hey YJ,
Which American performer did you choose? I got the Honey burst with the rosewood fingerboard and I love it. Just curious what color you picked.
Thanks
Excellent review. Yes, transitional logo is super cool! PS: Classic Vibes cannot be beat!
Thank you J.D.!
instaBlaster.
I brought a classic vibe tele. It wasnt a patch on my american special with custom shop texas special pickups. It sounded far superior and playabilty was light years ahead. I sold the classic vibe.
You did it again man. Your comparison/ demo/ in depth reviews are second to none and I watch them. This was awesome and I really appreciate the time you put into these videos. Great work. Thank you. I had a CV for years and I LOVED it. The look, the sound and the feel. I was fortunate enough to come across an American Professional Tele someone was selling for a price I couldn’t resist and haven’t touched the CV since. I sold the CV and I know that guy is enjoying it like I did but the American Pro is head and shoulders a better all around guitar. Thanks again for the video. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks Mike! I'm working my review of the American Professional Tele now. I feel it's the best bang for the buck for a USA built Fender Tele.
Mike, how do you like the V Mod pickups on the PRO and how would you compare them with the stock Classic Vibe Tele pickups?
@@airtimedesign I got the Am Pro 1. Sounded more like a Tele to me then the Am Pro 2 does. To my ears anyway. But the Am Pro 2 has a neck that feels incredible.
@@airtimedesign I like the V Mod pickups. Clearer, more articulate string definition and the ice picky top end that Teles can get are rounded out a little. If that makes sense. My CV sounded great but it had a slight muddiness that I couldn’t dial out on my amps. Wasn’t bad at all but I didn’t need it any longer. I really liked my Chinese Classic Vibe for years but once I got the Am Pro, it was a another level. Neck feel for me was night and day better on American Pro. CV had a much thinner more lacquered neck which I never minded until I got the American Pro. Am Pro is a satin feel and I agree with you 100% about Fender tinting the lacquer. I don’t like when it’s almost white looking. They do tiny the new Am Pro 2 series. That neck is the best IMO.
@@mikepj1025 Do you know what pickups are in the AM PRO I
I owned and played dozens of Teles over the years , still have 9
The squire classic vibe China made one is a great guitar I also have a American Pro tele
I don't care for the Shaw designed pickups ' Don't see Why people think their so great. As far as the neck on the preformer I like that it not finished Gives people the option to tint it to their preference if that's what you want to do And also saves on the cost when buying new.
The Baja for the money was one of the best buy's I made
Also I think Alot of the Mexican made guitars are over priced and are not that much better for the money compared to the squire besides the Baja.
I have the same American Preformer , even in the same colour. I bought it due to the humbukler pickup as well. I also have an upgraded MIM tele. I have to say that i mostly play the American now. I cannot put it down. Man i love the jumbo frets as i play a little slide, tune in an open D most of the time. It really suits my needs there, has them covered. I really dig the sound through my 1991 Blues Jr. It is just a Amazing sound. I am delighted at the price. I never travel with guitars to the point where i needed a Hardcase, so the gig bag is fine for local transport. I like it so much that i am looking at another with single coils in both pickups. Great video, you covered everything very well. This was a smart move by Fender to help customers buy a decent, well-made guitar at an affordable price.
I modified a Classic vibe with a P-90 in the neck, and a four way switch. I love it.
If it's a made in china squier here, might be worth mentioning that the new ones are made in indonesia with different pickups to the old chinese models since 2019 or so. Great video though, trying to decide whether to go for the squier classic vibe custom 60s or a performer model at the moment
Hey! Great review! I actually bought an Affinity, and my luthier upgraded it to Classic Vibe pickups and top notch vintage electronics, some russian made from the 70s lol i adore it... I just bought a Strat CV 50s, and wow it's as good as any Fender. I love both Squiers as much as my Gibson Les Paul to be honest, cheers
Thank you Kev and I'm glad you enjoyed the review! You can't go wrong with the Squiers. I love them too. I recently bought a used 2013 Squier CV Tele. They are just good guitars for not much money. Can't ask for more. More stuff on the way so please subscribe!
Best comparison demo! Im waiting the comparison of performer tele and japan made tele fender
Hey Brooks, great job with your reviews and comparisons. Got the voice for it. I have a 2017 American Pro Tele, a 2017 Squier Standard ( I love the neck on the Standard, also put a 4 way switch in it), I also have a Cozart T-type with a basswood body. I have upgraded the bridge, saddles, 4 way switch, and electronics in the Cozart. I also wound my own tele bridge pup for the Cozy. It was $99 shipped. I am not a Professional like you (your performances are great BTW), but I have bonded with the Cozy, it is light (about 6 lbs). The Cozy neck pup is stock ceramic, but is bright and clear and responds well to the tone control. Well anyway Fender should hire you for there promotional spots,(no joke). Also, I have wound 4 sets of strat pups using the V-Mod alnico magnet pattern, which is available on Fenders website. They are installed on three Strats I have built/assembled. Sorry to ramble.
Thank you so much Allen! I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I'm not familiar with the Cozart. I'll have to check it out.
Great review! I used to have a Chinese made CV strat. It was a great guitar at any price, my 90's Gibson Les Paul Standard is sloppier when it comes to QC.
I believe that the type of wood in the body, fretboard and neck doesn't matter at all soundwise when the guitar is played thru an amp (and that's what they're made for). There are difference unplugged though. But that hardly matters and I don't get people who insists that listening to the unplugged sound of an electric is the most important factor when buying one. Why?
While I'm at, I'm also pretty sure that a two piece neck is a stronger and more stabile construction compared to a one-piece. Maple necks with a glued on maple fretboard (like Fender made them in the late 60's) should be vastly stronger compared to a maple neck cut from a single piece of wood. Likewise the three-piece maple necks Gibson made in the 70's are probably the most durable they ever made. But Gibson can't make them like that because people believe that everything made in the 50's was better for no apparent reason (well marketing and vintage hype...).
i like the classic vibe better. i have one from 2014 and love it. i just hope some 14 yr old kid didnt make it for $1.50 a day and a free plate of noodles. also have a 2012 american deluxe tele. totally different animal.
i have a feeling or at least wish that in the future the chinese-made CV teles (you know, the last of the good CVs) will go up in value. the CV teles nowadays are crap but still priced the same, if not higher.
Absolutely not!!! They got rice!
I HAD A CHINESE MADE TELE JUST LIKE THE ONE IN THE VIDEO. IT WAS A GREAT GUITAR. I LOVED THE NECK ON IT. SEEMED TO BE SLIMER.
Im pretty sure the Classic vibe white blonde one have alnico 3 and the butterscotch has alnico 5. Could be different doe these days. They sound totally different at store and have different values.
Agreed.
True
That’s true, and why I bought the white blond. Thing sounds like angels are coming out of it.
@@jaymueller2418 Nice !
This the alcino 3 vs 5 a matter of preference, or is there a better one? I just ordered the butterscotch...
To my ears..not much noticable difference. The price point is very different. At this point in time Classic Vibes sound great. It really comes down to whether you can live with the name on the headstock. If you can, it is an easy choice
You cant judge guitars by youtube videos, or even recordings. Recording method, amps etc matters much more. The difference is in build quality and feel, and that difference is huge in favor of the pricier models.
Great video and comparison. Thank you from down under.
Best review of my guitar I’ve seen, period.
Man Robby! Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
I agree about the too-white necks - it's a deal-breaker because I'm too old to settle for less - much less I'm learning funk now ; ) - I can lean into the white if I get the off-white (yellow) one with the HUM which might happen in 2 days - I love the other but I see the white headstocks on them -terrible
Kiwi brown shoe polish works wonders to give it tinting.
Let me correct: Alnico 3 is on that CV Blondie board. Alnico 5 is in Butterscotch version.
Agreed! I won't buy a Fender with a super white maple neck. What in the world are they thinking. They look cheap too.
I have a 50th Anniversary Strat that I bought new. The maple neck has really not changed color this whole time. And I live in Florida! It takes a really long time to get a maple neck to darken on it's own!
Nice comparison! The AP seemed to have a generally warmer tone, overall. I prefer the single coil Teles and have had an American Vintage Reissue as well as MIM Teles. IMHO the MIM Teles are a step in quality above the Vibes and are at an excellent price point. Not to mention they look, play, and sound great! The MIM's and Vibes are such great platforms for mods. I shared your video on my Flipboard ezine: Telemania.
What a great demo. These guys know what a person about to buy a guitar wants to hear. Very very good thanks
Great way to explain and review.
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
Ok your comment on the fingerboard making a difference in sound : Chris Buck made a video recently in which he tried a maple fingerboard and a rosewood fingerboard on the same guitar. The rosewood fingerboard was noticeably darker, but not enough to matter, these are all things you can compensate with EQ on the amp.
Btw - your explanation on how the wiring works on coil tap humbucker was very good. I had always wondered how they achieved that with their model, and the solution is super ingenious ñ. All pickups that I have owned that support coil split sound very weak.
Fender should sell those pickups :P
Yeah I was surprised to find that "tonewood" is a such touchy subject. Martin's X series guitars are made with some kind of paper and resin composite and has Richlite synthetic fretboards and bridges. I'm sure there are others guitars made with composites also. Ovation made a fiberglass guitar way back in the 70's. I guess eventually we are moving to composite guitars. But I can't help it, I still like wooden guitars!
had a squier "Nashville " tele with angled bridge single as usual, rev phase mid single and small HB at neck... with a strat 5 way switch.
Neat to get SSH with phased combos the SH tele doesn't ... but you lose the in phase combo.
You soon realize no Tele gives you the tone options that 3 split able pickups gives... and start a wish list of components for a custom.
once you have 3 x 3 way toggles, you have 24 tones. SSS to HHH and everything in between...
everything... inc kill switch.
John mayer could record his latest on a squier bullet and no one would notice the difference. I think the amp etc is a larger part of the equation. Still if you've got the money it's nice to have the real thing I suppose.
Thank you! Great video
Great comparison video, thanks!!
Thank you Adan, glad you enjoyed it. I'm working on more reviews so please subscribe! Thanks!
My Fender Telecaster has a Gibson T-type Humbucker....... Best guitar ever.... 😀
And I've disconnected the tone pot, cuz even on full it takes away some high frequencies
If someone deserves a subscribe and more, it is you. Everything about this video is amazing.
Thank you so much Victor! You made my day! Hope you enjoy my other reviews.
The maple neck on the performer was just perfection. Smooth, satin, right shape. Was out there hunting for the best guitar for me, would have chipped out to get custom shop too, but that neck... that's the reality check. From CV to customs there actually isn't that much difference in the guitar itself.
thanks - you answered my questions at the end
Hey Joel, glad you enjoyed the video!
i agree,,just llack it in a tone of brown
It’s completely BS that fender doesn’t tint their neck coatings. They look massively better tinted.
Body wood? Yes it affects sound. I don't know if it's a quality thing, I have a Dan Electro with a masonite body and it sounds great.
Great review, But man, those deluxe Teles are amazing. That guitar is a sleeper
Thanks PublicImage glad you enjoyed the review. Please subscribe to see more of my reviews!
The neck pickup on the Telecaster Performer Hum is alnico 4, not 5.
I've just bought a Squire classic vibe 70s strat, just a solid guitar, I'm getting a set up done, new strings , height adjustment etc, so should all be good , I'm looking to buy a Tele now , twin humbuckers. But in England it's a toss up between the classic vibe 70s Tele deluxe with twin humbuckers or the fender player with twin humbuckers. There's about 200 pounds difference? Decisions eh ? 😢Anyone who's got either , any comments much appreciated 👍🎸
Hey Dave, I've had both the CV and the Player Fender Telecasters. It's tossup as to which is better. It's not so much the quality but rather the features. I like the tinted lacquer on the CV series and I did not like the cut down bridge on some of the Player Tele series. You really can't go wrong with either so just look at the features and decide what you like. If you don't have a preference, then save some money and get the CV. I like Sweetwater because with the pictures you can see the wood and finish difference in the guitars and they list the weight.
Hi not sure if your still looking, the Mex made Player Hum I was looking at sounded kinda muddy, the posts were 250 on a HH, so I passed. So if you're gonna do a mod and upgrade the pickups then the player Tele was nice to play. I don't know if the Tele Deluxe have 500K they didn't have a deluxe in the store.
@@thedaways Thanks for the comment Theda. I decided to upgrade to the American Pro II Tele which I like a lot more. I though I was really going to like the humbucker in the neck position but I came back to the stock neck pickup configuration.
GREat and complete review..congratulations..Is posible darken the neck? a little sun exposition?
Thank you Macauley70 for the compliment and I'm glad you enjoyed the review. I have some older guitars that I've tried exposing to the sun and I can tell you it takes a lot of time. Maybe some technique like a sun lamp or ultra violet but I'm not the expert on that. Of course you could sand it down and apply a tinted lacquer.
Please subscribe thanks!
The American Fenders can longer stamp made in USA because Fender is using imported parts on the ones assembled in Corona CALIFORNIA. So why not just buy a Squier and upgrade it.
The classic vibe is ok for the money,but you get what you pay for,I bought a secondhand but mint Classic vibe Esquire..Its too heavy...the pickup was pretty crap..I put callaham saddles and a Duncan antiquity 55 pickup in it...its now pretty awesome..for 500GBP!
Thanks for the comment Martyn and please subscribe!
I absolutely concur.
I happen to own both (and 5 more fender branded teles) and yes, yes … my Squier CV is a nice little guitar for the price but my Am performer is an amazing and far a better guitar than my CV 50s HANDS DOWN !! PERIOD.
note the HB isn't a Wide Range... and newer ones are not like orig Wide Range. And maple is always a brighter tone. Comparing pine to pine would be a better match up...
What a great demo wow factor 100%.
Thank you so much Roland! You made my day!
With all the choices I'm not sure why they stay with 9.5" radius so much. I'd like a lot more 12".
Hello Jack. Most Fender guitar before the 80's had a smaller 7.25" radius. Gibson has always used a larger radius (10-15"). Some people prefer the flatter larger radius because it allows for easier bending the string across the fretboard. So most Fender guitars now are 9.5" radius. It's really subjective.
I will buy the American Performer. Over the squier and the American Pro ll.
Classic Vibe got it's rep from the wood. Old were alder, new is poplar. but pine is still pine lol. Thinlines are mostly ash and a no cost option. Google Set Neck Squier + Fender Tele's .. real Keepers...
This guys voice is WAY too good for this kind of content. Similar day job?
A good pice of wood comes in all spices of wood, even bass wood can sound great!
2 problems for me with the performer are it's made for 9s strings. Also those vintage tuners. Hate them.
CV is the same.
After listening to the whole video unbiased, because I'd love to pay $500 for a great tele, the two sound nothing alike.. The Squier is tinny and hollow, while the Fender is rich and full and has the classic Tele sound. The Squier sounds exactly like guitar snobs make it out to be... A cheap replica.
Is there a specific reason as to why the Fender doesn't have conductive paint in the cavities? It's crazy to think the CV has it and the Fender doesn't.
I like SC neck sound. For the bridge, I can't tell the differences. I would buy...MIM tele😅
Thank you for subscribing Nan Sun!
Try a filtertron in the neck on one of your teles !
Hi Malcolm, Is that what you use on your Tele? Tell me more.
@@airtimedesign Its kinda humbucker sounding but not as powerful and bassy sounding. Works well with the bridge. P90 also works well !
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Thanks Malcolm!
Or a Supro gold foil.
This is why American Fender guitars are the absolute best in the world. You can see many Asian companies getting better and that is great. Nothing is comparable guitar to an American Fender.
Tbh your squier sounds way better than the fender..imo- the humbucker just doesn't have the warmth that a regular tele has
Hey Eitan, Thanks for the comment. I like the stock Tele pickup configuration better. Please subscribe!
Can you convert the classic vibes to have six saddles?
Thank you for telling the truth
That's the best compliment I've ever received! Thanks!
Great video. To me CV is too sharp and piercing
Good review! Does the Performer have jumbo frets? If so, how do you like that?
Thank you! Yes The Fender American Performer Telecaster has Jumbo frets. The neck and the frets play great. I just don't like the too white maple and wish they would have used a little toner. Playing wise it's great.
@@airtimedesign So, do I get a used American Pro or a new Performer? what would you do with 1600? I have to decide now - there are almost none left
@@airtimedesign and what do you think of Yosemite?
@@joelgraham3 Hey Joel, I'm not a big fan of the Yosemite pickups. I'm sure they work great for some people. Right now my favorite Fender pickups are the V Mod. It took me a little time to get use to them because they are so much brighter. But it's not just tremble, it's definition and it really works well when you gain up the amp which always darkens and muddies up the sound. The V Mods stay clear and chimey when they are pushed.
@@joelgraham3 Joel, I ended up with the American Pro II which is the current model. I think its the best guitar and best value for the money.
I’d take the Squier and run for the hills.
I have a classic vibe love it except.. Its a friggin boat anchor ⚓ - weighs 9lbs!!
I hear you Craig B! Guitars these day seem to vary a lot in weight. That's why I always suggest contacting the sales people if you are buying online and asking if you can get the weight of the exact guitar you are buying. Some companies will do that. Sweetwater is great because you can pick out the guitar you want and it not only shows pictures but also the weight. Replay Guitars in Tampa FL is good too. Even places like Chicago Music Exchange and Guitar Center you can call and ask a salesperson to send you pics the weight.
@@airtimedesign thanks for the reply, but yes I did ask them to weigh it and to choose the lightest and send it to me. It was guitar guitar in the UK, and they send me this boat anchor, but, I don't gig anymore and sit down a lot and play, so I can kind of live it.
@@Twanger.. Yeah I know sometimes it's hard to get information on the exact guitar you are buying. And now a days inventory is low and demand is high so if you don't snag it, it's gone!
Try it with a P-90 in the neck!
I'm sure that would sound awesome Richard! Please subscribe. Thank you for the comment
@@airtimedesign Done did, thank you for your response.
@@ColinStuart Thanks Richard!
Just hearing the Squire makes my ears bleed. Unless it’s a first guitar I don’t see why anyone would consider them. Having said that I don’t think I’d choose the hum if I were to buy a Tele.
I was considering the AP but honestly I think both sound bad. The Stratocaster sounds much better.
WRONG
super
That CV sounds great ! Do you know if they still put Alnico 3 pickups on the VB or are they Alnico 5 now on both Tele 50's versions ?
I just got a new CV. Resistance measured 6.9 bridge and 7.3 neck.
@@Mountainrock70 Thanks thats nice, it's more than I thought ! That's pretty standard for Tele PU anyway I guess
I think the classic sounds cleaner
Harsh does not equal clean
The Classic Vibe has “Synthetic Bone” nut. Not real bone but it sure looks like bone.
Mod shop works
As far as wood affecting tone...the strings pass over a pick guard....so the point is moot...
Not sure of your point. The type of wood the strings are anchored to is going to affect tone. As is what the pickups are anchored to.
Ap kills on the bridge classic vibe not so much
Trust this guy’s opinion
Thanks for the endorsement Jay!
MIM Craftsmanship is trash if you played the new 2022 models fret sprouting and bad electronics.
The last 3 MIM I've bought had the same problem.
1 had the bridge in the wrong location' the high E string was parallel with the edge of the fretboard ' tried to shift the neck' ended up having to relocate the bridge.
Never had these problems with squire.
*BUY
Question... Why isn't the American shielded wouldn't that be a safety Hazzard. What little hair I have left would stand on end 😂😂😂
Hello Ledzep Fan88, I guess I should have made that clearer. The guitar is grounded which prevents electrical shock most of the time. I've still been shocked when I was holding my guitar and touching an ungrounded mic but YES the guitar is grounded. Grounding means all the electrical components are connected to a common ground which in the case of a Fender guitar is usually the bridge and the ground wire on the jack. Shielding, on the other hand, is the covering of the electronics with a metal foil or metalized paint which usually is applied around the electronics to reduce hum on single coil pickups. The electronics cavities are lined with copper tape or metalized paint as well as the back of the pickguard. Hope that clears things up. Thanks for the comment and please subscribe to see more of my reviews!
Ohh okay that makes sense so it's like potted vs unpotted, I actually prefer unpotted, just makes you tame it but it gives better acoustics and dynamic sensitivity.
Tappef bucker is noisy
sound almost the same.
No , its worth to " buy " American
Is it worth it to buy American???
Only if you value putting Americans to work.