If you’re wondering if Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster will be a good guitar for you, don’t worry – today’s review should answer that question! In this article, we’re going to take a very close look on one of the most popular and affordable offset in the world – the Squier Jazzmaster.
The truth is that Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster offers a very great tone, a stunning look and a comfortable neck at a relatively low price. Although it has its own flaws, it’s definitely worth the money.
Let’s dive deeper with research to find out more what makes this guitar so special. As a big fan of offset guitars, I feel obliged to share some of my thoughts with you. Hopefully, today’s review will help you to understand whether you should choose this interesting Jazzmaster or not.
Specs & Pricing
Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Jazzmaster is a solid body guitar which features a classic Jazzmaster shape. It’s available in two colors: 3-Color Sunburst and Olympic White. The guitar has a poplar body and a very comfortable C-shaped maple neck.
The manufacturer decided to equip this guitar with two really good Fender-Alnico single-coil pickups, which offer a lot of versatility when it comes to tone. Whether you’re looking for a crystal clean guitar sound or a more punchy and distorted tone – you can easily achieve that with this axe.
What’s important, just like all the other guitars from this series, this Jazzmaster features a very interesting oldschool vibe. There’s a vintage-style tremolo with floating bridge, vintage tuners and nickel hardware. On top of that, there’s a really cool gloss finish.
When it comes to pricing, it’s pretty affordable. The guitars from Classic Vibe Series fall somewhere on the mid-shelf of guitars – they’re more expensive than Squier Affinity guitars but at the same time, they’re less expensive than all the Fender Jazzmasters. Surely, the guitar is not overpriced or underpriced.
I recently recorded a video review of this guitar, so feel free to check it out below. If you find it helpful, consider subscribing to my channel – there are a lot of other gear reviews in there!
Who Is It For?
Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster is a really versatile guitar, so it can be used in a really wide range of genres. Whether you’re into blues, jazz, rock or indie – this model will be an excellent choice.
It is worth mentioning that all offset guitars (that means Jazzmasters, Jaguars and Mustangs) are particularly loved by alternative rock and indie musicians. This unique guitar body shape became a true symbol of independent musicians.
Considering the fact that this guitar is not as expensive as some of the Fender guitars, the Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster will also be a good choice for guitarists who don’t want to spend too much on a new guitar.
In addition, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a beginner or a more advanced guitar player. You can easily play gigs and record albums with this axe!
My Thoughts On Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster
Personally, I’m really amazed by the quality of all guitars that come from the Classic Vibe Series. I tried a few of them in the past and they all were well-made and they featured an excellent quality.
Undoubtedly, Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster will inspire and motivate you to practice more and become a better musician. This is a really good guitar and although it’s not perfect (we’ll chat about the cons of this guitar at the end of this article), it’s still definitely a great choice for a lot of musicians.
I have no hesitation in recommending this guitar for anyone who’s looking for a reliable and awesome sounding offset guitar.
Here’s an another sound demo and comparison with the 40th Anniversary Jazzmaster by Squier.
Better Than Fender Player Jazzmaster?
A lot of guitarists argue whether Classic Vibe guitars are better than more expensive Fender Player guitars. Honestly, this is really debatable. But in my opinion, these guitars are pretty much on the same level.
If you don’t care about having a Fender logo on your headstock, you should definitely consider the Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster. The sound and feel of this Indonesian-made guitar is very similar to the Mexican-made Fender Player Jazzmaster.
Of course, it all depends on your own personal preferences. Nevertheless, I think that the high quality of Squier guitars proves that it is not necessary to spend thousands of dollars on Fender guitars in order to achieve a good tone. You can easily achieve that by getting a much cheaper Squier!
Disadvantages of Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster
As I mentioned earlier, although this guitar is great, it’s not perfect and it has its own flaws. These issues can be easily resolved, but they can be quite annoying, especially if you’re a complete amateur.
Firstly, the vast majority of Squier Jazzmasters and Jaguars requires a setup. Sometimes guitar shops offer it before they ship the guitar to you, but in general, some of the things in this model require adjusting.
These things aren’t too complicated and if you experience any of the issues that make playing uncomfortable, here’s a great video that can help you with setting up this axe.
Additionally, keep in mind that this Jazzmaster has a gloss finish on the neck. Don’t get me wrong – many people love the feeling of this neck. But personally, for me it’s a bit too sticky. If your hands tend to get sweaty, perhaps you should be looking for a guitar with a satin finish instead.
Lastly, if you’re an advanced musician, you may get bored of the stock pickups used in this model. So it may be a good choice to modify it and upgrade it at some point in the future – these pickups aren’t bad, but they’re aren’t amazing either, especially if you want to record a studio session.
Are There Any Alternatives?
If you don’t like the look and sound of Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster, don’t worry – there’s quite a few interesting alternatives out there.
Firstly, you should definitely check out all other guitars from the Classic Vibe Series. There are plenty of interesting models available, so perhaps you’ll enjoy the Stratocaster or Telecaster more. All of these guitars are on the same pricing level.
If you’re looking specifically for an offset guitar, make sure to check out Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar. This is an another really cool guitar and in comparison with this Jazzmaster, it has a shorter scale (24 inches). It means that the spaces between frets are shorter, so it’s easier to play, especially if you have short fingers.
Alternatively, if you’re on a tight budget, make sure to check out the Squier Affinity Jazzmaster. It’s a much cheaper guitar and although the CV Series Jazzmaster seems to be a better choice, the Affinity model also features a great quality.
Undoubtedly, it’s not difficult to find a good and reliable offset guitar. I’m sure that if you decide to choose any of the guitars mentioned above, you won’t be disappointed!
FAQ
Where is Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster made?
Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster is manufactured in Indonesia.
Are Jazzmasters good for pop-punk?
Absolutely, all Jazzmaster will work very well in pop-punk, emo and alternative rock genres!
How to find the best case for this Jazzmaster?
Finding the right case for a Jazzmaster isn’t an easy task. The vast majority of regular hard cases and gig bags won’t fit, because Jazzmasters have an unusual body shape. That’s why you should get a case designed specifically for a Jazzmaster – for example Fender FEJ-610.
Feel free to check out the list of best gig bags for Jazzmasters and Jaguars.
Summary
As you can see, Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster is a truly unique guitar. Personally, I think that it’s one of the best options for all beginner and mid-level guitarists. This guitar isn’t as expensive as Mexican-made Fenders and it still holds the true spirit of a Jazzmaster.
If you have the chance, I highly encourage you to choose this guitar rather than the Squier Affinity Jazzmaster. You won’t be disappointed!
What do you think about the Squier Classic Vibe Jazzmaster? Would you add it to your own guitar collection? Let me know in the comments section below, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts.
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