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Post subject: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:29 pm
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Hi,
This is my first post on these forums.

As somebody who has always been more interested in Gibsons, Gretches and Epiphones, I have recently found myself in the rather strange position are really wanting to get a Strat.

Because budget is a consideration, I initially short-listed the Squier Classic Vibe '60s, and Classic Vibe '50s for consideration, but then found myself drawn to the Classic Series '60s and Classic Player '60s, and I have decided to try to audition all 3 of the '60s models which I have mentioned here. Unfortunately, it is proving difficult to find all 3 ranges of guitars.

Before I start auditioning guitars, I would like to understand a bit more about them, based on what I have learned from listening to them and reading reviews on the Internet.

In addition to providing a lot of useful information, this research generated quite a few confusing pieces of information for me, and I have quite a few questions to which I could not find the answers, so I am hoping that people here will be able to help me out.

1. Are the 'Vintage-Style Single Coil' pickups on the Classic Series '60s Stratocaster the same as the 'Custom Vintage-Style Single Coil' pickups listed for the Classic Vibe '60s?

2. If these pickups are different, how do they differ?

3. How are 'Vintage-Style' frets (as found on the Classic Series '60s) different from the Medium Jumbo found on the other 2 guitars?

4. The '60s models in the 3 ranges listed above (and the '70s Series Strat, in many ways) seem to be very similar in most ways (construction, woods used), with the main differences between the guitars being Neck shape, Neck radius, Tremolo, and the pickups – if I got one of these guitars and decided that I wanted to change some of these components for others (e.g., pickups, tremolo) are the guitars of similar enough construction to enable different pickups or tremolo to the added without having to mod the guitars in ways which would change them (e.g., drilling holes to accommodate new tuners or trem block)?

I am asking this because I do remember reading a speculation on one thread here that the Tremolo on either the Classic Series '60s or the Classic Player '60s is specifically constructed for that guitar, and therefore the guitar would not be able to accept another tremolo.

5. How would you characterize the amount of noise produced by the single coils on these guitars? I am not usually a fan of single coil noise, so would probably think of swapping the pickups out for some kind of Noiseless pickups at some point, if this would be possible.

6. What would you say about the quality of the components of each of these guitars?

I am particularly interested in the differences and similarities between the Classic Series '60s and Classic Player '60s Strats, so would welcome anything that people had to say about these guitars, in addition to whatever impressions people have of the Classic Vibe '60s in comparison to the other guitars.

Many thanks,


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 7:42 pm
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I would really appreciate some help with this.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 9:21 pm
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Lot of questions have you played any of them. You might what to play each and listen to each for yourself. If you want as close to vintage then get yourself an early 80s fulleton reissue or early Corona reissue 62 or 57. Good luck.
8)


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 9:12 am
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I've had both the Classic Series (50's) and Classic Players (60's) Stratocasters as well as messed around with the Classic Vibe.

My clear-cut favorite was the Classic Series.

Why?

The Classic Player neck is a modern C, but has a 12" radius, giving the neck a way too thin feel. The pickups were custom shop 69's that are stock, but they are way too mellow and the middle is not reverse wound... Too much noise and neck wasn't comfortable. Deals can be found cheap. I got mine for $300 used at Guitar Center, virtually brand new. Sold it for $500 because I found an American Strat for $500 at Guitar Center.

The Classic Series is the closest to the real deal from the era. The soft V neck profile and the 7.25" radius is actually very comfortable to play. The pickups sounded just right, much better than American Standard Single coils, Texas Specials, Tex-Mex, Noiseless, Vintage Noiseless, CS 69's, and MIM Standard coils. Best sounding I've heard so far from Fender. Might be because the staggered poles match the radius more correctly than modern fretboard radius's. I got this one for $400 and only one I wish I still had. Traded it for a hand wired Deluxe Reverb Clone. I like it better than my American Standard (which I bought for $500)

Now the Squier Classic Vibe is a great guitar, but like many of the Squiers, the necks are uncomfortably small. Width at the nut is too narrow, neck is too slim, and replacement pickups are not a good idea because the pole spacing on the pickups do not align with the strings at the bridge and nut giving you a weak output on some strings, especially when doing any bends.

Hope that helps....

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Last edited by DetroitBlues on Mon Jan 28, 2013 1:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2013 3:45 pm
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Hi knotanother 1 and DetroitBlues,
Many thanks for your replies.

knotanother 1, to answer your question, no, I have not yet played any of the guitars, mostly because I wanted to go into the 'auditioning' stage as prepared as possible for things that I want to check out– I would hate to spend a couple of weeks' playing, and make a purchase and then discover something that I had not really noticed at the time (e.g., what DetroitBlues said about the advisability of replacing pickups on the Classic Vibe series).

DetroitBlues, many thanks for your information and impressions – that was exactly the kind of information that I was looking for, and has been very, very helpful– it helps me to eliminate the Classic Vibe from my short list (although I do realize that in many respects it is, as you say, a fine guitar, and about half the price of the CS 60s and CP 60s).

Do you happen to know if the 3 tone sunburst option on the Classic Vibe is the same as the 3 color sunburst option on the CS and CP?

Once again, many thanks for your replies.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:03 am
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When it comes to the sunburst, the 50's sunburst models are two tone, there is no red because way back in the day, the red paint actually faded out to brown. That's why you see so many beat up stratocasters and Les pauls that were sunbursts, but now appear to be much different.

You'll usually see guitars labeled as three tone sunburst 3TSB or two tone sunburst 2TSB. 60's strats have the three tone, 50's have the 2 tone. Just a matter of liking the color red or not... Personally, I like the two tone much better....

Classic Player's 60 Strat:
Image

Classic Series 50's Strat:
Image

Oh, the only major difference between a Classic Series 50's and 60's is the neck profile and the maple or rosewood fretboard. I always keep rosewood, but I do rather like the maple on that 50's I had...

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 11:13 am
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DetroitBlues wrote:
When it comes to the sunburst, the 50's sunburst models are two tone, there is no red because way back in the day, the red paint actually faded out to brown.


The '50s sunburst Strat finish from its beginnings in 1954 until 1957 had no red because there was no red.

The two-tone finish did not become a three-tone finish until the 1958 model year, when the red component was added. Early examples of these instruments did exhibit finish problems due to the instability of the red pigment used initially. It took about a year to sort this issue out and identify a red that would resist fading due to UV exposure.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 1:00 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
DetroitBlues wrote:
When it comes to the sunburst, the 50's sunburst models are two tone, there is no red because way back in the day, the red paint actually faded out to brown.


The '50s sunburst Strat finish from its beginnings in 1954 until 1957 had no red because there was no red.

The two-tone finish did not become a three-tone finish until the 1958 model year, when the red component was added. Early examples of these instruments did exhibit finish problems due to the instability of the red pigment used initially. It took about a year to sort this issue out and identify a red that would resist fading due to UV exposure.

Arjay


I must of been thinking about the Les Paul sunburst...

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:24 pm
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Hi Arjay and DetroitBlues,
Thanks for this.

I also noticed that the Classic Series 50s Strat has a truss rod opening just up from the nut – I think that the Classic Series 60s and Classic Player 60s both have truss rod openings at the heel of the neck ( between the neck pickup and end of the neck), which is probably period correct, but a bit of a pain to deal with.

Thank you for your continued help with this.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:40 pm
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How often do you reckon you'll be monkeying around with a truss rod adjustment?

In fifteen years of ownership, I've adjusted the truss rod on this 50s Classic Series Strat precisely twice......

Image

Necks built of quality seasoned lumber generally don't require frequent adjustments.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 6:13 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
How often do you reckon you'll be monkeying around with a truss rod adjustment?

In fifteen years of ownership, I've adjusted the truss rod on this 50s Classic Series Strat precisely twice......

Image

Necks built of quality seasoned lumber generally don't require frequent adjustments.

Arjay


+1...I have one of your options...a 60s Classic Series Strat and it has Never needed a truss rod adjustment. These are great guitars, I love the C shaped neck, the build quality is excellent as are the parts. Finish is well done. They are pretty good value too! Here is mine to help wet your wistle for one.

Image

HTH

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 9:51 pm
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Hi Arjay and T2Stratman,
That is good to hear about the truss rod.

I had been asking because I had read other posts (cannot remember if they are here or elsewhere) which said that even going 1 or 2 string gauges heavier would affect the neck to a significant extent, requiring truss rod adjustment.

I have actually not had to adjust the truss rod with my other (non-Fender) guitars, but this is new 'territory' to me, having never owned a Fender.

Thanks, once again for the post.


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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Thu Jan 24, 2013 10:21 pm
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drutgat wrote:
I had been asking because I had read other posts (cannot remember if they are here or elsewhere) which said that even going 1 or 2 string gauges heavier would affect the neck to a significant extent, requiring truss rod adjustment.


This may be true. As well, a heavier string set may also necessitate an adjustment to the trem claw to keep the bridge happy. However, once set to account for the new -- heavier -- strings it's usually not something that needs constant tweaking.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 6:31 am
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drutgat wrote:
Hi Arjay and DetroitBlues,
Thanks for this.

I also noticed that the Classic Series 50s Strat has a truss rod opening just up from the nut – I think that the Classic Series 60s and Classic Player 60s both have truss rod openings at the heel of the neck ( between the neck pickup and end of the neck), which is probably period correct, but a bit of a pain to deal with.

Thank you for your continued help with this.


Actually it is in the heal.. The truss rod hole at the headstock is a plug....

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Post subject: Re: Advice Please on Buying 3 Different '60s Strats
Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2013 8:45 pm
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Hi Arjay and DetroitBlues,
Thanks for your replies.

Does adjusting the neck for a heavier gauge of strings mean that I could switch back and forth between heavier and lighter gauges without needing to re-adjust the neck?

I have never had to adjust any of my other guitars when adding heavier strings, and I have gone between .OO9's and .12's.


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