Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Antigua Telecaster review – nostalgic styling meets forward-looking value
$450/£450, fender.com
Squier is on a hot streak. In the last half-decade, Fender’s sister brand has come out with some of its best-looking and most impressive-sounding models, notably including the 40th Anniversary Vintage Edition Telecaster.
READ MORE: Squier Limited Edition Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster HSS review – old-school vibes meets modern playability
And now, there’s a new kid on the block. The Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster adds a rare vintage finish to the Squier Tele range – plus a fresh, finger-baiting feel, thanks to its extensive use of maple.
At £450/$450, this Tele is priced somewhere between a more conventional Squier Telecaster and an entry-level Fender model (which now includes the new Indonesian-made Standard line). I took the guitar down to my practice space to find out whether it has the tone and playability to match its eye-catching spec sheet.
Image: Adam Gasson
Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Antigua Telecaster – what is it?
One of the great things about Squier, these days, is that the brand often revives classic Fender features and aesthetics in new or rare configurations – with frequently impressive results. The Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster is one of the latest eye-catching examples.
This guitar is one of four Squier models now available in a limited edition retro ‘Antigua’ finish, along with a 70s Strat, a 70s P-Bass and a Bass VI model. It features a poplar body and a rather lovely maple neck and fretboard.
There are two pickups in play: a (non-CuNiFe) Wide Range-style humbucker by the neck that gives you honkin’, stonkin’ blues rock tone, and an alnico single-coil bridge pickup installed at an angle to sharpen up the sound from your higher-pitched strings.
With two volume knobs, two tone knobs and a three-position pickup selector, you have theoretical scope to really finetune your sound – whether you’re using one pickup in isolation or both of them blended together. How does that pan out in practice?
Image: Adam Gasson
Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Antigua Telecaster – sounds and playability
A good Tele is the height of versatility, equally at home in the hallowed hands of Wilko Johnson, Graham Coxon, J Mascis, Cate Le Bon and countless others. And true to its breed, the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster has a diverse selection of hues on its sonic palette.
For me, a Telecaster’s true calling is to make an assertive, jagged sound that can fill out the higher-end frequencies in a band or recording, with or without another guitarist in the mix. The Classic Vibe ’70s does this admirably with the pickup selector in the mixed and bridge positions, conjuring up the sort of crisp, icy jangle that might earn an approving flick of the fringe from Bloc Party’s Russell Lissack.
With a balanced tone setting and the middle pickup position selected, the guitar sounds tremendously punchy and well balanced. Meanwhile, dialling down the tone knobs gives you some satisfyingly woolly sounds that’d be a great fit for college rock, stoner rock or Sabbath-style classic metal.
Whatever your tonal tendencies, this is a fun, accessible guitar to play. The maple fretboard and neck have plenty of slickness and sheen, so your fingers can glide around playing slides, hammer-ons and whatever fanciness appeals.
If you’d expect a Squier guitar to have a high action by default, then your intel is a decade or two out of date. This model plays pretty slickly, with a tidy and low action and no intrusive string buzz.
Image: Adam Gasson
Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Antigua Telecaster – should I buy one?
Whether you’re a beginner guitarist looking for a superior first guitar with standout looks, or you’re an old hand who wants to add a reasonably priced Tele to your collection, I can heartily recommend the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster.
As someone who usually plays a Fender guitar, I have an emotional vested interest in finding reasons why this Squier model pales in comparison. But my bank balance and I must reluctantly conclude that the Classic Vibe ’70s Tele is only a minor downgrade from its trueborn cousins. You’re getting quintessential Telecaster tone, good playability and a premium finish at a far more accessible price.
With that said, while this Tele is a fine guitar and another Squier triumph, there are some things only money can buy. In particular, the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Telecaster lacks the extensive manual finishing and premium hardware you’d expect in a Fender model. It’s not quite a work of art, but it’s a masterly copy. This guitar is a limited edition, so if it sounds like your jam, I’d suggest you pick one up sooner rather than later.
Image: Adam Gasson
Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Antigua Telecaster alternatives
There’s nothing quite like the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Tele that you can buy for a similar price. However, for those who can find some extra budget, it’d also be worth considering the Fender Player II Telecaster ($799/£719), which is our favourite affordable Tele from the Fender stable. It’s a tremendously playable workhorse of a guitar that gives you a finer finish and a more minimal design than Squier’s new model. Meanwhile, if you’re a well-heeled player on the hunt for an out-of-the-ordinary, non-Fender Telecaster, then you should also check out the PRS Myles Kennedy ($2,899/£3,099), a premium Tele-esque that’s well worth a twang.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
