Squier Sonic Telecaster vs Squier Classic Vibe Esquire | Which is the better choice? Guitar Shootout

[@RichWordsMusic]

Here are your timestamps: 00:00 Hello! 00:17 Introduction and what we’re doing today 02:08 Sonic Tele specs and info 04:46 Esquire specs and info 08:47 Today’s rig and plan Clean Sounds 09:36 Clean tone reference chords 10:03 Poppy barre chords 10:32 Ascending droning indie chords 10:45 Country lead sound 10:58 Country ballad arpeggios 11:11 Strummed country chords 11:30 Funk rhythm chords 11:44 Blues progression 12:06 Strummed folk pop chords Overdrive Sounds 12:23 Kings Of Leon inspired riff 12:38 Choppy barre chords 12:56 Upbeat droning indie riff 13:10 Garage rock riff 13:26 Edgy indie barre chords 13:40 AC/DC inspired classic rock riff 13:55 Driving rock riff 14:10 Groovy classic rock riff 14:27 Hendrix inspired riff 14:44 Classic rock riff Heavy Overdrive Sounds 15:01 Hard rock riff 15:18 Hard rock melodic lead 15:39 Airbourne inspired rock riff 16:01 80s rock riff 16:21 ZZ Top inspired riff 16:31 Classic hard rock riff 16:49 Glam rock rhythm riff 17:17 Alternative rock riff 17:41 Green Day inspired punk rock riff 18:07 Pop punk melodic lead riff 18:23 Pop punk riff 18:49 Progressive rock riff (Drop D tuning) 19:04 Modern rock palm-muted power chords (Drop D) 19:29 Rage Against The Machine inspired groovy riff (Drop D) Metal sounds (all in Drop D) 19:46 Metal chugging riff 20:03 Mastodon inspired metal riff with country twang 20:15 Heavy metal lead sound 20:30 Hardcore punk riff 20:44 Rammstein inspired industrial metal riff 20:57 Classic metal/sludge riff 21:33 My thoughts 22:39 Price 23:04 Looks/aesthetics 24:05 Build quality/feel 25:35 Weight 26:27 Playability and necks 27:11 Sounds and pickups discussion 30:52 Do you need a neck pickup on an Esquire? 31:29 Which guitar is better? Which should you buy? 33:02 What other similar guitars are out there? Squier Affinity!

[@michaelj.noctor5190]

Excellent review, thanks.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot, glad you enjoyed it!

[@StephenCrowe6]

The Vibe ruled on the newer crunch stuff but the Sonic had the fuller clean tone. I'm cheap so I'd get the Sonic.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yep, I agree - the Sonics really aren't to be sniffed at, even thinking about the price! Great little guitars, they are.

[@kjl291]

You did a great and thorough job of comparing - a very well done and useful video. Subbed!

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks a lot - really glad you enjoyed it, and welcome to my channel! Happy to have you here :)

[@Jason.King.at.your.service]

Both great, but the classic vibes are fantastic. I haven't owned any personally but have played several, and borrowed one to do a few gigs. Can't fault them.

[@michelvondenhoff9673]

Yes looks. Bought my Gretsch G5421 in red with parlour guard because I didn't need HBs but I wanted that LP look and colour 😂 As for the Telecaster I recently seen a CV in olive green...great with my red budget Gretsch 😊 A fun channel to watch 😀

[@RichWordsMusic]

Definitely, looks are so important! So I totally get your decision making process, ha ha 😅 And tell me about it... there's an Olive Green Squier baritone Tele around at the moment that just looks incredible... a satin Olive Drab Epiphone Casino Worn too. Both high on my shopping list! Cheers for watching 😊

[@dcamnc1]

I'm not sure about the same pickups as the affinity comment. I have a new affinity and a new sonic, and they sound very different. They are both set up (by me), identically. The affinity sounds more open/jangly/hi-fi, the sonic sounds like a normal basic tele. I personally like the sonic's tone better. Just imo.

[@justenn9949]

With how you had the tone settings dialed, the sonic sounded much darker, perhaps more "modern" of a sound? The Classic was much brighter and had that Tele twang and jangle to it. This made me prefer the sonic for the clean tones as the classic felt a bit harsh with so much more upper and mid bite/clarity. BUT when you started to play the overdriven and distorted rock styles the classic won out easily. The definition and clarity helped cut through the grunt of the low end. Over all the classic won out, as it could easily be dialed back on clean tones and be that much more versatile.

[@PooNinja]

I’m just not a tele guy so ill sit this one out, they both look cool I’ll say that.

[@RichWordsMusic]

I've got an idea: become a Tele guy 😎 Really, you will never look back! I'll even permit you to bed yourself in super gently, starting out on something like an Ibanez AZS2209 and gradually getting more Fendery as you go.

[@PooNinja]

@@RichWordsMusic supa strat is my flavor of choice but a nice V is always good, id like to try a strandburg and an Abasi concepts to see how they fit me. Ive held snd strummed several T styles and not as much as gretsch but they just don’t feel right on me. Id also like to try every guitar in the harmony hut at Steve vais place. Maybe a video from GS5 could be … play a riff on each of Hennings guitars and basses, that seems like a week long project for a 3 day event 🤣

[@Hexspa]

Good work

[@RichWordsMusic]

Thanks!

[@enonknives5449]

I much prefer the sound of the Squier Sonic Telecaster. I didn't like the sound of the Classic Vibe Esquire at all.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Interesting - I'm guessing you found the Esquire a bit piercing and harsh? Sometimes I feel that way too. Take nothing away from the Sonic Tele though - I really think it's an amazing sounding (and playing!) guitar for the money.

[@enonknives5449]

@@RichWordsMusic -- Exactly. I know telecasters should be twangy, but this was a bridge (pickup) too far.

[@globalnova]

sticky poly neck is fixed in 10 minutes with some sandpaper and tape.

[@RichWordsMusic]

True, but I am kind of scared of doing that! Should probably just get my tech to do it for me.

[@globalnova]

@@RichWordsMusic it really is easy, only scary the first time. Then you will wonder why you were scared. Like taking the neck off or adjusting the truss rod. Cheers

[@guyincognito320]

I don't get this, I mean realistic playing is just having the thumb barely touching the neck, so there shouldn't be an issue of friction there. Now when you pick up a greasy guitar center guitar with a gloss neck and choke it like a baseball bat then yeah, you're gonna think oh man this sucks, I need satin, but idk.. I have a gloss neck LTD and it feels very luxurious and smooth. I would only ruin the finish by de-glossing it. Just wipe it down with ceramic wax once a week, along with the body, and it should be fine.

[@andreasf6671]

Harley Benton Teles are always the right choice. Unless you get a 80s Squier tele, then that's great! :P

[@RichWordsMusic]

I love me some Harley Bentons, that's for sure! I think I played a Japanese 80s Squier Tele once, was that a thing? Whatever that guitar was, it was fantastic!

[@qzxerty]

Prefer the sound of the sonic except when you turn on the Tebb g3 and play metal riffs. the esquire just sounds better (midrange fuller) there.

[@RichWordsMusic]

Yeah, the Esquire definitely has its own thing going on and it works surprisingly well for high gain stuff! But the Sonic is a super versatile beast of a guitar. It makes me smile every time I pick it up to play it :)

[@ziotomasi4597]

Thank You so much.Great Video.Clearly! The China Sonic Squier sounds better and has a lot more crispness. If you consider that you get a good sounding guitar for 179 euros. I would have killed for this in the seventies. Since Fender made the Squier CV series in Indonesia, the sound quality and the quality of the wood have deteriorated. China can do it better than Indonesia.

[@MBSGAMES_]

What about the sonic against the new affinity lake placid blue ?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Oh wait, did Squier release a new LPB Affinity?! This I gotta check out ;)

[@SS8styles]

what pickup upgrade options would be worth considering at different price points for the sonic telecaster?

[@RichWordsMusic]

Ooh, good question. Something from Fender themselves might be nice, or a Seymour Duncan set. I've always fancied an SD Quarterpounder in a Tele :) There's loads of choice out there though!

[@elvismemphisgs]

Vibe way better

[@RichWordsMusic]

Overall it's a superior guitar for sure. As it should be, considering the price difference!