This guitar, after some adjustments, plays so smoothly and in tune up and down the neck! I would recommend this for live and studio work! Can't beat the Sweetwater price either!

Great strat, just what I wanted with the HSS pick-up configuration, the laurel fretboard (which has a flat dry feel which I prefer to glossy), and the high narrow frets - which I surprisingly preferred when I compared. If you're in need of a versatile instrument, I think it's a great choice.

I cant believe how nice this guitar is.except for the thin block on the trem. It's better than the mexican ones. Pick ups sound unbelievable. For the money it's a great guitar! So i got the black one with the maple neck one too.

On opening the box, the shear beauty of the guitar was on full display. There are no blemishes on the finish and fret sprout is nearly non-existent. No neck adjustment was required. The fret level is just fine. I lowered the strings slightly, although most players would probably not have to do this. The sound is not Player 11 quality, but it is surprising close. The top end sounds (above middle C) of this guitar are way above average. The playability is "Fender-Like". The neck and middle pickups are very traditional Stratocaster in sound. The bridge pickup, or humbucker does not ring out like a traditional fender Strat, but that would be my only "con".

I really like the versatility of HSS configuration Strats. Having that humbucker in the bridge gives me all the goodness a humbucker brings at high gain settings, and the other switch positions still sound like a typical Strat. Very pleased with the walnut finish, it's different. Looks great! The guitar came in perfect condition, ready to play other than my usual change of strings, fret polish, touch up the nut slots, and adjust the action. I also took time to adjust the springs to get full floating action from the tremolo. I use it gently, no divebombs, and it stays in tune well. It's now a beautifully playing Strat. I guess I could upgrade the pickups, but I'm not displeased with them. Fit and finish is great. Although this would be a fine guitar for a beginner I wouldn't call it a beginner's guitar. It's just a great Strat for those on a budget.

I am not a guitar player by any means. use to play around on one when I was a teenager 55years ago! I am now 74. I decided I wanted to learn to play and didn't want to spend a lot of money on something i may never learn to use fully. So, I opted for the Squire classic vibes 70's hhs. Sweetwater was very kind and courteous through the whole process. They shipped fast, but too a week to arrive due to FedEx and the snow I am guessing. Wasn't Sweetwater's fault. the guitar played great right out of the box. it is very beautiful and had no blemishes on it at all. I am very pleased with the guitar. I could have bought the same guitar from Amazon, but with then you don't know what you may get, as I have gotten used or items that had been returned before from some sellers. That's why I Decided to use Sweetwater. I knew I would get exactly what I ordered. Sweetwater was recommended to be by a friend. I am glad I purchased it through them. I also bought a boss katana mk2 50-amp amplifier from them. it is an outstanding amp. Great for both beginners and pros alike. overall, I am verry please with my purchases through Sweetwater. If I ever order another guitar or part, I am certain it will be through them.

With the CV series you cannot go wrong as long as your expectations are reasonable. I have bought several of these and I change the tremolo to a larger block courtesy of Wilkinson either solid or bent steel, very little difference in sound others may argue that. I don't upgrade the pickups or tuners until needed....when I do upgrade them I upgrade with Fender parts other than the tremolos. Some parts will require fitting. YMMV. I have not been disappointed with any of them and they are all still in service. I have played over 40 years and I AM PICKY. Ask Alan Carter-he knows. Hats off to Carter by the way-great man. The instrument is only as good as the player and that is why it is called an instrument. It is the Indian not the arrow. I have had Gibson, Epiphone and Fenders, Washburns and Ibanez have graced my stable yet these Squier CV instruments are an absolute blast and superior platforms to make an instrument your own. You cannot go wrong and for less than $ in parts and a PROPER SET UP, all guitars need a nut, neck adjusted, action and intonation done, you have a player guitar that you can love as much as an overpriced instrument from any of the other brands and types out there. The Indonesian ones beat the daylights out of the Chinese instruments all day long. Buy one, learn to work on your own instrument and buy proper and quality tools for luthiers from either here or Stew-Mac. You will be glad you did this. The satisfaction you get from not only a properly working and comfortable playing instrument is that YOU did the work and brought it to that level is awesome. The best part is in the playing. Your friends will admire your accomplishment when you let them play one of your works of art. Go have fun!

My 1st guitar.  Recently purchased this Walnut colored Squire Classic Vibe 70's Stratocaster as my very first guitar.  My Sales Engineer, Camden Uhazy recommended it for me as a beginner.  The purchase was easy.  Great guitar; great price.  It feels, plays and sounds incredible.  I highly recommend it for anyone, especially someone who's not sure how far they're guitar journey will take them and doesn't initially want to put a lot of money into it.  This guitar is a great choice.  I have since purchased 2 more guitars and still play this Classic Vibe '70s daily.  Thank you Camden - you're awesome!  Thanks, Sweetwater!

Just purchased, this guitar sounds as good as the more expensive of the Fender range. Up against a buddies custom shop strat, it held its own and the humbucker gives a bit of extra bite for driving amps/pedals.

All the classic strat sounds are available so get one while you can, an absolute bargain that can hold its own.

Bought this guitar so that I could add some mods I've had my eye on to an affordable guitar. Having said that, this guitar is a really great value stock. My favorite thing about this guitar is the pickups actually. I like them better than the lace sensors on my American strat. Nice output, good balance between the singles and the hum. Like the titles says I'm not to keen on the neck. It says it's a 9.5 radius but it feels even flatter than my american strat. Some people seem to really like a flatter neck but I actually prefer the vintage 7 3/4 radius so it's a preference thing. You'll also want to polish the frets. Out of the box it was almost impossible to do any kind of bends or vibrato because it felt like you were sliding the strings across sandpaper. For the money tho it's a really nice guitar.

So far, I love it! It was very playable straight out of the box and the sounds great on all pickup selections. I have a Classic Vibe Telecaster and I love it too. I enjoy playing the CV Strat and CV Tele just as much as I do my American Standard Telecaster. Thanks Sweetwater!

David

This is my second time owning this Stratocaster and it's quite the tone machine. Classic Vibe are definitely a bang for your buck. Playable right out of the box, great tone, and neck feels great. Perfect for Blues-Rock or anything with soul. Very happy.

I am an avid acoustical practioner, but no matter how many dreadnaughts you have, no mater how many 000's, no matter how many classicals, you need at least one versatile, giggable, electric guitar in the stable, and this is that one. I added a Les Paul clone and immediately sold it...compared to this is was like wrestling an alligator. This is the one that does everything. 5 way switch shifting from single coil to humbucker to any mix in between, tremelo, bone nut, lightweight, ergonomically comfortable, easy to upgrade is desired...and comes with candy! I DIDN'T GET ANY CANDY WITH THAT DANG LES PAUL!

Easily equal to or better than any Mexican Fender version for twice as much. You're going to have to cough up a cool $thousand$ to beat this one.

This walnut Squire is for the money a very nice little guitar. It comes set up and ready to play. I was worried that there would be some hum when hooked up to an amp, No Hum.

Let me start by saying I own 5 or 6 Squire strats and and teles and never had a problem plus I have another 70's classic vibe. That being said, I must admit that this particular guitar leaves a LOT to be desired. In my 50 plus years of playing, I have rarely come across a guitar made this poorly. The pickups are very weak and the bridge/trem is total garbage. I ended up putting Dimarzio pups in and it really brought it to life. I haven't replaced the bridge yet, but if I decide to keed it, I'll have to. Needless to say, I got a lemmon (I hope). but either way I won't be getting anymore Squires. Except for the nice color, the rest is garbage IMHO.

I had tried to play guitar 10 years ago and crashed and burned not for lack of trying, but because the instrument just wasn't the right one for me. Flash forward to now and working with Dave Hoffman at Sweetwater I ended up choosing this awesome instrument ( I grew up with 70's rock ), coupled with a Boss Katana Mini Amp and other needed essentials. I couldn't be more impressed.

Beautiful instrument that I look forward to playing each and every day. Even being new to the guitar the sound quality and experience has been just incredible. My ability is already past previous attempts and the sky is the limit. Highly recommend. The setup and checkout by Sweetwater was first rate and I had no issues getting up and playing. Now to just get those pentatonic shapes memorized....

The guitar sounds great. A lot of guitar for the money. Plays easy. I prefer D"Addario strings but that is an individual choice. Playing guitar is a hobby for me and fun. Sweetwater is great to deal with and their service is great.

I am not an advanced guitar player by any means and only noodle around at home for fun. With that said, I have owned a few Fender standard strats and American Specials over the years (nothing too high end) and this guitar is as comfortable, cool looking and fun to play as any of them. The new Walnut finish is classy with the black pick guard, and the body is comfortable and nicely contoured. I"m sure that more advanced players would have more to say about how the pickups compare to higher end models, but they aren"t noisy at all. My only picky comments about the Guitar is that I did not like the appearance of the Indian Laurel fingerboard wood as it looked too dry, but some fretboard conditioner will solve that. All in all, this is a winner.

Since these guitars are new you won't see a lot of reviews on them yet so I hope I can help. I've had mine for about 3 - 4 weeks now. I think this guitar, for the money, is a steal. I bought this to have something in that less expensive category, compared to USA made guitars, that I wouldn't mind leaving at work. Problem is I brought it home and I don't want to stop playing it. It's a fun, sweet guitar. It plays great, came set up pretty well, with fantastic fit and finish. I know, I can hear the trolls out there saying it's not a USA made or even a Mexican made strat. Well no it's not, but no matter where it is made it's still a great guitar. So who is this for? Beginners for sure. If you are a beginner I think this guitar would last you a good long while. Do you want a guitar to take to gigs that isn't your prized $3000 guitar? This would serve you well in small gigs, or even big ones, it all depends on your amp. This guitar has a very good voice. As I already mentioned, the build quality is excellent too. If you are looking around in the sub $500 range, you should give this guitar serious consideration. I recommend it.