Fender Player II vs. Squier Classic Vibe - Which Should I Buy?

[@Alex-kd5jt]

Good video! I actually just got a Squier Classic Vibe 60's Tele Custom last week and I'm blown away by it. To me, it feels like it doesn't NEED any upgrades. That's not to say parts of it can't be better, but you could say the same about a more expensive guitar. (I've upgraded to locking tuners on my American Strat.) I can leave the Classic Vibe stock and it'll remain a great guitar. The reason I got it is because I have a more expensive Made In Japan Fender Tele Custom and the vintage spec has it with the neck heel truss rod. I'm too lazy to have to take the neck off to adjust the relief but didn't feel like spending another $1200+ getting a different Tele so I figured I'd check out all the hype on these Classic Vibes. I'm totally converted. For a whopping $360, I got a quality built guitar that reverberates better than some of my other American guitars. (Which I think is a strong testament to the simplicity of the Telecaster design). Plus, for anyone that's new to guitars, the money saved on getting a Classic Vibe vs a Player II can be used to getting the simple setup kit from Music Nomad. The Tele is such a good intro to learning how to actually set up a guitar so that you don't have to pay $150 for someone else to do it. It's money well spent. The Classic Vibe Tele, especially if you can get it used in good condition, is an absolute steal!

[@damienalvarez2957]

The only thing I’ve changed on my 50s CV Tele is the bridge saddles. My intonation was not accurate in the higher registers. Some compensated barrels fixed the issue, and they’re brass so they look more vintage-correct.

[@wildesage4172]

Great video! Hot take: I think they all sound great. Lol. They sound different, to be sure (that Monty's neck pickup is HOT!), but they all sound nice. The Player sounds a little more subdued. My philosophy is "guitar for feel, amp for sound." Pickups can easily be changed for the sound you want; the MAIN reason to buy a pricier guitar is for the extra time spent on fit & finish, and for the higher-quality components (ie a decent bridge rather than one made of SUPER cheap metal, ACTUALLY functional pots, etc). So, it used to be that Squiers were cheap & crappy, but the Fender MIM Standard had beautiful fit & finish rivaling US Standard. But now the Ensenada factory, it seems, has sagged a *liittle* bit in terms of QC, but more importantly, Squier now makes these higher-priced instruments, which come with that fantastic fit & finish at under $500. The Mexican is harder to justify now. Either way, if you're not completely clueless about what to look for, then buy used. Half the Squier CV/VM I see on Marketplace have been upgraded already, and they're going for like $350. What a bargain.

[@ericnrebeccawilliams2906]

I instantly noticed the difference when I picked up the player 2. It just felt like a nice guitar. I thought it was just a gimmick but you should play one for yourself. I was really surprised.

[@rcsutter]

Although I already owned a lot of different Tele's in various configurations, I didn't have the "classic" butterscotch 50's with a maple fingerboard so I bought the Squier classic vibe 50's model. Looks great, sounds great, plays great right out of the box from Sweetwater. I watched them for several months, waiting for something really special to pop up in the "choose your favorite" list and one did. It's beautiful. Frets were perfectly finished, level and nicely polished. Body wood looks like one piece, but it's actually two, just very well matched at the joint. It has that signature vintage Tele sound, for a very good price. Stays in tune really well, I see no need to upgrade anything. But I play differently than you did in this video, I'm all over the neck, playing fast, bending strings, and I love the feel of the neck as-is. It's not "sticky" at all, it's actually quite fast. I see people say that and I just don't get it. I have a lot of glossy maple fingerboards, I like the glassy sound and super smooth action. I thought maybe it's the climate I live in - very dry, high altitude in Colorado. But I'm down in Oklahoma visiting family, brought it along, it's hot and muggy like a steam bath, and it still feels great. So maybe it's just we're all different in how we play, the sound we're after, and personal preferences. That's why they make a plethora of different guitars, there's one out there for everyone. Anyway, I enjoyed your video, it just popped up in my recs so I gave it a view. I'm sure I'll be back for more, I've been playing since 1964 and I'm a gear head.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@rcsutter thanks for the details! Testimonials are always great to hear. I have a classic vibe tele and Strat and then the squier 40th anniversary jazzmaster all of them are good guitars. The jazz master is just so nice with the satin neck compared to the gloss on the others. I wonder if it’s just that I don’t play the gloss enough to sort of break em in and get past that - I also tend to get sweaty hands (no one likes borrowing the video game controller after me…) All in all squier makes great stuff, no doubt and you’re right experience is totally echoed by many! I’ve had to do real set ups on mine (one from Andertons and one from Sweetwater) so I think it’s also sort of luck of the draw. Thanks so much for watching and sharing! 🤘

[@rcsutter]

@@dadtimejamtime Absolutely, luck of the draw applies to all brands and price levels unfortunately. I build partscasters just for fun, and have the tools and skills to make a guitar play well even if it doesn't come that way. I was expecting to do that, but it didn't need anything. I also have a Sire T7FM with humbuckers, the neck is satin on the back, glossy on the front and has those nice rolled edges. Feels great. But I've been playing glossy necks for so many years I guess I compensate somehow for it. I understand about sweaty hands too, if I'm just playing in my man cave alone I'm cool and dry. But when gigging I always had stage fright, and my hands would get sweaty. I'd just use some talcum powder and it worked great. A couple shots of Tequila didn't hurt either, lol.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@rcsutter thanks for the tips! I’ll make sure to share with my wife so she understands what all the tequila is for…

[@madsenamplification]

The Monty’s pickups sounded really good. Love that you discussed the feel! The fit and finish as well. If someone finds a great feeling guitar that sounds good acoustically that fits their budget, they can upgrade pickups, hardware if needed and get it set up!

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@madsenamplification thanks so much for watching and the feedback 🙏 it can be hard with the sonic/bullet squiers because it’s sort of luck of the draw, but if you play them first and find a good one it’s legit worth keeping and upgrading. I was impressed with the pickups too - I don’t tend to love super twangy tele bridge pickups - just because I’m not good enough to use em right 🤪 - so these have been super balanced and usable for lots of different things.

[@shaespotts6969]

I got a Squier 60s CV in mocha burst from Reverb, it'd been sitting brand new in the box in their warehouse for 2 years. Crazy that nobody had picked it up before then, especially at Fenders asking price of $450. I think it was waiting for me. I've never played a Player 2, but I haven't had any issues with my Squier CV. Great guitar for the price!

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@shaespotts6969 awesome - congrats on the find!

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

This confirms my experience with many different players and CVs. The main difference is the Player will have better hardware. Tones are so close that really it is a matter of taste and look/ feel.

[@guilletjean-jacques5107]

Je viens de mettre la main sur une CV fabriqué en chine , année 2015 , avec la mise a niveau d une électronique mojotone USA , d un chevalet Gotoh et peut être d une paire de micro , mais ça c personnel , ça sera une guitare bien meilleur que la moindre telecaster player série , et pour moins cher

[@mattwilliams3104]

I’ve been consistently impressed with the classic vibe guitars. It’s a lot of guitar for the money. I also don’t mind the gloss finished neck and am typically someone who prefers a more worn in satin type finish. I’ve never once played a gloss neck classic vibe and thought about the finish. They play so nice. With that being said I just bought the green player ii tele because the green and that dark fretboard is such a cool looking combo. As someone who owns two hand made Eastman guitars with their hand applied varnish finish I can’t stress enough to not sleep on the classic vibe guitars. They’re so good.

[@dadtimejamtime]

100% agree. The budget on the classic vibe is a real winner, especially if you’re doing limited upgrades. Value for money is great. But this is the first time I’ve actually been excited about the player series fenders and for the types of upgrades I tend to do, this is the first time I actually am going entry level fenders over classic vibe which was an unexpected outcome. But totally agree classic vibes are great - especially once you get to offsets

[@madsenamplification]

Upgrading a squier is fun, but you’re right you won’t recoup the costs of the mods. One of my favorite guitars right now is a squier short scale strat with a hard tail bridge. I upgraded some of the hardware, all of the electronics and pickups and I love it! But I don’t plan to ever sell it!

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@madsenamplification short scale, hard tail Strat - you’re speaking my language. I love my old music master I bought at a garage sale. I’ve been waiting for my kids to actually use the Loog guitar I bought them so I have an excuse to buy them the squier mini Strat.

[@madsenamplification]

@@dadtimejamtime my youngest has a strat mini but he wants the mini Jackson Randy Rhoads guitar! Amazon has the short scale strat, it’s 24” like a musicmaster or Duo Sonic.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Whoa! That’s even cooler! Checking that out now!

[@camc8157]

Something pretty important to me between these guitars is the frets. The classic vibe and the bullet tele both have narrow frets, while the player has medium jumbo. The difference in play feel is pretty notable.

[@camc8157]

I switched out my bullet tele neck for a player series neck last week and it made an insane difference.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@camc8157 good point - which frets do you prefer?

[@JonGaull]

This review is really well done, thank you for sharing!

[@chinchillax1483]

Thanks Han Brolo, this was a good idea for a video! Really good production, too! I like this focus on value you always have.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Thank you, Dudebacca! Appreciate the kind words and feedback 🙏 Glad it hit - thanks for sharing.

[@tophjones8110]

My thoughts, for what they're worth. I'm 50 years old and I want to learn to play guitar. I'm left handed, so I've had all the conversations, and I've taken the time to play around and learn a little both left and right handed, and I feel more comfortable left handed, and I think I have better rhythm in my left hand. I do everything left handed. I can't do most anything except what I've been forced to learn to do both left and right handed. Which means I probably could, but why not be the most comfortable and natural feeling, right. So I'm looking at guitars and I love PRS Custom 24, and I love the LP arched top, but I don't love the tone usually. I like Strats, but it's a bit too bright for me. I love the tone of the Gibson Firebird. Imagine that in Derek Trucks' hands. Slide monster guitar. I'm a Rolling Stones fan and a Keith Richards fan, so I like the Tele, and it has a twangy sound I like. That one Tele you're playing that isn't the Player II, or the Classic Vibe is my absolute least favorite. The Player II has the Rosewood fretboard, and better pickups I guess. Certainly has its own tone, and I like it, but I think I like the toasted maple fretboard of the classic vibe, I'm just not a fan of that bridge pickup, so I would absolutely buy the Squire Classic Vibe and upgrade the pickups and electronics and pots as time goes on... I've actually found the used Tele I'm buying, and she is a beautiful butterscotch blonde classic look. I enjoy your videos. Thank you for your detailed presentations.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@tophjones8110 it’s funny that you liked the bullet telecaster the least because technically that had the most expensive pick ups in it! But that’s the thing, everyone’s ears are different, and just because gear is expensive doesn’t mean it’s better for you. Trying to get the best tones is definitely a journey. Good luck starting your guitar playing journey, in my humble opinion it’s one of the most fun and rewarding things you can do. As for being a lefty, the only real downside of playing a left-handed guitar is that you get less choices in color options usually. But if you have an idea of what you want and it’s out there, definitely worth going with what’s most comfortable. Keep me posted on how it goes! If you have any questions or need any help along the way, feel free to reach out. Cheers.🤘

[@lazvt8469]

Both (Player II and CV50) are GREAT buys in their own way. Buy BOTH (from a guy with 10 Teles...all different/special). I"m a lefty. I recently owned a Fender Pro II and still own a CV50 Purple Pete from Andertons (decent pups, low first fret, one bad tuner). Upgraded (and fixed fret) my Purple Pete with Lollars Special Ts (and hardware and electronics)...and SOLD my Pro II (pups were OK, not great). The PP CV50 is noticeably lighter than your typical beastly butterscotch pine CV50 (mine has Fralins, great!!). My 2014 TeleMex is excellent, especially with McNelly pups. In all cases, disconnect neck pup from tone pot to get more clarity, output....even in the middle position. Budget Tele's are mostly great (AIO, HB, CV, MIM, G&L, etc) ...but only if you get quality pups (high end, get USED), and set them up correctly. I learned to solder last year....and do my own setup...and typically can find used CS/boutique pups for my Teles on Reverb. Heck, buy your guitar used too...why go new??? Great vid.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@lazvt8469 Cook bro! Thanks for sharing. Love it. Totally agree that each are good buys in their own way - all depends what you plan to do with them. And good shout on buying used! Such a good way to bring down the base cost too. I love my fralin pickups in the tele I built - always a solid choice. Rock on good sir! Thanks for watching and sharing 🤘

[@1thess523]

I have a 50's Classic Vibe Tele with Fender Tex-Mex bridge and it feels and plays better than a lot of American telecasters I've been able to try at our local used shop. I play pop and skate Punk through a marshall jcm 900 with a Warm Audio Centavo and that thing sounds really nice through my rig

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@1thess523 so rad! It just goes to show every guitar is the outcome of whoever works on it in the factory that day. Some classic vibes just feel like they got a lot of extra attention and some don’t. Same with American made ones too. I guess that’s the appeal of PRS - maybe a little more consistent. But overall with a good set up and a nice set of pickups you’re probably playing something pretty darn great.

[@1thess523]

@@dadtimejamtime exactly, you know the same thing goes for Music Man Stingray basses. I play bass as well (drums too 😁) and I've been able to try at least 20 Stingrays and they are all very inconsistent but I've found the Sterling SUB series (I have one) is probably the most consistent bass from that company including the Sterling Ray 34 & 24.

[@888jimm]

So I bought a lowly Squire Offset Tele. Out of the box it sounded and played great. ( I have a bunch of "good guitars" ) of course I cant leave well enough alone soooo....I bought a American Pro 2 Tele loaded pick guard from Stratosphere (ebay they don't have their own website any longer btw) and had it installed. Wow it is all I play now. Every tone i was trying to find with my strats is easy to dial in on the telly with just a twist of a knob. How it sits in the mix is ideal. Dont fear the bridge pick up :) as a recovering Strat player I found myself avoiding the bridge pick up thinking I would hurt cats... but after forcing myself to use if exclusively for an extended time (and using the tone knob :) I am amazed how I can hear the guitar in the mix so much better now. It is making me a better player. I do like the push push option it works for HB kind of applications ..kind of. If i could only have 2 guitars ...(hope wifey never reads this :) it would be this telly and my Yamaha RSS20 for Les Paul stuff ,its just plays great, so well made, sounds very good kinda like a twin hb telly in a way. I adjusted teh string height and that was it on that guitar. So the moral of the story...to folks starting out ...Get a telly dont practice , learn learn learn....never sell the telly! big mistake on my part.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@888jimm there really is nothing too “lowly” about the classic vibes - they’re really good out of the box, but yeah new pickups and electronics can make a pretty big difference (that sort of goes for most stock guitars though - even with American made you can always squeeze a little more out of it with a pickup upgrade). It’s pretty amazing though what you get for the money with any of the squire models actually. But now with the idea of getting a rose wood fretboard and satin neck and pretty decent pickups and electronics and tuners on the player 2 series actually has me actually saying if you’re going to mod, go lower model than classic vibe and land around 500-600. If you want good guitar for 800 go player series and use it as is. Modding a classic vibe to 800 doesn’t make as much sense any more. But all in all you can’t really go wrong and just enjoy the journey! Thanks for sharing!

[@888jimm]

@@dadtimejamtime - Agree 💯 was making fun of my snobby attitude 🤣

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@888jimm ha! I thought you were making fun of my snobby attitude!

[@888jimm]

@@dadtimejamtime Hehehe 🤣

[@deadmanwalking1930]

Great video. Liked and subscribed. I'll be going with the Fender Player 2. The cost of upgrading the Squire to that of the Fender and only saving a small amount of money, but still won't have the rolled edges, etc, just doesn't seem worth it. So, it is Fender for me.

[@somepl3b]

Best of luck on your channel, thanks for the tips

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@somepl3b thank you! Appreciate that and glad I could help. Cheers 🤘

[@SatelliteSounds]

My very first guitar was similar green. Subscribed and hope the best for your channel. Cool to be here early.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@SatelliteSounds that’s awesome. I told my parents in 5th grade I wanted an electric guitar and showed them a green Strat that I was in love. Of course they somehow found a crazy modern thinline s-type with a tele deluxe pick up configuration and a wizard thin neck ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - but it made noise and had frets so that’s all that mattered lulz. Thanks for sharing and subscribing and the kind words 🤘

[@Lomoholga2]

There is nothing more dangerous for a guitar company to do than to make an expensive telecaster model- the company runs the serious risk of the consumers realizing the emperor is not wearing any clothes

[@jacobgulmann2564]

Like any guitar model…

[@dadtimejamtime]

@jacobgulmann2564 some guitars are definitely more time intensive and complicated than others - a carved/archtop or more dynamic machined parts like offset trems and bridges can really differ between price points due to quality of materials and craftsmanship. Teles are a plank of wood bolted to another with very simple circuit. It’s about as base as you can get.

[@Lomoholga2]

@@dadtimejamtime precisely! I wasn’t totally trying to be cynical saying that- but there is a strong degree of truth to it! (And no the other side of the spectrum of ‘cheap guitars are just as good S expensive!’ Is not always true either.) Consumers have to be savy and focus on what they need for me it’s only about the neck and tuning stability/bridge. Everything else is easily modifiable and to be naively honest here- I don’t find any use at all in swapping pickups within the same type and same output range- if I want more mids/bass/whatever I can adjust that in a dozen ways through the signal chain.

[@ramsonk]

i really think MIJ Tele's are super underrated for the price and really wish they were available worldwide more😭 the MIJ Hybrid II Telecaster in blue has to be one of my dream guitars✊ great vid btw 🙏🙏

[@dadtimejamtime]

Really great point -- going MIJ is 100% a better value usually than the vintera level and they kind of sit at the same price point -- just harder to get a hold of. Was just in a guitar shop in Paris, and they had such a good selection of used MIJ/CIJ/JV guitars at really really fair prices.

[@Packethackscom1]

Thanks for a great video. I am new guitar player, playing 3 months now, considering a Tele Player 2. I bought a Jackson JS Series Dinky JS22 as my first guitar, but just don't like the tone I get from it. Maybe it's just because of my inexperience, but I'm hoping the Tele will give me more the sound I'm looking for. Anyway I learned a lot from the video

[@tonya4157]

I can do the work but really liked the Fender.

[@guitarmage0072]

I played a CV 70's Telecaster yesterday and thought the quality was quite good. The action was low with no buzzing. Fit and finish were very good and I thought the tone was very good as well. Only thing I didn't care for was the glossy neck.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@guitarmage0072 that sounds like a CV to me! Really great bang for the buck. Don’t get me wrong with this video - a classic vibe is a totally great option especially if your aim is to just play it out of the box and don’t plan to put on upgrading it a bunch. CV has been and continues to be a game changer in the sub $500 price point for sure. Previously I would have said go classic vibe even over the first player series. Now, however, my opinions changed on that with the player II

[@guitarmage0072]

@@dadtimejamtime well I'll be more than happy to take the Player II off your hands if you want to give it away to me. 😂

[@jazzpezzas]

I have a player series Mustang and a Sonic Squier Strat and they both have a very similar feel to them. The Fender neck feels more polished and the guitar has better pick ups. The Squier is fine right out of the box but even with some mods like other pups, you have much more guitar for your money. Pups are easy to find second hand so a Squier Sonic HT is the better choice if you ask me.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Especially if you don’t care about the rosewood neck!

[@killingbickett]

I’m a big fan of Squier, but when it comes to resale, people tend to be more interested in buying a Fender over a Squier. While it’s possible to resell a Fender for close to the price you paid (ore more) a few years later, I don’t think that’s feasible with a Squier. For me, this is an important factor to consider as well.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@killingbickett good point!

[@everettsmith971]

I can’t find a bridge for my bullet that doesn’t need drilling. Do you guys have any info on this ?

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@everettsmith971 what style of bullet? Tele, Strat, etc?

[@everettsmith971]

@@dadtimejamtime tele

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@everettsmith971 what exactly are you trying the upgrade? The entire bridge plate and saddles? Are you trying to put a more vintage barrel saddle style bridge on? I’ve seen replacement bridges for the bullet as modern 5 hole telecaster bridges. But I don’t know if there’s a vintage style 5-hole replacement bridge out there. I’ll check around.

[@everettsmith971]

@@dadtimejamtime yes. That’s exactly what I’m going for. I want the barrel saddles

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@everettsmith971 you could look into the specs of the American professional replacement bridge - it’s got the extra two screw in the top left/right - not sure of the sizing but might be worth a shot

[@williamcondra3811]

Great job. Like the color of the player. Love my Classic Vibe.

[@steepykc]

Thanks for the good review. You mentioned about J Mascis Jazzmaster, do you think J Mascis might be better choice over player jazzmaster?

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@steepykc ooh! Tough question - lots of differences JM vs Player: Fret #: 21 v 22 Frets: jumbo v medium jumbo Fretboard: laurel v rosewood Pickups: supposedly JM approved v new alnico 5 which I havent played yet Electronics: traditional lead + rhythm circuit v a simplified 3 way toggle setup Bridge: tune-o-matic vs mustang saddles Neck finish: gloss v satin If you can, I’d play them both. You can always sand the gloss off the JM but you can’t put a rhythm circuit in the player II cheaply. I’ve liked the JM a lot, and for $400 cheaper it’s a steal. I know people who gig with it a lot. If you want the jazz master look and the better neck go player II. If you want the classic jazz master electronics and a solid guitar go JM. Upgrade the tuners and sand the neck (if you don’t like the gloss) and you’ve got a pretty solid guitar for under 500

[@steepykc]

@@dadtimejamtime Thank you! That was a solid answer.

[@math001]

I loved the Tidepool color they had for the first Player Series and I was already planning to get that. Such a shame they replaced it with the lighter Aquatone Blue since I prefer the darker tone closer to Lake Placid Blue. Maybe it's also a good idea for me to get the Player if I can find one since it's now cheaper. Would also agree with the other comment that the neck finish is definitely what's better on the Fender. I have a Strat CV and the neck gets a bit unconfortable to play with when it's hot

[@taurektaurek6213]

Great video! My ony thought that could be intersting: The thinner body of bullets also may become an issue when thinkink about replacing the trem system.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@taurektaurek6213 totally true for the strats but there are shorter trem replacements out there too for this scenario. Not a problem on the teles or hardtail Strats - for these replacing the saddles with something less soft is all you need.

[@martianmurray]

Just got the player 2 Jaguar and I also have a CV Jaguar. I’m leaning towards the CV right now. I would’ve preferred rolled fret ends than a rolled fretboard because the frets are what you mostly feel sliding your hand up and down the neck, and my CV has smoother fret ends. The rosewood fretboard does look nice but for me that’s just an aesthetic thing. I do prefer the satin finish on the player 2 neck over the CV tho. The CV also has the rhythm circuit and strangle switch so you’re getting more sonic versatility at half the price, granted I don’t use them often. The body on the player 2 also seems thinner and thus lighter than my CV, so that and the satin neck are the only pluses to the player 2 for me. Also the setup out the box for the player 2 was atrocious, especially compared to the CV. I don’t expect a perfect setup out the box, but I’d appreciate an effort to be made because it wasn’t playable at all.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@martianmurray thanks for sharing! Man just goes to show it’s luck of the draw out of the factory for sure. And yeah this video is definitely about telecasters - because once you start throwing in the more complex, traditional circuits of the offsets you really get a different guitar with the classic vibes. Good shout on the fret ends - that was an area I always noticed as being subpar on the first player series. The player ii I picked up was great though.

[@asambi69]

Looking at the Player2 Butterscoth, but not sure if it's worth the extra cash...guess I will see after the Vid :).

[@danakfarran261]

Great video, Player did sound better,but classic vibe is no loser, good intel on both guitars

[@peterwilson8039]

The main advantage of the fender over the classic vibe is to get away from the sticky finish, and to get better quality hardware. Admittedly it is an expensive upgrade. The new Affinity line with a pickup upgrade is probably the cost-effective option, assuming that cost is a major issue. Otherwise, get the fender.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Better fretboard and playability too - you’re paying for the rosewood but IMO it’s kinda worth it 😬

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

I called and emailed Fender about the pickups in the new Player II series guitars and was told they are the same pickups as in the original Player series strats and teles. The guitars that got new pickups are the offset guitars. My 2020 original series Player HSS strat has alinco 5 single coil pickups, and a alinco 2 bridge humbucker. I do like the new necks though and might have to buy one whenever they become available to replace the original neck. I was told they would not become available until late this year or early 2025.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Ooh thanks for doing the heavy lifting and figuring that out and sharing! Fascinating.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

@@dadtimejamtime I really like the necks on the Classic Vibe guitars but I like the pickups on the Player series better. To me they sound more full. I haven't had the chance to check out the necks on the Player II series yet but if they are as good as everyone seems to think I might have to get one for my Player series strat.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@retiredguyadventures6211 it’s a pretty great neck. Nothing I’d really change about it. You could take the rolled edges further - like the sire “edgeless” necks, but overall it’s a great neck - good satin, smooth feel on the back. Compared to classic vibes that generally have a really heavy poly finish, I’d go this neck all the way.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

@@dadtimejamtime Yea I figured it would be an upgrade to the stock original player necks. They are good guitars and I like the pickups, but the neck could have been better from the getgo...

[@KM-302]

The original player Telecaster HH had split coil humbuckers, the player ii doesn't, so those pickups are definitely different. They do sound different in humbucker position too.

[@ricardomiguelesrodriguez1340]

Thanks man, really helpful!

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@ricardomiguelesrodriguez1340 you’re welcome! Glad it helps! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@etimezz]

I bought and returned 2 squire telecasters because of major QC issues. Save yourself the hassle and buy a player series.

[@Tarsan97]

All this 3 guitars are good and you could grab either one of them to play for a full set footballstadion of fans. Player 2 had a chime I personally liked but, it is like comparing two great vocalists. Who is best, Pavarotti or Bon Jovi ?

[@jimmycarter2760]

Great video! I just had to sell my tele to pay medical bills :( for my kids. Let me know if you need someone to take that off your hands!

[@mgoo1713]

I got a used Classic Vibe is excellent condition for $288 + $35 shipping.

[@dadtimejamtime]

That is a very solid way to go. Did you buy it in person or online?

[@SearchingForTone]

Pretty nice guitar. Starting a Tele kick , I just did a review of the Squire Debut Telecaster that you can’t get here in the U.S.

[@rafedavid9191]

there are subtle changes to me it will be up to individuals

[@ScottieInspired]

Hey, good video. Was that the 'Danish Pete' purple Classic Vibe? Interesting comparison when you add in all the upgrades I thought might be needed to a classic vibe...

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@ScottieInspired hey thanks! And good eyes - it is the Andertons purple classic vibe run. It’s crazy i bought it to upgrade. But doing the math really surprised me. Also the better updates to the player II really make it more desirable overall. Pretty big shift from what I expected going into it. Thanks for watching and dropping a line!

[@ScottieInspired]

@@dadtimejamtime Yeah it's quite distinctive, I was *so* close to getting it from Andertons but waited too long and they were sold out, I'm sure they'll have more, they seem to get batches of them. But now I'm thinking should I go for the Player II ha. No money at the moment anyway, so no rush.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@ScottieInspired I hear that - it’s time for me to start selling!

[@mrchecox2206]

Waiting for the player 2 maple butter to try it

[@raikawa1189]

I have the Squier Classic Vibe love it absolutely great guitar althought the neck is what I really dont like about it so Im gonna probably upgrade it to fender neck. Other than that great guitar and after upgrading neck I could probably upgrade to some better pickups but thats probably in distant future

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

15 wipes with a slightly damp green scotch-bright pad and your CV will feel just great.

[@michaelgarner4200]

Yes, with work, the maple necks can be nice. I have a few Squire Bullet Telecasters and it has been my experience that if a person is willing to put time and materials into an instrument that will never not give any of the money back, they are great guitars to learn to mod on. My Butterscotch Blond Bullet has a rolled neck, a 5 way switch with a few tricks, CTS pots and hand-me-down tuners from a more fortuneate guitar that got Ratio locking tuners 😊 I mod Squires and maintain Fenders. 😂

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

@@michaelgarner4200 Good strategy, iI’ve done a ton of that and gotten great guitars out of it.

[@joshhamilton4362]

Am I wrong or did you refer to it as the Squier Bullet when you switched to the purple guitar. Comparing an 800$ MIM telecaster to the lowest level Squier makes isn’t a fair comparison don’t you think?

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@joshhamilton4362 actually the comparison is more than fair in my mind if you exclude the pickups. The squier bullet neck and body is just fine. And if you upgrade the tuners, electronics and pickups you have a great guitar for about the same price as say a classic vibe. The whole point I was trying to make is that if you want a great guitar out of the box go player II. If you want a good guitar out of the box go classic vibe. If you’re going to buy something to upgrade, don’t spend the extra on the classic vibe - start at the bullet/sonic or affinity and upgrade from there. Classic vibe + upgrades is about as much as the player II and now that you have a rosewood fretboard, there’s no reason to buy a classic vibe and upgrade anymore. Hope that clarifies my opinion! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@SuddenSoundStudios]

Great demo, and breakdown/analysis. Thank you!

[@bluwng]

Setup and pickups vary based on Brand and experience, if you buy a non commercial pickup you are paying between $35-$100 on pickups and if you know how to setup your guitar then $0.00.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@bluwng good shout - they definitely do - that’s why I included the low end pricing - for if you do the work yourself and save costs. As for estimated costs - I find that pickups I tend to buy are in those price ranges for a set. But there are definitely more affordable brands with competitive pricing. Buying some tools for setup if you’re learning is also a little bit of fixed cost overhead $20-30 for most of what you need. Start throwing in soldiering irons and all that and it might be higher cost for the first time. The one thing the player has that isn’t a cheap upgrade is the neck w/rosewood. I didn’t even factor that into the upgrade costs cause it’s definitely more of a preference - but quality for money, Player II is a definite improvement to the player series for that alone But so many options out there for sure. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[@dadtimejamtime]

Also, what are good non-commercial pickups you recommend?

[@JoeyZaa-y4y]

I love that shade of green on a tele

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@JoeyZaa-y4y same same - these new colors are 🔥

[@HEYDJ]

Great comparison! Check out Bootstrap Pickups from Ohio. $50 for a set of pickups. Also, I'd recommend Squier Affinity if on a budget. Regular Tele thickness but still light. The Bullet's width can be limiting if you want to, say, have full size push-pull pots or stacked pickups.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@HEYDJ good shout on the limitations of the body thickness of the bullet! I didn’t think about that. Totally agree with the affinity side too - the bodies and necks you get with any squier are just great starting points for mods. Over the past few days after this video thinking about it more, I think I’m you could sum It up like this if you want a finished good guitar, classic vibe is a good deal but if you want to mod, starting from a bullet or affinity might make more sense.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@HEYDJ thanks for the lead on bootstrap as well! I’ll look into them. I’ve always used Fralin for after market pickups, but recently have really been like the Arcane p90s in my Novo. So many great options out there for sure.

[@photobouph]

Regardless all of these are great options! This was a great comparison

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@photobouph awesome! thanks for the feedback and thanks for watching.

[@frankhunt2800]

Awesome giveaway

[@iamanovercomer3253]

I like the green player 2 telecaster because I don't get along with squire , necks .....If you are looking for a great budget guitar and great customer service.... Tease Guitar. I'm not a budget guitar guy but Torsten's owner view of customer service got me to buy a black silver Tease SBH-HD guitar and actually got a purple SBH HD also ( the picture doesn't give it any justice). I had the guitar since July 4th and I'm totally shocked how good this guitar is for the money ‼️ Black SBH-HD Series T Style TUMMY CUT 13.0K Alnico V Humbucker SKU: CMN-SN-MAY-2021 Tummy Cut Full Thickness Basswood Body Alnico V 13.0 Humbucker Bridge Pickup- Alnico V 9.0 Neck Pickup- Full Size CTS .500 Pots -.047 Orange Pad Caps - Pro Series Switch all wrapped up with Gavitt Wiring 22 Crowned & Leveled Stainless Steel Ball End Rounded Frets on a unfinished 12" Radius 305 Modern C Shape (Light Satin) unfinished Maple Neck. 18-1 Tease Guitars Exclusive Locking Tuners 10-46 Strings 8 lbs Factory Set Up puts the Action at 1.75 @ 12th Fret Purple guitar no tummy cut. A lot of guitar for the money ‼️

[@iamanovercomer3253]

I like to get a player 2 telecaster BUT for $800 , the guitar should come with a good gig bag ‼️ I got a hard case with my 🇺🇸 strat and paid $1000. Fender has a lot of work to do with customer support ‼️

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@iamanovercomer3253 that’s a great point - the lack of gig bag didn’t cross my mind since I had an extra that I just threw it in when I picked it up - but totally 800 and no case is a little wild. That being said, I have so many guitar cases that I want exactly zero more. Plus cheaper fender gig bags are pretty crappy anyway. What kind of customer service issues have you had? Genuinely curious because it’s always gone well for me in the few circumstances where I had to reach out. For instance they fixed my bass breaker amp under warranty right at the end of the time frame - were super helpful.

[@iamanovercomer3253]

​​@@dadtimejamtimeI think fender needs to get revamped ‼️ I was thinking about getting a professional 2 telecaster and then I checked out a G&L FULLERTON ASAT CLASSIC and it's a much better built guitar than fender and it's on steroids ‼️ So down the road I'll get the G&L The mod shop has less options than before. Customer service is key for any business, that's why I got an 🇺🇸strat instead of a Gibson ( auto tuners) I called Gibson and nobody answered the phone. I called fender and someone answered the phone. So I bought a strat. As for budget guitars, I don't usually get into them, then I seen Tease Guitar and Torsten's owner view of customer service and I bought a Tease SBH-HD guitar and I'm surprised on the quality for $250. I like to get a Mex telecaster BUT with the economy the way it is, I got to put my money in places that will be more beneficial. Anyways after playing my strat and going to the SBH-HD guitar, I think I will be busy for awhile trying to get tone out of it ‼️

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@iamanovercomer3253 yeah it could be teetering on the edge of commoditization. That’s why they’re brand building - getting artists, doing hype collaborations, and offering so many price points. Kind of like Nike - they might not make the best shoes or guitars, but with the right perception, product and price they can keep cashing in on the name. They’re definitely making more mass market products than G&L, so connoisseurs might go after those or boutique, more high end brands to get more value or quality or something more unique. But fender is probably fine with that as long as they can keep a big enough market interested at the volumes and scale at which they operate. It just really goes to show how powerful brand and awareness are. What kind of revamp do you think Fender needs?

[@mperkins37]

Thanks

[@McRocking]

Player one were alnico V so how is this an upgrade? Also, I have original Players with maple necks in colours we don't all know, such as Pacific Peach. I have another Player with an ebony fretboard, metalic Oxblood body, gold metal pickguard, and USA Vintage '64 pickups (very nice and hardly what we're all used to seeing). So they added a SLIGHT rolled edge to Player II and used that as an excuse to increase prices. Fair enough, but it's hardly an upgrade.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@McRocking fair enough - my mistake on the pickups - the offsets got revamped pickups but not all models. Also, rosewood is a big upgrade in my mind. And from my experience fit and finish is way better than the player ones that I’ve played. So this entry level doesn’t feel like a budget guitar anymore from my perspective. Also pacific peach is a special color in collab with CME only - so it’s not “inline” and available as widely. It’s all a matter of opinion, but how it plays, rosewood, and new colors all feel like an upgrade to me. To each their own! Thanks for sharing your thoughts though and for watching! Cheers!

[@McRocking]

@@dadtimejamtime Yeah the Oxblood Tele with ebony fretboard, gold metal pickguard, and USA Vintage '64 pickups was a special too (I bought it brand new 1 month ago from Andertons UK for £599 ($790 USD). I own 8 Player series and will no doubt be buying some Player II when the Special Edition models hit as I like something a bit different. In terms of quality, I cannot fault the original Players (much better than the old Mex Standard IMO) and from what I've played in store, the MKII feels the same apart from the neck - but it's subtle. I've had zero QC issues with any of the Players I've bought, but I buy from 2 local-ish shops who've known me for 20-odd years and won't try to sell me a lemon. Thanks for the upload, liked & subbed.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@RF_Burns buying from a local store is the way to do it - good ones care about what they sell and keep the guitars in good working order usually. Thanks for subscribing!

[@QuiteNiceNoise]

The player II wins, but the CV is no loser. Great time for affordable guitars.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@QuiteNiceNoise amen 🙏

[@guilletjean-jacques5107]

J ai essayé de me convaincre d acheter une Fender telecaster .....mais rien a faire , je reviens toujours vers la Squier CV50 , avec mise a niveau électronique , chevalet et micros a l envie , et pour moi la construction de cette CV50 est l essence même de ce que Le grand Léo a créé en 1950 , tout le reste n a pas lieu d être pour moi .

[@classicaxe1]

Nice !

[@jerryhorton5708]

Go with the Squier Classic Vibe even if you decide to update some hardware, you are way ahead and have an amazing guitar for the money

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@jerryhorton5708 tuners + pickups alone are 100-300 bucks depending on what you choose… better neck with no sticky poly finish is worth the money to me the more I think about it since making this. I have 3 classic vibes and i like them, don’t get me wrong. But if you’re in it for upgrades, I don’t think the classic vibe makes sense - all the extra you’re paying for from an affinity to a classic vibe is the stuff you’re swapping out anyway. So might as well save that money.

[@jerryhorton5708]

@@dadtimejamtime I get it, but in my experience, the tuners on the classic vibe 60’s model don’t need to be replaced and the gloss on the neck can be fixed with Scotchbrite. I think it depends on whether you want a good base instrument to Frankenstein a bit (kind of my thing) or a good quality, albeit imperfect, instrument for twice the price. Full disclosure - all of my other electrics are PRS and I paid a premium for hand built quality that didn’t need mods or a ton of tweakery. The MIM stuff I’ve purchased in the past wound up being trade stock pretty fast and I’ve never found a Fender (or Gibson, for that matter) production or custom shop worth the money. The good news is that there is something out there for every taste! Keep on playing, my friend!

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@jerryhorton5708 PRS man. Consistency almost every time. Totally agree that fender and Gibson both are at a premium for the name, not the value. But that’s why I will say this was so surprising to me. It’s the first time I did the math on the common upgrades I do personally to classic vibes vs something stock from fender and was like wow $5. Not saying it’s for everyone by any means but it is sort of a different take than I’ve had for the last 6 years. Thanks for the chat - I could talk about this stuff all day. 💯 that there’s something for everyone - almost too much 🤪. Cheers sir!

[@jerryhorton5708]

@@dadtimejamtime Couldn't agree more. I could blather on about gear for hours. I will say that I am extremely surprised at the quality of gear coming from Indonesia and out of the Chinese Squier factory. I sure don't mind plowing a bit of money into an inexpensive instrument to get a "JLH" custom for a lot less. Have a terrific week! Cheers!

[@tonchristopherdepp1236]

Fender is my dream,! i believe one day.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@tonchristopherdepp1236 you’ll get there!

[@williamdonaldson5443]

I like the bullet better it sound full

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@williamdonaldson5443 totally! That’s an aspect of the high quality after market pickups and them being higher output too. It’s a little deceiving, because of that. But the fact that it’s still half the price of the player II with that upgrade makes them a solid base to mod from! Thanks for sharing your take!

[@DotM68]

Player sounds twice as good as the CV. Bullet sounds like a pointy ass.

[@jamieharper2554]

You're talking through your ass

[@FRIDAYGREENDOOR]

i want that guitar please :D

[@kevinfitzpatrick9537]

CV sounds the most like a telecaster to me

[@TheBbtlegit]

Fender players telecaster. For me.

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@TheBbtlegit 🤘🤘🤘

[@tmo7734]

The problem with Fender is they “diluted” their brand. You need an algorithm to figure out which guitar to purchase. Quite ridiculous if you ask me.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Fair shout! It really is a full-time job just figuring out what to buy. And then when you do buy something you have instant buyer's remorse that that ONE THING different on that other model is actually the thing that might make a huge difference. It's just like anything though these days -- cameras, TVs ... protein powder. Marketing making consumers go nuts. On the flip side, it's nice to have options. My number one recommendation is play a guitar in person at a reputable spot. Sleep on it. And if all else fails, I guess, just buy them all 🤪 JK none of it really matters that much -- buy what you can afford and brings you joy, and then just actually play music with it! Thanks for jumping into the conversation 🤘

[@kunkunpow-vn3gi]

Subscribed sent to Bali please :D

[@ERICKFLAGPRODUCOES]

THE SOUNDS ARE VERY SIMILAR . .BUT I STILL PREFER PLAYER II

[@edwinmartinez9787]

If I'm going to start modding on the cheap guitar midas well get the vibe much better guitar the neck all you need sand it you be fine. Bullet neck not good I like the neck better on the vibe over the fender. I have the sonic it"s ok but the neck not great. Fender not twice the amount sound over the vibe and I think the neck is better like I said sand the back part of the neck or use brillo

[@alanflygstad863]

I want to win !!! !!!

[@ka4sxi]

I think you did a quality video but I completely disagree with your opinion. Sorry. I don't believe that the Classic Vibe needs to be upgraded. Straight up I think that the Classic Vibe is pretty close to the Player Series I and II. The Bullet/Sonic series doesn't sound near as good to me. I would buy a Classic Vibe before I bought a Bullet/Sonic and upgraded. The great thing about the CV is that I leave it out on a stand because it is less expensive than my Player Series but still awesome quality. Just another opinion.

[@dadtimejamtime]

Hey thanks for sharing! To each their own! I love hearing what others think! Love a classic vibe on a stand - looks the part, plays well, and don’t have to baby it. Good shout. For playing at home they’re great. Obviously any guitar can be improved - but the rosewood on the player II is a solid value for money + hardware/electronics/pickups all just that much better Im a little bit leaning player II now. And bullets and affinities you still get good bodies and necks - upgrade the rest and it’s a totally different guitar. The way I’m coming away thinking about it after some time is: if you’re going to mod a squire to upgrade it, consider going sonic or affinity. If you want something that’s good that you’re not going to touch or plan on putting money into, go classic vibe. But if you want rosewood and a guitar that’s great out of the box consider the player II (which I definitely would never have said about the Player I tbh). Thanks for watching and sharing - rock on!

[@dadtimejamtime]

Also, I for clarity im recommending the bullet/sonic only if you plan on upgrading pickups and tuners at a minimum (unless you’re a beginner, then by all means play it stock). But yeah out of the box, those pickups leave a lot to be desired.

[@ka4sxi]

@@dadtimejamtime I agree. I can definitely understand modding an affinity or Sonic but I wouldn’t bother modding a Classic Vibe. Waste of money because CV is already great.

[@87camro]

Pick ups stayed the same.alnico 5 since 2018 when the player came out. Only difference is the rosewood and better fret ends.

[@SotirisVasileiadis]

I wish you to reach 10k sbs and if i be the lucky winner send me this tele axe in white colour😋😁

[@nickrambles]

well classic vibe def sounds not as good

[@peg.6880]

10000😂 I come back in 2 years

[@dadtimejamtime]

@@peg.6880 😂 set a calendar reminder

[@Psyhïcaesar]

Give me that guitar so I can play some music 😢😢 ... Subscribe it ..

[@robertsguitarsandgear]

This confirms my experience with many different players and CVs. The main difference is the Player will have better hardware. Tones are so close that really it is a matter of taste and look/ feel.