Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
User avatar
Sonichris
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 968
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:56 pm
Location: Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies

Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Sonichris » Tue May 14, 2019 6:14 pm

I just got this brand new Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster today. I was curious how these differed from the Vintage Modified Jazzmasters we all know.

I should say that I love low priced guitars, and the VM series was my favorite cheap guitar. But, I can also appreciate a good high end guitar, and I spend a lot of time working in a small boutique builder shop making some pretty cool custom stuff.

I've had well over 2 dozen of the Vintage Modified Jazzmasters and Jaguars, and for a while had a little cottage industry buying seconds/refurbishing and reselling. I got to know those guitars really well. From poor wiring to paint blems, and everything in between. I've fixed them, modded them and enjoyed them.

This guitar is brand new. It's the first brand new Squier I've ever bought. Which is weird. But I still got a deal on it. :)

I'll try and temper criticism with facts.

First, some pics. These are fresh out of the box.

Image

Image

Image
Image
Image
Image

Cosmetically, everything was fine. no big blems, and fit/finish seem good.

After the pics, I tuned it up, and played it for a bit. Still comes with 9/42 strings.... ???
Let's start with the good.

Pros:
1.guitar weighs 8.35 lbs on my digital scale. That's cool.
2. 3 piece body? Maybe 4 piece. Decent grain match - which is easy when its Basswood.....
2. The new Mustang style bridge seems like a solid upgrade over the previous style. Even with the 9/42 strings, and no shim, it was far less buzzy than the VM's. 2 1/16" (52mm) string spacing should keep the strings off the edge of the board. Verified it's a real 9.5" radius.
3. the bone nut looks nice, but .....
4. The new wood truss rod plug looks nice, but.....
5. The tremolo works smoothly. These Squier versions can be hit or miss, but this one is good.
6. Right out of the box, it played well enough. except for one thing......

Cons:
1. The high E string was cut poorly, and had a "sitar" buzz. easy enough fix with a nut file, but...... most people don't have a nut file. It was virtually unplayable until the nut was fixed. All the other slots might be oversized?
2. I haven't seen a sunburst this poor since.....The Vintage Modified series. it's the exact same sunburst. virtually no red. and
3. This is basswood. Fender states Poplar. I don't really care, but this guitar isn't made of the wood it's claimed to be. I was hoping to see a Fender Poplar body, which is why I bought the sunburst.
4. Booger on the truss rod hole. no big deal, but it's there.
5. Fingerboard is UGLY! I'm not a big fingerboard snob. Dark or light, I don't much care, but this one is kind of grey. We'll see what some oil does, but I'm not thinking it's going to be too much improved. The pics make it look better than it does. UGLY!
6. Tuners don't seem to be as nice as the VM series. I know some have issues, but I never had any cause to swap them.

So, I pulled it apart, looked it over, measured some things, and I can virtually guarantee these are made in the same factory as the VM's, using almost all the same parts. Basswood body, same marginal sunburst. Even the pickups are the same. While playing it I immediately thought "these are the same pickups.

1. The pickups have to be the same a s the "Duncan Designed" versions. Same construction, and same output. 11.71 bridge, 6.77 neck. Same glued on covers. I'm kind of disappointed that they aren't something new. "Fender Designed" my butt.
2. that's a lot of wire!!
3. The finish is still really thick.

Image

Image

Image
Image
Image

So, with all this doom and gloom, what's the final verdict? I guess I like it? I was kind of hoping for something much different that the VM Jazzmasters of the past. This is basically the same guitar with a new (better) bridge, bone nut, and new decal, and really poor looking fretboard.

I'm going to do a basic set up on it. (shim the neck, heavier strings, etc) and play it for a while. I'm going to resists doing a bunch of upgrades right away.
I'll follow up as things progress.

I think overall, these are an upgrade from the VM series just for the bridge alone.

Still, for $399 (or less if you are a cheapskate like me) these are a really good modders platform, or even a good way to dip your toe in the JM pond. I'm going to hope the e string nut issue was an accident, and not the norm.

User avatar
loveinathens
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1400
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:03 pm
Location: Manila, Philippines

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by loveinathens » Tue May 14, 2019 6:19 pm

Is everything still AVRI-spec? Also, are they using real tort now?

User avatar
601210
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1021
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:55 am

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by 601210 » Tue May 14, 2019 6:36 pm

If the nuts seem oversized, maybe it plays well with 10s? Wishful thinking on my part...

User avatar
timtam
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2729
Joined: Sun Oct 22, 2017 2:42 am
Location: Melbourne

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by timtam » Tue May 14, 2019 7:24 pm

Just googled that M26101 pickup part number. Roswell came up ....
http://www.roswellpickups.com/pickup/pr ... idx=M26101
DCR matches. Also used by Thomann on Harley Bentons IIRC.
Roswell bridge JM also matches DCR ...
http://www.roswellpickups.com/pickup/pr ... idx=M26102
Sonichris wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 6:14 pm
Image
"I just knew I wanted to make a sound that was the complete opposite of a Les Paul, and that’s pretty much a Jaguar." Rowland S. Howard.

User avatar
CROSS_guitars
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 3112
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:52 am
Location: Thornbury Melbourne

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by CROSS_guitars » Tue May 14, 2019 7:40 pm

Nice.
The tort pickguard is a huge improvement.

I'm not surprised by all the cons you listed.

User avatar
sunburster
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1064
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 3:04 pm

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by sunburster » Tue May 14, 2019 8:01 pm

loveinathens wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 6:19 pm
Is everything still AVRI-spec?
Plenty of things on the VM JMs were not AVRI-spec (neck radius, fret size, truss rod placement, finish, etc).

User avatar
adamrobertt
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2408
Joined: Sun Mar 28, 2010 10:28 am
Contact:

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by adamrobertt » Tue May 14, 2019 8:15 pm

What makes you say that the guitar is basswood vs. poplar? How did you determine this?

User avatar
alexpigment
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 844
Joined: Mon Jun 04, 2018 3:02 pm

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by alexpigment » Tue May 14, 2019 8:20 pm

I wonder if they're just using up existing bodies that they had already produced for the VM series. After all, sunburst, white, and sonic blue are all finishes that were available for the VM. Maybe the poplar ones will just start suddenly appearing once they run out of old stock. I wouldn't hold out hope, but who knows.

Seems like from the reviews so far that they still are not up to par with anything from the China factory. Sad to hear that they're watering down the Classic Vibe name.

User avatar
601210
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1021
Joined: Mon Sep 08, 2008 3:55 am

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by 601210 » Tue May 14, 2019 8:25 pm

sunburster wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:01 pm
loveinathens wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 6:19 pm
Is everything still AVRI-spec?
Plenty of things on the VM JMs were not AVRI-spec (neck radius, fret size, truss rod placement, finish, etc).
I assume he meant things like the pickguard, plates, neck heel width, etc lining up.

User avatar
Larsongs
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2414
Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2014 9:39 pm

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Larsongs » Wed May 15, 2019 7:26 am

From first Review doesn't appear they're like the Examples I saw at Winter NAMM which were pretty much flawless.... Guess those must've been Cherry picked & got the Pro Set up treatment...

Too bad.... Disappointing.....

User avatar
Kwyjibo
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 227
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:11 am
Location: Philly

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Kwyjibo » Wed May 15, 2019 7:32 am

Thanks for the review - I've been waiting for one of these to pop up. I was expecting the classic vibe to be a step up from the VMs (not that they're bad) and have been mulling the idea of purchasing one, despite hating the laurel fretboards, to use as a beater/mod platform JM. Alas, back to the drawing board. I have a bunch of spare necks etc - might just get a body and assemble one to serve that purpose at this point.

If the CV jm blew your socks off, it would make financial sense to get one and gut the electronics, but if they're just like the vm's, it makes less sense. Seems like the classic vibe moniker is just a marketing tool to sell more of the same.

If other folks on here have purchased one, consider also doing a review!

User avatar
Danley
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 2103
Joined: Sun Dec 16, 2012 11:46 am
Location: California Republic

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Danley » Wed May 15, 2019 7:48 am

I have a tempered impression of the VM Jazzmasters (given I own one myself I suppose,) I really think they could be improved in a lot of ways but:

-Really glad to hear about the bone nut, the VM nut basically feels like it's made of putty. Too bad about the setup.
-My stock VM bridge actually does not rattle (still not as solid as a US/vintage bridge but better than both MIJ bridges I own in that respect.) Still it's the only Jazzmaster bridge I've experienced where the post screws lower by themselves. I never replace Jazzmaster bridges with Mustang if left to my own devices, but I guess it's not something that matters a huge deal anyway.
-I haven't picked up a VM vibrato that wasn't a clicking, unstable mess ever. Glad the vibrato on this one actually works.
-I like the walnut plug. Looks much less cheap
-I still like 9s on Jazzmasters :D

Overall seems like they could have replaced the VM with the CV if they weren't going to make it any more different than all that.
King Buzzo: I love when people come up to me and say “Your guitar sound was better on Stoner Witch, when you used a Les Paul. “...I used a Fender Mustang reissue on that, dumbass!

User avatar
loveinathens
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 1400
Joined: Wed Jun 15, 2011 9:03 pm
Location: Manila, Philippines

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by loveinathens » Wed May 15, 2019 9:10 am

601210 wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:25 pm
sunburster wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:01 pm
loveinathens wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 6:19 pm
Is everything still AVRI-spec?
Plenty of things on the VM JMs were not AVRI-spec (neck radius, fret size, truss rod placement, finish, etc).
I assume he meant things like the pickguard, plates, neck heel width, etc lining up.
Yes, this is what I meant. Kind of crucial for a modding platform.

User avatar
Sonichris
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 968
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:56 pm
Location: Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Sonichris » Thu May 16, 2019 8:44 am

adamrobertt wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:15 pm
What makes you say that the guitar is basswood vs. poplar? How did you determine this?
I guess it's just my somewhat educated opinion. We use a lot of poplar at the guitar shop I work at, and some basswood. I could be wrong, but if this Classic Vibe JM is poplar, it's not the same poplar we get. And, it looks just like the Vintage Modified bodies that were basswood. Poplar usually has dark streaks in it, and this guitar is clear.

Poplar -
Image
Image

User avatar
Sonichris
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 968
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:56 pm
Location: Wear gloves - I'm in the Rockies

Re: Squier Classic Vibe 60's Jazzmaster - A Review

Post by Sonichris » Thu May 16, 2019 8:44 am

loveinathens wrote:
Wed May 15, 2019 9:10 am
601210 wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:25 pm
sunburster wrote:
Tue May 14, 2019 8:01 pm


Plenty of things on the VM JMs were not AVRI-spec (neck radius, fret size, truss rod placement, finish, etc).
I assume he meant things like the pickguard, plates, neck heel width, etc lining up.
Yes, this is what I meant. Kind of crucial for a modding platform.
Yes, AVRI spec. At least the same amount as the VM series.

Post Reply